I Don't Need to be Saved, Pt. 4
***last part (4 of 4) JJB ***
Two days later, his eyes bleary and red from lack of sleep, he found a note shoved under the windshield wiper of his car as he was leaving work.
Tom-
I’m sorry for what happened Wednesday. I have to be so careful all the time. Sometimes I just act out, when I don’t know what else to do. I know you are just trying to help. Meet me here tonite at 11pm and I’ll tell you the whole thing.
Sarah
He was holding his breath and his chest felt tight. He stared at the note. Reread it twice, three times. His thoughts were a whirl.
A voice in his mind said, Dude, let it go. And he knew that voice was right.
He also knew that he would never forgive himself if he did. She needed his help, which was clear. He wanted desperately to make something right for once. He looked at his watch: 7:30pm. Enough time to shower and shave and be back. He drove all the way home in silence, too distracted to turn on the radio.
He showered and dressed in the best casual clothes he could find. He pulled into the parking lot. It was just about 11pm and the lots were nearly empty. He saw her car parked under a busted light and wheeled to pull in beside her. His stomach fluttered and he tapped his feet nervously.
The lights of her car were off, and the black tinted windows showed only the reflection of his car. Wondering where she was, he got out of his car and walked over to her driver’s side, but she wasn’t there. Maybe she’s in the store.
He turned to go back to his car. Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps and a shadow on the asphalt. He made to turn, but there was a thud, and pain exploded in the back of his head. He dropped to the ground, and as his vision closed in, he briefly saw a pair of black stilettos.
Tom’s eyes opened with a groan and his hand at once went to the painful lump on his head. His eyes refocused and now he saw the car seats in front him.
He went to move and he found his left arm shackled to the door. Something like panic began to ride through the fog.
He looked up front and she was there, driving. She looked back in the rearview mirror and her blue eyes glittered in the light of a passing car.
“You ok back there, sport?” Her expression feigned the pity her voice didn’t have.
She didn’t wait for him to answer “Yeah sorry about that bump.”
She sighed. “I would have loved to have done the whole deal- dinner, a few drinks etc, but I’m a little pressed for time.”
He felt the car turn left. I don’t understand any of this. His mind raced to find a clue, but the blow to the back of his head is where his memory stopped. For a moment he thought he was being pranked. “Is this some kind of joke?”
She shook her head “Afraid not Tom. You may have noticed I’m not the joking type.”
He pulled on the handcuffs again. “Why am I cuffed back here? Did I do something wrong?”
“Not a thing. Last guy got a little handsy. Just a precaution.”
Tom remembered the guy from the bar.
His throat felt dry and thick. The distance between his brain and voice still seemed too far.
“Where are we going?” Just the vibration of his voice hurt his head. He needed her to talk though, while he tried to think of something. He looked out at the road. No cars and two lanes but it seemed familiar somehow.
She took her eyes off the road to make a turn. “I’m taking you to see him.”
“Who? Your boyfriend”
She laughed. “Sadly no.”
He was becoming unmoored now. Nothing made sense.
A moment passed. Then she spoke again. “I have to admit Tom, you got close. Really close. Unfortunately, you missed some things.”
“I’m taking you to see my father.”
Tom felt like he was very high up, on a very thin ledge. He swallowed audibly. "You're insane. "
Her eyes narrowed in the rear-view mirror. Her voice was terse. "Not insane. Driven. Dad has alot of money. Unlike my brothers, I'm making sure I'm first in line. I think that's why he picked me. I'm good at getting him what he wants. " She smiled a feral smile. "I’ve got a knack for attracting the right people. "
Tom felt like he was coming apart at the seams. He shook his head "I'm totally lost. Who is your father? "
"Oh, I doubt you know him. More of a behind-the-scenes guy. But honestly, I dont think the "who" really matters for you, though. "
Tom leaned back into the seat. I’m going to die. The panic bubbled up and he made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a cry.
No. This isn't helping. He took a huge deep breath, and though it came out sounding like a rattle, it steadied him.
“So, all that stuff at the store- the bruise cream, the painkillers, the bruises, all that was just a scam?”
She made a sharp turn on a road surrounded by trees. “Not really. Dad can be pretty rough when he’s hungry.” She said the word hungry so matter of factly that Tom almost missed it. “But it was convenient.”
She made another turn, and now Tom knew where he was: Windmere Road.
She pulled the car to a slow stop.
He pulled on the cuffs again, but it was pointless. All he was doing was hurting his wrist.
She fixed her hair very quickly in the mirror, then turned to face Tom. Her eyes seemed to be shaped like diamonds
“Ok Tom, here’s where I leave you.”
“Where you going? What’s going to happen?”
“I don’t know really. I don’t stick around for the festivities.” Her voice was sympathetic.
Tom scrunched up in the seat, trying to get as far from her as he could. “I don’t understand. I just wanted to help you.” His voice was a plea.
Sarah pursed her lips. “Oh, I know Tom. Your kind always does.” Then she smiled and her teeth shined in the darkness. “That’s what makes you so easy.”
Her face turned serious. “It really on you, though. I told you- I don’t need saving.”
She turned and opened her car door and stepped out. The door closed with soft thud, and he watched her walk behind the car, heard her footsteps moving away.
Then she was gone.
Tom whirled around. There had to be something. Like a shining star, he saw that the key was still in the ignition, on a ring with what appeared to be a small handcuff key. He reached out with his free hand, but he was inches short. If he could reach it though-He stretched as far as he could, his cuffed arm pulling against the door. He breathed in hard gasps, tried to ignore the pain in his shoulder and wrist. His index finger just touched the key ring.
He was about to try again when he heard it. A sound near the car. It was slow and heavy as it moved, and the car rocked.
With a thump it landed on the other side.
What the f-
The door across from him opened and the air rushed out of the car, taking Tom’s breath with it.
Through the open door, Tom could see Sarah’s house.
Then something large and dark blocked his view. It was formless but then he saw two red points where eyes might be.
Oh God, Im so sorry. I just wanted to help.
There was a sound like a growl, and then Tom saw something sharp and wet.
Tom screamed as the door shut.
The car rocked violently for a moment, then stopped.