[15] State of Freedom

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Jason sat on the leather driver's seat of the ocean blue BMW. I had no clue on how he managed to get another brand new car but I guessed he wouldn't want to use a car from Mr.Mendes company as that would make it extremely easier to be tracked by Shawn's dad and his men.

Silence took over the atmosphere, only disturbed by the fainted sound of the radio playing brand new hits, mostly one hit wonders. Songs that everyone would play and repeat consistently until they are left forgotten in a couple months.

I lost track on the amount of minutes or even hours we spent driving. I took a quick look over the front mirror, Jazmyn was happily devouring a pear and a cereal bar on the backseat.

My stomach complained producing a groan sound as my body barely had anything to eat since yesterday morning. Jason's hand travelled across me opening one of the compartments of the car. He exposed an orange which he took and peacefully rested it on my lap.

I watched his hand move back to the steering wheel as the piece of fruit shone brightly reflecting the light from the morning sun.

I gently peeled the fruit before placing one of the sections inside my mouth. Pleasure filled my senses as the juices traveled down my throat. Jason being nice was something so unusual I found it so hard to believe.

I subtly stared at Jason from the corners of my eyes. I wondered how he was coping with everything I told him the previous night. He undoubtedly seemed tired but he didn't let a single emotion slip from him.

I rested my head on the glass window as I stared at the lines of trees appear and disappear from my view. What could my future be now? Is Jason going to release me somewhere? Will he actually release me? Will he keep torturing me even after revealing all the lies he naively believed? Will he end it all and kill me?

I turned my head lightly so I could have another look at Jazmyn and Jason. Jazmyn laid placidly on the backseat, her mouth gently opened and her eyes completely closed. I weakly smiled at how adorable she looked even napping.

Jason was firmly gripping on the steering wheel as his eyes nailed on the road. His tight tank top revealed his muscular tattooed arms, they tensed and relaxed as he maneuvered whenever required. His dark golden hair was slightly messy, some strands gently danced in circles as the fresh breeze coming from the opened window blew them.

I dropped my gaze towards my thin thighs, I analysed the stitches on my leg softly tracing them with my left hand. I was so thankful Jason took the effort to do such a skilful thing, he surely must have had some previous knowledge about stitching.

I kept my eyes closed for some solid minutes before a slight bump on the road brought me back to reality. I searched with my eyes the view outside the closest window. My orbs widened surprised as I could recognise the familiar shops and streets surrounding us. I kept my figure close to the glass as recognised every single street we drove past. Finally, Jason turned left as my heart pounded vividly. He stopped the car and applied the hand-break to finalise the journey.

I stared in shock as my grandmother's house stood proudly as if the building was welcoming us.
Jason didn't look at me he simply rested his elbow on the window frame and his head on his fist.

-"Where are we?"- Jazmyn sleepy voice questioned as she reincorporated herself back on her seat.

I dared to open the door of the car and I took a step outside. I nervously yet excitedly walked towards the building but just halfway through the path I turned around facing the car where Jazmyn and Jason were located.

Jason had his eyes fixed at some point away from me as if he was trying to avoid reality. Jazmyn just watched me as her hands pressed against the window glass, her breath steaming the transparent material.

I gestured with my hand to Jazmyn to come outside with me. I heard her say something to Jason who sighed tiredly. After a short second, she opened the door and ran her way towards my side. Her face illuminated by her wide smile.

I took her hand interlocking our fingers as I smiled back at her before we started our walk towards my front door. I gulped saliva as I knocked on the wooden door firmly.

I could hear the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door and my heartbeat accelerated once again. I felt Jazmyn thumb gently brush against my skin calming me in the act.

Some clicks were heard the door slowly opened revealing my grandmother's unmistakable figure. Our eyes met and I couldn't help but jump into her arms.

-"Gabriella? God bless my eyes!"- She exclaimed in euphoria as she corresponded my hug.

-"I missed you so much, grandma!"- I replied.

After several short seconds, we parted the hug to have a view of our faces. She smiled in happiness as she cupped my face with her warm gentle hands.

Her eyes travelled pass me and met Jazmyn's who watched the show as she played with her fingers together.

-"Who is this beautiful young lady?"- My grandma asked as her hand rested on Jazmyn's head, slowly combing her hair in the act making her giggle.

Suddenly Jason's figure walked up the stairs, his hands hidden inside the pockets of his used jeans.

-"That's Jason and this is his younger sister Jazmyn"- I explained to my grandmother as she eyed Jason.

-"Marvellous! Come in, I was just about to make some tea!"- She said indicating Jason and Jazmyn to come inside.

Jazmyn trotted her way in, Jason frowned doubting but he gave it in and dragged his feet inside the house.

-"I also found this new box of cookies I recently bought, try as many as you want!"- My grandmother happily said as she rested a silver tray in the middle of the living room table.

