Disclaimer:  In first chapter.

 

Chapter 22

 

 

Debbie became quiet when she felt the needle prick her skin.  So, this is how it’s going to end, she thought sadly, dying here in this monster’s room.  She stood there, waiting for the inevitable, waiting for Brad to push the plunger down, and injecting her with an unknown drug that would most likely kill her.  She prayed for a miracle to get her out of this, but as time slowly ticked by she knew her prayers would go unanswered.  Realizing this, she sighed in defeat as more tears fell down her cheeks.

 

“Tell me Deb, any last words before I inject this drug into you,” Brad taunted with a smile.

 

“Yeah, you can go to hell and burn there for all eternity, you sick bastard,” she replied dryly.

 

Behind her, Brad didn’t respond to her comment.  The only answer she got was a soft chuckle.  “Ah, still fighting till the end I see.  Well, as they say Debbie, parting is such sweet sorrow.”

 

When Brad tightened his grip around her neck, Debbie closed her eyes, still holding out for that miracle to happen.   A second later, she got her wish.  She could hear someone knocking on the door.

 

“Hey Brad, are you in there?”

 

Brad loosened his death hold as he took the needle out from Debbie’s neck.  “What do you want?” Brad asked impatiently.

 

There was a pause before the other guy answered.  Debbie couldn’t place it, but there was something oddly familiar about the other guy’s voice.  “Um, you’ve got a call downstairs.  The guy called himself Mr. X, said he needed to talk to you immediately about a special project you’re working on with him,” answered the guy nervously.

 

“Shit,” Brad muttered under his breath.  “Just what I need to cap off this wonderful night,” he bit out sarcastically.  Pushing Debbie down in the beanbag chair, Brad ran a nervous hand through his hair as he went to open the door.  Debbie couldn’t help but smile inwardly.  Whoever was waiting on the phone obviously struck fear within him. 

 

Opening the door, Brad quickly grabbed the other person, dragging him inside.  Debbie watched as Brad grabbed him roughly by the collar, slamming him against the door.   She squinted through the darkness trying to get a better look at the guy; however the shadows concealed his face.

 

“Listen, I need you to stay up here and stand guard while I go downstairs to take the call.  Can you do that or do I need to call someone up here to baby-sit all you guys?” Brad asked evenly.

 

The other guy let out a nervous laugh.  “No, you don’t need to do that.  I…I can handle it.”  The room became silent as Brad pondered the other guy’s words.  After some time, Brad loosened his grip on the guy, pulling him away from the door.  Before he was out the door, Brad stopped mid-stride and turned around, facing the other guy.  “You screw this up and I swear there’ll be hell to pay, got that?”  The guy didn’t say anything, just nodded his head up and down in understanding.  Taking one final glance at Debbie, Brad left, leaving her alone with the stranger.

 

Sitting up straight, she watched the guy fidget by the door, wringing his hands nervously.  Maybe, just maybe, she finally had her ticket out of here, but she knew she had to hurry.  Time was of the essence.  Debbie was about to open her mouth when the guy spoke up first.  “Is…is that Brad’s girlfriend?” he asked worriedly.

 

“Yes, it is.”  She paused and continued, “Listen, I know you’re in a tough spot right now, but we need to get out of here.  My friend has been unconscious for some time.  She was given some type of drug, plus being mixed with alcohol, I’m scared she might’ve overdosed.  I really, really, need to get her to an emergency room,” she pleaded.

 

Debbie watched as the guy walked over to the desk, turning on the light.  When she saw his face, her heart sank along with all her hopes of getting out of this alive.  It was one of the guy’s from the kitchen, the freshman brother.  Watching the guy walk over to Sarah, Debbie quickly shot up from her chair, running to the bed.  As the guy reached out his hand towards Sarah, Debbie snatched it, holding it in place.  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

 

When the guy met her gaze, Debbie was surprised by what she saw.  The guy actually seemed concerned for her friend.  “I was just going to check her pulse, to make sure she isn’t…you know…dead,” he gently replied back.

 

Debbie narrowed her eyes at him, searching for any type of deceitfulness behind his actions, however she couldn’t find any.   Releasing his hand, she stood firmly in place beside the bed.  The guy flashed a weak smile before sitting on the bed beside Sarah.  Laying his fingers on Sarah’s neck, he checked her pulse.  “Well, the good news seems to be that your friend is alive, but you are right about one thing…” he trailed off.

 

“And what’s that?”

 

Standing back up, he looked directly at Debbie.  “You both do need to get out of here.  The two of you shouldn’t be at a party like this, hell, you shouldn’t even be hanging around guys like us,” he answered back.

 

Feeling her hopes swell up inside her, she quickly walked around the bed, standing in front of the guy.  “Then…you’ll help us…get out of here?” she asked hopefully.

