Jace

{33}

An escalade the color of the streaks in Jace's hair zoomed down the nearly empty highway. The road was slick with rain and water flew up around the tires as they rotated rapidly. It was dark.

The back end of the car stepped out and soon it was tumbling down the road like a bouncy ball, finally coming to a stop on it's side.

*

"The accident happened here on the freeway at 2:15 in the morning," the news reporter spoke. Behind him the field of debris scattered from the rolling car was busy being cleaned up. "The driver was going well over the speed limit when she hit a large section of standing water. Unable to gain control back of the car, it rolled over and eventually skidded to a stop in the middle of the road. The driver, twenty-five year old Jacelyn Rock, was pronounced dead at the scene."

I awoke with a start, panting heavily and covered with sweat from the horrible dream. Jace was gone, I reminded myself, but she was still alive. That I knew of... I hastily turn on the news fearing that my dream would become a reality and I would see a crumpled escalade the color of the streaks in her hair. But to my relief, there were no breaking news stories, no car accidents on the freeway. It had been shut down for flooding even before Jace left last night.

"Liam?" Harry knocked on my door. "You awake yet?"

I sat on my bed just staring at the wall for a second. "Yeah," I called. Standing, I realized I was still in my tux from last night. I passed by a mirror on my way to the door and managed to catch a glimpse of my red, swollen eyes, emotionless face, and dull expression. I was a mess.

"Hey mate." Harry looked better than myself, but was still quite horrific. "Ready?"

"Ready? For what?"

"To get moving." He invited himself inside and grimaced at my mess of a hotel room. "We leave for Seattle in less than an hour."

"You're joking right?" I said as Harry started to pack my things up for me. "We lost Jacelyn less than twenty four hours ago. We lost her!! She was basically fucking kidnapped by her brother!! And it's all my fault..."

"What?" Harry stopped and stared at me. He thought maybe I was on drugs or hallucinating with my grief but I was dead serious.

"I found Jace right before she left and she said that Aaron was making her come home. She said that he found out we slept together and threatened to expose it to the tabloids and sue for harassment and rape. It's all my fault Harry! I have to get her back!"

"Liam-"

"She left me a video you know! She said she loved me. I have to get her!!"

"Liam!" I stopped my pacing and looked at him. "If Aaron made Jace leave then that means she didn't go by her own will. That means she still wants to be with us. If we can find her we can convince her that Aaron can't touch her and that she can come back!"

"Aaron," I breathed. And then I was out the door.

"Liam!!" Harry called after me. "Liam where are you going?"

I slammed the door on my way out so I wouldn't have to answer him. I searched Aaron Rock's law office on my phone and grabbed a taxi, fuming in the back seat as the driver weaved in and out of traffic.

"Can you go any faster?" I growled, tapping my knuckles on my knee.

He glared back at me with his cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth. "There's a speed limit buddy."

A black escalade honked repeatedly in the lane next to us but I ignored it, assuming it to be fans. But when it swerved in front of the taxi, forcing the driver to stop and pound on the horn, I swore. I knew that car all to well.