Jazmyn grabbed some of the cookies and ate them one by one. I watched her as I took a sip of my tea feeling my taste buds recognising the unmistakable taste that only my grandmother mastered. Jason however, didn't try the tea nor the cookies. He simply rested his back against the back of the sofa with his usual frown, I wondered what was going through his mind.

-"Well Gabriella it has been so long, but you didn't have to lie to me, I know everything"- My grandmother said as she held her warm cup of tea with both hands.

-"You know everything?"- I asked confused as I looked over to Jason and then to my grandmother.

-"Yes, darling, I might be old but I'm not stupid"- She gave me a playful wink as she finished her tea. -"You could have told me you had a boyfriend"- her eyes switched stares between me and Jason.

Jazmyn chuckled as she stuffed her mouth with more cookies. I felt my cheeks blushing to a light pink as I grew nervous.

-"Grandma..."- I tried to speak but realised maybe letting her believe her own assumptions would make things easier for everyone.

I could not just tell her that the guy sitting next to me was a kidnapper that tortured me for several weeks. Jason didn't seem to react to her comment, he simply ignored it. He was being so quiet and expressionless, genuinely something strange of his persona and yet so unusual to be so frequent recently.

I could not blame his behaviour, either way, he was still digesting the cruel reality. My grandmother stood up still smiling as she picked up the empty teacups placing them back onto the tray.

She disposed her way back to the kitchen and I quickly stood up and followed her into the kitchen room.

-"I'm so sorry for leaving without saying a word..."- I mumbled loud enough for her to hear me.

She rested the tray on the kitchen counter and turned around to face me with her deep blue eyes. -"Gabriella, you don't have to apologise, see when you left I felt lonely the first few days but as the days passed by I started to realise that I was encaging you"-

-"Grandma that's not true"- I shook my head disapproving her words.

-"Listen sweetheart, ever since the incident happened I felt you were not secure at all, I always avoided anything related to it and I overprotected you without realising you are already eighteen, you are an adult and I don't want to encage you and turn you into a complete introvert, as the saying goes why would you want to keep a bird to admire if you don't let it fly free"- She gave me a sweet look of empathy as she held my hands in hers.

My system shut down, I didn't know what to exactly say. We never really talked about the twisted situation ever since it happened. It wasn't something nice to talk about or that either of us would have particularly enjoyed mentioning either way. I completely loved my grandmother and she did everything to raise me right and safe but I could understand where she was coming from.

-"That handsome man, Jason seems a bit shy but I have seen the way you look at him and I can most certainly feel the chemistry between you two"- She said as she clapped her hands producing a faint sound.

-"Oh grandma, only if you knew the real reason for my constant looks at Jason and everything I found out..."- I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes funnily.

Grandma assured me Mrs Jenkins was good and back on tracks. She got discharged from the hospital about a week ago according to my grandmother. It felt like another pressure was released off of me.

We heard someone clear the throat behind me and I turned around just to meet Jason resting his arm on the doorframe. -"Sorry to interrupt ladies, Jazmyn and I have stuff to do, we are leaving"- His husky voice echoed throughout the kitchen.

My grandma nodded affirmatively as she walked past him back to the living room where Jazmyn was.

-"Jason thank you for letting me visit my grandmother it means a lot to me"- I whispered after making sure my grandmother could not hear me.

-"It's not a visit, this is your last stop, I have a lot of stuff to do and you are pretty useless now"- He replied monotonously.

I frowned confused feeling his words cut through my skin like a sharp knife. -"So you are just going to leave and pretend like nothing happened?"- I crossed my arms up to my chest analysing him.

He sighed clearly annoyed. -"You are such a drama queen. I have heard you for weeks crying to be brought back to your shithole of a place and now that you are here you don't want to be back? Don't test my fucking patience."- Jason's eyes sent daggers towards my direction. How could he speak so coldly about everything he purposely put me through?

-"Jason firstly my life changed the second that staged car crash happened, and the 180° turn took place the day you kidnapped me, like it or not we are linked and I'm not going to pretend as if nothing happened now that everything is more clear to me"- I spoke unafraid to confront him. -"Secondly my grandmother treated you with respect and affection the least you could do is be respectful too"-

-"You are acting very cocky now, you should know by now how dangerous I can be Gabriella, don't tempt your fate"- His voice lowered sending shivers down my spine.

-"Fine, you don't want me around you? Ok, but Jazmyn should stay with me here then"- I replied back trying to prevent any hint of fear to betray me.

Jason broke into an exaggerated laughter making clear he was mocking me -"Do you really think I'm going to leave my sister with a useless slut like you? Go fuck yourself, Gabriella"-

I felt my cheeks slowly heating up as his words dug into my ears. How could he be so rude even after rescuing him from Mr.Mendes claws?

-"You said it yourself Jason, you are danger she is a teenager she shouldn't be caught up by all the shit you do"- My tone raised in volume.

Jason clenched his jaw as if he was a beast ready to jump on his prey. I feared the slightly nice Jason was coming to an end, ready to be replaced by the Jason that kidnapped me weeks ago.

