ACE

Chapter 45: Follow Her

Playlist for This Chapter: Set Fire to The Rain by Adele, Exile by Taylor Swift

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- O N E - Y E A R - A G O -

I just couldn't keep the tears at bay. Being slut-shamed wasn't exactly very nice, especially if it comes from a woman who is very possibly your boyfriend's secret fiance.

The cab driver was a kind man in his 40's and asked me if I was alright multiple times. He even gave me tissues and asked if I wanted to call anyone, but I shook my head each time.

I gave him the address to my house and he took me there.

I made sure to pay him generously as he drove off and I stood out on the street, staring at the front door.

Quickly pulling out my phone from my bag I looked at my reflection and cleaned my face with wet wipes and ran my hands through my hair, bracing myself to go in.

"Oh, hey you're back!" Abby came to me and hugged me then grinned.

"Did you have fun?" She asked me and I forced myself to smile at her.

"Yeah um— I have a slight headache so I'm going to rest for a while, okay?" I told her and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Okay, Ava and Dan went to see a friend and they told me to tell you." She told me and I mouthed an okay to her before going up to my bedroom.

Once I was in the shower did I let go, the tears falling freely from my face as my chest constricted.

Where did I go wrong?

I forced myself out and wore a warm hoodie and sweatpants and lay down on the bed, covering myself with my blanket.

"Dove?" I heard a knock and Ava's voice and quickly wiped my tears away, telling her to come in.

"Hey, Abby told me you had a headache so I brought you some pills and tea." She handed them to me.

I took them wordlessly, popping them into my mouth and gulped down the glass of water from my nightstand. I held onto the hot mug of tea, its warmth radiating to my hands and making me warmer.

"What did he do, Dove?" Ava asked me but I didn't answer her.

So much and yet nothing at all.

"Did he touch you?" She asked me but I shook my head.

He could never do that.

"Did he hurt you then?" She asked me again but I shook my head.

"What happened then?" She asked me and I could no longer keep it in any more as tears streamed down my face. She took the mug from my hands and set it aside and hugged me tightly.

"It's okay, Dovey. It'll pass." She rubbed my back as I sobbed into her shoulder.

What if I don't want it pass?

We sat there for a few minutes and when I had calmed down a bit did she pull away and took my hands.

"I'm your sister, Dove, you can tell me anything. You know I won't judge you for anything." She said and I released a shaky breath and told her everything. She listened with rapt attention until I was done.

"I— I don't know what to say." She shook her head in disbelief.

"And he said nothing to that bitch?" She asked when I shrugged.

"He did, but—" I trailed off. It was no use, was it?

"I knew there was something off about him." She mumbled and looked at me with concern.

"I want you to rest, okay? I'll bring dinner upstairs." She told me. I nodded, lying down and she pulled the covers over me and went out. Just like that, I cried myself to sleep once again.

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"Is everything packed?"Abby asked me while I zipped my suitcases and I nodded at her.

It had been two weeks now since the incident and my friends knew about it.

I stopped going to college and took classes online, and didn't ven feel like going to the library and the bar where I sang. I didn't even go to Rosie's during this time.

I just stayed inside, not daring to walk out the front door. Now I had decided I wanted to go back home to my parents for a bit for a change of scenery.

Abby and Cole were really upset about me leaving but were very supportive of my decision. Ava and Dan went back yesterday, and I was to leave today on my car.

I hoisted my duffel bag over my shoulder while Cole carried my suitcases to my car and put them in my trunk. He walked over to me and so did Abby while I stared at our house.

"I wish you could stay, we're going to miss you so much." Abby told me and hugged me tight. Cole joined in on the hug and I smiled faintly to myself.

"I know." I whispered and they pulled back.

"Take care, okay?" Cole said and I nodded at him while he looked at me worried.

"You too, and don't forget to visit." I warned and they both laughed. I started the ignition and waved at them one last time before driving off.

I turned the radio on and smiled when a soft melody flowed into the car and I hummed to it, admiring the view as I drove back home.

I pulled over at a gas station to use the restroom and because I was hungry and quickly grabbed some snacks.

I went back and saw a black wrangler jeep parked behind my car, and a man who looked to be quite muscular was filling it with gas, whistling.

Our gazes met and I smiled at him politely but something about his eyes made a chill run down my spine and I sat down in my car, shrugging off the weird feeling before driving off.

It had been nearly half an hour since I'd been back on the road when my eyes went to the rear view mirror and I saw the same black jeep inching closer to me.

I ignored it, thinking I was just being paranoid and the man must be heading in the same direction.

But after another half an hour, the jeep was still following me and my hands started to get sweaty as I glanced in the mirror nervously.

It was inching closer to me and I knew something was wrong the moment and I turned the car around, because the jeep turned around too and followed me back.

"Shit." I whispered and stepped up on the accelerator. My speed was going well over the limit, but the jeep continued to follow, its speed increasing too.

My heartbeat quickened and I increased the speed even more, glancing in the rear view mirror every now and then.

And just when I'd lost the jeep, I breathed a sigh of relief but then when I looked ahead, my breath got caught in my throat.

Several black cars were parked in the middle of the road and men stood in black clothes with guns in their hands.

I slammed the brakes but it was too late, my speed was too much, and the car went out of control and flipped, rolling over. My voice was stuck in my throat, the windshield broken as  blinked hard.

I heard footsteps heading towards me as my vision became hazy and I realized blood was dripping down my hands.

But I couldn't move. My legs were stuck and no matter how much I squirmed, I couldn't get out and a heart wrenching pain shot through my body, making me cry out in pain.

I clenched my fists in pain as tears streamed down my face, feeling a prick in my neck and the next moment, I felt myself slipping into darkness.

A certain someone's face in my vision as my eyes closed and I gave in to the pain, only one thought in my mind.