Page 7 of Psycho Boys

I feel a spark of hope ignite in my chest. “Yeah. A lead. We need to dig into her past and find all her connections. Anyone she might have mentioned.” As I pause, my mind races back to her face, her laughter, and the way her eyes lit up when she was passionate about something. I can’t let that slip away. “Let’s take a look at her contacts, her social media, anything,” I say, my voice rising in intensity. “We’ll find out who she was closest to—anyone she might’ve talked to about us. This can’t just be about family ties—there would have to be more to it. And Five, I know she feels some type of way about your ass, so I think it would be best if you helped us, especially since I'm fucking useless.”

Five nods, looking more convinced now. “I’ll do whatever I need to. Just tell me what you need.”

“After I’m discharged. No more hospitals, no more of this bullshit. We hit the ground fucking running.”

The door swings open, and the nurse returns, a small cup of pain medication in one hand, her expression determined yet cautious. I snatch the cup from her hands without waiting for her to explain, gulping the pills dry as she pushes a liquid pain reliever into my IV port.

“Good,” she murmurs, fidgeting slightly as she watches the dynamic unfold. It’s clear she’s aware that we’re unraveling here, but I don’t care about her fucking opinion.

“Listen,” I say, turning back to the guys. “When I’m out of here, we stick together. No one goes off on their own. I won’t lose anyone else.”

The sincerity in my voice settles over the room like a blanket, thick with unspoken promises. They all understand. We are bound not by blood but by our choices, our loyalty and trauma, and by the weight of what it means to protect those we love.

“I’ll try to get the list from her bag,” Ash says, determination replacing the shame in his eyes.

“And I’ll dig into her phone and shit. See if anyone’s been sending weird shit lately,” Killian adds, an unexpected fierceness returning to him.

Five crosses his arms. “And I’ll check the physical locations connected to her life. Places she might’ve gone and didn’t mention.”

I take a deep breath, the pain medication beginning to dull the edge of reality just enough for me to focus. “Then it’s set. We divide and conquer,” I declare with a nod.

“Dom... just rest,” Ash says, concern back in his voice. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time, and we’ll find her. I promise.”

That’s the promise a brother gives. That’s the promise I’ll hold them to. Because we need each other now more than ever. We may be bloody and broken, but I’ll be damned if we let Cali stay lost... again.

THREE

CAPTIVITY

TIME AND CONFUSION: ANBERLIN

CALISTA

Not again... not so soon.

Blindfolded, hands bound, and gagged, I find myself trapped in the trunk of a car, speeding along an unfamiliar highway. A sense of helplessness washes over me as I'm unaware of my destination. My body aches, bruised and bloodied, flames of pain coursing through me, while my mind pounds relentlessly against my skull.

I'm in fucking agony, but that’s far from my only concern. The fleeting moments of defiance and freedom I experienced have vanished, leaving a deeper sting than any injury I endured during the crash. My thoughts drift to Dom, wondering if he’s safe, and then to the others. Panic begins to claw at me, escalating my fear.

“Cali, are you okay?” Addy’s voice comes softly, and even though I cannot see or respond, a small sigh of relief escapes me, knowing I'm not alone.

Once she realizes I can’t reply, she lies beside me, resting her head on my shoulder, offering what comfort she can.

“We need to start planning our escape once we get out of the trunk,” she informs me, as if that weren’t already the first thing consuming my thoughts.

Eventually, after what feels like an eternity in darkness, the car comes to a halt. The sound of the front doors slamming shut echoes in my ears. I hold my breath and squeeze my eyes shut beneath the blindfold, needing them to believe I'm unconscious. I must play this part for as long as possible.

I know my parents are behind this. Before darkness took me, I saw my captor's face... but the details are lost in the chaos of the crash.

Suddenly, the trunk springs open, and hushed whispers fill the night air, so quiet that I can’t decipher their words. I continue to feign unconsciousness as hands lift me from the trunk, going limp to ensure I’m carried wherever they intend to take me.

Nothing around me feels familiar; the scents and sounds are strangers. With the blindfold shielding my eyes, I can’t even tell if I recognize my surroundings. Yet, I fight to keep hope alive as I'm taken down a flight of stairs and unceremoniously tossed onto a bed, my body bouncing against the soft surface.

“Should we untie her?” one of them asks, and I silently pray to a God I've never believed in, urging for a favorable answer.

The other person remains silent, but I feel my blindfold being tugged away, and the gag is pulled from my mouth, restoring my vision and allowing fresh air to fill my lungs. However, my hands remain bound behind my back, as they seem all too aware that I might attempt to escape from their grasp.

As the blindfold slips away, I squint against the sudden flood of light, my senses spinning as I adjust to my surroundings. It’s a dimly lit room, with peeling wallpaper and shadows lurking inthe corners. Old furniture is scattered about, giving it the feel of a long-abandoned hideout.

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