Chapter Twenty One

"News Tonight can report that Orson, Indiana has seen its fair share of excitement tonight." The female broadcaster said seriously into the camera.

"That's right Jenn, two teenagers who cannot be named for safety reasons have been in the midst of a horror story. The two, one boy and one girl were abducted from the boys front lawn." The male co-presenter smiled into the camera.

"They were then found at Orson High School later that night. Their abductors, a fellow student who again cannot be named and a man in his late twenties, Steven Banks, have both been arrested with intent to commit arson, kidnapping and GBH."

"The trail is scheduled for next Thursday with protests expected due to the underage student involved in the crime. It is expected that both of the kidnappers will get a minimum of ten years jail time."

I switched the television off, pulling my blanket higher under my chin. My eyes went to the cut that was on the back of my hand, delicately stitched with butterfly stitches. I sighed, thinking of the past two days which had been nothing but strict observation from my parents, who were under the impression that I would be snatched from under their watchful eyes. It was exhausting.

There was a knock at the door. It opened slowly to reveal Mom. "Samantha hunny, it's time for dinner." She smiled gently at me, walking over to sit on the end of my bed and pushed some of the hair out of my face.

I moved away from her, letting her hand drop. "I'm not hungry."

She sighed as though she had expected me to say that, which to be fair to her I hadn't left the comfort of my bed unless I needed to use the restroom.

"Sam." She moved to take hold of the side of the cover. "You can't stay in here forever." I turned my head away from her and tried to find my place of relaxation I'd had before she had knocked. "Sam!" Her voice turned stern. "We have guests."

I instantly was confused. Who would bother coming round? "Who?" I asked, my throat was sore from not talking much and I gently put my hand against it, coughing slightly.

She smiled, happy she'd gotten a reaction out of me. "Axl and his family are downstairs."

I rubbed a hand down my face in frustration and she took my momentary distraction to pull the covers from me. I moaned as the cold air hit me and tried to grab it back. "Mom!"

"No!" She dumped them on the floor. "Enough is enough. I want you to be safe but I want you to have a life as well. Your boyfriend is very worried about you because you haven't returned any of his calls and if anyone can help you through this it's him because he's gone through the same thing."

She had a point.

But since when did she decide to stop coddling me. I asked her this very question.

"I knew I needed to get you out of bed after the first hour." She sat down next to me again, and this time I allowed her to take my hand in hers. "And I know you sweetie, if I let you, you would never get out by yourself."

I closed my eyes and sighed in annoyance. She was right, I may not have stayed here forever but I felt as though I had a good week left in me still. "Ok. Fine. I'm up."

She beamed at me and stood up. "Good now get up and dressed. Be downstairs in ten." She left me to it but not before turning to face me once more. "I love you."

I looked at her, seeing a couple of new frown lines that I knew I was the cause of. "I love you too."

Downstairs was pandemonium when I made it down there, ten minutes later on the dot. Mrs Heck was trying to help Mom but she was doing less of a job of helping and more making a mess. There were plates everywhere, some half filled with some interesting looking dessert. I wondered where that came from but it all became apparent when I heard what Mom was saying. Or trying to do.

"It's ok Frankie, let me." Mom insisted, trying to save what was left of her kitchen.

"No Susan, please. I want to help." Mrs Heck was quite short so it was amusing to see my Mom struggle to kick her out.

"I insist." Mom physically put her hands on Mrs Heck's shoulders and led her to her family. "You're my guests and I want you to enjoy yourselves."

Mrs Heck visibly gave in and sat down at the table. It was at this point that they noticed me. The room instantly went quiet, but there was one missing.

"Hi Sam." I jumped when Axl spoke from behind me. I turned around and was greeted by his smiling face. The instant he met my eyes I noticed the cuts and bruises that covered him. My eyes filled with tears, making his widen in horror and he wrapped his arms around me to provide as much comfort as he could. He inhaled sharply, making me wonder if he was in any more pain but when I tried to lean back he wouldn't let me go. "You haven't answered my calls." He spoke softly into my hair.

I managed to get my tears under control before I answered him. "I didn't want to cry down the phone to you."

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I would rather you didn't cry at all."

I laughed a little and relaxed in his embrace, before noticing that everyone was staring at us. I instantly felt embarrassed that they had witnessed me crying but that was soothed away as Axl took my hand, pulled my chair out for me and sat in the seat next to it.

My Dad had ventured out of his office at some point and both he and Mom were smiling at me. This was progress I assumed.

I looked over at Axl who was actually smiling at his sister for a change, his hand still clasping mine and I took a deep breath. I could do this.

Dessert came around and I changed my mind. It turns out that Frankie and Sue Heck were not destined to be the next Gorden Ramsey. The jelly concoction was more of a drink that a jelly and from the way Mrs Heck stared down at it forlornley told me that she knew it as well.

"So what do you think?"

The only one who didn't realise this wasn't going well was Sue. I looked across the table at her, grimacing when it appeared she was waiting for my verdict and managed a small smile, scooping some of it on my spoon, ignoring rational thinking and Axl telling me that this was a bad idea and took a bite.

Big mistake. It tasted worse than it looked and it looked disgusting. There were bits of what I could only assume where meant to be fruit floating in it, but they were green. The whole thing was green with a yellow tinge. But one look at her smiling face told me that she at least appreciated the fact that I tried.

In fact, everyone was smiling. I felt my own lips turn up in response.

"I had made cheesecake for dessert but seeing as everyone's enjoying the jello, maybe I should save it." Mom said, frowning thoughtfully as she stood up.

"No!" Everyone, excluding Sue chorused.

I felt a laugh bubble up and erupt from my throat. Axl noticed, beaming as he pulled his chair closer to mine and pressed another kiss to the top of my hair. I turned my smile towards him.

I could do this.