Page 69 of Marked

My spine stiffens. We’ve been locked in this awful place forever, and she’s never spoken about this. “Do you know these guys?”

“No.” Her sniffle breaks through the darkness. “But one of the names, Jimmy. I heard of him. Steve did this.”

“Steve?” Her current boyfriend. “How did Steve do this?”

“He’s always losing money, borrowing money, and he took money from some guy– Jimmy. Steve said he had to put up a lot of collateral for the loan, but not to worry. He’d pay itback.” Another sob. “I think it was us. I think we’re the collateral.”

“Steve told these guys to hurt us?” Jackie’s voice gets a little stronger.

“I think he let them.” Mom yanks on her chains. “If I can just get my foot out. I can get to the door. I can get us out. I can save us.” She’s hysterical now. Metal scrapes along the concrete. The chains jangle as she fights with her bonds.

“Mom. Mom. Mom!” My throat aches when I yell. “Stop. You’re just going to make your ankle bleed again. There is no getting out of these chains.”

She continues to struggle with them.

“Just let her.” Jackie’s voice is a whisper now. “I need to close my eyes for a few minutes.”

“No. Jackie, stay awake. We’ll sleep in a little while. Mom’s going to calm down. We’re going to find a way out. And then we’re going to find fucking Steve.” There. We just need goals. And finding Steve is mine.

“Just a few minutes, Charlie. Just a few minutes.” Jackie’s chains jingle as she repositions herself, lying down with her head away from me. I can’t reach her now, she’s too far.

“No. Don’t fall asleep yet. Mom’s going to calm down. We’re going to get out of these fucking chains.” My fingers curl into my palms, digging my nails into my skin. “We are getting the fuck out of here!” I scream into the darkness.

I’m tired too.

Bone tired.

But we can’t sleep.

We might not wake up.

I scream again. I don’t scream for help, because no help is coming. I don’t scream anyone’s name, because they won’t hear me. I just scream.

A wretched sound that stretches my throat until I can almost feel it splitting.

And when I’m done, and my throat burns like I’veswallowed a lit match, and my chest heaves searching for air, I lean my head back against the wall.

“Please,” I whisper into the blackness of the room. “Please don’t let us die like this. Not like this.”

Mom sniffles.

Jackie makes no sound.

A bang draws my attention. Metal being hit with something hard, like a hammer.

No, bigger.

Another bang.

I squint my eyes toward the door. No one’s there.

It gets louder.

And louder.

Until the door flies open and light, bright as the sun itself, floods the area, blinding me when I look toward it.

Oh, no. They’re back.

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