Broken Mind
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I needed to talk to Kota. Now. He doesn't know. Oh God... "Lysa." I hiccup, squeezing my phone tighter in my small hands. I wipe the tears off my face, realizing the urgency I should probably be using.

I log onto our group chat with trembling fingers. I have to be careful how I do this... they have Lysa's phone.

Me: Dakota! Dakota, please, call me now!

Me: Kota? Kota are u there? It's urgent!

Dakota87Walker: Wtf do u want?
I'm not calling your pathetic ass

ELysa22: What's going on guys?

My palms started sweating even more than they already were, if that's even possible. I stared down at Lysa's name, tears dripping onto my phones screen and blotting out the text.

Me: Nothing, notjing, I judt was wonserinh if Kota would cakl me

ELysa22: lol u can't spell worth a crap

Me: lol yea sorrt I'm just kijda nervois I think Jaimie might ask mme oit

ELysa22: cool I'm going to bed night

Dakota87Walker: Night babe ;)

Once I'm sure those masked fuckers logged off on her phone, I start texting back Kota.

Me: Dakota pls I'm serious

Dakota87Walker: I said no you god damn dweeb u think just bc ur my gf's lil friend that u can actually talk to me?

Me: it's about Lysa. Pls Kota I'm begging u

Dakota87Walker: ok I'm calling

Me: thank u so much

As I sign off, I glanced out the window. I can't see out passed the swirling black abyss outside. Lysa is out there with those psychos. Oh god... why did the stupid cops think I was prank calling?! Ugh... I'm gonna be sick... my phone vibrating my hands shocks me out of my thoughts, and I jump, banging my foot on the corner of my bed.

I hit the answer button, jumping around and cradling my toe. Kota's voice, full of concern, enters my room. "What's wrong? Is Lysa ok? Is someone abusing her again? I swear if he is-" I stop Kota mid-sentence.

"Kota, what I'm about to tell you is NOT a prank. I swear on my life. I know you hate me but this is real, so PLEASE do NOT hang up." Kota motions for me to go on, and I do, taking a deep breathe to steady myself. "Lysa was kidnapped. And I witnessed the whole thing. And the people who kidnapped her are going to take all the girls from class. They already have Laci and Sarah, and I'm pretty sure Madie was taken too." Kota scoffs, glaring at me through the screen. If looks could kill...

"You think I'll actually believe that bull crap? You sick fuck. You had me worried something actually happened to Lysa. I'm hanging up." His hand moves towards the phone, but I yell startling him. "THEY HAD MASKS, DAKOTA!" The panic in my voice is evident, and upon hearing it his hand falters away from the disconnect button.

"She was video calling me, like we are now. She said she had something important to talk about, and she was crying. She heard a noise downstairs. And then-" I gulp, tears threatening to pour out of my eyes. Kota stares at my face, watching, waiting for me to go on. His face is softened from the scowl it usually has on, and he looks at me with... concern? Caring? I'm not sure, but it was a surprising addition to his otherwise hard structure.

I take a deep, steadying breathe. "Then, then she said, 'they're here' and hid under her bed. She started crying even harder, and s-something grabbed h-h-her leg and-" I start bawling, remembering the look of terror on my best friend's face. "And she dropped the phone. I heard her screaming, except the screaming was going further and further away until-"

"Wait, wait, wait. If the phone was under the bed, how did you see their face?" Kota asks, his face relaxing just a bit. "You can't fool me, Cadence." He now has a slight, self conscious smirk on his face. My mouth is agape, disbelief curving my features until anger overtakes them.

"YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS PROBABLY GETTING RAPED AND MURDERED AND YOUR SMILING?!" My voice goes up a pitch at the word 'smiling'. He knows I'm being honest now, because his face is back into a slightly panicked expression. I sigh, because he knows I never get angry.

"They came back, Dakota." I say in a tired voice. "They came back and took the phone. Then-" I begin, realizing suddenly I could be in danger. "DAKOTA. Oh Jesus, Kota, I think they're coming for me too. Oh god, Kota..." I bawl, starting to tremble.

"What? What did they say?" Kota asks me, his face hardened again. "They didn't say anything, Kota. That's the thing. They just stared at me until he slowly started pointing... at... me." Kota takes a sudden intake of breathe, and I glance at his features. His face is clouded, as though he was deep in thought. He suddenly looks at me with wide eyes, and he starts muttering instructions very quickly.

"You need to get out of the house NOW. Go somewhere with lots of people, and light. Make sure there is plenty of light. And whatever you do, do NOT get off the phone with me. Do you understand?" He asks. I nod, but realize a sudden flaw in his plan. "Kota, I don't live anywhere near people. I live in the middle of the country, like you. And the storm would've knocked out any power for miles. None of my family lives near me, and it's the middle of the night." He looks at me for a second before looking at the floor. "Come to my house." I stare at him in shock. He glanced at me and, realizing I'm not moving, starts yelling at me.

"Go! What the hell are you waiting for? I live on Little Spoon Lane. My house is the one with the big red barn. You can stay at my house for the rest of the night." I start walking again, only to freeze in my tracks. "What in the-" Kota starts, but I quickly motion for him to be quiet. He understands and shuts up. Once I hear it again, I almost scream. I run quietly back to my room and lock the door. I look at Kota, and he looks at me, mirroring my face exactly. "They're. Here." I whisper, my voice cracking, with hot tears running down my face. I'm shaking uncontrollably now, emotions running through me as though I'm on my period. I can barely stand, my legs are so weak. I slowly tip toe towards the window and open it. Rain and the sound of thunder fill my room, deafening me. Kota is moving his mouth, an urgent expression on his face, but I can't hear him. I can only think about how loud that was. They're coming. A taunting voice in the back of my head tells me. At this realization, I get new found strength. I begin to clamber out the window, and I'm halfway through until strong arms grab me from behind. I scream and start kicking, but they just pull me back in. I can see the bed coming closer, and my heart skips a beat. The person who pulled me through the window holds me down on my stomach to the bed.

I feel the cold metal of handcuffs cut into my wrists, and my phone being taken from me. Too... tight... handcuffs! I yell in my mind. I'm probably going crazy. I start kicking more, and I try to use my whole body to throw off my attacker. But it's no use, they're too heavy. "DAKOTA!" I scream. "SAVE LYSA!" I hear him yelling curses, and I'm not sure he heard me. "SAVE LYS-" a hand clamps over my mouth, and I go rigid with fear. Tears pour down my face, and the attacker picks me up over his shoulder. I glance down at where my phone is and I see Kota's face for a split second. I try to roll off my kidnapper, but it's useless. I kick and scream, but nothing works. As they drag me outside I'm immediately drenched. They put me in a van and stuff a gag in my mouth. Go figure.

As we start driving away, I notice another person is in the vehicle next to me, unconscious. Or perhaps dead. I recognize them as Sidney, a cute emo girl from our class. I try to nudge close to her, but fall over instead. I don't have enough energy to go on. I need... to... sleep... no... no sleep... but it's no use. My energy has been spent, and I'm too emotionally drained. I close my eyes to the rocking of the van, and slowly lose consciousness.