Make A Wish (Dandelion #1)

by Jenna Lynn Hodge

  The exterior was painted a very bright white that looked as if it sparkled in the sunshine. The window shutters appeared to be a dark midnight black. A wooden swing hung from the porch overlooking the front yard.

  I always had imagined someday living in a house like that, drinking sweet tea from mason jar glasses. Now, I could imagine my child running and playing in the grass, maybe even with a small puppy as company. Maybe someday we’d have that but it wouldn’t be here and it certainly wouldn’t be with Beau.

  I shook my head as if that would help clear the fantasies that swarmed in the depth of my mind, but it didn’t do much to appease the thoughts.

  I took another deep breath—which I’d been doing an awful lot of lately—and braced myself to knock. The sound of my knuckles knocking on the hard wood was the only noise to be heard around. My heart felt as if it would jump from my chest at any second.

  The anticipation of seeing the man who I wanted to despise but couldn’t wracked through my body and every movement I made. I stood and waited, but no one answered.

  Figuring that maybe he couldn’t hear it throughout his abnormally large house, I knocked even louder and much harder. Still no answer came. I pulled the letter from my purse along with a slip of paper containing my phone number and placed it on the wooden swing before turning and climbing into my car, exiting out in the same fashion I arrived... With my dignity.

  My heart continued to race, all nerves on point. But they wouldn’t slow and definitely weren’t returning to normal. Doubt encompassed me as I thought of him reading the note and never calling. Why would he? He got everything that he had wanted at the time—my body.

  ***

  Juliette: I left a note for Beau.

  Saylor: No way! Are you sure that’s the right choice?

  Juliette: 4 me? No. 4 my baby? Yes.

  Saylor: Ok, w/e u say. Wanna get lunch tomorrow?

  Juliette: Yes!

  Saylor: c u then.

  Juliette: K.

  MILES

  Miguel and I pulled up to Juliette’s apartment at promptly seven pm. It was pitch black outside and there wasn’t another car or person in sight, which was rather unusual for Hollywood. Who was I to complain though? It was perfect.

  A smug grin spread across my face as I watched all the pieces click together and fall into place. This had been a long time coming.

  “This is gonna be like taking candy from a baby.”

  Miguel looked at me, his eyes unreadable. I knew he wasn’t used to seeing me like this, so calculated and cold, but you need to do what you need to do. This was necessary and there wasn’t a stitch of doubt in me, this was right. For me. For him. For the world. At least that’s what I was telling myself.

  We sat in the black van in silence until we saw what we were waiting for—a single sign that she was there.

  A flicker of the light switch caught our attention and within a moment’s glance, I’d opened the passenger door and slipped out, ready to make my move. I hissed a command at Miguel to keep the car rolling before speeding up the stairs at a quick pace, as stealthily as humanly possible.

  Standing outside her door, I felt a tad overwhelmed at how nervous I felt. Once I crossed the line, there was no going back. The discovery could change the world and I knew that I wouldn’t stop until everyone important had seen the evidence.

  No going back.

  JULIETTE

  I had just managed to brush my teeth and crawl into bed when I heard a knock on my front door. I knew I wasn’t expecting anyone and looking at the clock only confirmed that I hadn’t forgotten something.

  Who’d come here at this time of night?

  I climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the peephole of my apartment door, a familiar face coming into view. Not thinking beforehand, I swung the wooden door open and faced the figure of a man who I’d been sure I’d never see again. Someone I’d only met once before.

  “Yes? You’re the lab tech from the hospital, right? Do you need something?”

  Though I wasn’t being impolite, my voice was stern. It was late, I was tired and my morning sickness was going full force at all hours of the day; all I wanted to do was go to bed.

  “Actually I do. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that, when your blood sample was analyzed, I noticed something a little peculiar about your blood and DNA.”

  My first thought went to my baby. I hoped that he or she wasn’t being affected by whatever was wrong with me. There wasn’t anything I could do about it at that moment, so I made a quick mental note in my head to go to the doctor the next day and have it checked out.

  “Dr. Reinhart felt like it wasn’t something important to tell you, but my opinion was different. I thought you would like to know.”

  “Well, thank you,” I said, stepping back so that I could close the door on him. Miles’ hand caught it quickly and pushed it open, allowing a few extra inches of space for him to gain access to the confines of my apartment without permission.

  Instant panic spread throughout every inch of me, and for a brief time, I returned to a place that I promised myself I’d never revisit.

  “Let me go, Max,” I struggled to say through the large hand muffling my mouth. I looked up into the black eyes of the large—almost adult—boy who held my tiny body pinned to the mattress.

  “The more you struggle, the harder this will be,” he hissed into my ear.

  I stopped struggling under the weight of his body shadowing over mine.

  I was only a little girl. Even if I tried, I wouldn’t win. I’d never win in a fight against him. He’d make up some excuse and I’d get sent away to a new home... Again.

  I shook my head in resignation, my foster brother finally releasing his hand from my mouth. But it didn’t stop. His hand trailed down my stomach and dipped even lower, pulling down my pink panties with one swift movement.

