Again, I nodded.
“Good. I didn’t want-” he paused, and I noticed the car wasn’t moving.
Glancing up, I sucked in a breath as a police officer gestured for Jordan to put the car in park. He did as instructed, but slid his hand down between the seats and pulled out a knife. As the officer walked to the window, Jordan placed his hand on my leg, giving me a comforting pat.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle this,” he said before rolling down the window.
The officer approached the window, and I had the sudden image of Jordan slamming the knife into the bouncer’s chest. Before I could stop myself, I threw open my door and lunged. Jordan yelled my name and reached for me, yanking me back inside the car.
“Knife!” I screamed. “He has a knife!”
The officer pulled his gun out of its holster, gesturing for his partner to join him. Jordan huffed and put his hands in the air, holding the knife out in front of him.
“Put the knife in your left hand, and drop it out the window,” the officer ordered.
Jordan followed as he was told, flicking his eyes in my direction. My heart thundered in my ears as - with a look - Jordan promised this wouldn’t be the last I’d see of him.
“Please, help me,” I said. “He kidnapped me.”
The officers shared a glance. “Get out of the car and keep your hands raised. No sudden movements,” the man ordered.
Swallowing heard, I climbed out of the car, keeping my hands up so the officers could see I was unarmed. Jordan followed suit.
“Okay. We have to handcuff you. It’s for your own protection,” the female officer said walking around to me.
I nodded and placed my hands behind my back. She was gentle as she placed the cuffs around my wrists and led me back to their car. Jordan was placed in next to me, and the entire ride back to the station, I couldn’t move. Caught between joy and fear as the man who kidnapped me and murdered two people in cold blood sat mere inches away. I don’t think I even breathed until we were led into the building and put in different rooms with a wall and locked door between us.
“They have my sister. Please, you have to believe me,” I said.
The officer interviewing - questioning - me raised one brow as he glanced down at the file in front of him.
“It says here that your sister ran away from home after your mother died in a fire,” he said.
I nodded. “She did, but then she was kidnapped three days later. If you just look in their house, you’ll see for yourself.”
“We’ve already searched their home, Miss Carmichael. They weren’t holding anyone captive,” he said.
“What?” I gasped, then shook my head. “No, that’s not true. You have to look again. There’s an entire, like, second house built in their basement.”
Officer Lyles scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. “I think that’s something our investigators would have missed.”
“But-”
“I’m sorry. There’s just no evidence to support your claim,” the officer said with a sigh as he placed his notebook on the desk and sat back. “You should know it’s against the law to give false claims to the police.”
“What? I’m telling you the truth. He kidnapped me!”
“You also told me that you spent the entire day walking around New Orleans together. Unfortunately, a jury isn’t going to see that as kidnapping, no matter how under duress you claim you were,” he said.
My teeth clenched. “So you’re not going to do anything. What about my sister?”
“We’ll do what we can to help you find your sister, but as she was never reported missing, there’s not much we can do.”
“Then what am I supposed to do now?” I asked. “Just go back to school and pretend like nothing ever happened?”
“Right now, that’s the best advice I can give you,” he said, and I wanted to scream. “Is there anyone we can call to come pick you up?”
Crossing my arms, I leaned back in my seat with a huff. They didn’t believe that I was actually in any danger, but they wouldn’t let me leave on my own.
I sighed. “Yeah. There’s someone you can call.”
THIRTEEN
Oh my goodness, Calla. Are you alright? I heard from the school that you missed most of your exams and no one knew where you were. At first I thought you were just avoiding my calls, but then I got a call from the police. They said you were… Are you okay?” she asked.
It was the most I’d ever heard her sound like a worried parent instead of like a therapist, and it made me smile. It also made me miss my mom.
“I’m fine,” I said, tightening my grip around the phone. If you considered me kidnapped and held hostage for three days, then having the police not believe your story fine.
“Oh good, good. The officer I spoke with on the phone said you witnessed a murder. Are you sure you’re okay? After everything you’ve gone through and seen, it’d be okay if you weren’t,” she said.
It was the same thing I’d told Lily just the day before. Well, I guess it was two days ago now. The thought of her sitting in that room all alone without anyone out there even looking for her made my heart squeeze in my chest. No matter what, I had to get her out of there.
“I guess I could use someone to talk to,” I answered, and she chuckled.
“You know I’m here whenever you need me.”
“Actually,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I could use your help. I know you’re just my therapist, but the officers won’t let me leave on my own. They said they’re worried for my safety, but I think they just want to make sure I don’t do anything stupid.” I sighed. “I don’t really have anyone else I could ask.”
“Of course, honey. I’ll get there as soon as I can. Are you okay to wait for me? I can get you a hotel room or something-”
“No, I’ll be fine here. There’s even a nice couch I can sleep on,” I said with a forced laugh. In reality, I’d felt safer in this police station than I had in days, and walking outside unprotected made me want to vomit.
