Love Behind Lies

by Anna L

  “So, Kate, how do you like Brent?” Nate asked, breaking the silence.

  “Why do you care?” I replied, very agitated.

  “Just answer the question,” Sam snapped.

  “No,” I said, trying to twist out of their grip on me.

  “Loren was right. We are going to have fun with her tonight,” Nate said to Sam.

  “Too bad Brent isn’t here to watch it all happen,” Sam said to Nate

  “I have a question for you,” I said. I was trying to relax.

  “We might have an answer,” Nate said, relaxed.

  “Is Loren the leader of this ‘group’?”

  “Yeah, I think that you could say that. Wouldn’t you Sam?”

  “Yeah. We always listen to him, but we sometimes take turns. Like last week I lead most of what we did.” Sam said.

  The forest was silent for the most part. Except for the occasional trees rustling or animals moving, and our footsteps of course.

  “Will you please let go of me?” I asked. Breaking the silence.

  Nate gave Sam a questioning look.

  “As long as you don’t run,” Sam said.

  “I won’t.” They let go of me but stayed really close. “But what would happen if I did?”

  Nate tensed up before answering. “We would probably chase you and bring you back.”

  I was just about to ask another question when Loren’s voice interrupted.

  “Glad that you guys caught up. Now if you would please go inside and sit down.” I was glad that I could actually see Loren. I looked over the building before I entered it. The house was small. It looked nice from the outside, but knowing Loren, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a dump.

  I was really nervous and scared. When I walked into the building, there were two couches, parallel to each other, with a table and chairs off to the side. There was a small coffee table between the two couches. There was a mini fridge in the corner.

  The small one room building almost felt like a cabin. There was a fire place on the far wall and most of the structure was made out of wood. There were blankets and pillows scattered around the room too. As I was looking around the room I began to wonder if I was still on my land or if I just never knew that this place existed.

  Just then the door opened and Loren walked in. Sam and Nate had already sat down in some chairs on the other side of the room. They were talking quietly to themselves. Loren sat down on the couch opposite me. Sam and Nate had stopped talking and were now sitting on the couch with Loren. Loren had one of those evil smiles plastered across his face again. Making me nervous.

  “Hi, Catherine,” Loren said.

  I just looked at him.

  “What do you prefer I call you? Catherine, Kate, Katie, or Cat?”

  The last name got to me. That was what Brent had called me. That was the first nickname Brent had made up for me. I tensed up as I heard the name. Obviously Loren noticed because he smiled.

  “What will it be?” Loren asked again.

  “Catherine,” I said quietly.

  “Good. Now that we got that out of the way, we want to ask you some questions about yourself and your family,” Loren said.

  I didn’t even look at him. I was looking down at my hands. They were intertwined together and turning different colors. I hadn’t realized that I was taking my anger out on my hands. I was squeezing them so hard. I relaxed my grip on my hands and looked up to see Loren looking at me.

  “How many people are in your family?” Loren continued, knowing that he had my attention. “We know that there is you and your sister, Margaret, and of course William and your dad.”

  I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t ask for this to happen, so I wasn’t going to answer any questions. Why would I give these answers to strangers, whether or not they go to the same school as me.

  “Catherine, answer the question,” Loren said and then whispered something to Nate and Sam.

  “No, I don’t want to,” I replied. “There is no reason for you to know about my family. I don’t even understand why I am here! It’s not fair! You guys are a bunch of idiots!”

  “So that is how it’s going to be. Well then I guess I should start by telling you that your family is in danger right now. If you don’t answer the questions then we will lock you up in here and you will never see your family or Brent again. So, I will ask you one more time.

  “How many people are in your family?”

  “Brent said that he was going to talk to you about how safe my family was!” I protested.

  “I understand. But we don’t always do what we say. So please answer the question. Or I will call one of my friends. He is just outside your house. Waiting for me to tell him to go inside your house.” Loren took the phone out of his pocket.

  “You’re threatening me!” I yelled.

  “Yes, we are. Please answer the question!” Loren’s voice was louder than mine. I shrunk back into my seat. I was scared of Loren.

  “There are seven of us,” I replied, defeated.

  “Thank you! Seven? I thought there were only five. Ok, tell us some more.”

  I hesitated, not wanting to tell him too much, but Nate stood up and walked towards me. “I have two brothers Oscar and Thomas. We are triplets. My mom is always inside, and she rarely leaves the house. That’s why you never see her.” I rushed. I didn’t want Nate to come any closer. He had stopped walking as soon as I started talking.

  “Oh, ok. I understand now. Thank you for answering the question. Now, how did you meet up with Brent? Are you working for Evan?” Nate went and sat back down next to Loren.

  “I don’t want to answer that question,” I said quietly, looking away from the boys.

  Loren whispered something to Sam and Nate and they stood up. I inched backwards on the couch once they started to walk towards me. They sat down on either side of me and grabbed me. Sam was on my left side and Nate on the right. They had grabbed my shoulders. I could barely move.

