When Lies Become Reality (On Hold)

Chapter 12

~Josh's P.O.V.~

"Good morning beautiful." I croak out as I roll over to give Stephanie a quick kiss. But, when I open my eyes there's no one there. Panic started to rise inside of me as I bolted up out of bed and towards Stephanie's room. As I go to her room I see the bathroom door open so I know she isn't in there.

"Steph?" I ask as I enter her room. When I get no reply my panic only deepens. I head to the stairs and run down them despite how many times I have been told not to by Jen.

"Stephanie?" I ask a little louder than before. I guess this scream was a little louder from the rest because it had Jen and Nick coming down the stairs.

"Dude, what the fu-" Nick says groggily well rubbing the back of his head. 

Jen cuts him off though "Language!" she says. John walks out of the hallway a little later but coming from the direction of Stephanie's room not his own. I guess he seen her bed hadn't been slept in and his eyes fill with disappointment. Disappointment towards me and I feel so bad that I disappointed him I almost forget about Stephanie... almost.

"I woke up and went in Stephanie's room to find her but she wasn't there." I start my voice shaky. I look up at John and see his disappointment is gone and replaced by worry.

"I woke up, rolled over to say good morning, and she wasn't there." I say regretting my choice of words as soon as they come out. I walk out of the living room and run up the stairs when I think that maybe she left a note. She was Stephanie of course she did. I walk over to my computer desk and there is a note that says:

I'm sorry I was afraid that they would hurt you. I couldn't let you near them. I would rather them kill me than you. I love you too much to let you get hurt. Maybe if they get me they will lay off you, Nick and my parents. I've decided that Jen and John are my real parents now. Make sure they know how much I love them and appreciate everything they have done for me. Tell Nick that no matter how much he annoys me and how many times I told him i've hated him not ONCE did I ever mean it and that he is the most important person to me. Alongside you of course. Josh I just want you to know that I love you, so much that it hurts sometimes. And if you love me as much as I love you I'm so sorry for what I'm about to put you through and remember I did this FOR you NOT BECAUSE of you.

Love: Stephanie

I slam my fists onto my computer desk out of frustration. I can feel that the colour drain from my face as I read the note once more. I scream out of anger as I make my way down the stairs in a rush. I hear someone ask me something but my thoughts are consumed by the thoughts of those bastards touching her. 

Luckily my shoes are easy to get on because if they weren't I would have left without them. After I shove my shoes on I run out of the house and towards the apartment building. I swing the door to there apartment open and see Stephanie and some other girl tied to a chair. The girl has duct tape over her mouth but Steph doesn't.

One of the men look at me and says to the other one "Well, looks like Josh decided to join us too." I was wondering how he knew who I was but I let it slide I was more interested in what happened to Steph.

"Let them go!" I growl through clenched teeth. I've never felt so much hatred against someone in my life.

"Josh!" I hear Stephanie scream and that makes me even angrier because I can hear the fear in her voice. With this I punch the guy who I guess was Anthony right in the face.

Bad idea! He stumbles backwards but doesn't fall.

"Every time you do something stupid we'll do something to her. Understood?" the guy who I guess was Gregory asks. I nod but my instincts take over when Anthony runs at me. My foot comes up and I kick him right where the sun don't shine. I hear a shriek leave Steph and I turn to see that her arm had been cut.