“Okay Calla. If you’re sure,” she said hesitantly.
“I am. Oh, Dr. Carter?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a few hours. Try to get some rest if you can,” she said, and I smiled.
“I’ll do my best,” I answered, but there was no way I’d get any sleep until Lily was safe and that entire family was behind bars. “See you soon.”
Jaelyn’s half of the dorm room was empty when I returned, leaving no sign that she ever existed. When I asked one of the RAs what happened to her stuff, they said she dropped out of school and moved out last weekend. Last weekend. When I talked to Dr. Carter, she said I’d been missing for almost a week. An entire week. I thought I’d spent less than three days in that fake house when in reality I’d been there longer than that. From my estimation, I was there for at least four nights and five days with another day and night spent with Jordan in New Orleans and the police station.
I don’t know if Dr. Carter believed my story any more than the police did, but she had me spend a couple days in the hospital getting checked out when I got back. They filled me with some fluids to help with dehydration, gave me something to help me sleep, then checked me off with a clean bill of health to return to school. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back, but then decided that not going would mean they won, and I didn’t couldn’t let them win.
My professors were letting me take makeups for the exams I missed, and honestly, I was surprised I hadn’t been kicked out of any of their classes yet. Dr. Carter’s influence went a long way to helping me graduate on time. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be repeating my senior year for sure.
For the first couple of nights back at the dorm, I tried using the sleeping pills, but every time I did, I had nightmares - crazy, vivid nightmares. I’d wake up to someone pounding on my door that I’d been screaming. It became such a regular thing that the RAs sc
heduled their rounds at night so they could wake me when the nightmares started before the screaming got too loud. When I stopped taking them, the nightmares stopped, but so did the sleeping.
Monday morning, I had my first class in two weeks, Anatomy of Short Stories. My professor, Dr. Lawson, asked me to stay after class as he handed out the worksheets for the day. Sighing I studied the paper. We were supposed to analyze the story and edit it in such a way that improved the overall plot structure… or something. We’d talked about it briefly before exam week, but I hadn’t slept in days, and I could barely remember my own name, let alone something I learned weeks ago.
“Sorry I’m late, Dr. Lawson. My appointment ran longer than I expected,” a girl said, breathless as she ran into the classroom. My head jerked up at the familiar voice.
“That’s alright, Zoe. Please take a seat and get started on your assignment. I’m sure Calla here would be more than happy to help you catch up,” he said, and, realizing I was staring, I looked back down at my paper.
Zoe smiled as she slid into the seat next to me, and I swallowed hard. “Hey, where have you been? It’s been so boring without you and Jaelyn,” she said, laughing. “I thought I was going to go stir crazy. You know James and I broke up right? He said I didn’t spend enough time with him.” She rolled her eyes. “Like I’m in school and he works full time. It’s not like I just sit around all day doing nothing, right?”
I nodded, unable to keep myself from staring.
“Um… earth to Calla? Why are you looking at me that way?” she asked, waving a hand in front of my face.
“Sorry,” I said, clearing my throat. “I haven’t been sleeping much.”
She laughed. “I know. I can hear you screaming.”
“Sorry,” I said, face heating.
“It’s not your fault you have nightmares,” she replied, shrugging. “Anyway, what are we supposed to be doing? Dr. Lawson is giving us the stink eye so we better get to work.”
“Right,” I murmured, still trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “Hey Zoe, can I ask you a question?”
“Hmm? Sure,” she said, nodding.
“How did you get back here?” I asked.
She glanced up at me with a raised brow. “What do you mean?”
“From New Orleans…”
Shaking her head, Zoe’s forehead furrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never been to New Orleans.”
“But we were just… Are you sure?”
She rolled her eyes and chuckled. “I think I’d remember something like that.”
“Oh… right. I guess I really do need some sleep, huh?” I said, forcing a laugh, and Zoe nodded before returning her attention to the assignment. I had no chance of thinking about anything other than why everything was turned around in my head.
Zoe had been drugged out of her mind in the back of Jordan’s car just last week. She’d been taken into the house to have, who knew what, done to her. There was no way she been here this whole time… was there?
I spent the entire class caught up in my thoughts, trying to piece together what had happened that day, to distinguish between what was fact and what was fiction. Why did I remember Zoe being there with me in the car on the way to New Orleans and she remember never leaving campus? None of it made any sense.
After class, Dr. Lawson let me schedule my makeup for the exam tomorrow afternoon. He offered to extend his office hours to help me prepare for it, but I declined. I wouldn’t be able to keep my mind on the material anyway. At this point, I’d be lucky if I passed all of them.
“Calla, are you sure you’re alright?” Dr. Lawson asked as I turned to leave.
I paused in his doorway but didn’t look back at him. If I did, he’d be able to see the tears forming in my eyes and my hands clenched into shaking fists.
“I’m fine. Thanks for your help,” I said and disappeared down the hall.
