Broken.

Broken.
The basement looks like it was once a wine cellar.

It smells musty but in the dim light provided by the single bare bulb that dangles from the ceiling I can't see any water seeping in. It's mostly threadbare and cold except for the single bed in the middle of the basement with a tiny blanket.

At five foot four I'm hardly a giant but I must keep my head bowed as I walk around it. It's larger than it seems from the doorway, and there are some alcoves built in.

It's the perfect place to store medications with it's moderated temperatures and lack of sunlight and obviously a pregnant woman who has just been kidnapped.

The minute we get out of the car, even with my blindfold on, I can tell that I was being led to a house and down the basement.

I don't see Nick when my blindfold, tape and ropes are taken off but only the other guy who was with him.


I was also searched thoroughly by him and he didn't leave anything out and even the thought of it right now still disgusts me. How he took a longer time in searching my intimate parts with a sneer on his face.

I wanted to slap him so bad but I was so scared he would try and hurt me back so I didn't for the sake of the twins.




I've been alone in the basement for about two hours now, but of course I don't know if it's accurate since I have no way to tell the time.

The only door to the basement is locked tightly and I have searched every nook and cranny of it to find something to get me out here but come up with nothing.

Once in a while I constantly hear voices above but as much as I try to hear what they're saying, they start speaking in hushed voices again. Careful not to divulge any information out to me.

The basement is so cold, I think as I rub my arms together to create some heat, my mind keeps going back to Ross and my family and how worried they'll be and the mere thought of it brings tears to my eyes.

I can imagine Ross trying to piece together what's going on, why I got into Nick's car, why I lied to Guzman and why I'm not answering my phone.

But I know I have to be strong, I have to be strong for the twins, for Ross and for my family who must be worried sick about me.

After a few more minutes of feeling pity for myself, I march up to the basement door and bang on it loudly.

So loud the sound of it fills my eardrums.

"Hello! Hello! Is anyone there? Nick! If you're out there you better get me out of here you stupid bastard!"

"Let me out!!!" I scream out but I'm only answered by silence.

My heart beats erratically as I glare at the basement door almost wishing it would swing open.

Did they leave me here?

No, that's impossible, someone must be out there watching over me.


I bang on the door some more with all my might ignoring the stinging sensation in my hands.

"You fucking coward! I'm going to kill you Nick! I swear I'm going to! I regret every moment I spent with you! How can you do this to me!!"

I cry out almost breaking into sobs at the intensity of my words.

I still don't understand why Nick would kidnap me.

The moment I hear footsteps I quickly move away from the door before I get hit with it.

The door opens and it's Nick.

Exactly who I hoped it would be, except his little minion follows him too.

"You better keep your mouth shut or I'll do it for you!" He warns and I look at Nick.

"Have you been pretending all along? Was it all real? The feelings, the help? Was it really real?"

Nick looks at his minion and signals for him to leave.

The guy whispers in his ear and gives me one vicious look before he finally leaves.

"There's no house here for miles Elenora, screaming wouldn't help you."

He comes down the stairs and I can notice him holding the same gun he was holding earlier.

He catches me looking at it.

"I'm sorry about the gun, it's just a precaution, you wouldn't go with me easily."

"Why would I? You kidnapped me Nick!"

"It's for your own fucking good Elenora. Being with Ross would have gotten you killed."

My brain is trying to connect the dots, Carter was trying to kill me before?

Or is there someone else in the picture that I know nothing about.

"Oh! So you think you're helping me now? By kidnapping me? Fuck you Nick!"

Nick moves closer as he raises his hands, his gun in one hand, I eye it closely.

Nick would never hurt me would he? I don't know if I can take the risk and make a run for it, it'll be stupid, especially if there are more of him outside I can't outrun all of them.

How the hell am I going to leave this place?

He also mentioned something about this being the only house in the neighbourhood, where exactly does he mean? Am I even still in New York? I can't remember how long the car ride was, I know I dozed off a few times out of tiredness.

"I never wanted to do it, you left me no choice El."

Nick's face looks anything but remorseful, I only wish that I can punch that smug look off his face.

I need to get a good look of how this house looks like. If I'm ever going to leave here I need to know what I'm working with.

"Don't ever call me that! Are you working with Carter? Is that it?"

I move closer and glare at him hoping he'll tell me the answer but he only smiles at me and walks away.

He studies the basement for a while.

"If you behave, I might be able to get them to move you to a better room, it will be heavily guarded of course but it'll be better than this dump."


Who is this person? This isn't the Nick I know. The Nick I know is kindhearted and loving and nice and would give and arm and a leg for his friends.

The Nick I'm seeing now doesn't give a flying fuck if something happens to me. And its scary.

What changed him?

"Why are you doing this?" I ask him and he turns back to look at me.

I notice he's looking a lot more better than when he kidnapped me. He must have taken a shower and taken care of himself. He looks clean shaven and well groomed.


"Why?" he asks again, in a tone that is more of a statement than a question.

"Because I love you Elenora. And I will do anything to keep you safe and protected away from the people who hurt you."


"The only protection I need is from you." I blurt out without even thinking.

A pained expression flashes through his features. Well, this means he still has feelings.

"I'm not the enemy Elenora. I have never been the enemy. It's Ross you should be afraid of."


"Why would I be afraid of him? He hasn't given me any reason to be afraid of him."

Nick chuckles.

"Oh you'll find out very soon."

He's lying, I know he's lying, the Ross I know would never do anything to hurt me or our babies.

He loves us very much and would do anything to protect us.

Ever since the beginning of our relationship, Nick has said everything he could possibly say to keep us apart.

"He's going to find me Nick. And you're going to be sorry."

I tell Nick as I go and sit down on the cold bed.

He watches me for a long tine before leaving. And I watch him leave too.

I heave a sigh of relief and burst into tears the moment he's gone and out of earshot.


How the hell am I leaving this place if I have no idea where I am?

I can't be out of New York since if we were leaving New York it would have been a longer drive.

So I'm guessing I'm still in New York but far away from the city.

So where the hell could I have been taken to that I can't hear the sound of the city, or the sound of anything by the way since it's so damn quiet?

I lay on my side on the cold bed mulling over my own whereabouts. I have narrowed it to a few options, first is that I must be in a cabin somewhere remote like a town, the other option is most likely on the outskirts of New York.

I'm startled a bit when the basement door opens again.

It's Nick and it appears as if he's coming in with a thicker blanket.

I try to strain my ears to listen to any sounds I might hear the moment the door is open but all I can hear us the deafening sound of silence and I can see the light flooding in from the hallway in an unnatural way.

It must be evening already or close to night for the bulbs to be switched on in the passage.

That's good. This place is freezing.

I notice he's carrying something that looks like a plastic container holding water.

He comes closer and throws the thick blanket to me. I try to appear nonchalant as I throw it on the bed but I can't deny that I'm grateful for the blanket.

He passes me the plastic container of water. I assume they can't give me glass so I won't cut myself or them.

And there's a burger too.

The burger is as cold as a dog's nose as he hands it to me, which only tells me that wherever they got it, it must be very far from wherever the hell I am.


I don't talk as Nick sets them down on the bed and looks at me expectantly.

Well, he's not getting a thank you from me, but I'll try my possible best to be on my best behaviour.

If that's what it'll take to leave this stupid basement.

"I'll check on you later." He whispers even though we're in the basement and I ignore him.

I don't want anything from him, I think as I hug my belly protectively.

His eyes travel down to my bulging belly.

"I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. Or them..."

"But you did." I cut in and look away.