 

The guy looked from her to the door, then back again.  Running a shaky hand through his hair, he answered honestly, “I…I don’t know if I can do that.  I mean, if Brad finds out that I helped you escaped, I’m doomed.”  He paused an added, “I can’t risk that.  I’m sorry.”

 

“No,” she said as she took a step closer to him, “Please don’t turn your back on us…Tell me, what’s your name?”

 

“Chris,” he whispered out.

 

“Chris, that’s a nice name, and you seem like a nice guy who wouldn’t turn his back on two girls that needed his help, so please I’m begging you…please help us,” she pleaded with tearful eyes. 

 

“I…”

 

Before he could answer, Debbie interrupted him.  “Chris, tell me, do you have any sisters?”

 

Debbie watched the wistful look that appeared on his face as a crooked smile graced his lips.  “Yeah, I do.  In fact, she’s about your age.”

 

“Then tell me this, if your sister was in our predicament, would you hope that someone would help your sister out instead of turning their back on her when she needed them the most?” she asked.

 

“Yes, I would,” he breathed out.  “But, this is different…”

 

“How is this different?” Debbie interrupted again.

 

Walking over to the desk, he plopped down in the desk chair, putting his face in his hands.  Letting out a heavy sigh, Chris sat up, leaning back in the chair.  “Because I have so much too lose.”  There was a brief pause before he continued, “I’ve always lived on the wrong side of the tracks.  My family’s poor and didn’t have any money to put me through college, so I studied my ass off hoping that I might get a full ride somewhere.  When I got a full scholarship here, well, I was ecstatic to the say the least.  When rush week came, I heard that this was the fraternity to join.  The business contacts alone can set me up for life.  I know it sounds selfish, but I just can’t risk losing all this,” he stated sadly.  “As much as I hate saying this, I need this fraternity more than anything.”

 

“Well then, I hope you know your just adding more fuel to the fire.  Who’s not to say that the next girl up here may be your own sister?  I mean, let’s face it, Brad does like them on the young side.”  Debbie paused and walked over to Sarah.  Glancing down, Debbie could see Sarah was slowly beginning to stir again.  Looking back up, Debbie added, “Would you be willing to risk your status then, or would you turn the other way, ignoring your sister’s cries for help?”

 

Silence engulfed the room, as Chris pondered Debbie’s words.  Sitting down on the bed, Debbie grabbed Sarah’s hand, trying to coax her out of her drug induced sleep.  “Sarah, come on, you need to wake up,” she whispered out.  “Please, wake up.  I’ve already called Josh to come get us.  He should be here soon.”

 

“Who’s Josh?” Chris asked curiously from across the room.

 

“Sarah’s brother,” Debbie answered back.

 

There was another brief pause before Chris broke the silence.  “Shit, I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” Chris muttered under his breath.  “Alright, I’ll help you, but we’ve got to move fast,” he told her as he walked over to the bed beside her.

 

Debbie tried to keep her happiness at bay, but she couldn’t stop the huge grin that appeared on her face.  Jumping up, she hugged Chris, saying ‘thank you’ over and over again.

 

Smiling shyly he said, “Don’t thank me yet, at least, not until you two get out of here.”  Walking over to the door he opened it, looking back and forth. Turning back around he said, “Wait here.  I’ll be back shortly.”  Debbie nodded in agreement as Chris walked out.

 

“Debbie?” Sarah slurred out beside her.  “Where…are we?’

 

“Sarah!” Debbie whispered out excitedly.  “I’m so glad you’re…”

 

Debbie didn’t finish her sentence as Chris slipped back into the room.  “Okay, I have good news and bad news.”

 

“Well, what’s the good news?”

 

“We don’t have to worry about running into Brad; he’s still downstairs on the phone.”

 

“What’s the bad news then?” Debbie asked with dread.

 

“There’s no way you guys can escape through the downstairs exits without Brad or the other brothers seeing you, so I was thinking about hiding you two out in another room until her brother gets here,” he replied back.

 

Looking down at Sarah, Debbie knew they wouldn’t be able to get far with her.  Sarah was practically dead weight for them, so whatever room Chris had in mind, it would have to be close by.  Glancing back up at Chris she asked, “So, what room did you have in mind?”

 

“I was going to say my bedroom, but it would be too risky since there’s no lock on that door.  Plus, I share the room with two roommates and the last thing we need is for them to stumble in with you two in there, so really, the only option we have left is the bathroom down the hall,” he suggested.

 

“Oh God, I think I’m going to puke!” commented Sarah, as she tried to push herself off the bed, covering her mouth with her hand.

 

Before Debbie asked for his help, Chris quickly swept Sarah off the bed.  Signaling with his head for Debbie to open the door, he paused briefly at the doorway making sure the coast was clear.  Satisfied that it was, he ran out with Debbie on his heels.

