Never Let You Go (Never #2)

by Monica Murphy

  “Give me a half hour. I’ll see what I can do,” he says before he disconnects, no questions asked.

  Within twenty minutes he’s got a flight arranged for me. It leaves in less than two hours.

  I just hope that’s not too late.

  I startle awake, sitting up so fast my head spins. It’s light outside but the sky is gray, the early morning gloomy. Breathing hard, I slowly glance to my left to find Aaron Monroe next to me, the seat tilted all the way back, his eyes closed, mouth slack.

  He’s asleep.

  We’re still in the Mercedes and it’s freezing. I look around, trying to figure out where we are. It’s a giant parking lot, completely empty, and when I turn to look behind me, I see it rise into the sky like a beacon, like a symbol of my past I’d rather forget.

  The roller coaster. We’re at the boardwalk, at the amusement park where he abducted me.

  Turning in my seat, I watch him, fighting to keep my wits. I’m still drowsy, the effects of the sleeping pill lingering, and I rub my forehead, trying to force clarity. I need to escape. He’s sleeping. I could open the door and slip out of the car, but then what? Where would I go? The parking lot is abandoned, as is the park. It’s early in the morning and there’s no one around. The boardwalk is closed for winter.

  But I can’t sit in this car and wait for him to kill me. Or worse . . . rape me. I’d rather he end me and get it over with. I can’t stand the thought of him putting his hands on me again.

  I’d rather die than endure it.

  Keeping my eyes on him, I reach out toward the door and rest my hand on the handle. I don’t move, I don’t make a sound, I don’t even breathe for fear he’ll wake up. I turn the handle, feel the door give, and I’m about to push it open, swiveling toward the door so I can slip out into the cold morning air, when I feel a hand clamp down on my thigh and hear the click of a gun.

  “You get out of this car and I’ll fucking shoot you right in the head. I mean it.”

  I slowly turn to face him to find the barrel pointed directly in my face. I recoil from it and pull the door shut, closing my eyes so I don’t have to see the gun.

  So I don’t have to see him.

  “You’re such a stupid, stupid girl. So drugged out from your little sleeping pill that you passed out quick. I messed around with you all night and you didn’t even try and fight me off.” He laughs as he brings his seat up, his voice drawing closer. The gun may not be in my face any longer but I still refuse to open my eyes. I don’t want to look at him. “You just laid there and took it. Probably secretly liked it, too, you little slut.”

  My skin crawls and I take a deep, shuddering breath. I don’t believe him. I don’t . . . feel violated and I know I would if he’d touched me. That’s something I can’t forget no matter how hard I try, no matter how many times I scrub my skin and purge all thoughts of him from my brain. What it’s like to be raped by Aaron Monroe.

  “We’re back here at the scene of the crime.” I crack open my eyes to see his eyes full of glee, his smile downright maniacal. “I thought it would be fun for the two of us to revisit the park, just like old times.”

  He’s clearly insane. “I-I don’t have any shoes.” Just the thick socks I had on when I went to bed. I’m wearing red flannel pajama bottoms and one of Will’s old sweatshirts that he gave to me. It still smells like him.

  That thought alone makes me want to cry.

  “You women always worrying about your shoes. You’re fucking ridiculous.” My eyes go wider when he waves the gun at me. “Stay right there. I’m getting out of the car, and then I’m opening your door. Don’t fucking move a muscle, do you understand me?”

  I nod, too afraid to speak. I watch as he rounds the front of the car and then opens the door for me, making a gesture with the gun, indicating he wants me to get out.

  For a split second I contemplate making a run for it, but I don’t want to die. Not yet. I’m too young. I can’t go like this, not at the hands of Aaron Monroe. Instead I climb out of the car and look at him, trying not to flinch when he smiles and slams the car door.

  “Ready for a new adventure?” he asks, his voice low, sliding all over my skin and making me shake. “It’ll be fun, Katie. Trust me.”

  He takes me by the hand and leads me toward the park.

  This isn’t how I envisioned everything going down. Lisa is supposed to be here, standing by my side, helping me. Will is supposed to be here, too. We could’ve been one big happy family, the four of us. It would’ve been nice.

