Page 37 of Van

“We don’t need to. I already decided,” he declares before walking out of the room. I sit on the edge of the bed and roll my ankle around, testing it out without the damn chain hanging off it. I have to figure out a way out of here.

I stand back up and walk to the living room, finding Derrick sitting on the couch. I give him a soft smile as he looks up at me.

“Maybe you’ll listen better now that you’re free to walk around,” he says.

“I will.”

“Good. Go make dinner,” he orders. I nod my head and walk into the kitchen, searching for anything I could use against him. There are no knives here, nothing I can use to poison him. I sigh as I pull some noodles from the cabinet and a pan to boil them in. I could burn him with the hot water, but would I be able to run fast enough? Would I be able to get out of here? Shaking the thoughts away, I get to cooking dinner for him. Once it’s done, I put some on a plate and carry it to the living room, passing it to him.

“I think I like this better. I don’t have to cook for you,” he says as he eats the spaghetti I made. I sit down next to him, watching the TV for what seems like forever. I’m uncomfortable. There’s an ache inside of me, one I can’t get rid of. I miss Van. I miss Nicole. I miss working and breathing clean, fresh air.

I sigh as I sit back, and Derrick throws his arm around me.

“You can sleep with me tonight,” he says without looking over at me. My stomach recoils. I don’t want to sleep with him.

“I’m not feeling well,” I tell him. He sets his plate on the table and shifts so he’s looking at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I haven’t seen a doctor, Derrick. I don’t know what’s wrong. I just don’t feel well.” I have cramps, or what feels like cramps. Maybe that’s the Braxton hicks I’ve heard about. Or maybe it’s something more.

“You think you need a doctor? It’s too early,” he says, dismissing the idea something could be wrong.

“I think something’s wrong, Derrick.” Now, he shoves off the couch and paces the room, running his hand through his hair.

“It’s too early! You don’t need a doctor. I don’t have one ready yet!”

“I’m telling you something isn’t right, Derrick.”

“Fuck. Fuck!” He roars as he tugs at his hair now. He’s not what to do. He doesn’t know how to react, but I can feel it; something is off.

“If we go to the emergency room, you lie. Do you hear me? You fucking lie about your face!” I nod my head rapidly, knowing this is it. This is how I can get away from him. I can lie to him, but as soon as I can, I’ll call Van. He’ll know what to do. He’ll help me.

Derrick walks over and jerks me off the couch before leading me out the door. He ushers me into the car and then walks around to climb in. He starts the car and pulls out of the driveway quickly. He speeds through the streets on our way to the hospital as I worry about the baby. Is there something wrong with him? Could he be born early? I’m so wrapped up in worrying over him that I don’t pay attention when we pull up to the hospital. Derrick walks around and helps me out, leading me into the emergency room. The nurse looks up from her clipboard to my face and frowns. After taking my name and asking what’s going on, she pulls me away from Derrick, and I sigh. She leads me down a hallway while he’s escorted to the waiting room.

“Can you make a call for me, please?”

“Of course I can. The police will be notified as well,” she says as I shake my head.

“No, no cops, please. Just make this call for me.” I beg her. I’ll do whatever she wants me to do as long as she calls Van for me.

We get into a room, and she does what I asked. She calls Van.

Chapter 17

Van

I run my hand through my hair as I sigh and close my eyes. It’s been a month. A month, she’s been gone. We couldn’t find her anywhere. Neither could Mystic. No one matching her description has been to the local doctors or admitted to the hospital. Fuck, this is messed up.

“You okay?”

“Just a bad day,” I tell Pike. He nods his head and goes about his business when Nicole walks over with the phone in her hand.

“Phones for you.”

“I don’t wanna talk.”

“He’s busy. Can I take a message?” she asks sweetly into the line. She seems to listen when she looks confused. “Okay. Hold on. It’s the hospital, Van.”

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