The Soldier Next Door

…Ana POV…

I promised James that I would never tell Ethan; he made me understand that if I do that, he would not only have him and myself killed. But the thing is that I cannot keep this in any longer; it has been killing me to be away from him. Yes, I did betray Ethan, but I cannot betray him any longer.

So I swallow deep and try to breathe underneath what is only but stuttered breaths.

“Ethan, James said that he would have you killed it. I have told you the truth.”

“Ana, what are you talking about?”

“He, he…god Ethan, I am too scared.”

“Please, I will get Matty to phone the cops. Just tell me what is going on.”

Then out of nowhere, there come two men bursting through my front door. I can only but shout out one last word to Ethan, “Help.”

With that, Matty and I are forced into the back of a black van. The air is stuffy, and there is a small hint of something awfully smelling hanging in the air. The air is hard to breathe, and it seems that it must have been cleaned recently, for the floor is wet. I can only but think that we have just been kidnapped, and from the chatter that is coming from the driver and his passenger, they seem quite satisfied.

Now it is not quite clear what their intention is, but all I know is that we are being taken to god knows where. I cannot see that it shall be anything pleasant. All I know is that James is behind this.

My biggest fear is what they intend in doing with us. So as we are huddled tightly in the back of this van, I can still not put the pieces together; I have no idea as to where we are going. But as the road seem to become more bumpier, and the lights start to disappear, it starts to make more sense. They are taking us into the industrial area just on the outskirts of town.Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

And as we are fast approaching our destination, I look at the face of Matty; I see nothing but a blank stare.

So as we enter the dark road that takes us into the middle between the warehouses, the atmosphere hits a terrifying high. There is a slight burst of cloud coming down, and the rain starts to pound down hard on the tar road, leaving big splashes of water all around. As they pull the door open, we are dragged one by one from the van. Somehow getting drenched in the rain is far better than the reality that today might be the day we shall die.

And as I look at Matty again, he tries to reassure her that all shall be fine. But the truth be told they he can not guarantee this. But what is much to my relief is when he motions to his leg. He has a gun firmly hidden in his sock; the only problem is that our hands are being tied. I do know that it shall be futile for the ropes can not easily be broken.

Yet this does not stop him from speaking, “Ana, please do not be frightened; we shall get through this.”

But the sound of his voice only seems to infuriate the one man.

“Keep your mouth shut.”

And as we are forced one by one through the steel door, I see Matty gag at the smell of god knows what is rising from the floor; I hear him mumble from underneath his breath.

“This is just dandy; we are screwed.”

So I look over to the rope that is tightly wrapped over my wrist then to the one on Matty’s hands. Yes, I do tend to agree, “I believe we are screwed.”

And my words are not even dry, and we are thrown down on the godawful floor. It is so slippery from all the mud that you move disgustingly up and down over it. Then as soon as they had all entered, they all leave the room and shut the door firmly shut.

Then my head snaps to the left, and I let out an agonizing scream.

…Matt POV…

I snap my head in the direction to where Ana is pointing; the fear of a fucking horror slips over my body. I only but now my head as I see the table.

“Ana, we will be fine. Ethan will phone someone.”

“Fine? Have you seen the size of those things? What on earth is that curly looking tool?”

“I hate to know, and I shall not even try to answer. But you need to keep it together; you need to try to break your ropes.”

And with that, the two men enter the room again, but this time they have James with them. The man then comes to stand in front of me. While he glances at Ana, he speaks to me, “Ana, did I not warn you to get anybody involved. Now, look at what you have done.”

I only look at him and grind hard on my teeth, “You can be glad I can’t come to lose, for I would have fucking rearranged that goddam ugly face of yours. I always wondered what Ana saw in you.”

“Oh, yes, about that. She never had a choice,” then he looks at her. “Now, is that not true, my dear Ana.”

Then much to my very annoyance, he burst out in laughter in my face.

“I suggest you shut that laughter up, or I shall tear you to shreds.”

“First of all, you are a bit tied up, and second, you are not getting out here alive even to try it.”

That is when it sets in, there is a bigger scheme of things going on around here, and somehow it is directed at Ethan. So does this man thinks by hurting him with Ana is going to get whatever he wants. Well, so far, it has worked, which also means that I am merely in his way and that all those curly things up on that table are meant for me.

And as James speaks next, the whole plan starts to unfold.

“Untie him and bring him to me.”

I am taken from the ground and strapped onto a chair. They pull a set of leather belts around both of my feet. And as I look down at the ones around my hands, I notice that they are covered in blood. They are far too strong to break free, for I can not even wiggle my hands in.

Then the true fun starts. He goes to the table to fetch what seems to be a set of tweezers; I fear to think of what she shall be doing with them. But I need not free too long, for he stands in front of me.

“Hold his head still.”

And as they do, he takes the ends and grabs firmly hold of my nail. I bite hard down on my teeth, and he starts pulling. And as I feel him tearing my nail from my skin in slow agony, I scream the loudest into myself. There is no way that he shall have the pleasure to see me show pain. But it is Ana that screams.

“Stop! You are hurting him.”

James ignores her and moves to the other hand, and once again, he grabs hold of it, but this time he rips it in with a fast twist of his wrist. It feels like someone is tearing my fingers off my hand. But instead of showing pain, I foolishly decide to mock him.

“You do know that those will only grow back?”

“Oh, I am only playing with you. We have not started yet.”

Yes, maybe I should not have said a thing, for now, she goes to fetch what I fear shall be used to pull my teeth perhaps. But Ana immediately tries to stop her.

“Please stop! Take me!”

“I am afraid that I need you to get to your dear boyfriend,” I watch as this crazy man walks up closer to me and faces me again.

Then I slowly watch as he brings the plier closer and closer to my mouth. Then I see him slide inside. I can feel the coldness of the steel against my tongue; then, there is pressure as he gets a grip on my tooth. I hear a click as she clamps down, and with that, he starts to twist and bend.

But it is not as easy as he thinks. The more he struggles, the harder he curses. Then I hear Ana as she screams once again.

“Please stop! I will go with you.”

I watch her in utter shock. Did she just say that? Where will she go? What is it that this man wants?

With that, I see as James smiles and show for the other two men to untie me. Then he turns to me, now; if I thought he was going to let me go, I am shocked at what he says next.

“Kill him.”