Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light

“No! How did they find out!? I never said a word! I never said anything!” I sobbed. Jason pulled me into his chest. Let me cry out my sorrows.

What did I do wrong!? What had I said? I never told them anything about my sister! I never said a word! I barely even thought about my sister because I was too worried that they would force me to spill about her!

But who was my sister?

Her name is Virgo Elizabeth Greening. My astrophysicist grandfather suggested Virgo when she was born. The name stuck. We call her Vee for short. She’s got blonde hair like mine, but bright silver eyes, almost as if they’re white. They’re beautiful really, and remind me of the stars in the night sky. She’s only fifteen, attends the local high school near my home, and has loved horses.

When I was taken, she had been at a horse camp. How many months ago had that been? I had lost track of the days. All I knew was the time. It seemed like the only thing I knew anymore.

“Jason, what day is it?” He asked me. Jason thought for a moment.

“December fifteenth.”

“Oh no.” I whispered softly, putting my head deeper into his chest. Jason gave me a curious look.

“Vee, my sister, just got off of school today. It’s the start of her break. She was going up into the mountains for a week to work with a special needs horse ranch that helps disabled kids learn to walk again and other therapy stuff. She’s going to be away from my mom and dad.” I whispered. Jason rubbed my back while I hiccupped softly.

She was going to be gone for a week. Could I really stop worrying about her through the week? I had to escape now!

“Please, I have to leave.” I begged Jason. He looked into my distraught eyes and sighed, lowering his head.

“That’s the thing. If you leave now and immediately show up at your house, the boys will go looking for you, realize that you’ve returned, and then take your sister as a way to get back at you. An eye for an eye, you know?” he asked. I nodded sadly. That was the sad truth.

They could keep me here, but they couldn’t take my sister. I wouldn’t let them.

“But my parents will wonder about me. They’re still looking for me.” I argued back. Jason brushed back a stray piece of hair out of my eyes.

“They are, and they won’t stop looking for you. There is a plan, though, to get you out.” Jason smiled. I sucked in a sharp gasp of air. There was a plan?

“Really?”

“Yeah! Our organization has worked with these situation before. We can get you out, but we have to be careful, okay?” He asked. I nodded, eager to listen to the plan. He continued, “I’m sent here to keep an eye on you. I can’t get you out without giving myself away, that’s the thing. I can give you opportunities to escape without looking like I helped, but I can’t personally lead you out. You have to escape.”

“Don’t worry, I have my own plan.” I laughed weakly. He smiled.

“I knew you would. After you leave, I’ve got to be stationed here as their ‘drum tech’ so I can keep my eye out for more girls, but you have to make it back to the Restless Wanderer, okay? Getting back to the bar is vital because that’s a pick up point.” He explained. I anxiously listened, memorizing each of the steps. I would do anything to get back home.

“What happens when I get back to the bar?”

“Well, if you can manage to get back without being spotted, captured again, or even run over on the roads, you’ll be there to rest and taken care of. There are some other people there that will make sure you’re healthy, not dying of starvations, and so on. From there, we have to be careful. You’re considered hot property.

“The bands that will look for you are your past bands, most likely Motionless in White and Sleeping with Sirens. These two bands will hunt you down, so you need to be careful. We can’t keep you at The Restless Wanderer for too long without risking being discovered. You’ll stay at the bar for a little while before one of our contacts keeps you until you’re not so much of a hot target.” He finished. I thought back for a moment.

“So let me get this straight, once I get to the bar, I stay there for a little while until the bands realize that I haven’t gone back home, but I haven’t been found yet. Therefore, I’m no longer ‘hot property’?” I asked. He grinned.

“Exactly! They can’t go and take your sister because you’re still out there. The bands may be doing illegal work, but they’re still fair. Plus, they’ll know that if you go out there, you’ll have your eye out on your sister. It just doesn’t work for them. It’s basically like you’ve disappeared from the face of the earth.” Jason ran through it again. I sighed. This made sense. All the pieces were falling together.

“But what about getting home?”

“That’s the next part. Once you’ve stayed at the bar for a few days, cleaned up, and gotten better, our contact will pick you up. You’ll stay with them for a week, maybe a little longer. This is to make sure that you’re safe and that you’re not on the bands’ radar anymore. After that, the contacts will drop you off at a safe point, where you’ll be okay to get back home.” Jason concluded. I sighed in relief.

“So all I have to do is get off this hell house and walk back to the bar?” I asked. He nodded.

“We’re only in Utah on the northern border. The bus made a roundabout back here for the concert. You don’t even have to walk. Someone might be kind enough to give you a ride, or you might even have a friend.” At that last mention, he winked at me. I had a feeling Jason would help out as soon as the band found out I was gone.

“This is all so….soon. I hadn’t expected to escape for another month.” I chuckled softly, standing back up and pacing around the room. I couldn’t sit still for very long.

