ten || one way or another

AN: for the ultimate effect, I suggest you listen to the song that I attached. It is a "One Way Or Another" cover by Until The Ribbon Breaks. I think it really helps to set the mood! Okay that's all hehe enjoy!



Harry


Whit and Grayson put James and I in charge of planning the kidnapping of Tate. In their words they said that they, "didn't care how we did it, just that we did it." Obviously we had to keep her alive, in order to question her and find out her involvement in our software, and get the password we needed in order to access it. I had to admit, I was looking forward to it, growing increasingly annoyed by how she managed to pull the whole innocent act on me with each minute that passed.


For the next few days, we worked tirelessly, to make sure that our plan was executed perfectly.


We had Abel hack into all of the Lotus Apartment security footage, along with their resident list. He easily found Tate's apartment number, 409. We looked at the security footage when we realized there was a second resident in her apartment, which we deduced was her mother, Leilah Bridges. There was no way to tell if her mother was in on her schemes, and to decrease any further collateral damage, and to make less work for us, we had to figure out if there were any patterns that showed times when her mother was most likely not in the apartment.


Abel and Niall were on their computers, typing down anything that they saw on the footage that showed a consistent pattern, while James, Will, and I sat discussing how the kidnapping itself would take place.


"I could offer to walk her home one night, and the two of you could grab her at some point," James offered.


I pursed my lips and shook my head. "That won't work." I stopped myself short before I revealed how I knew Tate. I didn't want Whit or Grayson to find out that I had dropped my knife at our crime scene, and have them pester me about being sloppy. Nor did I want James to know that I was suspicious at the sight of them together, and that it caused me to question the integrity of the alliance between our organizations.


When they asked me how I knew her, I told them that she had been my hostess one time at the restaurant, and James told me how much he loved their salmon. I think they bought it, I just had to make sure that I kept selling it.


Niall, Abel, and Will had given me a funny look as the lie left my lips, but I gave them a look that kept them quiet, and none of them questioned me.


"Why not?" James asked, raising an eyebrow at me.


I paused for a second, making sure that I played this out carefully, and that I didn't reveal that I had actually held her at knifepoint, and she didn't just show me to my table.


"Security cameras. From the security footage we've seen, she takes the same route home every day. It is very exposed, and if we were to try and grab her, there is no way we would be able to do it without being seen. When she goes missing, one of the first places her mother will tell the police to check would be the security footage on her path home. We need to do it inside the apartment building."


"What about the security cameras in the apartment building? Can't they check those too?" He asked, leaning forward in his chair a bit, causing the base of it to creak a little under his weight.


Abel suddenly spoke up, continuing to type as he did so. "They do. However, the security cameras on the streets are all linked together for that unit. There is a very high amount of cameras, and the current system they have running makes it so that if you hack one camera, they all go off. An interference that large on a public system would be noticed much quicker, as it would affect more than one location. The security cameras inside the apartment building are privately owned, and thus, them being turned off would only be noticed if someone went in and individually checked all of them. With privately-owned establishments, they rarely check the cameras unless they have a reason to. This means that by the time someone notices that the girl is missing, we will already be long gone, and they won't have anything to go off of, other than the time that the cameras went out, and that doesn't help much anyway."


We all looked at him, silently impressed with all of his knowledge, and multitasking abilities. He opened his mouth again to say something else.


"Okay. So we found a pattern. Every Saturday night, her mother goes somewhere at 8:30 pm and usually doesn't return until around three am or even the next day. The footage of Tate leaving the restaurant and the footage of her entering her apartment is usually between 10:45 and 11:15 pm, so around 11:30 pm to 12:00 am would probably be the prime time to strike."


"Great work, Abel," I grinned, and he looked so proud of his work.


"What's today?" James asked.


"Friday," Niall and Will answered simultaneously.


A smile began to form on my lips, realizing how close we were to getting our mission done, and getting some answers.


"Well, boys," James began, going to put some papers in his briefcase, before standing up.


"You better all get some rest tonight because we have a very busy day tomorrow."



***********



Tate


My favorite workday was finally here. I had been looking forward to it all week, desperately needing the extra sleep after the events last weekend had held. I hadn't gotten much sleep after everything that happened with Harry, scared to close my eyes in fear that they wouldn't open again. Scared for the life of my mother and myself, afraid that Harry might come back and decide that he didn't trust me not to talk, and kill us both just to be safe.


