Aria (a psych fanfiction)

Chapter 13

Okay, so there is some violence in this chapter. No blood, but there is violence. Again, I'll put a summary at the end, just in case.:)

Flashback #3

One Year Earlier

It took a few days for Callie to come up with an idea of how to escape. Two days of torture. Twice, He took her out of the large room, leaving Aria alone for hours at a time. Twice she returned, bruised and bloody but still smiling - trying to smile, anyway. She had to be brave for her baby girl.

"Okay, so reviewing the plan - " Callie stopped abruptly, tilting her head to listen, and her eyes widened. "He's coming. We don't have any more time - get behind the door, Aria."

The girl obeyed, and Callie followed her, pressing an ear to the door to listen carefully. Just as the door opened, Callie yelled, "Now!" Together, they jumped, throwing their weight against the door. Surprisingly, it worked - they heard an "Oof," accompanied by a thump.

Callie grabbed her daughter by the hand, using the other hand to practically push her out the door, into the pitch black night - Where the hell are we? She look back at the building they'd just exited, hoping to find some indicator of where they were. She saw nothing, just a large, unmarked warehouse, but her mouth dropped open in shock.

The floor was empty. There was no body, no unconscious kidnapper on the ground behind them.

Feeling a pair of arms snake around her waist, Callie tensed for a moment before relaxing. "Aria, don't scare me like that."

But Aria's wrist was still in her mother's grip. Just as she took in the familiar whiff of jasmine, a forceful tug by the new pair of arms caused Callie to fall to the ground; she let go of Aria at the last second. The girl whirled around, horrified to see her mother and their captor wrestling on the ground like two shadows. Callie screamed at her, "Go!" When Aria didn't move, her mother yelled again, "Run! Ugh - Aria, go! Now! I'll come - argh - GO!"

So she ran.

Her mother never caught up to her.

Present Day

Okay, handcuffs off. Door can only be unlocked from the outside, no windows, lamp in the corner. Ugh, it's freezing in here...darn hospital gown is too thin.

Wait.

It was warm outside last time she'd been outside, yet the room felt like an icebox. And, now that Aria was focused on her surroundings, she became aware of a soft hissing noise. How did I not notice it before? Pulling slowly to make as little noise as possible, she moved the bed enough to reveal an air vent behind. Maybe she could...no, it's too small.

Another noise make itself known: the front door opening and shutting.

He's home.

She was running out of options and, more importantly, time. She spun around, scanning the room frantically, and her gaze fell on the floor lamp standing in the corner. A wave of deja vu crashed over her. If I hide behind the door, if I can hurt Him enough to give me time to run...It was crazy. The only reason it had worked for her the first time was because Mom had been there to detain him.

But it was her only shot.

After pulling out the plug, Aria grabbed the lamp and carried it over to the door. It wasn't too heavy for her to pick up. She just hoped it would be heavy enough to give her a fighting chance.

Breathe breathe you can do this you can do this just please please breathe.

The click of the lock sparked a rush of adrenaline in her veins. As the door creaked open, she waited for a moment before bringing it down, jumping up to put all of her weight into it.