The Life Changing Vacation

~Chapter 184~

Kristina's POV
It's been a year since I escaped my kidnappers. I'm was turning 17 years old that year. I hadn't seen Dory since the time Joanna shot me and asked Dory to run. I didn't even know if she was still alive. Of course she wouldn't know that I was alive either, because the last thing she saw of me was my body laying on the floor, bleeding. I had just gotten a new family. I hadn't gotten that close to them yet, but I was happy I had someone. I just began going to High School again. I tried my best on getting my normal life back, and my grades, but it wasn't that easy. I was so traumatized after what I had been through. It had my anxiety go back up again. I wouldn't dare going out alone in the city, and I usually stayed in my room all day. My new parents tried their best to help me. I started going to therapy  once a week, and after a long while it finally got better. One day, I met someone I hadn't seen in a long while, while shopping at the grocery store.

''Dory? Is it you?'', I asked shocked.

''Kristina? You're still alive! How have you been?'', the girl asked.

''Up and down.. but that doesn't matter right now, where have you been? You just ran! I need to know everything that happened'', I explained.

''So basically, Alex got shot and Joanna got arrested'', Dory told me.

''Yeah, I know.. but where have you been since that day?'', I then asked her.

''On my own, I got a job at a McDonald's restaurant and rented an apartment'', she smiled.

''You did?'', I raised my eyebrows.

Dory nodded. It was really early for her to live alone. I didn't know what to do, she looked very happy that way. She even invited me over to her apartment and asked if I wanted to stay the night. It was still a little hard for me to trust her after she teamed up with Joanna against me. But I accepted the offer anyways. We ate a delicious meal, watched a movie, and played board games together. It was really nice seeing her again.

''Did you get any friends? It must be so lonely for you'', I said.

''Yeah, I got a few friends. I met some of them at a bar downtown'', she told me.

''A bar? What bar? Are you allowed to go there when you're under 21?'', I asked.

''Not really. But don't worry, I got a few tips from Joanna'', she said with a grin.

''Are you using fake id's or something?'', I then asked her.

She just put her finger over her mouth for me to be quiet, and then she giggled. I didn't think more about it. Of course she would be like that after all that time she spent with criminals. Sometimes she even teamed up with them against me. She apologized for everything she had done, and especially for the time she was about to murder me to save Alex and Joanna from prison and to win the trial. I asked her if she missed them anything at all, and she shook her head. She explained that she couldn't miss someone who denied her her freedom for so long. The next day while eating breakfast, we sat talking about how Joanna was doing at that time. We thought it was very unfair that she didn't get the data penalty, after everyone she had tortured and killed. They killed my parents right in front of my face, and expected me to live with that for the rest of my life. But I was so happy she was sentenced for a life time in prison.

When I was going home that day, I walked through an alley. I thought that was the best option to stay away from people. I was so traumatized. Unfortunately, going through an alley, was the worst thing to do if you want to avoid being abducted. Because right there, where no witnesses were, I met a woman I hoped I wouldn't see ever again.

''Joanna?'', I got terrified.

I was about to turn around and run back to Dory's apartment, but she took out a gun and aimed it at me.

''I wouldn't take another step if I were you'', Joanna said.

I stood still, and put my hands up in the air. I could feel my heart beating and beating. It felt like it was about to jump right out of my chest. I wouldn't even dare say a thing. I just stood there with fear in my eyes, hoping someone would witness it. But unfortunately, that was never the case.

''Come with me'', Joanna demanded.

''Please'', I cried.

''Shut up and come with me, if you ever wanna see you friend again'', she warned me.

''What do you mean? Did you take Dory?'', I asked.

''I had someone take care of it for me, so you better just listen to me before you're risking an innocent person's life, again! But.. she's not really that innocent, is she? It would be a shame if I went to the police with it'', she said with a grin.

''No! Please don't.. I- I'll do anything'', I surrendered myself.

Joanna brought me to the car, and drove me to her house. It was the same house as last time. All the memories just got back. Dory sat tied to a chair when I came into the dining room. I ran to help her, but Joanna hinted not to touch her. I was afraid what would happen if I did.

''What do you want with us? Come to avenge your husbands death?'', I rolled my eyes.

Dory looked at me, like he weren't dead. I stood there wondering what was going on. Joanna just giggled. And then suddenly, Alex came down the stairs.

''What the hell? How are you still alive? You got shot!'' I yelled.

''Ever heard of bulletproof west? And if I weren't still alive, who else would have kidnapped and abducted Dory? It was all me'', he said with a grin.

''Shit'', I thought.

Author's note
Peeps, thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed! Stay safe, luvs <3
-Kristina Leonora