Silence echoed in the giant library - empty save for myself - and I struggled to focus as every little noise ricocheted through my ears. I retreated into the corner, hoping throwing myself into a book would distract me from all the thoughts consuming my brain. The abandoned half of my dorm only brought up memories better left forgotten, and surrounding myself with people came with the added benefit of constant questions.
Zoe and I spent the better part of yesterday catching up. We even managed to review some of the material for my makeup exam before questions of my own consumed me once again. So many questions with so few answers. Speaking with Dr. Carter didn’t help much either. She knew what I told her, what I remembered, but just like the night of the fire, my memories didn’t line up with what actually happened - what supposedly happened.
The large wooden door at the front of the library slammed open, and my pulse quickened. Taking calming breaths, I reminded myself where I was. Nothing was going to happen to me in the middle of a crowded campus… in the middle of an empty library. I swallowed, slinking back into my little corner.
“Calla? Are you in here?”
I froze. A voice so familiar I’d know it anyway called my name, and I jumped to my feet. Before running out in the open, a thought made me pause. Why would she be here? How could she be here?
“Calla?”
Wiping sweaty palms on my jeans, I took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the shelves, peering around them. Sure enough, my sister stood at the entrance.
“Lily?” I called, stepping out so she could see me.
She grinned wide. “Calla!”
Racing forward, she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed so tight I could barely breathe. Filled with confusion and relief - mostly relief - I hugged her back, never wanting to let go. We stood there for a long time in the quiet, empty library holding each other, neither one willing to move away first.
“How did you get here?” I asked, still holding tight.
Lily squeezed me tighter, and I grunted under the pressure before she pulled away. Tears streamed down her face, and she wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
“Lily? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” She whispered as she shook her head and stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’m so sorry.”
“What-”
The door slammed open behind her, and my breath caught in my throat, choking me as three people entered. Moving back, I froze when a hand closed around my wrist. Lily held tight to my arm, keeping me still.
“Why?” I asked.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, and suddenly, I was surrounded.
“You didn’t think we’d let you get away, did you? I told you, we’re a family now,” the man said.
“Why would you run from me, Calla. I thought we were in this together? Remember all the fun we had in New Orleans,” Jordan smiled, teeth glinting in the fluorescent lighting.
“I thought you were in jail,” I whispered, flinching when he reached out to touch me.
Jordan laughed. “They had no proof, remember. The officers told you themselves.”
“But you murdered two people-”
“Oh come on, Calla. Get over yourself already. Do you really believe you’re little miss innocent over here? You’re the one who left your sister to suffer and die alone in that room,” Jaelyn sneered.
Legs shaking, tears filled my eyes as I looked at Lily. “No,” I murmured. She wouldn’t return my gaze. “I told the police, but they wouldn’t help. I was going to get you out.”
Jaelyn threw her head back and laughed. “And how were you going to do that? There was no evidence, remember?”
“I think it’s time we get you back home, Calla. Where you belong,” the man said, and a syringe appeared in his hand.
I flinched away, yanking against Lily’s hold, but it wouldn’t break. Her hand around my wrist felt like a vice.
“No, please! Why are you doing this?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “I told you. I have nothing left.”
Jordan wrapped his arms a
round my shoulders as the man advanced. Pinching my trapped arm between his fingers, he plunged the needle in.
“NO!” I screamed.
Ice filled my veins as water rained down, drenching me. Water?
“Calla, wake up!”
I gasped, lurching up. My dorm room came back into focus as I twisted my hands into the wet sheets. Zoe sat the now empty bottle of water on the desk and handed me a towel.
“Sorry I poured water on you, but you wouldn’t wake up,” she said as I wiped away the water running down my face and dripping from my hair.
Sucking air into my starving lungs, I slowly climbed out of bed, knees buckling as soon as they received my weight, and I landed in a heap on the floor. Zoe yelped, leaning down to help me stand on shaky legs.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, moving over to plop down in my desk chair.
“Are you alright?” Zoe asked. “That seemed like a really bad nightmare, worse than they were before. Do you need to talk about it?”
I shook my head. “I’ll be fine in a minute. I just need to fully wake up.”
She studied me, forehead wrinkled with concern. “Do you want to come back to my room with me? We can share my bed; yours is all wet anyway-”
“No… I mean, thanks, but I don’t think I’m probably just going to take a shower and stay up until it’s time for class. Maybe I’ll get some studying done or something,” I said, getting up to gather my stuff to take to the bathroom, glad my legs managed to hold me up this time.
“But it’s not even four AM yet,” she protested.
“I’ll be fine, really. Thanks for your concern, but I wouldn’t get much more sleep even if I did go to your room. It’s best if I just focus on something else right now,” I said as I wrapped myself in my robe. It’s warmth comforting. “Sorry I woke you.”
“Calla-”
“Have a good night, Zoe. See you in the morning,” I said and walked out the room, leaving the door open for her. She called after me down the hall, but I had already turned the corner to the restroom.
You Could Have Saved Her Page 13