Chapter 33

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Nobody's P.O.V

Time seemed to be passing in a slow, sluggish manner. Amber missed seeing the sun and she didn't know how long it had been, but her stomach was gnawing furiously with hunger. She seemed to be getting weaker and weaker by the minute and the weakness wasn't something she tolerated.

The door opened just then and a guy with a balding head poked his head inside. This wasn't the first time he'd done that though. It had become some kind of routine, probably to check if they hadn't escaped. or died, Amber thought to herself. As the guy shut the door again, Jake moved slightly against the wall he rested against, his breathing labored.

She watched him struggle slightly before reaching out to help him get into a better position. "Are you alright?" She whispered, frowning slightly. He coughed, his whole body shaking. "I'm fine," He wheezed out. But even she knew he was wrong. His face was starting to go deathly pale and when she had put a hand on his forehead, it seemed to be burning with a crazy fever. He could barely talk and she could tell his rib was bothering him.

"I don't think they're going to come for us," She spoke, trying to fill in the silence somehow. He let out a choked out breath which she decided was suppose to be a laugh. "I know Justin. If it meant swimming through a lake of fire to get here he'd probably do it. And Brooklyn would probably be right behind him."

She peeked a glance at Jake. When he said Brooklyn's name, there seemed to be some kind of wistfulness in his tone. "You like her, don't you?" She finally asked, staring at the candle that burned dimly on the wall. There was a long pause before he finally spoke, his breathe ragged. "I guess so," When he said that, an uncomfortable feeling passed through her but she ignored it. "But now I realize it," He continued "It'd just been some flimsy crush. I know what she feels for Justin and what he feels for her. And I'm not crazy enough to come between that. It's not everyday you see Justin get so dazed over a girl."

"Well aren't you noble," Despite the situation, a small smile spread across her lips and Jake glanced at her, returning the smile before sighing. "They'll come," He spoke, a finality in his voice. "Sooner or later they will. All we need to do is wait." And not die of hunger.

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Normal P.O.V

The tension was so thick in the air, you could practically smell it. I ran my hands through my now knotted hair, staring at the body that now occupied the bed of Zoe and Sean's hotel room. And that body was the no other Chase. When we hurried over to the place Sean and Seth had seen Jake and Amber being kidnapped, we'd found Chase's body hunched in the ally way, looking worse for wear. They had plenty of bruises and cuts and his clothes had been torn, but other than that, it hadn't been that serious.

That had been two days ago. two days since Amber and and Jake disappeared. The door opened and Justin stepped inside looking extremely tired. He had dark shadows underneath his eyes and his hair looked like he had ran his hand through it a couple of times. "Any news?" I asked him, standing up. He shook his head slightly, glancing at Chase who seemed to be asleep currently. "Nothing really. The only thing we can count on is Chase having something for us. If not, then we've gotten nothing." I was about to say something when the noise of movement stopped me. Chase seemed to waking up because he was moving, and sure enough, a couple of seconds later his eyes opened.

"Whats going on?" He mumbled as he sat up a little, looking disoriented. He seemed to notice us just then and looked even more confused. "Don't you remember? I'm guessing Brax kidnapped you and then dropped you off in an abandoned alley and then took Jake and Amber." Justin walked over to him, his arms crossed over his chest. At Brax's name, Chase seemed to get rigged, alarm written all across his face. "Justin, listen, you can't get to him, you'll get killed." Justin furrowed his eyebrows.

"Go Where?" But Chase continued talking. "It's some kind of trap, he did it on purpose to get you riled up, and-" "Chase, what are you talking about?" I interrupted him, making him stop. The blond took a deep breath, looking troubled. "Brax kidnapped Jake and that other girl, who ever she is, on purpose. He wants you to come after them and when you do that, he'll take you in the process." The door opened again suddenly and Zoe and Sean and Seth piled in soundlessly, looking very groomed. "So you know where they are?" Justin continued, without looking at the others. there was a curious glint in his eyes.

Out of all the things, he noticed that? What about the part where Braxton was planning bloody murder? Chase seemed to hesitate on the answer and that seemed to be enough for Justin. "Where are they Chase?" "You don't understand, its all part of-" "Just tell me where they fucking are,' Justin interrupted him, his voice containing a sigh hint of annoyance.

"The Las Vegas Strip." Chase answered quietly, looking defeated. My eyes followed Justin as he paced, his eyes somewhere far away. "Okay, so here's the plan," He finally spoke up. "I'll go there alone and-" "Shut up, Justin." "I'm not letting you do that." "Do you want to die?" The outburst came from all of us aimed all at him. "You're not doing anything alone." Zoe spoke again, glaring at him. "Especially not without me.'' "or me," Seth piped up. "And me," Sean also added.

Justin sighed. "Fine. You guys can come, too whatever. but we need to get there as soon as possible." "Wait, Wait, Wait," I raised up my hand. "I'm coming also." "The hell you are." Justin turned to glower at me, looking extremely tense. "I'm not letting you anywhere that bastard." "Justin, do you honestly expect me to sit around while all you guys go around risking your lives? remember, my best friend is the one kidnapped also." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"That's exactly what I expect you to do." "Well, you cant order me around, I can do whatever I want," I snapped at him, knowing how childish I sounded.