  Somehow the buckle on his pants found their way open, and before I could register what was happening, he had them completely down around his ankles, his manhood revealed.

  My eyes widened as I took in everything before me. I was scared and frightened but I trusted him. He wouldn’t hurt me. He loved me. I was so sure. I shook my head and whispered that I wouldn’t tell anyone, that I’m not supposed to see his private parts, and to please, just let me go.

  I didn’t want whatever was going to happen, to happen. But he wouldn’t stop. I turned my head away. I didn’t want to see it.

  “It’s okay, this won’t hurt. In fact, it will be the most pleasant experience you’ve ever had. You really should be thanking me.”

  He turned my head to look him in the eyes, leaning forward just enough to smash his lips ferociously onto mine, shoving his tongue inside of me. I didn’t know what to do, so I just lay there.

  I thought about biting down on his tongue, hurting him so that I could getaway, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t even if I did have the courage.

  Max won and he always would.

  I let the tears silently fall as I suppressed the screams and wails of pain. I had trusted Max, so sure that he was the closest thing I would ever have to an actual brother.

  I was wrong.

  All fight within me had disappeared, only fear and pain taking its place as one of the only constants in my life. Forever changed.

  Miles grasped me tightly around my arm, pulling me from my nightmarish memories. I couldn’t contain the shudder that crawled up my spine as I was being yanked in the direction of the front door.

  Unlike my experience as I child, I drew on every ounce of power and fortitude left in me to get away from him. I had to keep fighting; there wasn’t any other choice.

  After I gave him one hard kick to the groin, he loosened his grasp enough for me to wiggle from his fingers. I took that as my chance and ran as fast as I could to the kitchen, which seemed much further than it was, because in a matter of seconds he’d descended upon me, grabbing me around the waist. I kicked and screamed, never letting up.

  I gr
asped a small knife in my hand, one that I’d managed to pick up from the kitchen, before he’d caught me. I wanted to smile and laugh, so sure that I now had the upper hand, but I was terrified. Could I really do it?

  With a swift motion, the blade collided with his upper right arm with ease, far enough into his bicep that the knife stuck tightly. Blood leaked down his arm and dropped to the tile, a scream of pain emerging from his mouth.

  I took my chance and turned my body around in his arms, so that I was facing him head on. With as much force as I could muster up, I hit, kicked, and punched him. Never stopping or faltering. Blood came from his nose as my fist collided with the bridge, making even more blood-puddles all over the foyer.

  Still Miles regained his composure, my violent acts not phasing him. I wasn’t strong enough.

  Before I could fathom what was happening, I toppled over the dining room table. Darkness overcame me as I drifted from consciousness; the last thing I saw were those same black eyes looming over me.

  MILES

  Though I was in heaps of pain, I pulled the knife from my arm and wrapped a small hand towel that had been lying on the table around my arm, stemming the blood flow. I hadn’t expected that much of a fight from her and was thoroughly impressed with Juliette’s spirit and persistence, much stronger than I remembered her being. I’d have my work cut out for me.

  I bent down and scooped the unconscious blonde into my arms, resting the majority of her weight on my good arm. Despite everything, I had still prevailed. I still had it.

  JULIETTE

  I woke shivering, my hands and ankles bound by large metal linked chains attached to a wall. The chains were tight and my skin chaffed with every shift of the links.

  Looking around the room, my heart sunk. I’d hoped that I could devise a plan to get out of wherever I was, but it took me no time at all to realize that wouldn’t be happening. There wasn’t a single window in sight and the room was practically barren.

  The only items I could see were a desk, which was placed in the far corner near a door; a laptop and a mouse, sitting on top of the desk; and a few select medical instruments. Gear that I hoped stayed far far away from me.

  I sighed as I leaned back against the wall. A small pain above my right eye caused me to wince, and I brought my hands up to the aching space. Small blood droplets leaked from the gash to my fingers that softly brushed over it.

  Asshole, was the first word I that came to mind when I thought of Miles, who’d managed to abduct me from my own home. If he thinks I’m just gonna roll over and allow him to do what he likes with me, he has another thing coming. My fight wasn’t over, and it wouldn’t be until the day that I took my last breath.

  I tried resting but every time my eyelids closed—even if it was to just blink—I was confronted with his haunting black eyes. What were the odds? No... No. It can’t be. There’s no way.

  “Max?” I screamed as loud as I could, my voice breaking as the words left my mouth, waiting to see if I was right but hoping beyond belief that I was wrong.

  “Took you long enough to figure it out Juju.” He smiled wickedly at me as he stepped through the door and into the room with me. The tears were back—filling my eyes while my lungs struggled for air.

  “How?”

  “I knew it the minute I saw you in the ER. Then I read your file and, ironically enough, was assigned as the one to test your blood. When it came back that it contained this creepy mutation, it made it all the easier for me to decide on a game plan. Everything fell into place after that—this building, Miguel, the transport car—the list goes on. After the stunt you pulled as a kid—trying to ruin my life and get me put behind bars for something you willingly participated in—I have no qualms about ruining your pitiful life in return. Not like it matters anyways—you’re a freak! You deserve no more than you’re getting,” he said.

