Haven

Black.

Everything was black.

The bag tightened around my neck, and I couldn't breathe.

Oh my God. Am I going to die?

I kicked, screamed, wriggled, twisted, and fought so hard I bit my tongue multiple times. A bitter, metallic taste filled my mouth, but I didn't care.

I had to escape.

"Did you miss me?" a voice asked from behind. His breath tickled my ear, and I shivered in response.

His words were laced with venom and hatred. He chuckled, and I could almost hear the smirk that rested on his lips.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I felt goosebumps explode all over my body.

"I told you I'd be back," he snarled.

He yanked my arms behind me and tied my hands together with some sort of rope. I cringed at the way it scratched my wrists; they felt like they were being rubbed them raw.

Oh, God. What do I do?

My hope slowly slipped away with each knot he made.

I needed to get out of here. Fast.

But no matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't break free; no matter what I did, I couldn't loosen the ropes or his hold on me.

"Stop squirming, angel. It'll be easier that way."

Wait a minute. I know that voice.

"No one's going to help you," he continued. He whistled a familiar tune as he tied a final knot around my wrists. Upon finishing, he smacked his lips and tapped my shoulder, probably satisfied with his work.

I jumped from his touch.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to get the man to talk more. His voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it just yet.

He paused, and then laughed. "You'll see soon enough."

He removed his hands from my shoulder, and I heard a chair creak.

Great. He's sitting down. What's he planning now?

Sweat dripped into my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but it was no use. I was suffocating in this bag.

"Tell me you missed me," he said suddenly, speaking loudly over the chair that groaned under his weight.

Break. Make him fall on his face, I silently begged the chair.

"I'd like to know who you are before I tell you that," I replied.

"Is that a no? Ouch. That hurts, princess."

Thoughts raced in my head as I tried to come up with a plan.

I need to make a break for it.

He's sitting down, so it'll take him some time to get up... right?

Even a few milliseconds would be an advantage.

But I don't know which direction I'm facing! What if I run straight into a wall?

It's still better than being trapped here, isn't it?

I crouched down slightly, intending to sprint forward.

"Where do you think you're going?" the man snapped. He wrapped his hand around my arm so tightly that the circulation felt like it was cut off.

Okay, so that didn't even take him a few milliseconds. He's too fast.

"You're stuck with me, angel."

Before I realized what was happening, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. The bag over my face was coarse, and it scratched my cheeks relentlessly.

Stunned, I kicked against the air, but his grip on me never faltered.

"Fight back as hard as you want, but you'll just be making things harder for yourself."

Finally finding my voice again, I said, "Leave me alone." Even though I willed myself to stay firm, the words still came out as a whisper.

The man chuckled. "Not a chance. You'll never see the light again, princess."

No!

My heart thumped so loudly, it threatened to burst out of my chest.

Focus, Haven. Focus on where we are.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, determined to concentrate despite the fear.

We've taken ten steps so far.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

The man whistled the happy tune again, and his joy only magnified my desperation.

Left turn.

It's bumpy. We're going down the stairs.

"This is fun, isn't it? I should've come to visit you sooner," he said.

I gathered my wits and replied, "So fun."

He laughed so hard his shoulders shook. "Sassy, aren't we?"

I bit my tongue and held back the rest of my sarcastic remarks. I wouldn't give him anything else to chuckle about.

Oh, God. I feel faint.

All of the blood is rushing to my head.

Focus, Haven.

We should be in the living room by now.

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," he said with a snicker. "Just you wait, princess. You'll be surprised to see all the fun things I have planned for us."

Unable to stay calm anymore, I felt the urge to scream. I took a breath, but it got caught in my throat, and I forgot how to breathe.

I'm going to die. Oh God, he's going to kill me.

Focus. Focus!

I took another deep breath, but this time, it didn't help.

Right turn.

Fifteen steps. Or was that twenty? Oh, God!

"Why so quiet, Haven? Cat got your tongue?"

I lifted my head and looked up. A little sunlight seeped in through the tiny holes in the bag, and I knew where we were.

Sunlight.

Entrance.

My heart thumped wildly in realization.

I left the front door open!

I screamed with everything I had in me.

Someone, anyone―please help!

The sound gurgled in my throat and tore through my chest, leaving a stagnant taste in my mouth. But I clung onto the hope that my scream was loud enough to attract some attention.

"Nice try, Haven. But no one can hear you."

My hope evaporated, and I felt my fear magnify as the man only chuckled. He paused to hoist me up on his shoulder and tighten his grip on my legs, but he didn't say anything else.

I can't breathe. Oh my God, I can't breathe.

Stay calm, Haven. Now is not the time to hyperventilate. You need to stay calm.

I don't want to die!

I took a deep breath and got ready to scream again.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he warned, tightening his hold on me. "The last girl who tried that isn't doing so well right now."

The last girl?

As if on cue, a shrill scream tore through the silence and lingered in the air.

Ari?

Ari!

He snickered. "You're next."

No.

My body tensed, and I shoved against his body with my own. I didn't weigh much, so my attempts were futile.

"I told you not to do that," the man hissed.

He threw me off his shoulder, and I landed roughly on a rock-hard platform. I gritted my teeth when I felt a bruise form almost immediately on my bottom.

He yanked the bag over my head, pulling some strands of my hair with it.

The sudden exposure to light left me blind. I blinked and tried to clear the darkness that clouded my vision, but it didn't work.

I couldn't see.

Giving up, I sucked in a huge breath instead.

Mmm.

I savored the taste of fresh air. I had almost forgotten what it felt like, and I gulped it gratefully.

And then I heard it.

Laughter.

Maniacal laughter.

Two sets of voices gasped for breath, and both of them clapped their hands while laughing hysterically.

Startled, I squinted as my eyes slowly adjusted to the sunlight.

One figure had her back towards me. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, and she was wearing a red skirt, but I couldn't make out anything else. My vision was still blurry.

The other was facing to the side with only part of his face turned towards me. He was doubled over, holding onto his sides, and had tears streaming down his cheeks from laughing too hard.

I blinked a few more times, and finally, I could see.

What the...

I felt my brows crinkle in confusion. I took a step closer, cleared my voice, and spoke. My question rang clearly in the air.

"Luke?"

A/N: And here it is! A new chapter!

Do you guys remember who Luke is?! He was briefly mentioned in Chapter 3 and again in the previous chapter... ;) If you don't remember, don't worry. You'll learn all about him in the next chapter!

Who did you guys originally think the strange person was? I love hearing your theories, so let me know in the comments!

Also, thank you to my dear friend, @Casparita, for this WONDERFUL cover for 'I Won't'. You're amazing, girlie!

*Side note: Like I said before, I don't have a specific character in mind when I think of Reeve. His personality is what is most important to me, so that's all that matters to me. You guys can feel free to imagine anyone you want for his character, though! :) So don't worry if the guy in the cover is completely different from your own interpretations - that's completely OKAY! :) Let me know who you guys picture Reeve as!*

Thank you for reading and keeping up with this story ❤️ y'all are the best!