He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath before walking over to me. "Brook, listen to me for once," Instead of sounding angry, his voice was pleading. His hands raised to cup my face so he could look at me in the eyes. "I cant afford ti have anything happen to you, you understand? I wouldn't be able to live myself for it. Please promise me that you'll stay in the hotel and wont do anything reckless."

But it wasn't fair; he was practically blackmailing me. Didn't he know how much he meant to me? "Promise me?" He repeated softly when I didn't say anything. I could tell the others around us were averting their eyes away from us. "I'll try," I finally spoke and his eyes flashed slightly. I knew he noticed the fact that I hadn't promised him anything. "Well" He sounded frustrated. "I guess that's the best I'm going to get out of you, isn't it?' I simply shrugged.

He let go of me and headed toward the closet and started digging through it. After a movement or two, I saw a gun appear in his hands and he quickly shoved it in the waistband of his jeans. "Alright, are you ready?" He looked at Zoe, Sean ,and Seth who looked determined. "Wait, you guys are just leaving? Shouldn't you make some kind of plan at lease?" I asked in disbelief.

"Over thinking is what ruins most missions , Brooklyn." Zoe answered. And for once, she looked completely serious. I swallowed, feeling a kind of nervousness creeping through me. "So that's it?" I stared at each of them, my eyes especially lingering on Justin. "You're going to just..leave?" "And we will com back." Seth added, trying to lighten the mood.

I tried to keep the lump in my throat from growing and forced the tears back down, realizing just how dangerous this was. "Just...come back please." I whispered, a small tear leaking from my eye. "I promise I will." he assured me in a smoothing voice as we broke apart. "I'll go get the car ready," Sean spoke before quickly jogging out the room.

"Were off then." Justin glanced at Chase who lay-ed on the bed. "Just take care of Brooklyn while I'm gone." Chase nodded solemnly and Justin gave a small lingering kiss on my lips before heading out for the door, Seth trailing after him. Zoe came over to give me a tight hug and some words of encouragement before she also left the room, leaving me and Chase.

"You know he really care for you, Justin." He spoke matter-of-fact " I know," I answered him, trying to keep my voice from wobbling. Chase tilted his head to the side. "I've known him since he was a kid. And I never seen him act so over protective of anyone like he has for you. You make him a different person." He looked at me " You love him." It wasn't a question. "If that's what you want to call it then, yes." Getting up, I headed toward the closet and grabbed a pair of leggings, a black tank top, and running shoes. grabbing a hair tie from the dresser, I swiftly piled up my hair and pulled it in a high pony tail.

"What are you doing?" Chase finally seemed to have come back to earth. "Going for a run." I lied smoothly, glancing back at him as I reached for the door knob. "Will you be alright on your own?" He studied me for a second, suspicion etched on his face as he finally nodded. Exiting through the doors as nonchalantly as I could, I shut the door behind me before quickly breaking into a jog. taking the elevator down, I ran out the doors, pushing through the crowds of people .

If Justin thought I was just gonna sit there while they all risked there lives then he was wrong. "Excuse me," I asked a women who was taking a picture. "Do you know where the Sliver Slipper Casino is?'' "Oh the rundown place? If you follow this street and take a left in the fifth turn, it'll be right there." She answered kindly. I thanked her and jogged again, taking the women's directions, a few minutes later I found myself staring at a olden building with about seven floors. the parking lot to it was completely abandoned.

Trying to control my breathing, I nervously looked around before heading toward one of the broken glass windows. hey, going through the door seemed way too obvious. Swinging my leg in. I squeezed myself through, avoiding getting cut. Inside, it wasn't any better. Dust covered every inch of the place and it seemed like everything was still intact. The pool tables, the bar, the game slots, all were still there. I slowly crept deeper into the room. Now if I was some crazy kidnap, where would I hide my captives? I mused to myself. It seemed highly suspicious that the hotel wasn't heavily guarded. But then again.

A set of stairs caught my eye that hid in the corner and I headed over to them, slowly climbing up, I choked back a sneeze as the dust blew at me, clinging to my black clothes. I was still climbing up when I heard a sudden creak. "Hey! What're you doing here!?" With dread, I raised my head to find a balding man looking at me in surprise. He was broad and i could see plenty of muscles building out of his shirt. Oh crap.

"This is private property! Did you not see the keep out sign, lousy kid." Oh he was getting ,mad now. Don't panic , I thought to my self as the man starting coming closer toward me. Instinct suddenly kicked in and I lunged forward, taking my small size to my advantage. Slipped around him quickly, I pulled back my leg and kicked his back with all my strength I could muster. With a cry of surprise the man stumbled and I gave another kick which completely toppled him. With amazement I watched as he bumped down the stairs and I fell on the floor with a thump. he didn't move.