So today, I was more grateful than usual for the few extra hours of sleep I got, further cementing that Saturday was one of my favorite days of the week. Sunday, however, would be even better, because I had absolutely nothing planned. No errands to run, no chores to complete. In order to keep my mind off of Harry and my constantly increasing paranoia, I had gotten everything done that I normally would drag out throughout the entire week finished by Thursday, leaving Sunday as a completely off day for me.


It seemed that things were looking up for me, even just in my workday. The restaurant wasn't nearly as crowded as it usually was on a Saturday night, meaning a lot less stress for me and all of my fellow coworkers. The night flew by, and as it reached closing time I couldn't stop thinking about the nice warm bubble bath that I planned to take when I got back to my apartment.


I said goodbye to a few of the servers before I left, they asked me if I wanted to go out with them for drinks, but I declined, wanting nothing more than to get my cold walk home over with so that I could hop in the tub and finally relax.


Ever since my encounter with Harry, I practically ran home every night, while holding my phone to my ear and faking a phone call, all the way until I reached my apartment building. It felt pretty ridiculous, to be having a conversation with no one but myself, but it made me feel safer, and after what I had been through, I needed any amount of security that I could get.


I walked into the doors of the Lotus, feeling a wave of warmth wash over me as soon as I stepped inside, and I eagerly made my way over to the elevator, excited to kick off my shoes and unwind.


Right when I opened the door to my apartment, I slipped off my flats, and placed them by the door. I strolled into the kitchen, and got out a wine glass from one of the sleek modern cabinets, and then reached into the fridge, rummaging around a bit and moving things until I found the bottle of white wine I was looking for. I poured myself a glass and sighed in content as I took the first sip of it, taking in the blissful feeling of the alcohol warming up my body.


Carrying my glass with me, I made my way into the bathroom, and going over to the free-standing large bathtub, turning the faucet on. One of the many perks of my mother working here was that employee apartments were furnished by the owners of the apartment complex. Sometimes when they had new customers touring the facilitities, they would use employee apartments as a model. All we had to do was make sure everything was clean and put away if they chose our apartment for the tour, and in return, we got to live in a divinely furnished apartment, in the nicest complex in town, which otherwise we could never even dream of affording.


While the tub was running, I set my wine glass down on the marble countertop, which I don't think I'd ever stop admiring, and went into my bedroom, which was all neutral colors, and honestly, I wouldn't have decorated it any differently if I were the one designing it. It was so me. Simple, sleek, and clean. The style of our apartment, much like the rest of the complex, was very Scandinavian-Modern, mainly neutral colors besides the occasional house plant or gold accent. It was picturesque.


I walked over to my dresser and opened the top drawer, grabbing a pair of underwear, and then reached into the drawer below it and pulled out my favorite pair of pajamas. My mother had gotten them for me for Christmas last year. It was a matching set of a short-sleeved collared shirt and shorts. They were white, with light grey piping details. I decided that tonight, I was going to treat myself. I picked up my phone and checked the time. It was 10:45. I smiled in content, thankful that I had made it home on the earlier side, so that I could enjoy my little spa night longer.


I clutched the pajamas and underwear in my hand, making my way back into the bathroom. The tub was almost full, and so I picked up the bottle of lavender bath oil I had on the countertop, and put a few drops in the tub, before turning the faucet off.


The bath felt just as magical as I had dreamt it would. I sat with my wine glass in hand, letting the warmth of the water wash over me and the lavender to cast the most delightful scent in the bathroom.


Once I had sat in the bathtub to my heart's content, I got out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around my body, and going over to the counter, reaching for my bottle of face wash, and leaning over the sink as I washed off the little bit of makeup I had put on, making sure that I cleaned my face thouroughly. After I patted my face dry with a hand towel, I applied some moisturizer, and slipped on my pajamas, feeling more zen than I had in a long time.


I practically floated back into my bedroom, being the utter definition of relaxed as I hopped into bed, pulling my blanket around my body, and turning on the TV, flipping through the channels until I found a movie that I liked.


I was about to turn the volume up when I heard my phone ringing. I looked down to see my mother's name lighting up my phone, and I smiled as I answered it, putting her on speaker and leaning back against my pillow, sinking into it.


