Chapter 10

Winnie

I frown as Aldis headsout to work. He’s been distracted since he got home yesterday. Sure, he’s still here, but I feel like every time I turn around, he’s on his phone whispering to someone or chewing on his lip, lost in thought. I tried to talk to him about it, but he just told me it was a work thing and that he was fine.

I know he was lying. I just don’t know what about.

I decide to distract myself with work. Maybe by tonight, Aldis will be back to normal and will tell me what was going on.

I head over to the sanctuary and park in my usual spot. I notice that some of the animals seem a little jumpy as I climb out of my car and look around. I frown, wondering what’s gotten into them. Maybe it’s going to storm soon.

I lock my car and am about to turn around when something, or someone, crashes into me from behind. I go to scream, and that’s when a hand clamps down around my mouth. My heart takes off in my chest, and I wiggle in their hold. I kick and scratch at the hands around me, but it’s no use. They’re stronger than me.

My vision starts to grow hazy around the edges and I feel tears splash on my cheeks. The arms tighten around me, and then I’m being dragged backward. I can see the front of a white van, and I panic, a fresh surge of energy hitting me.

I hear the door slide open, and then I’m being tossed into the back of the van like a sack of potatoes. I scream as I land inside, crying out as pain radiates up my arm to my shoulder. I sob as a masked man glares down at me. Then he’s sliding the door closed.

It slams shut with finality, and pure terror overtakes me.

What do I do now?

There’s no handle on the inside of the door, and I scramble to my knees, wincing as more pain spreads from my arm to my shoulder. Something is fractured or maybe I dislocated my shoulder.

There’s a man behind the wheel and the passenger door opens. I go to the back of the van, desperately looking for a handle or some way to escape. There’s nothing though, no latches or door handles.

“No,” I whisper.

I turn back around, weighing my options when the roar of a motorcycle races up the road towards us.

“Fuck,” one of the men up front hisses.

They shift into gear, but then more motorcycles follow the first one. I know that it’s Aldis and his motorcycle club, and hope starts to grow inside of me. Aldis will rescue me. He’ll always make sure that I’m safe. He’ll always come for me.

Except the van doesn’t stop.

And neither do the motorcycles.

I scream as we race towards each other. All I can do is kneel and watch in horror as we get closer and closer to crashing.

Then, suddenly, the van veers, and I scream again as we head straight towards some trees.

“No!” I faintly hear Aldis yell a second before the van slams into a tree.

I’m thrown forward and I cry out as I land on my bad arm. My head smashes against the floor of the van and I see stars. My heart is racing out of control and I blink, trying to clear the spots dancing in my vision.

It’s no use, though. My vision starts to narrow and my eyes fall closed. I can hear men screaming outside and then the sharp sound of gunshots. I try to scream, to sit up and see if I can check on Aldis, but I’m too weak.

I’m so dizzy, so disoriented. I’m also so worried for Aldis and his friends. I don’t want anyone to be hurt or worse because of me.

“Aldis,” I cry weakly, but it’s no use.

Everything goes black and I slip into unconsciousness.