Who Killed Aylee?

Chapter 26

Penny

The days have all blurred together and most days I forget my name. I forgot the sound of Aylee's voice. The smell of her perfume the way she smiled. I forgot who I was and how I got through all the things I did to get me through it. I forgot to keep waiting for someone to come at times. Feeling the agony of the day to day pain.

But today...

Today I will remember forever.

Crystal burst into my room telling me to pack a bag. I just sat there watching her pack clothes she gave me into a black bag. She threw a black sweatshirt and leggings at me. She even threw black sneakers at me. I just don't care. I am not moving. Nor do I care why she is in desperate need for me to get dressed. Then it hit me. Silas.

I just sat there, feeling nothing. Not one feeling. I haven't felt anything in a long time. When she stopped and realized I wasn't moving she slapped me across the face.

" Get your ass up." She screamed.

" He's close." A slow smile creeps across my face. I'm still staring at the bag half packed on my bed. " He's here. I can feel him." I feel him. I finally feel something.

" Your boyfriend is going to make my life hell." She yells. " Get dressed!"

" No" I say laying back down in my bed.

" I said get the fuck up. Get dressed. Jorge!" She yells to the hall. Which makes me laugh. He comes in the room and throws me over his shoulder heading for the door. " Take her to safe house four. It's far enough away that he won't see her."

He walks me out the door and to the white van. Throwing me in like a rag doll and I keep laughing. This time not tied up I just sit still and wait.

I close my eyes and feel the chill in the air with my silk shorts and tank top. Crystal sets the bag on the floor in front of me. When I look at her again she looks scared. Which makes me smile wider.

" Good luck. He will find me anywhere I am." I hold my arms up. "Silas will find me!"

I think I have lost my mind. She slams the door closed and the van starts moving. When I am alone my mind starts to race. The sweatshirt is huge and the leggings slide on so tight. The shoes are a size too big but who cares. It's not heels.

We took two rights and a left. Then we go straight which feels like forever. He found me. He didn't give up. God I want him to pull us over and take me away from here. But what would I tell him? Oh hi Silas I'm Princess now and fucked so many guys in a year that I am seriously worried about myself. I feel nothing anymore. I don't feel excitement right now, just rage in my blood. Should I fight Jorge and run? I have no idea where I am. I can't do that. We have to be able to shut us all down. It's not about me anymore. Never has been it's about all the women.

Most days I think about Juliette and how I hope she is living a great life away from all this. I hope I see her again.

The van stops and I get out when he opens the door. " Let's go Princess. I am not carrying you this time."

I crawl out and follow him to a small ranch style house. I walk inside and see the man that gave me a message sitting in a swivel chair. He is watching sports on the tv when he sees us walk in. His eyes go dark and menacing. He wants to make sure I'm scared.

" Seems we hit a bump in the road Princess." Standing up to look down at me.

" What's the matter scared someone might find me?" I ask

" She speaks. Wow Crystal said you stopped speaking. Thought it might be depression or losing your mind." He walks around me slowly. Every step is painfully deliberate. " I know better. So I know him. I know him well, how he thinks and how he works. How he never stopped looking for you. He never thought you ran away or that you died. No he was a man on a mission and I knew it would come time to hide you again."

"Karma" I say sliding my hands into the pocket of the sweatshirt. "He's coming."

" Not here though. So I can do whatever I want with the Princess and then take you back." His eyes feel like they cut me with every look. Painful to have him in the same room.

"Do as you want, I don't feel anything. I have already been through it all." I say. " I've waited this long for him to find me. What's a few more days."

He doesn't lash out like I thought he would. He doesn't laugh or say anything just looks me over and walks to the kitchen. " Sit down."

I sit on the brown couch and cross my legs. I want to be a little ball. No one can touch me there. I can feel how tired I am but I'm also excited he's so close that I don't want to sleep. If I close my eyes he won't find me. I'll miss it. I'll miss him saving me from this fucked up life.

He returns with two glasses. Sets one down next to his chair and then hands me the other. I think it's water. Yet he was in there for a long time. He might have put something in it. I just lean over and put it on the coffee table.

" You're going to be here until he gives up and goes home. Your room is right there and mine is right there." Pointing to the doors right next to each other. " Bathroom is off the kitchen." He sits down and turns the game back on.

I am so confused by this man. He isn't nice but he also isn't mean. I just stare at him trying to figure it out. He takes a drink from his glass and sets it back down, he sees me watching him and he looks at me.
He's so serious.
So calculated.

" Why?" I ask quietly.

" Be specific Princess." He said in his low baritone voice.

"Why not let me just go?" I ask

" But that is not possible. Your dad fucked up. You are my payment. I don't give my payment back. They become kind and work for me forever." His eyebrows crease.

" Why not give me a life then? Instead of having every man that wants to touch me in that house?" I ask, feeling the annoyance of my every day like chime in.

" You're good at it. You spread your legs for Haley. Why not everyone else?" He looks away at the game like he's done with me. " For the record he's the only reason you're not in prison right now so you can thank him for the life you have. You Princess cost me a lot of money. You will be paying it back with your fathers debt."

I didn't know what to say to that. I just sat there staring at the cup he gave me. How could he blame Silas for my life here? He didn't put me here. He wanted a life with me. Not in here. I stand up and walk to the bathroom.

The bathroom window is nailed shut and has a film over it so one one could see in or out. I clean myself up and head to the door he said was mine. I look around at no windows just walls. Clearly this room was not supposed to be a room. The twin bed sat up against the far wall. I can't remember the last time I slept in a twin bed.

I'm so tired right now that I don't care. I pull the floral sheet back and crawl in. The house smells musty. Like no one has been here in a long time. I turn and face the door so if Silas shows I'll see him faster. I watched the door for a long time praying he would walk through it. But he doesn't. I just hold my necklace and pray. Because what only Silas and I know is that this necklace tells him where I am. I know he will find me.