You're The Only Hope For Me

Gerard awoke to a pounding headache, and stared around at his unfamiliar surroundings. He was lying on the floor in an empty room, when had this happened? He sat up then gingerly got to his feet, clutching his head. He really needed to stop drinking; he could be doing without passing out everywhere really.
Now where was he?
Gerard looked around the clean white room and tried to recall what had being going on previously. His attention was drawn to a red mark on the clean white floor, he knelt down beside it and stared, deep in thought. It did look like blood, but why would there be blood in a hospital?
Wait, was he even in a hospital? Yes, he was wearing a hospital robe. Why was he here?
Then suddenly he remembered about Frank. He needed to see him, to apologise, he needed to show Hazel it was all going to be alright.
Wait, where was Hazel?
His eyes drifted back to the blood on the floor. Fuck. He’d been with her, then she’d wanted to get out. Because of those men, why hadn’t the two of them left then? Why was he still here? He’d passed out, that’s why. So now he’d awoken, and she was gone.
He put his head in his hands, what would he tell Frank? He had a dilemma; go see Frank, or find Hazel.
Frank was his best friend, yet Hazel was somebody who meant the world to Frank. If he went to find Frank, then Frank would likely want to know where Hazel was.
Frank was already in care, he was as safe as he could possibly be for his circumstances, he was being watched by professionals, whereas Hazel…
Gerard made up his mind and stood up suddenly, he looked down to the blood and walked over to the door, the reception area was empty but there was blood marking the otherwise spotless floor. He walked over to the main doors and down the steps outside, then stopped, looking both ways.
He took a deep, rattling breath and felt his heart slow, his head cleared slightly and his senses sharpened. He glanced left, then right, then left again – noticing it had stopped raining. He could hear noises from the left but his gut feeling told him to go right, he paused momentarily then obeyed it, walking silently in his gown along the deserted street, his eyes keen and taking in everything.
He was careful not to scuff his shoes or make any noise at all, he listened to the darkness and kicked himself for drinking over and over again. If he’d stayed sober none of this would have happened, Frank would be alright, Hazel would be with them, he wouldn’t have a headache. He laughed bitterly at the last one; Hazel and Frank were facing death likely and he was moaning about a headache. He pushed the thoughts from his head and concentrated on looking for a sign, anything that would let him figure out what had happened to Hazel.
What if it was too late? What if Hazel was already long gone? The blood on the floor back at the hospital had only just begun congealing so he couldn’t have been out that long, at least he hoped he hadn’t.
‘No.’ He thought, he couldn’t think like that. He’d promised Hazel that Frank would be alright, he had to make sure that Hazel was there to see it. He wouldn’t be able to face Frank if he lost Hazel, it’d break Frank’s heart and it’d break his own.
He’d even bring Hazel back from the dead to be there when Frank woke up, if needs be. He prayed he wouldn’t need to though.
Everything was so silent, so still, so dark, Gerard wondered if perhaps he should have ignored his instincts and gone the other way. He paused, about to turn back when he heard laughter.
The laughter was deep and rough, slightly British and definitely male. He listened closely and made out a higher pitched laugh on top, definitely American and he presumed it was male, although it could have been female. It matched the man’s voice he’d heard earlier when he and Hazel were in that room together.
He thanked the world and followed the little lead he had, Hazel might not be with them but it was all he had at that moment.
Gerard silently treaded across the side verge and through some trees, taking care not to step on sticks or anything that would give away his presence. He was lucky that it had been raining earlier and the leaves weren’t brittle and snapping when he stepped on them.
He emerged at the edge of the trees and straining his eyes in the darkness, could make out two figures sitting down; one of them was emptying a bag.
He stayed silent and still for a little while and watched them unload everything, he saw them take out something that looked suspiciously like guns. He strained his hearing and their talk confirmed his suspicions.
Of course he didn’t know if Hazel was even here, though he did have an inkling of how he could find out, although it’d only be worth it if she was.
A wild idea began to form in his mind, it seemed stupid and unrealistic, and it was possible it could end very badly if things didn’t go to plan. But it was the only thing he had currently. He watched the man set the guns down and return to sitting and laughing with his companion.
What if they shot him straight away to avoid having to deal with him later?
He’d have to try anyway, he got them all into this mess, so he would get them all out of it or die trying. Again, he prayed that wouldn’t be necessary.