"Hey kiddo," her sweet voice spoke through the phone.


"Hey Mom, are you at Marla's?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. When I was searching for my wine earlier, I had noticed that my mother's wine was missing, a sure sign that she had already left for her typical Saturday night plans.


"Yes, sweetheart. Did you have a good day?" She asked, and I heard laughter in the background. It made my heart feel warm knowing that my mother had stepped away from her night just to check on me.


"Yes I did, did you? I just took a bath, now I'm in bed about to watch a movie, are you going to be home tonight, or do you think you will end up sleeping there?"


"I had a wonderful day, I'm glad to hear that you did too. I think that I will probably stay here tonight. Marla wants to go to some art exhibit on her side of town tomorrow, so I figured it would make more sense to just stay here."


"Okay, sounds good, I hope you have fun! I love you, mom."


I could practically feel her smile through the phone as she answered.


"I love you right back."


*************


Harry


Abel managed to shut down the Lotus's security cameras without a hitch. He, Niall, and Will were all waiting by the back exit of the building in the car, continuing to monitor everything while I went inside and got Tate.


James had given me his security key to the building, which granted access to any door in the complex that wasn't a residence. In order to get into Tate's apartment, I would need to pick the lock, which I was fully prepared to do, all of the tools I would need sitting safely in my duffle bag.


I made my way up to the fourth floor, ready to do what I had to do, and I wasn't even ashamed to say that I was excited to do it as well. Tate, with her sweet voice, and big innocent eyes, had managed to do what everyone who knew me tried their hardest to avoid...getting on my bad side.


She wouldn't fool me this time. I would make sure of it.


I scanned my eyes over the room numbers until I saw the plate with 409 engraved on it. As quietly as I could, I grabbed my tools out of my bag, wedging a pin in the door knob until I heard the faint click of its opening, and slowly pushed the door open, closing it behind me gently.


My footsteps were light as I made my way towards a room that I could hear some noise coming from. The closer I got, I realized that it was Tate's voice, and she seemed to be on the phone.


Great. Now I had to wait for her to be done with her conversation.


I stopped a few feet away from the door, focusing intently as I attempted to hear what she was saying.


"Okay, sounds good, I hope you have fun! I love you mom!"


I rolled my eyes at her sweet voice. I wonder if her mom had any idea of what she was involved in, or if Tate was able to use her act even on her own flesh and blood.


My thoughts were interrupted by words that made my heart feel as though someone had gutted it.


"I love you right back."


Various scenes of my childhood flashed before my eyes as her mother spoke those words. Visions and memories of my own mother saying that to me stinging my heart in a way that almost made me fall over.


Focus. Breathe. Focus. I told myself, using every ounce of my willpower to push the thoughts out of my mind and regain the momentum that I had felt upon entering the apartment.


After a few deep breaths, I was back on my game, the rehashing of the emotions I felt when my mother was killed only further fueling me as I clenched my fists, and began walking towards the room once again.



************



Tate


I ended the call with my mother and picked the remote back up, turning up the volume a few notches as I cuddled into my bed. I doubted I would be able to stay awake for the whole movie, as I already felt my eyelids growing heavy. I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten a step in my nightly routine. It was an odd one, but something I liked to do. I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed my bottle of perfume. It was called Jasmine and Bamboo, and it was one of my favorite scents in the world. I spritzed a few sprays of it onto myself, and as it fell over me, I felt clean, happy, and relaxed. I loved the perfume so much, that when I found it I bought multiple bottles of it, and stashed them in different places, like my purse and whatnot. I always loved to smell good, and I felt better knowing that I'd always have my perfume with me if I ever needed it.


I stretched my arm to set the bottle back on the nightstand, the bed creaking loudly as I did so.


This made me pause.


My bed had never creaked like that before, not that loud. It was relatively new and very sturdy. Of course it made the occasional sound, but not like that.


My hand snatched the remote and turned the TV back down, listening closely, my breathing becoming louder.


Another creak echoed throughout the air, and the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up, a wave of goosebumps washing over me, and not because I was cold.


"M-Mom? Is that you?" I called, hugging the blankets to my chin. It couldn't be my mom, I knew that. She was at Marla's. But part of me was just hoping and praying that she miraculously made it back home within the minute we had been off of the phone, not wanting to think of any other reason for the sounds I was hearing.