 

When they reached the bathroom, Debbie opened the door as Chris ushered in Sarah.  Just when he put Sarah down, Sarah fell on her knees and vomited into the toilet.  As Chris locked the door, Debbie knelt beside Sarah, holding her hair back as her friend continued to vomit.  Rubbing Sarah’s back, Debbie said soothingly, “It’s alright Sarah.  Everything’s going to be fine.  Really, this is the best thing you can do.  You need to get those drugs out of your system.  It’s going to be okay.”

 

“Here,” Chris said, offering Debbie a glass of water for Sarah.

 

As Sarah sat back against the wall, Debbie grabbed some toilet paper, wiping the vomit from Sarah’s mouth and nose.  “Here, drink this,” Debbie ordered softly.  Once Sarah was somewhat settled, Debbie stood up, turning around.

 

“Do you have a cell phone you could use to call Josh right now?” asked Chris.

 

“I did, but my battery’s dead.”

 

She watched as Chris reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone.  “Here, use this.  Call Josh and ask him what he’s wearing, that way I’ll be able to identify him and bring up here,” he suggested.

 

“Okay.”  Debbie dialed Josh’s number. 

 

By the second ring, Josh answered, “Debbie?”

 

Resting a hand over her heart, Debbie let out a sigh of relief.  “Yeah, it’s me.”

 

“Oh, thank God.  Is everything okay?” Josh asked worriedly.

 

“I…I think so,” Debbie answered back shakily.  She could feel the unshed tears threatening to fall as she heard the heartfelt concern in Josh’s voice.

 

“Debbie listen, we’re just now pulling off the ramp.  We should be at the house in ten minutes.”  There was a brief pause before Josh added with remorse, “I’m sorry we didn’t get there soon enough.

 

“Listen, all that matters is that we’re safe right now.”  Looking down at Sarah she asked curiously, “By the way who’s the ‘we’ you’ve got with you?”

 

Josh chuckled into the phone.  “I’ve got Eli, but I doubt he’ll be much help,” he answered jokingly.

 

In the background, Debbie could hear Eli say, “Debbie baby, we’re a coming.  And don’t listen to what this prissy ass mama’s boy has to say,” Eli joked.  Debbie could hear the radio in the background being turned up to the song ‘Hold on, I’m Coming’.  “Those frat boys won’t know what hit them when the Blue Cove cavalry comes into town.  We’ll be kicking ass and taking names.  Oh yeah, by the way, tell Sarah that her Prince Charming is coming to rescue her.  I bet she’ll get a kick out of that.”

 

Debbie burst out laughing, hearing Eli’s comment.  “Oh yeah, I’ll bet she’ll just love hearing that.  Eli coming to her rescue.  She’d rather die…”  Debbie stopped mid-sentence, realizing that her friend could’ve easily died tonight.  Trying to change the subject she asked Josh what he was wearing.  Once she got the information, she told Chris.  As Chris left the room, Debbie locked the door.

 

“Josh, I hate to cut this short, but I need to hang up and help your sister out,” said Debbie regretfully.

 

“O…okay.  Debbie?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“I just want to say…I mean…just be careful,” he stammered out.

 

Debbie smiled at his concern.  “I will, Josh.  See you soon.” 

 

Before Debbie hung up she heard Eli shouting in the background.  “Now go on, Josh.  Tell Debbie how much you love her and want to whisper sweet nothings into her ear when we see her,” Eli teased.

 

“Shut up, Eli,” Josh yelled back in irritation.  “You know, you can be a real jack-ass sometimes, you know that?”

 

“Well then, flip me over, rub my belly and call me Guido.  Hee-haw!” Eli joked back.

 

“What?” Josh shot back, trying to hold back his laughter.  Debbie could hear Eli laughing hysterically at his little joke that only he understood, but still, Debbie couldn’t help but laugh also.  Eli, what a character, she thought to herself.  Ever since she could remember, he was always known as the class clown in their class.

 

“Oh, come on Bub, you know I’m just yanking your chain,” Eli chuckled out.  “Now, tell your girlfriend we’ll be there in five minutes.”

 

“Asshole,” Josh grumbled.  Turning his attention back to Debbie he said, “Debbie, with all seriousness, be careful.”

 

“I will, Josh.  See you.”

 

“See you too.”  With that, Josh hung up.

 

Setting the phone aside, Debbie grabbed a washcloth nearby and ran it under the faucet.  Wringing it out, she walked back over to Sarah.  Kneeling down, she held the washcloth to Sarah’s forehead. 

 

“Debbie, I don’t feel so good,” Sarah whimpered out.

 

“I know, but don’t worry.  We’ll be out of here soon enough,” Debbie gently replied back as Sarah scrambled over to the toilet, puking again.  “Soon enough,” she repeated again.

 

XXXXXXX

 

To Be Continued…