  “Ok, now answer the question or else these two will pick you up and lock you in that room.” He pointed to a small door in the corner of the room, across from where I was sitting. “Right now we have no one moving towards your house, but we can change that as well.”

  “Fine, I’ll answer the question.” Loren was pissing me off. He was acting way older than he actually was, and it was ridiculous.

  “Good,” Loren said with a smile.

  I then proceeded to tell Loren, Sam, and Nate everything about what had happened. When I was finally done Sam and Nate stood up, yanking me off the couch with them. They walked over to the door towards the front of the small building. Then Loren opened the door and we started to walk. Hopefully back to where Brent and I had gone separate ways…but who knows.

  *

  Nick barely said anything to Brent as they walked from the clearing to a small shelter on the other side of the forest. The walk was short and it wasn’t awkward for the two boys. They used to be best friends, but then Nick got tied up into the wrong group and Brent had joined the spy organization; no one knew that though. The two just grew apart; it was that simple.

  When they finally arrived Nick told Brent where to find Evan and then sat down on bench right outside the shelter. Brent didn’t hesitate. He opened the door and walked in . He went down one hallway and took a left. He came to the first door on the right and opened it.

  Sure enough Evan was inside the bare room. The floor, ceiling, and walls were all made out of cement. The only thing that was in the cold room was a metal chair. Evan was tied to the chair and had duct tape over his mouth.

  When Evan saw Brent, his eyes widened. Brent went right over to him and took off the tape.

  “Oh, thank you so much,” Evan said and little out of breath.

  “What happened?” Brent asked while untying Evan’s wrists.

  “Once I got down the ladder they captured me and brought me here. They asked me questions about what we were up to and then tied me u
p. They told me that they were going to go and get you and Catherine. Where is she? Is she okay?”

  “She’s with them. They wouldn’t let me talk to you unless she went with them. “

  “They are probably going to ask her questions. She is going to tell the truth.”

  “Yeah, she will, but it shouldn’t matter to them. I told her to be careful what to tell them when we were on our way over to meet them. What did you tell them?” Brent asked.

  “I told them simple answers, some of them not completely true, but they shouldn’t notice the difference between how we all answer.” Evan said. “We just have to make sure that she doesn’t tell them the exact reason of why she was asked to work with us. You haven’t told her have you?”

  “No, I haven’t. I never want to.” Brent said.

  “Well you are going to have to sometime. Just make sure it’s the right time. Otherwise she might back out of the job, and that would be bad.”

  “Yeah, I understand, and everything should be ok. I am supposed to meet them back there pretty soon and it was a long walk back here. I’ll come back later.”

  “Ok. Good luck, Brent and keep her safe. We need her,” Evan said.

  “Yes, I know Evan,” Brent said as he left the room.

  *

  By the time I got back to the clearing Brent had been waiting for me for five minutes. He looked worried, but I was glad to see him ok.

  “Brent,” I said. I got slapped in the face by Loren.

  “Don’t talk,” Loren said. Brent stood up and started to walk over to us. “If you take one more step you will never touch her again.” Brent stopped walking. Nate and Sam were still holding on to my shoulders, and had no sign of letting go.

  “I assume that you were able to talk to Evan,” Loren asked Brent.

  “Yes, I was. Thank you,” Brent replied.

  “Good, well Catherine here was a very good girl for us. She listened nicely and answered all of our questions. So, you can have her back, for now. We might want to talk to her later, but that is out of your control.”

  “Can I have her back then?” Brent asked.

  “Yes, here you go,” Loren said. I was then pushed really hard and I slammed into Brent who didn’t even move, but put his arms around me. Having Brent’s arms around me made my stomach flip.

  I felt so much safer near him. Yes, he had just delivered me to these boys that were in high school, but Brent knew what he was doing. At least that’s what I thought.

  “Can’t wait to see you again Catherine,” Nick said and laughed quietly. He has just entered the clearing.

  “You will never be seeing her again,” Brent replied for me.

  “Don’t be so sure, Brent,” Nick replied and started to walk away with Loren. They laughed quietly. Nate followed Loren and Sam stayed behind.

  “I’ll walk you back to your house, Catherine,” Sam said. “We wouldn’t want you getting lost.”

  “Thanks but I think I can handle it,” Brent replied. Taking a step towards Sam. Brent grabbed my hand and I took a step towards Sam as well.

  “I’ll make a deal. I’ll walk her home and you can go and get Evan from his room and bring him home as well.” Sam said, touching my arm.

  “How do I know that she will be home safely?”

  “I’ll let her call you when she gets there. Or William could call. Trust me. Loren and Nick want me to keep her very safe. I won’t let anything happen to her.” Brent looked over at Sam one more time.

  “Fine, but if she isn’t safe I am going to call the police. You got that?”

  “Yeah, I understand. Now let go of her so I can lead her to safety.” Sam was smiling.

  Brent slowly let go of me and Sam grabbed my hand. Sam yanked me towards him and put his arm around my shoulder. I looked back at Brent and he looked really sad. I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me. Then I turned around and, let Sam walk me back towards my house, while Brent turned the other way and walked even deeper into the forest.