Gerard crept around them all in a wide circle, passing what he thought might be Hazel, though he didn’t stop to check in case it ruined his plan. He silently darted out behind the men’s backs and grabbed one of the guns; he stuffed it inside his robe and dashed back into the cover of the trees. He waited for a moment and caught his breath before creeping round until he was directly in front of the men before deliberately tripping over, making a noise and drawing attention to himself. He had to do that in order to make the men think he’d only just appeared and not suspect he was up to anything.
Funnily enough, it worked. Gerard lay on the ground and sensed someone tower over him.
“What you doin’, punk?” Came a voice and Gerard felt himself be pulled up roughly by a hand gripping onto his arm, a second man tied his wrists behind him with duct tape and shoved a scrap of material in his mouth. He was dragged across the ground before being deposited next to the shape of a person already hunched up there.
He smiled as best he could with his gag, so far so good. Then turned to the figure beside him, who was already staring.
“Gerard?!” Came the surprised and muffled voice from behind the gag.
“Hazel.” Gerard said as coolly as he possibly could with the rag stuck in his mouth, “Fancy seeing you here.”
However, it sounded more like he was speaking and trying to eat a pillow at the same time.
Hazel didn’t know what to say, of course she couldn’t properly speak with her gag, but she was just so surprised to see Gerard. He seemed to be alright and recovered from his episode back in the hospital, he was with her, and unfortunately he was gagged and tied up like she was.
“Gerard,” She tried to say, “What happened? Why are you here? How-”
She squinted at his face in the darkness; he seemed to be making a series of strange and slightly disturbing faces.
“Umm, Gerard? What are you doing?”
He didn’t reply but continued contorting his face into weird positions until he made a rasping sound and gagged, then spat something out of his mouth.
His gag.
Hazel caught onto what he was doing and tried to follow suit, it was actually quite difficult and she was kinda grateful to Gerard for whispering instructions at her.
“Bring your tongue back, round the sides of it until you can push at it.”
She heard him laugh quietly, “No, you need to be strong with your tongue, poke it c’mon.”
He then snorted with quiet laughter at his innuendo before continuing, “Girl, have you ever kissed someone?” then without waiting for an answer, “Imagine you’re kissing Frank, bring your tongue round and back and so on, you get the drift, I’m sure you’re following me now.”
Hazel was kinda glad of the dark that hid the pink blush which was tinging her cheeks.
“Frankie’s a good kisser, Hazel, I think we can both agree on that!” Just as Gerard said that Hazel felt like she was about swallow her tongue, she choked and cleared her throat. Sure enough the rag came flying out her mouth.
“Mature, Gerard, mature.” She choked as she tried to overcome the burning sensation in her mouth.
“Yeah, it stings doesn’t it.” He replied in a whisper and she could hear the smile in his voice.
“Gerard, I think they have weapons.” Hazel said suddenly, unable to remain light-hearted any longer.
“Yeah, they do.” He replied, “They’ve got guns.”
“Guns?” Hazel whispered, her voice hoarse, she had hoped she’d been mistaken.
“Yeah, guns, they have two.” Gerard answered her.
“Oh, fuck me senseless.” Hazel cursed under her breath, leaning backwards.
“Considering our current location and circumstance, plus the fact that you’re in a relationship with my best friend, I’m sorry but I’ll have to pass.” Gerard replied, and Hazel laughed slightly, despite her situation.
God, she loved the way that Gerard seemed to be cheerful even though they both knew that they were as good as dead, and she liked the way that he was trying to distract her from her dark thoughts, she liked how she hadn’t even known him for more than a day yet she felt she could trust him with her life.
If she wasn’t so madly in love with Frank, she was pretty sure she would have fallen for Gerard.
Gerard began wriggling madly and after some staring Hazel realised he was getting his wrists out of the duct tape.
“How are you doing that?” She hissed at him, not wanting the men to suspect anything, no need for her to worry though as they were sitting and laughing, completely oblivious.
“When they taped me, I kept my thumbs together with my pinkies as far apart as possible, it makes your wrists bigger and easier to get out of.” He continued twisting and Hazel couldn’t help but admire him.
“Ah! Shit!” He cursed as the tape tore his skin, drawing blood, but seconds later he brought his hands in front of him and flexed his fingers, “Just hold still, I’ll help you just now.”
Gerard crept subtly behind Hazel and she felt him undoing the strong tape on her wrists, a few moments later he was back at her side again.
Hazel took a long breath, “So what are we going to do? It’s pretty hopeless, like me and you against two strong men with guns.”
Gerard smiled coyly in the dim light, “Who says we can’t play dirty too?” He asked and reached into his robe, pulling out the small gun and letting Hazel see it.
Despite herself Hazel laughed, “You had this all planned, didn’t you? You meant to get caught!”
“Guilty!” He laughed too, “Now let’s kick some ass!”

Notes

Thanks for all the lovely feedback, I love you all so much for it <3
Plan is put into action.... c: