THE DEATH OF YOU

Everything hurts. My legs. My arms. My head.
"Cassie?" A voice calls my name.
"Awe.. I think I'm broken," I mumble.
Where the hell am I? And why is everything dark?
"Cassie? Are you OK?"
This time I recognize the voice. Justin.
"Justin? What happened to us?" I try to make out his face in the dark. I hear him moving but can't really see. I swipe hair out of my face and I feel everything spin even though I cannot really see much. My fingers feel wet. Can that be blood? My blood?!
"I think I'm hurt.. I think my head's bleeding," I inform him trying not to panic.
"Shit.. here.. let me help you."
I feel Justin beside me know and he presses something to the side of my head.
"I was hit.. someone hit me with a gun.. oh.. Are we kidnapped??" I finally start to remember.
"The sons of bitches.. I tried to fight them Cassie.. but they smashed into us and I was hurt and.."
"It's not your fault Justin.." I try to assure him, but my voice is weak. I'm weak.
"I think you lost a lot of blood Cassie... we need to get you some help," Justin sounds concern.
"Harry will find us.. He’ll make them pay," I say through clenched teeth. I'm in a lot of pain. I'm not sure what is wrong with me but I can tell it's bad.
"Don't count on it.." Justin snaps.
"He will Justin.. Have some faith.. He always does.. This is not the first time," I tell him.
"You were kidnapped before?"
"Not really but other bad stuff and he always showed up and stopped it.. He will come! I know he will," I sigh. I'm getting weaker. I want to close my eyes and just drift off to sleep, but first I need to make sure Justin is calm and believes that we will be alright.
Suddenly bright light fills the room and I need to hold my hand over my eyes to shield them from the blinding light
"Finally.. Sleeping Beauty is up," a man's voice claims.
"You didn't need to hit her so hard! She is in enough pain.. And now she lost a lot of blood on top of that!" Justin scolds the man.
"Big fucking deal.. what do you even care?"
What a strange answer, I place a hand over Justin's to keep him quiet. No point in answering this git.
"Oh how nice.. she's assuring you.. I understand she doesn't know?" The man chuckles dryly.
Know what? His words don't make any sense.. my brain not able to understand.
"So sleeping Beauty, will the boy race for you?!" The man questions.
"Fuck you!" I snarl at him.
"Oh wow.. I wonder what your mum will have to say about that mouth of yours," he taunts me.
"Don't you ever speak of my mother you piece of shit!" I snap, my sight turning red with rage.
"Get her something for her head! It shouldn't get infected!" Justin demands. The man swipes his head to Justin.
"Now!" Justin shouts.
"Yes sir.." the man mumbles.
Yes sir?
"Yes sir?" I repeat, "What does that mean yes sir?" I inquire.
"Great dumb ass! you just gave it away!" Justin rolls his eyes, his accent gone, turning all American on me.
"Get moving!" Justin barks and gets up from where he is sat.
"Justin?" I whisper, frozen in place. No. I lost too much blood. I'm seeing things. This is Justin. He is Liam's roommate. He's a friend.
"Sorry about that Cass.." He says sincerely. That is an American accent.
"What is going on Justin? Why did he call you sir? What happened to your accent?" I question.
"Come on Cassandra, you're smart, I'm sure you can put two and two together," he smiles.
"You're American?"
"Yes princess.. thank god.. although, I do like your accent, I could listen to you all day long," he admits.
"I don't understand.. why pretend? Why not tell the truth? We're your friends.. you're Liam's roommate," I shake my head, trying to understand.
"I couldn't risk it, the moment Harry would understand someone from America is blackmailing him, he would look at me, and I just couldn't have that.. but my English accent is pretty great isn't it?" He smirks.
"Harry.. find out.. you were black mailing him? You're part of this?" I am gobsmacked.
The man from before steps back into the room with a medical box.
"Leave it here. I'll take care of it," he orders.
When the man leaves, Justin takes the little box and paces back to me. He sets it on the floor and kneels in front of me.
"Let's take a look at your head, shall we?" He claims, and reaches out to move aside some of my hair. I recoil not wanting to feel his touch.
"Come on Cass, don't be like that.. we are all friends here," he narrows his eyes.
"You did this.. this is all your fault," I whisper. I can feel my tears on my cheeks.
"No.. not all of it.. and anyway I'm only following Harry’s method, sometimes you need to take the law into your own hands, to keep your own safe, you agree with that don't you?" He raises his brows.
"I trusted you! You were my friend!" I accuse him.
"And once he gets his money we can go back to being friends," he agrees.
"Now please, this might sting slightly," he holds my head in place with one hand while with the other he places a clean rage with something that smells like alcohol. It does sting and I let out a hiss.
"Just a little bit longer," he mumbles, inspecting the side of my forehead. I move fast. As fast as I can I lean back and then bump my head into his as fast and as strong as I can.
"Fuck!" He recoils and holds his nose. I hurry to my feet and kick him, running past him and to the door. I open it and start running. Before I know it I'm tackled to the floor, my hands pin beside me. I hit my chin and I can taste blood in my mouth.
"Leave me alone!" I shout. I kick out my legs, trying to break free. I'm picked up from the floor and held locked against a man's body. The world spins, so I shake my head to try and clear it.
Another man steps in front of me holding up his hand ready to slap.
"Don't!" Justin appears, and the man let's his hand drop.
"She is hurt enough! The plan wasn't to hurt her! She is innocent!" Justin barks. His nose swollen and there are blood stains on his shirt. Good.
"She tried to run!" The man claims.
"Yeah well, tie her to the pole, she won't be able to, Cassie.. you better not try that again.. next time they will beat you," he warns.
I spit at him. The only thing I think of doing. He wipes his face and lets out a chuckle.
"I can see what Harry sees in you."
He turns and walks away while the men pull me and throw me onto the floor tying my hands behind my back to a pole.
"He will hurt you Justin! Harry will make you pay!" I call after him.
he lets out a laugh as he exits.
I pull at my arms trying to break free. I feel my skin around my hands break and bleed.
"You better stop.. you won't be able to break those bonds," the man tells me.
"How much are they paying you?" I ask the man.
"Why? ready to cut a deal?" The man smirks.
"No.. just wondering how much Harry is worth," I shrug. The man doesn't reply.
I feel like screaming.
Justin is back with some water.
"Will you be good and drink?" He questions.
I stare at him.
"Drink Cassie.. no reason for you to suffer more then necessary," he holds up a cup to my lips.
I am thirsty so I drink. He sits down in front of me, watching me carefully.
"How are you part of this? Why is this happening?" I question.
"You don't know?"
I shake my head.
"So he never shared with you the reason he took on the motorbike race?" Justin taps his chin.
"I knew it! He got in trouble didn't he?! I knew he was keeping something from me!" I couldn't help the tears. Everything comes crashing down on me once again and weighed on my chest. Something flushes in Justin's eyes as he watches me lose it.
He reaches behind me and cuts the straps on my hands letting me free. My wrists are bloodied but I don't care. I bring my knees to my chest and cover my face with my palms ignoring the world and falling into my bottomless black hole.
It will never end. Even when he tries to change something pulls him back. I cannot live my life this way. Always waiting for something to crash us down, looking over my shoulder.
"Come Cass.. I'll take you home," Justin claims softly, touching my arm. I pull away from him, knowing this is a lie. He will never let me go.
"She isn't going anywhere! We follow orders!" A man from behind Justin states.
"Yes! You follow my orders! And I decided to let her go!" Justin barks.
I straighten up to watch this exchange.
The door open and another man walks in. He is tall and dark, sporting a suit and tie.
"What is this gentleman?"
"Walker was just about to let the girl free!" One of the men tattles.
"Now now Justin.. that isn't true is it?"
I glance at Justin and watch the colour leave his features.
"Jermaya.. she has nothing to do with this.. she has no idea what is going on.. he never clued her in on any of it.." Justin explains swiftly, his voice slightly shaking. This man. Jermaya. Is the man calling the shots.
"I don't give a shit Walker! She is dear to him and that all that matters! Just like your father is dear to you!" Jermaya barks. He slaps Justin then so hard, Justin falls back.
"You're right! But we can get someone else dear to him! His sister or Eleanor! Cassie's lost enough!" Justin tries again.
"Enough!! Or I'll tie you up too!" Jermaya shouts.
"Make sure these two don't move.. if you need to tie them up- do it." And with that he is out again.
"Guess we don't take orders from you anymore boy," one of the men cackles.
Justin's shoulders sag and he moves closer to me.
"What the hell is going on Justin?!" I demand of him.
This makes no sense. One minute I'm tied and he is all up in my face and the next he is trying to set me free and standing up for me.
"I'm sorry Cassie.. you should know though.. what I said about him having my sister.. it's true.. and my dad.. he is holding them both.. I had to do it.. he said I will never see them again.. I should have never brought you into this.. I'm sorry," he whispers, moving closer to me.
"What do you mean? I don't understand!" I panic. There are too many holes. Too many things I do not understand.
"Do you remember Harry's team in the states? Did you ever meet them?"
Justin inquires.
"Sure! Well.. I only knew Zach and Matt the manager and the lad who worked on Harry's car." I correct.
"Yes.. Zach.. what do you know about him?"
"He is a nice enough guy.. older than the other managers.. but he was always respectful and kind to us," I respond.
Justin nods.
"Zach.." I sigh his name and glance at Justin. Zach... Justin... Zach.. Zach walker...
"Oh god.. Zach.. Zach Walker.. Zach is your Dad!"

Notes

Oh my god, The news these past few days is just terrible!
Keep safe my loved ones! hope you're all doing well..

And lastley,
RIP Christina Grimmie.