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I shifted uncomfortably, for the first time in my life feeling very very awkward in front of my own dad. Other than passing each other at home, this was the first real time I'd talked to him since I'd learned the truth. I guess I'd been unintentionally avoiding my own father.

He looked around, taking off his suit jacket and setting it over the back of the chair. "They couldn't at least paint this room? Make it a little more lively?"

All I could offer was a stiff laugh and a, "Yeah," that trailed off. This room wasn't too bad. All it was was a hospital bed, a chair, some white walls, and a bathroom. It'd do the job and this wasn't a hotel room. I was supposed to be out of here by tonight.

"So, how are you?" He took a seat in the chair and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. I felt like one of his business clients.

"I'm pretty good. The doctor said I was lucky enough to walk away with some bruising and a cut on my nose."

"Oh, that's good." He ran his hands through his hair, ducking his head down and looking sickeningly relieved.

"But Natalie," I started, the anger building up. "Dad, she's in surgery right now. When I saw her out there she was unconscious, covered in blood and glass. I'm not sure how lucky she will be."

I managed not to scream, "THIS IS YOUR FAULT," but I definitely implied it. I wanted him to feel guilty, I wanted him to stop this and fix this problem by himself. He's the one who caused it, and I didn't want him feeling relieved and thankful that all I had was some bruising. I wanted him to know that I knew this awful thing he did, and how bit by bit he was putting enough stress on our family to make us collapse like wet paper maché.

"Oh my - what? Is she going to die?" He gulped.

I shrugged, officially deciding I wasn't going to tell him that she was probably going to live, I wanted him to feel guilty for what he'd gotten us into.

"I-" he trailed off when Mom burst through the door.

Her eyes instantly focused in on Dad. "What are you doing here?"

"Christine, what are you talking about? My daughter is in the hospital. I'm pretty sure that's self-explanatory."

"Can I talk to you outside?" Mom gritted her teeth. "Please?"

Dad sighed and stood up, "Christine, what is your problem? Do you not want me to see if my daughter is okay? She was in a car accident!"

"No, Mark. I just -"

"What, Christine? Say it. What are you trying to say?"

That question was like a switch and Mom's blue eyes turned cold and icy, her tone hard. "You know exactly what I'm trying to say."

"That what? I caused this?'

"Your words, not mine." Mom folded her arms and refused to tear her gaze away from her husband.

Dad's forehead wrinkled up and his face heated up with anger as he shouted, "Are you kidding me? You think I caused this? You think I wanted this to happen?" He jerked a hand in my direction, gesturing towards my injuries.

"Mark," she snipped coolly. "I can only imagine what you're thinking right now. But you don't want to know what I'm thinking because it involves me and a call to my lawyer if this problem keeps up, and you know what I'm talking about so don't even try to pretend you don't." She snapped her head to me, "Carter, we're leaving. Get dressed in the fresh clothes I brought you and I'll go sign you out."

"Don't walk away from me, Christine," my dad threatened. He did this when he knew he was losing, which was probably the reason of why he got himself in this debt situation in the first place.

Mom called out from the hall, "I believe I already have."

"We're not leaving, I don't care what your mother says. Stay where you are and we'll get the doctor," Dad instructed to me before he stormed out into the hall.

I rolled my eyes and hopped out of bed, slipping on the sweatpants and sweatshirt my mom brought for me. I scooped my hair up into a messy bun and went out to find my mom Both her and my dad were talking, er, arguing, with Doctor Meyers.

Mom whirled around. "There you are. Ready to go?"

I nodded, purposely not looking at my dad's furious expression. At the sight of me deliberately disobeying me to side with Mom, he marched into my hospital room to grab his suit jacket and left the hospital.

Mom muttered something inaudible under her breath before turning back to Doctor Meyers, "Thank you, Doctor Meyers."

I followed her out of the hospital and into the parking lot. Even though the lot was lit up, I couldn't help but feel paranoid at all the cars sitting there, wondering if they were here. If they were watching our every move.

As we pulled out, I cleared my throat, interrupting Mom's angry silence, "What now?"

She gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead. "We have to get out as soon as possible. Those men are obviously getting restless."

"How-"

"Carter," she shushed me. "Just let me think."

I pressed my lips together and waited in the unnerving silence. She took the longer way home, her blue eyes constantly flicking over to check the rearview mirror. I understood the precaution, I wanted it. But her quiet stiffness was scaring me. I was counting on her to get us through this, I didn't know what else to do.

We pulled up the street of our neighborhood and she whipped the car into the driveway. She didn't even wait for me before she marched into the house. Granma Jo was sitting at the kitchen table, fingers tightly clutched around a steaming mug of tea.

When she saw us, she flew out of her chair. "Where's Mark?"

"He didn't come home?" Mom filled up a glass of water, sipping thoughtfully.

Granma Jo shook her head and slowly walked towards me, wrapping me up in a hug. "How you feelin', honey?"

"I'm good." I squeezed her right back, knowing she needed the comfort more than me right now.

A car door slammed shut outside and angry footsteps marched up to the porch, making all three of us jump. Granma Jo pushed me out of her arms and Mom shooed me up the stairs before the person could come in. I barely made it to the top floor before Dad's voice reached my ears, yelling at Mom from the foyer.

"Don't you ever let that happen again!" He shouted.

"What?" My mom tested.

There was some low yelling and the crashing sound of Mom's water glass hitting the ground before I couldn't take it anymore. Tears pricked my eyes and I ran to my room, shoving my back against the closed door, as if that could help anything. As if that could block anything out. I tried my best to ignore it, to get ready for bed same as always. But I just couldn't fall asleep.

I lost track of how much time went by before I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. In case it was Dad, I rolled over and made my breath even so it would seem like I was asleep.

"It's me," Mom whispered, walking over to sit on the edge of my bed. "I'm going to need you to listen to me."

I nodded, wide awake.

"Tomorrow, you're going to go to school. Find plans later in the evening because at night, that's when you leave. Aunt Mary and Granma Jo will take Liv, Vic, and Teddy in the afternoon. To make it less suspicious, you and I will leave with Emily at night. I'll pick you up wherever you are but be ready. We're leaving quietly and not all at once so no one suspects anything at first."

"Ok," I whispered, choking the word out. "Won't it be suspicious with all of us leaving around the same time?"

"We aren't left with much of a choice considering the events from today. That's why we're splitting up the times. Get some sleep and I'll see you tomorrow. Love you." She leaned down to kiss my forehead and smooth my hair down. "It'll be okay. I promise."

"I know." I nodded again. I trust you, I'm just so scared.

My bedroom door closed and I was left alone again. I curled up under the covers, going through what my mom said over and over again in my head.

Tomorrow. That was it. Tomorrow was the day I'd be kidnapped.

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thanks everybody for reading!! it honestly means so so so much to me! don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter!!

-Scarlett Wilson