Homebound

Chapter ThirtyFive

I pace my room in the dark as I wait for the ringing to stop. Harley seemed okay once we got inside the house. She was still quite shaken up but she had come out of her shock. She's still upset about her car but I don't think she fully understands what the damaged car means. Amos and Ace know where we live, they're still going after me even after Aaron had died, and it hadn't changed their priorities at all.

Harley had gone straight to bed after not sleeping a wink last night. It's only been ten minutes but I'm sure she's already knocked out cold by now. I had gone to my room and closed the curtains, my paranoia getting the best of me.

I feel like I have no other option, I have no one to ask for advice or opinions on what to do. I can't even ask Hex what to do. My brain is mush and between Hex being in Hellbound, Amos and Ace finding me, Wyonna's accident and dad cheating on mum I'm on the brink of a complete breakdown.

I look through all the contacts in my phone, wondering if any of them can help me. I stop scrolling when I reach Charlie's number.

"Charles speaking" the familiar professional voice is somewhat comforting and brings a small smile to my face. It even stops me from pacing across the room in an attempt to calm down.

"Hi Charles, it's Poppy" I greet, hoping he doesn't hang up on me. I can't imagine Hex is his favourite parolee to work with.

"Poppy" the surprise in his tone is barely detectable "what can I do for you?" he asks. I have no idea where to start, I don't even know if he can help me but I'm desperate and have no one else to turn to.

"I-I um, I was wondering if you could help me?" I ask warily. Charlie stays quiet as he waits for me to go on "I assume you know about the whole Amos, Ace and Alex situation with Hex, right?" I ask hesitantly, I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing or not.

"Yes, I read through Mr. Rose's record" he answers bluntly.

"Right" I clear my throat. "W-well..." I stumble on my words, trying to find the right way to go about the situation.

"Ms. Hart, what are you getting at? I'm very busy at the moment" Charlie speaks up when I take too long.

"Sorry, um, I just don't know where to start" I take a deep breath and begin pacing again "they've been following me since I met Hex two years ago a-and it was scary but everything was okay until recently, it's got really bad" my voice breaks. Charlie is silent for a minute as he takes everything in. I hear him shuffle in the background before a door closes; I assume he's separated himself from anyone else he could possibly be with.

"Amos and Ace have been stalking you for two years?" he gets straight to the point. Stalking is a strong word and I'm hesitant for some reason to call it that but I guess what they have been doing is the definition of stalking.

"Y-yeah?" I hoped it would come out strong but it only sounds like I'm second guessing myself.

"Ms. Hart, why haven't you gone to the police?" I immediately lock up as Charlie becomes somewhat angry.

"I've got nothing to prove it's them, Charles" I argue.

"You have absolutely nothing?" he clarifies.

"I-I mean" I stutter over my words as I think about the condition of my car and now Harley's as well as the CCTV footage from Hellbound from when I was a guard. I know they broke my window and entered my apartment but the police officers said they found no DNA from anyone so I can't use that. "There are a few things, I guess" I say hesitantly.

"Ms. Hart; take every piece of evidence you have to the police station and file for a restraining order" Charlie orders. My heart pounds in my chest as he helps me understand the true magnitude of the situation. Had I undermined the situation this entire time? "If there is not enough evidence, they should still put it on record".