  I was speechless. How had I not seen it before in the hospital? I’d spent time talking to him as he drew my blood, asking him about his life and his career. I never put two and two together, I just couldn’t explain why.

  Now that I was looking at him, I was really looking at him. He looked a little different, much thinner and more worn around the edges but the features were the same.

  Time changed nothing. He was as violent and as abusive as he ever was, and now that I knew it was him— the man who’d molested and raped me as a child—the fear in me grew to an extremely dangerous level.

  JULIETTE

  My body ached all over. I was so over being kidnapped. I found myself thinking of the outside world often.

  Was anyone looking for me?

  Did anyone really care?

  With each passing day, my cuts and bruises had healed, though I still felt like complete and utter crap.

  Most of my days weren’t terrible, at least the ones where my kidnappers were too busy to pay a lot of attention to me, not that I was complaining. On the days where they wanted something from me though, it was much worse. They’d try to hold me down to stick needles in my arms and hands, but I never willingly let them. Who would? I would kick and fight back each and every time, their grasp on me tightening ever so slightly, causing massive bruises to appear on my arms and legs.

  My veins have always been unusually deep, but it took many needle pricks later for the two kidnappers to find an appropriate duct. I was so sure that after the first time of successfully pulling a sample—and having experience working in the medical field—they’d have a better understanding for the following attempts, but they didn’t. Which spoke volumes about their intelligence.

  Twice a day I was escorted to the bathroom, a small, almost port-a-potty sized room with a bright fluorescent light that hung from the ceiling, swinging back and forth as if someone was pushing it. Fortunately for the guys, there wasn’t a window in there either, leaving me with no possible escape route in sight.

  One of the men—most of the time it was Miguel—would stand outside waiting for me to emerge. It gave me the willies thinking about them standing out there, listening as I peed and showered. How long could I survive like this?

  I lost track of the amount of time I’d been here. Each day ran into the next, a never ending loop. My own personal form of hell.

  The first few days, I tried everything I could to get someone, anyone, to hear me. I even resorted to begging them on my hands and knees, in hopes I could appeal to their better nature, but it didn’t work. So instead I spoke my mind, putting my colorful and extensive vocabulary, to use. I screamed every possible combination of obscenities every time either one stepped inside the room.

  And when they got close to me, I gathered all my competence into punching, hitting, and kicking any part of them that reached for me. I wouldn’t let the chains that bound me hold me back. Still, I never won. In fact, I’d been knocked unconscious more times than I could recall.

  It scared me knowing that with me out of it, they could do anything they wanted to my child. I knew I was losing steam, but I would do anything to protect my baby and the only choice I had was to fight. I didn’t want to think of the opposite outcome.

  Miles and Miguel must’ve grown tired of my voice, because eventually my mouth was covered with a bandanna, a flimsy one which did very little to keep my mouth closed.

  Dear Baby,

  I’ve struggled with how to write this letter to you, I don’t want to disappoint you and I don’t want you to look back on my pregnancy with you when you’re older as a bad thing, because I assure you, it couldn’t be further from the truth. You’re the greatest thing to ever come into my life. In fact even now, it still feels unbelievably surreal that I have a little being growing inside of me.

  I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that I was foolish and stupid. I didn’t take any precaution to keeping us safe, to keeping you safe. Now we’re in this position, with no idea whether we’ll ever be able to find a way out. I’m truly sorry… I haven’t even met you yet and still I’m failing you as a mom. How can I do th
is?

  I found out something and I wish that I hadn’t… Something that had a huge detrimental impact on me as a kid. I can’t explain right now but when you’re older, I’ll tell you everything. So here’s my promise. When you are ready, I’m an open book. Until then, I’ll continue to protect you from the ugliness that surrounds us.

  Each day brings me closer and closer to my due date and while I’m looking forward to it, it scares me. What if we’re still here? I promise to keep trying to find a way out but I need you to promise one thing too. Stay happy, healthy, and safe. I’ll fix this.

  Xoxo, Love you!

  Mommy

  I placed the pen down on the ground. The abductors were rude, scary, and vile men but they’d given me a pen and pad of paper, after they were sure I wouldn’t stab them with it. That was nice, right?

  I sighed as I laid my head on the cold, uncomfortable ground. My eyes closed and I prayed that I could finally get some well-needed rest.

  SAYLOR

  A few months had gone by since my best friend was kidnapped. I couldn’t help the restlessness and sadness I felt each day that came and went, with no change or update.

  Each time that I’d spoken to the police detective on the case, he’d basically given me the runaround. It pissed me off. From what I knew, they hadn’t made even an inch of progress.

  I charged into the West Hollywood police station and walked in as if I owned the freaking place.

  “Please tell me you have something. Because if I was called down here for nothing, there’s gonna be a problem.” I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to budge.

  “Actually, that’s the thing…” The very same detective I’d spoken to on numerous occasions barely glanced in my direction. It only pissed me off even more. “The chief has decided to close Ms. Mitchell’s case due to lack of substantial evidence.”