  Chapter 11

  As soon as Brent was out of my sight, I shook Sam’s arm off my shoulders. He stopped walking and looked at me, but I kept walking.

  “Hey! Come back here,” he yelled at me.

  “No, I don’t want to,” I said back. He ran up to me and grabbed my arm. He yanked me back towards him so that we were only inches away from each other. He was breathing hard and his breath was cool. “Do you need something?” I asked, trying to back away from him.

  “Yeah, I need you to behave, or else we won’t go back to your house.” His hands were on my lower back, making sure that I didn’t move.

  “How do I know your taking me there right now?”

  “If I wasn’t, I would be in really big trouble with Loren, if he found out.”

  “Why do you even have to bug me and my family?”

  Sam sighed and let me go. We began walking again before he answered my question. “Well, Loren thinks your sister is hot and then we realized that Nick’s dad used to work with your dad until your dad got him fired him.” Sam paused. “So, Loren wants to get to know your sister and Nick is just mad at your family.”

  “What about you and Nate?”

  “We both just think you’re cute.” He laughed at that. Then he grabbed my hand as we were walking.

  We walked in silence for awhile and all we could hear was our footsteps. I tried to pull my hand from his but he just held on tighter.

  “Can you please let go of me,” I asked, breaking the silence.

  “No,” Sam replied, as if it was obvious.

  “Why not?”

  “I want to hold your hand for as long as I can before I have to leave you.” Sam smiled.

  “Well I don’t want to hold your hand.” I pulled as hard as I could but my hand didn’t move. Then I stuck out my leg and tripped Sam. Sam fell to the ground and my hand came free.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  “For not letting go of my hand,” I replied with a laugh.

  I started walking again be he jumped up and wrapped his arms around me so that I couldn’t move. Then he leaned down a little bit and whispered in my ear. “Tripping me was a very bad idea, by the way, Catherine.”

  “And why is that?” I asked, his breath sending shivers all over my body.

  “You didn’t listen to me and you let go of my hand.”

  “And your point is…?”

  “Shut up!” Sam shook me. “I don’t care what you think, but now you are in big trouble. We are going to turn around and go straight back to Loren. He will know what to do with you.”

  “You promised Brent that you would bring me home,” I said a little worried that Sam was serious.

  “I don’t care. I don’t have to listen to anybody right now. You are coming with me whether you like it or not.” I struggled against his grip around me, but I couldn’t move. Sam was too strong for me.

  “What do I have to do to make you bring me back home?” I asked sadly, knowing that I had lost that battle.

  “Oh, so now you will listen?” he asked me.

  “Just tell me what I have to do.” I was not happy.

  “Well you could let me touch you and bring you home safely and when we get there I want a kiss.”

  “No! I am not doing that! Are you crazy?”

  “Ok, then I will bring you back to Loren.” He smiled, knowing that he was going to get his wish.

  “Fine, but nothing else.”

  “Good,” he said, sounding really happy.

  He slowly let go of me and grabbed my hand. We began walking again without talking. It seemed like forever, but we finally reached the fence that surrounded my house. Sam stopped walking and he let go of my hand and grabbed my shoulders.

  “You happy,” I asked Sam, with a smirk.

  “I will be happier after you kiss me,” he replied.

  My smile vanished. “Do I have to right now? Or can we wait until I see you again?”

  “I guess it doesn’t really matter, bu
t you have to promise me that I will have a kiss from you before the week is over. I’ll talk to you at school if I don’t.”

  “Fine. I promise.” I said. “Speaking of talking to me at school. What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “I mean, you were so nice at school. Why are you being so mean, now?” I asked.

  “You are the one who is being stubborn. I am just trying to do my job.”

  “And, why do you keep running into me in the hallways?”

  “Because I feel like it.”

  “Whatever. Oh and I see what you mean about seeing me later.” I said.

  “I told you not to worry about it.” Sam said.

  Then he let go of my shoulder and we walked towards my house. When we reached the ladder, we said good bye and I began to climb up to my room.

  When I reached my window, I slowly lowered myself into my room and shut the window. Finally I was home and safe, for the most part.

  I called Brent as soon as possible.

  “Cat? Are you okay,” Brent asked.

  “Yeah. I’m home. Where are you?” I asked him.

  “I am just outside the fence to your house. I will be there in 30 minutes. Just let me say goodbye to Evan.”

  “Ok.”

  “I’m sorry, Cat.”

  “It’s okay, Brent.”

  The line went dead and I shut my phone.

  I went downstairs and found my mom working at her desk, and my brothers watching T.V. There was no sign of Margaret.

  “Where’s Margaret?” I asked my mom, worried for a few moments.

  “She is upstairs working on homework. Why?” my mom asked.

  “No reason. William, can I talk to you?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be right there,” William responded.

  I went back to my room and shut the door. A few minutes later William walked into my room.

  “Where were you?” he asked spastically.

  “In the woods,” I replied, as if it were no big deal.

  “Doing what?” William asked throwing his arms in the air.