Stalking the Dancer || 18+

Part Thirteen - Escape

"I need you not to freak out and I mean it." Ashlee's face is serious, an expression she shares with her older brother. Her brown eyes match his and I see their sincerity as she continues to speak, without a crack in her calm demeanor. "If he hears you he'll come to check on you." She says it like the threat it is, untamed like the man sitting inside.

"I'm here to get you out. We'll go somewhere he can't find us for a few days until we book you a ticket wherever you want." My poor, battered heart drags itself from the ground, like a boxer in the ring. I shouldn't let the hope settle in my chest but it feels so stinking good that I can't force it away. My breathing gets shallow, but I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I hope I can trust her, I want to, but cold, stunting fear courses through my veins at the worst-case scenarios playing out in my head. All of a sudden I can't hold eye contact with her anymore. She could be just as crazy as Billy, there's no real way for me to know that she isn't. 

"I hate to rush such a big decision, but Ray only promised me ten minutes to get you out of here." I know my eyes go wide because she continues to reassure me in a steady voice. I search her face that looks so much like her brother, her olive skin and angular features distract me and I find myself comparing all of their likenesses. But they're all on the outside. I have an opportunity to escape him because of her and, apparently, Ray.

"Ray?"

"Yeah, he's the one who called me. Now, let's go." She stands to retrieve my crutches from where they lean against the railing before she brings them to me. "My car's out front."

A few minutes later we're locked safely in Ashlee's silver Camry and I watch her grip the steering wheel with both hands as she stares at the front door of Ray's cabin. Another minute passes before I work up the nerve to ask, "Uh, what're we waiting for?" 

Her nervous laughter is breathy, "I forget that you don't know my brother. We're waiting for Ray to handle him."

"Handle?"

She laughs again but still doesn't take her eyes off of the house, "Knock him out."

"What? Why?"

"If he heard the car start he'd fight his way out of the house to get to you. He'd chase us down on his bike and do something stupid when he caught up. It's safest for everyone if he's asleep." My mouth falls open in disbelief but I can't miss the smirk on her face as she thinks about him. "I know he's messed up, but he's family." I guess I can understand that, nobody chooses the family they're born into. Maybe I'd be used to this too if I had an unhindered sibling, but I don't.

"Has he always been this way?" I fiddle with the hem of my shirt to keep myself from peeking at her. I don't know if she's okay with questions and I don't want to step on her toes. Thankfully, when I dare a look in her direction her dimple appears before she presses her lips together. "Intense, you mean?" I nod, "Yeah, he's always been that way." 

Suddenly the front door flies open and Ray steps into the light streaming through the doorway. A single nod is all it takes for Ashlee to twist the keys in the ignition and throw the car in reverse. Just as quickly as I arrived here, I'm whisked away. The trees have lost most of their leaves now, but the winding mountain road hasn't lost any of its beauty. It's just breathtaking in a different way now.

"Ray packed your bag, but we can run to the store later to get you anything he forgot." She's so calm as she says it, so casual as she drives us away from that house of horrors, that I have to ask. "Has this happened before?" 

"Have I gotten a call from my brother's friend telling me he's kidnapped someone and they need my help? No, I can honestly say this is a first for me." Well, I have no reason to believe she's lying. 

"I'm sorry to insinuate that you had; I'm just confused." Mentally, I'm drained. I'm completely lost in the raging ocean of fear, and I can't seem to grasp onto anything long enough to ground myself. 

"It's okay, I know you must be scared. I want to explain whatever I can but you've had such a long day already, I think you should rest. It will be a few hours before we get where we're staying for the night."

I shake my head in protest but then my body betrays me with a yawn. "Fine. Thank you for today."

"You can thank me when you're sitting on a plane." Another yawn washes over me and I lean my head against the headrest before it all goes dark.

–~–

My lungs suck in air when I'm nudged awake. "Sorry, I said your name a few times," I squint my eyes, grogginess clouds them and begs me to close my lids so I can drift back to sleep. "We're here, come inside and you can get in bed." I nod because I'm generally agreeable to anything that ends with the promise of sleep right now. I don't mess around about my beauty rest.

After rolling myself out of the car I rub some of the sleepiness from my eyes; enough to see the pretty house we're standing in front of. It's much smaller than Ray's place, but even in the glow from the garden lights, I can see the flower pots decorating the porch and hear the wind chimes singing. 

"It's my friend's Airbnb, she let me pay in cash for the next few nights." She walks ahead of me to open the front door but I find myself stuck on the cash. Leaving a paper trail would be an easy way to get ourselves caught. I just can't figure out why the hell he cares enough to track me down. 

The living room is small and cozy, with creams and terracotta colors accenting the brick fireplace against the wall. It feels like somebody's home rather than a vacation rental and it has a warm, calming vibe. "There are two bedrooms, you can take the master at the end of the hall!" She's walking through the small space, checking the locks on any windows as she passes them. All I can think of is sleep, so I find the door to my room and drop my bag at the foot of the king-size bed before throwing myself into it. The plush comforter swallows me whole but somehow that isn't enough for sleep to take me. 

Every creak of the house makes me think of him, every sound coming from outside the window makes me wonder if he's found me already. No, I would feel him if he were here. Or would I? I dread the fear that makes its way up my spine and roots itself into my brain. This is going to be a very long night.

–~–

The sun finally rises, giving me a good enough excuse to tumble out of bed. I find the ensuite already stocked with hygiene products, which is a luxury I'm grateful for. I turn the shower on and wait for the water to get hot. I need to burn and scrub anything I brought from those men off of my body. I know Ray helped me escape, but something in me is angry with all of them. 

Angry that they let it get as far as it did before helping me. 

I know that may not be fair– maybe I should just shut up and be thankful for the things that they did. That's what I would have done in the past, but something is changing in me. I feel more powerful than I did before I met Billy, stronger. Like I'm allowed to have my own opinion even if it's inconvenient for other people; others aren't my problem anymore. I have to take care of myself first and I've done a pretty shit job at it this far. I have to get my head on straight before I do something that I can't go back from. I also need to get this fuckin cast off my foot before I lose my mind, so that leaves me with a list of one person to go to. One person who will keep me grounded and make sure I get to my doctor's appointment on time. 

Naturally, her name is mom.

I finish washing up and find my way into the kitchen, surprised by the smell of fresh coffee this early in the morning. "Sleep well?" I shake my head at her and she responds by passing me a mug full of liquid heaven. "Me either, maybe it's this house."

"What do you mean?"

Her eyes are tired but she looks beautiful in the morning light streaming through the kitchen window. Her dark hair is pulled into a messy bun on top of her head and her bare face shows how naturally attractive she is. She reminds me of him even more now than she did yesterday. "I don't love small spaces, is all. I get claustrophobic." 

She changes the subject to breakfast after that, not leaving room for other discussions until we start to cook. So at the first opening I see, I take it. 

"I think I want to fly home to see my mom."