  Real nice.

  But Lisa had to try and run. She ruined everything. I’m most pissed at her. Damn it, she would’ve made an excellent accomplice, but she didn’t want this. She tried to leave me.

  And now no one can have her. Not even me.

  I’m disappointed my boy isn’t here, either. I wanted him to see this. See me with his girl. But that was just a stroke of bad luck. Any other time and I would’ve found him. I’m stuck alone with his stupid little girlfriend who won’t hardly speak to me and she’s being disrespectful. I don’t like that. She hardly does anything but glare at me like she wants to take the gun I’m holding and shove it down my throat, sending a bullet through my insides.

  If she doesn’t watch it, I’m going to do that very thing to her.

  “Did you know I used to work here?” I ask conversationally as we enter the park. Up ahead is the main ticket booth, and I know for a fact that’s where they keep the spare keys that work all the rides.

  When the bitch doesn’t say anything I continue talking. “Yep, when Will was a kid, I worked here for the summer. Ran some of the rides. Including the Sky Glider.”

  No reaction. That’s the very ride I asked her to take me to, back when she was twelve and gullible as fuck.

  “I know where they keep the keys.” I pick up my stride, letting go of her hand but aiming the gun right at her. “Don’t move.”

  She doesn’t. She just stands there and watches as I kick in the door. It caves easily, as if it were made of cardboard, and I enter the tiny, crowded booth, spotting the keys still hanging in the same spot all these years later.

  “You’d think they’d take the keys with them when they close up for the winter, but they never do. They never have to. No one’s fucked with these rides in all the years this shit hole has been open. Pretty unbelievable, huh.” I take the keys and shove them in the front pocket of the pants I’m wearing. They came from the guard I shot. I stole his pants before I took off. Left him bleeding out in his tighty whiteys and absolutely no dignity. Wish I could’ve done that to every guard I had to deal with. They’re all pricks.

  But still she says nothing. Her silence makes me want to tear my hair out.

  Instead, I ignore her, taking hold of her wrist and dragging her along with me. We turn left and head down the main walkway, past the silent, boarded-up game booths, past the various empty food booths, including my favorite funnel-cake one. The haunted house doesn’t look so spooky in the early morning light. More like it looks ragged and run-down, as if it’s seen better days.

  I’ve seen better days, too.

  There’s no other ride I want to go on but the Sky Glider, so I decide to do a test run first. The Sea Swings are up ahead, on the right, and I nudge Katie in the shoulder with the gun. “You’re gonna ride that.”

  She turns to look at me, her eyes wide, skin pale. “Why?”

  “Because I want to make sure the keys work.” I nudge the gun in her shoulder again. “Go on, get on it.”

  Katie pushes through the gate and goes to the swings, the clanging of the metal chain loud in the quiet stillness as she settles into one of the chairs. It sways back and forth and she wraps her arms around herself as if to ward off a chill.

  “At least smile and look like you’re having fun!” I yell at her. She gives me an incredulous look in return and anger fills me, making me insert the key into the control board extra hard, flipping the switches one by one. She’s lucky she’s not right n
ext to me. I’d probably pistol-whip the bitch and enjoy watching her fall to the ground.

  The swings slowly start to rise when I hit one switch and I smile in triumph, pleased to see it works. The ride will last three minutes, tops, and I step back to watch as the swings start to spin faster and faster, higher and higher. They fly in the wind since every one of them is empty and there sits Katie, clinging tightly to the chain that holds her swing up, her face full of apprehension and fear.

  Good. I like seeing the fear. Bitch needs to know her place. We’re going to have fun first. Relive the good times before we end it. Because we’re going to end it, that’s a sure thing. I’m a wanted fugitive who escaped from a maximum-security prison. A death-row inmate, for Christ’s sake; the media must be having a field day making the wardens look bad. I’m sure they’re furious I snuck past them, but I’m not stupid. The order on my head is shoot to kill—I know that without a doubt.

  So I may as well enjoy my time here before I’m dead and gone, right?