Oh my gosh did I didn't just killed him? shocked whipping around, I sprinted the rest of the way up. The seventh floor seemed like a kind of storage place. There was a long dark hallway and there lay piled of boxes, some stacked up higher than me. Trying to be quiet as possible, I hid behind one of the boxes, peeking around to see of the coast was clear. All was quiet. But then- there came a loud bang. A noise familiar and one I'd heard plenty of times. A gunshot.

Quickening my pace, I followed toward the source of noise which came from behind what seemed like a metal door which was wide opened. entering the room, I hid behind one of the tall boxed , glancing out to find a scene that made my heart plummet.

Against the one of the walls, I could clearly see Jake and Amber laying on the floor. But they weren't alone Zoe, Seth,and Sean were collapsed in the ground and they didn't seem to be moving. Oh dear, please don't let them be dead. My eyes slid on the two figures standing merely a few feet away from me and my heart too a roller coaster dive when I saw it was Justin and Brax. But that wasn't the worst part.

Brax was holding a gun at Justin who was weaponless. It suddenly got harder for me to breathe. "Do it," Justin was saying. he sounded calm and detached. The voice he used chilled me to my bones. "I dare you." "Oh you have no much idea I want to," Braxton drawled out. He seemed very relaxed,a sneer on his lips. "But you see,I don't want tot to be over so quickly, I like to play with me food."

Justin tsked. I could see a cut on his cheekbone wit a trickle of blood sliding out of it. "Didn't your mother ever teach you your manners?" "You see, Bieber,'' Brax ignored him. " I want to see the look on your face when I capture your girlfriend. I want to see you suffer while I torture her right in front of your eyes. Doesn't that sound better than my just simply killing you now?'' Oh man, he really gone mad.

"You touch a hair on Brooklyn and I will tear you form the limb to limb," Justin didn't raise his voice, he carried the same tone which made it even more threatening. "And I swear, I will enjoy every second of it." Brax looked amused instead of scared. "I'm sure you'll like the sound of her screaming, wont you? Of her wreathing in pain and begging for me to stop. Don't worry you'll get the front row seat for that show." It seemed like justin's resolve seemed to have shattered because he snarled and lunged at Brax, taking him by complete surprise. I watched, completely frozen, as Justin knocked him to the ground, making the gun drop put of his hands. Brax fought back with just as much force and one of his punches landed against Justin's cheek. My eyes landed on the gun that lay now forgotten.

Now's your chance! The voice shouted at me. get the gun! Hurry! GET IT! But that was the problem. Whether it was the shock or fear-or- both- it kept me from moving my legs. they seemed to have turned into jello and I felt like if I moved, I would collapse or something. Suddenly, there came a loud thump and I watched as Justin flew back against one of the walls and Brax grabbed the gun , raising it at him. "I think I've changed my mind now." Brax seethed, there blood smeared his face made him look like a deranged lunatic.

Call it intuition, but somehow I knew what was about to happen before it even did. It was a though the world had been put on slow motion as I watched Brax raise the the gun higher and higher. And at that moment all rational thought slipped from my mind as my reflexes took in and my mouth opened and screamed "JUSTIN, NO!!" And then my legs were moving without any thought, they moved faster then I taught they could move, taking long steps as I watched Brax pull the trigger. And I sprinted for what was one of the most important things in my life, Justin's eyes seemed to fill in horror. BOOMBOOM

Something seemed to have stopped my stride as I heard the gun shot, not once but twice. My legs seemed to be incapable of moving and an odd feeling seemed to be starting inside if me. I looked down to see my black shirt and leggings drenched by some kind of dark substance and as I reached my hand down to touch my fabric they came back being bright red.

As my legs gave away and my knees hit the floor. everything else seemed have slowly disappeared and I guess I had list a sense of my hearing because the only thing I heard seemed to be as through coming from a far distance. As my cheek hit the cold , stone floor I heard another one of those gun shots and then it seemed to have gone completely silence.

I felt myself being lifted up slightly and a voice broke my muddy haze. "Brooklyn, Can you hear me?Brook please, open your eyes." That voice. I squinted through my blurry vision to find the most beautiful looking back at me. The face had an anguished look on his face as though he were in horrendous pain.

'"Brooklyn, listen to me, you have to stay awake do you understand. Please, just stay awake, please, please." And somehow the pain seemed to be building up inside of me. A cry of pain slipped from my lips as I clutched my stomach weakly where the core of pain seemed to be. Shadows danced across my vision and now even that voice that kept me from slipping seemed to have faded away. I couldn't do this. I wanted to stop, it hurt so much. My eyes were starting to droop slowly as the pain pulled my down.

I'm sorry, I thought desperately at the voice before the pain overtook me. The last thing I heard was a sweet Melody singing "Through the long nights And the bright lights Don't you worry 'cause everything's gonna be alright, ai-ai-ai-aight Be alright, ai-ai-ai-aight You know that I care for you I'll always be there for you I promise I will stay right here, yeah I know that you want me too, Baby we can make it through anything 'Cause everything's gonna be alright, ai-ai-ai-aight-" Then as the singing started to fade more and more. And then everything went completely dark.

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.... I got a little teary writting this, BIG CLIF HANGER I KNOW..Only 2 more chapters left.. BUT UNTIL NEXT TIME ;)

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