I heard a deep chuckle from the other side of my door, and it seemed that all of my worst nightmares were coming to life, any feeling of relaxation that I previously had so distant that it was as if I never felt it at all.


The door to my bedroom flung open, revealing exactly the person I had hoped and prayed that I would never see again.


"Not quite," He spoke, a dark and menacing grin spreading across his face.


"I didn't tell anyone anything, I swear, I didn't call the police, please, just leave me alone. I'm no threat to you!" I begged, sinking back further into my bed as he walked painfully slow towards me.


He just rolled his eyes as he got closer.


"You can drop the whole innocent act now Tate. You may have been able to fool me the first time, but I won't let it happen again."


I was completely bewildered by what he was saying.


"What the fuck are you even talking about? I already told you that James is just my neighbor! If you have a problem with him, then go talk to him about it and leave me out of it! I have nothing to do with whatever it is you're talking about!" I cried out, feeling the tears beginning to sting in my eyes.


He laughed at me, only about a foot away from my bed now, causing me to try and slide over to the other side, attempting to distance myself from him as much as possible. I watched as he flung the same black duffel bag I had seen him carrying the other night onto my bed.


"See, that's where you're wrong, sweetheart. You have everything to do with it."


I was still absolutely lost as to what he was talking about, and that made me even more afraid. I looked behind him, seeing my open door, and decided to take my chances.


I shoved the covers off of my body at a seemingly inhumane speed, jumping off of the end of the bed and sprinting towards the door.


My efforts were in vain, however, as I felt Harry's strong arms wrap around my waist. He brought his lips close to my ear, and I felt as if I were having deja vu, and we were back in the alleyway.


"That was a cute attempt to escape, but you're going to have to do a lot better than that to get away from me."


I flailed my legs wildly, kicking around as he pulled me away from the door, and feeling the sobs rising up in my throat, escaping without my permission, tears began to stream down my face. I raised one leg, and then harshly brought it back down to land on Harry's foot, causing him to loosen his grip for a moment.


Only a second after I had gotten out of his arms, I felt his hand grip my arm tightly, pulling me back so hard that it sent me flying back until I fell back against the bed. He stepped forward quickly, climbing onto the bed and putting a knee on either side of me. He reached down and gripped my hands, pinning them down firmly above my head.


He hovered over me, his face dangerously close to mine, and I could see the anger flaring up in his eyes.


"Listen to me very closely sweetheart. If you try anything like that again, I will make you regret it," he seethed, tightening his grip on my wrists as he spoke, causing me to let out a soft whimper.


He smirked at the sound of it, sticking out his bottom lip to mock me as he pouted.


"Aw, not so tough now are we, dollface?" He teased.


Anger coursed through my veins at his words, and before I knew it, I had spit in his face. He faltered for a moment, moving both of my wrists into one hand, using the other to wipe off his face. As soon as he was finished, he brought the hand back down towards me, and gripped my jaw harshly.


"Looks like you're going to be more difficult to deal with than I thought," he hummed, reaching his thumb up to rest it on my bottom lip, just as he had done with the knife that night in the alley. He pulled it back slightly, before releasing it, bringing his face down to hover over mine, his lips only millimeters away from my own.


"Luckily for you, I like a challenge."


He removed his hand from my face, reaching into his back pocket, and at first I thought he was going to grab his knife, but I was relieved as I saw him pull out a cloth of some sort.


My relief was short-lived though because before I knew it, the cloth was pressed against my face, the pressure of his hand stifling my screams as I thrashed about.


The last thing I remember was the pair of glinting green eyes, boring into mine, and Harry's deep voice, echoing in my ears.


"Sweet dreams, Tate."


And after that, everything went black.









*****************


AN: WOW THIS WAS A LONG CHAPTER. ARE YOU GUYS AS SHOOK AS I AM RIGHT NOW?!?!? THAT WAS A LOT SHEESH. I WROTE IT AND EVEN I NEED A MINUTE TO CATCH MY BREATH AND PROCESS EVERYTHING. I hope you guys like this chapter, and if you do, be sure to vote and leave a comment! Thank you for everything! I can't wait for Chapter 11! xx

Comment