PROJECT ANDERSON

CHAPTER NINE: ANDIE

My mind was racing as I searched for any sign of Ashley.

I didn't even know if she was even still alive, but it didn't matter...I just needed to find her.

And then I thought back to what happened with Dorian in the storage room.

After calling Ash my brother's brat and me calling him a self absorbed sociopath...which he was...I saw the light in his eyes change. His once emerald eyes where now dark and menacing once again.

But it wasn't only his eyes that had changed, everything about him seemed to change. His body heaved as he breath and his voice was deep and guttural as he told me to shut up.

I could hear Sarge talking outside of the door as he moved closer to me, but it wasn't until he called me a selfish bitch that I grabbed my rifle and killed him.

I wasn't going to let him hurt me again and I wasn't going to let him hurt Ashley or Sarge...so he had to die.

There was no mercy for him anymore, not after everything that he's done to me.

But he was gone now, so he couldn't hurt anyone again.

I made it to the end of the hall and notice that there was only one room left for me to check.

The door was closed, but there was a dent at the bottom that made it gap slightly; so I could see part of the floor.

"Ashley?" I asked as I slowly opened the door and peered inside.

The room was dimly lit, but I could make out a small frail figure sleeping on a bed at the far end of the room.

I slowly made my way inside and over to the bed where the body lay.

"Ashley, is that you?" I asked again without touching the person on the bed.

The figure moved slightly and let out a small sigh before she opened her eyes and looked at me.

I never been more happy to see her vibrant blue eyes before in my life, she looked so much like both her parents.

"Hey sweetie...are you okay?" I asked as I sat down on the bed beside her.

"Aunt Allison? Where are we?" Ashley asked confused.

"Don't worry Ashichu, we'll be out of here soon." I answered unsure on how to explain all of this to a six year old.

"What happened to us?" Ashley asked as I took off my bag and picked her up.

"I don't know Ash." I answered as I placed her on my back and put my bag back on. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yeah...where are we going?" Ash asked as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Somewhere safe." I answered before heading out of the room.

"Are we going back to my mommy and daddy?"

I didn't know how to answer that question, because I didn't even know if James was even still alive or anything.

"Try and relax, I'll wake you up when we get there okay." I said as I headed down the hall towards an office to the left of her room.

Inside I grabbed a couple of walkie talkies and wrote a quick note for Sarge letting him know what was going on and where I was headed.

I wasn't sure where I was going to go or how I was going to get there, but I knew that I had to thank him for everything that he has done for me so far; and to apologize for not telling him everything that I knew about what is happening to me.

Which wasn't much.

After doing all of that I headed out of that lab...out of that fucking building that I thought I would never see again.

The air outside felt great against my skin as I walked into the parking lot.

I could hear Timmy crying from a large black Chevy pickup, so I figure it was Sarge's. I walked over and placed the things on the hood and looked inside.

"Hey Timmy...Sarge is going to take good care of you...I would, but I don't want to hurt you." I said as I looked at the baby.

Even though he wasn't mine...I still loved him...it wasn't his fault that his father was a cheating scumbag or that his mother was still somewhat of a mystery to me.

I wish I could take him with me, but it would be too dangerous with me...he was safer with Sarge.

After feeding Ashley and Timothy, I headed out on foot with the six year old on my back.