“Trust me, take the time you need, but I have a feeling you don’t want to stay out here for very long. My suggestion is a week, so that you sister can make it back safely.” Jason proposed. I nodded.

“I can last a week, right?” I muttered. He smiled.

“There’s the can-do attitude.” He relaxed on the couch. The lights were dimmed in the bus since I was supposed to be locked here. It was only ten at night. The boys won’t be back for another hour or so.

“Jason?” I eventually asked. He looked at me.

“Yeah?”

“How’d they find out about my sister?” He looked thoughtful for a moment, as if contemplating answering me.

“I believe when you were captures and eventually sold to Motionless in White, the buys had requested that they get more information for…leverage. It’s a classic trade deal. The buyers typically ask for this information. A few weeks ago before you were sold, Bring Me the Horizon gave them a portfolio on your sister. They knew a few weeks ago and they gave a copy to Sleeping with Sirens.” I just put my head in my hands. Great. Now every band I’ve been with now has information on my sister.

Jason must’ve seen my hopeless look because he patted my shoulder.

“It’s not all bad. If you can just hold on one more week, we can get you out of this.” He encouraged. I smiled weakly, looking up. We chatted quietly for another ten minutes before I looked at the clock. The boys would be here at any moment. I still had stage two to accomplish!

“Hey Jason, I have to ask a favor of you…” I trailed off. We stood up. He fingered something in his pocket. I think it was the keys.

“What is it?”

“I won’t escape until next Saturday, but can I have a little fun?”

“Well of course!” He laughed. I smiled, holding my hand out. He took the keys and squinted.

“You’re not going to drive the bus away, are you?”

“No, just lock them out.” I laughed. He smiled and paused before tossing me the keys.

“Okay, okay, let me help you out.” He stripped off his shirt. I blushed and couldn’t help but stare at his toned stomach. Hot damn, he was gorgeous! He took a pocket knife from his jeans and went to a mirror, turning on the lights. I looked away as he put a little scratch on his forehead. I gave him an odd look.

“What are you doing?” I questioned, taking his shirt and tossing it back to him. He ripped a few holes in it.

“Well, you’re not taking these keys without a fight, are you?” He winked. I caught on, my face exploding into a huge grin. I twirled the bus keys around my finger. My eyes lingered at the door. There was a tiny key lock on this side, but on the other side, there was a larger key lock above the handle. I grinned. This would be fun.

The blood ran down in a sticky tear against Jason’s forehead. I felt bad, but he did want to do this after all.

“Okay, make some noise and then I’ll push you out. Act like you’re unconscious, or dazed.” I added. He nodded and we bumped fists.

“This’ll be fun. Are you sure you want to do this? You might be punished.” He pointed out. I shook my head, starting towards the steps.

“I’m fine. I don’t care about their punishments. Besides, I threw out all their whips and chokers.” I added darkly. He patted my shoulder.

“You’re a smart cookie.”

“Thanks. Are there any other sets of keys?” I questioned. He shook his head.

“Nope, just the one. They lost the others back in Kansas.” He added as I opened the door. Our act had started. I pushed him out and he pretended to stumble back, falling to the cement and laying still. Voices started to rise around the corner of the building in the late night air. He winked before falling still.

Slamming the door closed, I made sure to have it locked and the windows covered. Jason was an excellent actor. He took shaky breaths as I heard voices yell and point. I double checked that the driver’s door was locked. Everyone was sealed shut, even the windows. I kept the back door shut, just in case.

“Jason, Jason! Are you okay?” Jesse asked. I peeked through the window. The bus lights were completely dark, so that they couldn’t see me spying. The band gathered around him.

“Y-yeah, I think so.” Jason stuttered. They were all looking around. Kellin rushed to the door and jiggled the door handle. Someone shouted, “She has the keys!” And they all went into a frenzy. You would’ve thought that they ran out of churros at the churro stand by the way they acted!

“ORION!” They roared. Someone went to the driver’s door, trying it. That was the only other door on the bus. Nothing worked for them

Meanwhile, I was cackling inside.

“I don’t know what happened….She was being so good and then before you guys came, she pushed me out the door and took my keys.” Jason moaned. He really was a great actor!

Gabe caught me spying and I nearly dropped back behind the curtain, but I decided to watch their faces. I laughed as Justin flipped me off. It was just fun to see their misery. Gabe came to the window. I waved.

“Rory, please let us back on!” Gabe begged. I shook my head slowly.

“I’m good, thanks. I just kind of want to sleep.” I noted and let the curtain fall closed. I took the keys and threw them in Justin’s bunk, letting them slide into the crack between the mattress and the wall. Curling up in my own bunk, I let them yell their petty threats outside.

It was good to be in charge.

Notes