  The FBI agent—his name is Woods—calls me the moment the tiny prop-engine plane touches down. His timing is impeccable, as if he knows I just landed, and I listen to him speak, fear freezing my vocal cords and making it impossible for me to answer him at first.

  Until I finally hear the news I’ve been waiting for.

  “We know where they’re at and she’s still alive.” He pauses. “He took her to the boardwalk. Where he originally kidnapped her.”

  The airport is fifteen minutes away. Hell, I saw the park when we flew over the ocean, circling in preparation to land. “You have a car waiting for me here at the airport, right?”

  Woods hesitates. “We don’t want you here. You might prove to be a distraction.”’

  “You’re fucking kidding me, right? I have to be there. I need to see her. I need to talk to him. Talk to them both.”

  “It could backfire.”

  “I don’t think so. I know my father. And I know Katie.” I take a deep breath, trying to get my emotions under control. “Even if I can’t help, I have to be there. I-I need to see her.”

  Woods is quiet for a moment before he lets out a ragged exhale. “There’s a car waiting for you. I’ll radio in to the driver that you should be brought over here. We’re waiting him out right now. He doesn’t even know we’re on to him yet.”

  “Seriously?” That sounds risky as shit. Why can’t they just run in there and shoot his ass? End this once and for all?

  “We have SWAT surrounding the place and a sniper on top of the arcade. He’s had Monroe in his sights already a couple of times, but Katherine’s always in the way. He can’t get a clean shot.”

  I close my eyes, fighting the nausea that threatens. Someone is dying today. Hell, someone already died. Poor Lisa Swanson. He shot her in the back of the head and she bled out, alone in the middle of the road.

  My father is a monster.

  But someone else is going to die, too. My father. The man who raised me. The man who fucked me up and just about ruined me. Well, look at me now, dear old Dad. Look at me with tears in my eyes, sick as hell and worried that you’re going to murder the woman I love.

  That’s what I should tell him, not that he cares. He doesn’t care about anyone.

  Just himself.

  The idea comes to me as clear as day. I might not be able to get away, but maybe I can convince Aaron Monroe that he can’t shoot me.

  He’s made me ride the swings, the Ferris wheel, a kiddy car ride with my knees practically bent up to my ears, and the merry-go-round. That had been the most painful so far. I could barely hold back the sobs on the merry-go-round, memories coming at me all at once, making me think of my family. My father. He loved the merry-go-round here, always riding it with us.

  Thinking of my father is what gives me the idea, though I know it’s a total long shot. I need to find a way to tell Monroe my news. I just pray that he believes me.

  “I’m saving the best for last,” he tells me as I come off the rock-and-roll ride, my head spinning from the speed of it. The cars went in circles, backward and forward, faster and faster, the music louder and louder. My ears still throb from the pounding beat.

  I frown at him, not saying anything. He really hates how I don’t speak and it’s my only defense, so I keep up the silent treatment.

  He points up at the Sky Glider. “We’ll ride that last, then go down to the beach. Check out the ocean. I haven’t seen the ocean in years.” His voice is wistful.

  The wind chooses that moment to whip up, making my hair fly into my face, and I bat it away. He expects me to ride on that tiny seat on the Sky Glider with him by my side? I rest a hand over my stomach. I’m so hungry, but also nauseous. I haven’t eaten anything in almost twelve hours and I have to pee.

  But he doesn’t care. He’s wrapped up in his own little world, glancing around everywhere, looking for a sign that someone has discovered us, I’m sure. The longer we’re here, the more paranoid he gets. And I think someone has found us. I thought I saw a man on the roof of the giant arcade about ten minutes ago, but I could be wrong.

  It could be wishful thinking.

  Does Will know yet? That his dad took me? That his father killed Lisa Swanson? Is Molly okay? I bet she’s with Mrs. Anderson, safe and warm and missing the both of us.

  I blink away the tears, wipe at them with trembling fingers, and Aaron sees me.

  “You crying now? Really?” He shakes his head and squints up at the sky. “I think it’s time I take you up on the Sky Glider. Our last hurrah.”

