Unlock the Past

Chapter 18

Ashton's POV:
Something wasn't right.
I don't know how I know how I knew. But one minute I'm happily eating with my family and the next moment I have this gut wrenching feeling. Shit. Chloe was supposed to call me when she was done. I check my watch and see that it's already 6:30, I know she can stay in there for days if she could but...still I think she'd be done by now.

"Sorry guys, I gotta call Chloe real quick,"

"Oh no you don't mister, you are going to kill that girl with how many times you bother her. Let Chloe call you, okay? Now lets just have a nice dinner, I've barely seen you." I sigh in defeat and sit back down, the weight getting heavier and heavier. I can't escape this feeling that Chloe is in trouble...

Chloe's POV:
"Miss me princess?" My blood feels as if I've been dumped in frigid water, and all of my body has holes in it, letting the chill run all through my blood stream, leaving me frozen in place. My lungs feel weighed by water and I take gasps of air to help myself from drowning. "Oh, don't look so scared princess, I know you've missed me. Now be a good girl and listen very carefully."

I barely nod my head, staring intently at the monster before me. "You're not going to tell anyone that you saw me, correct?" I nod my head and he proceeds, "You are not going to tell that sick son of a bitch that you saw me, or he's dead and everyone else I've seen you with will go down with him. You are going to act normal for the rest of the three months you're in school, and on your last day you are going to tell your parents that you got a wonderful opportunity to go to Europe, when really, you're coming with me."

He steps forward and reaches his hands up to cup my face. The tears fall freely down the creases of my cheeks. I flinch as his chilling calloused fingers secure me in place, making my watery eyes look into his steel ones. "And we will be a happy family, my little princess. We will have our children and get married, and we will be together forever."

The edges of his lips curl upwards, showcasing his jagged and knife like teeth, I inwardly cringe. I'm surprised that, although my mind is going insane, my body is calm and regal. I nod and he lets go of me, "I'll see you soon. my love," As he walks around the crumbling building, exiting the ally. I feel my back hit the wall behind me and I sink down to the beer induced ground. I breath in a lung full of dirt infested air and look down at my hands.

I have to do what he says. There's no way around it. I can't involve my family or the police, I know what he's capable of, and I know that he will get out of anything. Even if he was sent to jail he still has friends that could do the deed for him.

I let my lungs deflate and look up at the sky. Clouds cover up any glimpse of sunlight, and I notice the moon coming into view. I'm so late. Pulling the reigns on my emotions and my depression, I let it soak the deep depths of my stomach, I run home.

Ashton's POV:
"Something is wrong I can feel it. I need to call Chloe," I'm still sitting at the dinner table, trying to convince my family to let me have my phone, early I ignored their negative replies and pulled out my phone, but my sister snatched it before I could even turn it on.

"Ashton, you are going to drive that girl insane with your obsessiveness, please just enjoy this dinner with me," I look into her eyes and see how exhausted she looks, and nod.

"Fine," I pick up my fork and begin to eat the delicious steak and mashed potatoes. But as I'm chewing, my sister's phone rings.

"Hello?...Oh gosh honey...okay he's on his way," My sister hangs up and looks at me, "Chloe hasn't come home yet, they need you to help them look for her," She looks down guiltily, but I'm too focused on grabbing my keys and racing to the car.

What if he was back, and took her? What if she was lost and something happened to her? Endless, unanswered questions bombard my mind as I drive through the towns narrow streets. As I get closer to the library I see a small figure sprinting down the street. Chloe.

Chloe's POV:
As I sprint home, I put all of my energy and frustration into running, It feels exactly like the day I escaped. This makes me queasy as I slow down my pace.

"Chloe!" I yelp and swing around, only to find Ashton in his truck, a relieved look stained to his face.

Ashton notices my solemn expression, "Hey, Coles, you okay? Did something happen," putting on the most fake smile I've ever made, I shrug like nothing is going on,

I shake my head and give him a forced, carefree smile, and I know he can see right through me.