-"Do you really want to come? Fine, your choice but if you ever get in danger don't expect me to come to the rescue big girl"- His words felt ice cold.

Neither of us dared to say a single word, after some brief seconds Jason turned around to approach the front door. He gave a quick look to Jazmyn who seemed to get the massage and she stood up following him.

-"Grandma I'll be back soon"- I hugged her before placing a soft kiss on her pale cheek.

She smiled tenderly at me planting another kiss on my forehead, she didn't have to say anything her eyes spoke a thousand words.

***

I was becoming exhausted after the long car ride. Just as usual Jason and I didn't share any words between each other. Only the faint sounds of the radio and Jazmyn's sweet voice asking random questions every now and then accompanied the journey.

Jason pulled over abruptly by the side road of a freeway. We were surrounded by foliage and some abandoned constructions, by the looks of the buildings they seemed to be structured for a possible mall or flats.

There were a lot of homeless people settled around the ruins of the abandoned buildings. Jason indicated us to remain inside the car with the doors locked for security.

-"This place is scary"- Jazmyn whispered as we both stared at Jason going inside one of the buildings.

I envied the way he wouldn't get scared. If it was me walking inside such a deteriorated and dangerous place I'd be shaking in fear uncontrollably.

I kept my fingers tapping gently on the leather seat until my uncertainty blew off. I unlocked the door exiting the car.

-"Stay inside Jaz, I'm going to check on Jason"- I said before closing the door.

Jazmyn didn't complain, she was probably shocked by the fact I wanted to walk around such a dark place but my curiosity was eating me alive.

I jogged my way to the structure Jason previously entered, I felt my senses sharpen as an indomitable sensation of fear kept me alarmed.
I could hear the sexual whistling thrown at me by some of the dirty homeless people around the area.

-"That's what I call a woman!"-

-"Come here and spend some time with me!"-

-"Nice body you got there beauty!"-

I ignored the careless inappropriate comments shrugging them off my shoulders. It seemed as if none of these men had a physical contact with a female in decades, and I wasn't interested in breaking that record. Once inside the building I noticed the lights from a social drinking club, a bar. It seemed quite big and I approached the entrance to search for Jason.

I stopped by the main door, close to the transparent glass of the front windows. My eyes travelled through the room until they met Jason's unmistakable profile. He was by the bar talking to a bald man who looked around his forties.

I doubted if simply going in would make him rage as he previously instructed us to remain inside the car. Either way, I gently opened the door and made my way inside making sure I was out of his vision.

I sat at the bar, close to Jason yet keeping a reasonable distance so I wouldn't be spotted by him. The place smelled like several alcoholic drinks poured together into an ecstasy of alcohol. The floor was sticky due to the presence of the drinks been spilled over it and the lack of regular cleaning.

-"Jason man, you know better than anyone how Mendes is, it's practically impossible to escape from him"- The man said giving a sympathetic look to Jason.

-"Come on Darren, I need your help. If that motherfucker finds me I'm a dead man"- Jason replied emphasising his complete anger towards Mr.Mendes.

-"Look, I will give you the place, you can stay there with the boys for a while and I'll try to sort out some papers to get you safe with your sister but it will take me a while, and I want no attachments with you whatsoever, if Mendes finds out I'm helping you he will end both of us"- The man warned Jason as he scratched his shiny forehead.

Suddenly, I felt a hand touch my thigh and my head turned immediately to look at whoever touched me. My eyes met the face of a guy in his thirties, he had an unshaved stubble and he seemed pretty big physically.

-"I haven't seen you around before, are you lost bunny"- His alcoholic breath reached my nostrils almost knocking me out in the act.

-"No thanks, I'm alright"- I stuttered as I moved my leg so I could evade his touch.

-"Are you sure you don't want to spend a good time with me bunny"- He insisted placing both of his tough hands on each of my thighs with greed.

-"I said no"- I repeated as I tried to push his hands off my body but he grabbed me by my wrist firmly, applying great force to the grip.

-"I won't take a no for an answer"- He gritted his teeth as his eyes sent me a death stare.

-"Get off me!"- I demanded as I helplessly tried to pull myself away from him. It was impossible, he had a greater strength than I did.

A current of air brushed my cheek as I witnessed a solid fist collide with the face of the guy. He released me from his grip instantly as he stumbled back a couple of steps before falling on his knees. He brought his hands to his face as his expression revealed the pain he was suffering.

-"Didn't they teach you to keep your hands to yourself, fucker?"- A serious Jason stood fiercely by my side as he gave the dirtiest of the looks to the guy.

The guy stood up as he groaned trying to charge against Jason. But he managed to dodge him and place another punch by the side of his head sending the horrible man back to the floor.

The loud voices of people cheering to the fight filled the bar, clapping to Jason and mocking the suffering guy on the floor.

My heartbeat was accelerated up to a state that allowed me to hear my own pulse. Just once again, Jason helped me.

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