  He’s speaking with such finality and it’s scaring me. What does he mean, our last hurrah? He has to know this isn’t going to end well, at least for him.

  Probably for me, too.

  “I’m scared of heights,” I say, making my voice extra shaky. “Plus, I’m so nauseous all the time. And tired. So tired.”

  My plan is set into motion with that particular sentence and he perks up, his head slowly turning toward me.

  “Why?”

  I rest my hand on my stomach, trying to work up the courage to tell him. I’ve never been a good liar. I hope I can pull this off. “Because I’m—I’m pregnant with your grandchild. Will and I are going to have a baby.”

  He doesn’t say a word, just looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. I wait for him to respond, to say something, anything, but he doesn’t. His gaze drops to where my hand still rests on my stomach before his gaze lifts and he sneers.

  Slowly he shakes his head, stepping closer to me. My entire body shakes and I’m scared he’ll touch me. Hurt me. But he just stares at me with so much disgust I feel the shame wash over me, swallowing me up.

  “Unbelievable. You’re nothing but a stupid whore trying to trap my son. I’ll be doing him a favor by shooting you in the head.” He laughs. “Did you think that bit of news would convince me to spare your life?”

  I say nothing, feeling stupid. Yes! I want to shout at him. Yes, I thought maybe you’d have a tiny piece of decency still left in your heart, but I guess not.

  There’s no hope for me. My idea didn’t work. I’m as good as dead. I don’t think I can stand much more of this.

  A crackling sound suddenly fills the air and I know what it is. The sound system for the entire park. I can hear the static from the speakers as they’re turned on. Aaron hears it, too.

  “Looks like someone’s joined us, Katie. This ought to be interesting.” He grins and I look away, glancing around the abandoned grounds. There’s no sign of life anywhere.

  “Aaron Monroe, we know you’re in there. And we know you have Katherine Watts with you. If you let the woman go, give up your weapons, you’ll be able to walk away from this. Just do as we say and no one gets hurt,” the booming voice commands.

  “Maybe I don’t want to walk away from this!” he screams, looking around wildly, the gun dangling from his fingertips. “Did anyone ever consider that? Do you think they ever thought that, Katie?” He looks at me, the gun pointed right at my
chest. “Do you?”

  “N-no.” I shake my head. “Maybe you really don’t want to walk out of here.” I believe he doesn’t. He’d rather die at his own hand than theirs.

  “You’re damn right I don’t want to. What’s the point? There’s no point. None. I’m done. It’s over.” He waves his gun at me. “Get over here. We’re riding the Glider. Now.”

  Disappointment washes over me as I walk over to him and we make our way to the Glider side by side, the both of us quiet. My heart is pounding so hard I swear it’s going to leap out of my chest, and I feel like I’m walking to my death.

  I probably am.

  The voice keeps booming over the speakers, repeating the same thing over and over. Aaron’s not paying attention. It’s like he’s tuned everyone out, even me. He’s in his head, thinking, worrying . . . I don’t know. All I really know is I’m afraid if I try to make one last run for it, he’ll shoot me and I’ll die.

  I don’t want to risk it. So I remain by his side.

  We approach the stairs that lead to the Sky Glider and Aaron indicates he wants me to walk up them first as he falls in behind me. I climb the stairs one at a time, wincing at the cold concrete beneath my socks. They’re wet and worn from all the walking and my feet hurt. My head hurts.

  My heart hurts the most, though. At all I’ve yet to do. At the life I’m going to lose. I think of my mom and how devastated she’ll be. And Brenna. Will she be mad that I stole the spotlight again? I hope not. I hope she knows how much I love her. She’s the best big sister I ever could have asked for.

  As I crest the top of the steps and see the ocean spread out before me, gray and majestic, stormy and endless, I think of Will. How much I love him. How much I’ll miss him. That I hope he can carry on and eventually find happiness with someone else.

  The tears spring to my eyes and I hang my head, stumbling when Aaron pushes past me and goes to the control panel, sticking the key into the slot and turning the ride on. I watch as the cars that hang from metal wheels start to move, one after the other, the empty cars swinging over the entry point before they take off over the park, dangling from a wire.