Breaking Free

Chapter 28

Carter's POV

"She should be back by now," I hiss, my hands in my hair.

"I know- it's not like Taylor to disappear like this. I'm starting to get worried," my mom states, before warily sipping on her coffee. "Can you at least tell me what happened?"

"Nothing happened," I snap, causing her to recoil. I don't want to tell her about Taylor and Jake- my mom believes the sun rises and sets on that girl. I won't ruin that image, not just yet. "I'm going for a ride."

I storm out of the house and into the barn, tearing open the first stall I see. It happens to be Flame's stall, a horse Taylor has been putting lots of work into lately.

I slide a bridle over her head, and forcefully lead her to the cross ties. She snorts at the unnecessary force I use, but I'm too angry to care.

I tack her up western, before mounting and steering her towards the trails. She seems unaccustomed to someone other than Taylor riding her, but I don't care. I dig my heels into her sides repeatedly till she starts to gallop.

She runs till she's exhausted, but I don't let her stop there. Even though I know her legs are tired and her breathing strained, I refuse to let her stop.

Frustrated, she rears into the air, throwing me from the saddle. I land in a heap on the dirt floor, too tired to stand up.

Taylor.

She's all I can think of. And even though I hate to admit it when I'm so mad at her, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong- and that terrifies me. I need to see her. Where could she be?

Reluctantly, I get up and climb back onto the mare, pressing her into a walk. Slowly but surely, she starts to take me home.

I just need to clear my head. What exactly happened last night.

I walked into the hallway- they were talking. Her voice sounded frustrated though I couldn't tell what she was saying. Jake whispered something incoherent to her, and then he kissed her. She didn't pull away at first- in fact, she kissed him back.

That's where it goes sort of blurry. I can't really remember, I was to angry. She pulled away, right? I think she slapped him. Did she slap him before or after she saw me? If only I knew.

Maybe it was just a one time thing. I hope that's all it was. But there's a part of me that wonders if she's been with him all along.

I don't realize at first that Flame and I have arrived back at the barn. And even when I do, I don't see the police car at first.

I dismount Flame, and tie her up before going to see what happened. Maybe Taylor did something stupid and got arrested. Oh, I hope she didn't try to run away again.

The closer I get to the police who is talking to my parents, the more I take in the scene before me.

My mom is crying, burying her face in my fathers shoulder, who looks dead inside.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Carter- this isn't your fault," Chief Peter's starts.

"What happened?" I repeat, my voice cracking. If he's going to say what I think he is, I don't think I can handle it.

"This morning- we found a body in a ditch. Blonde girl, about 17 years old. We ran her fingerprints- I'm so sorry Carter," the Chief sorrowfully states.

"Who?" I manage to choke out, despite the lump forming in my throat.

"It was a positive match for Taylor Evans."

My mind doesn't quite comprehend the information. She can't be dead. She can't. I would have felt something if she died. No. She just- it can't be true.

Taylor's POV

"This purse has a credit card, passport, and driver's license. Your name is Genevieve Roberts, but you go by Jenna. Your parents died in a car crash when you were 17. You are 21 now. You work at a police station as a receptionist in New York City. You live in an apartment and your roommate is a college student named Lizzy. You have never heard of Taylor Evans. And you never will. She is dead. Understand?" Chief Peters questions, walking with me to the undercover car that is driving me to the airport. Deputy Jones, who I remember from that day when I found a note in Ezhno's stall, has been given the top secret task of driving me to the airport. Amazing, I know.

"Yes," I whisper.

"Taylor?"

"Yes?" I reply, glancing up at him.

"Be safe," he whispers, giving me a hug.

"I'll try," I sniffle, before climbing into the car and driving away.

"Is everything all right back there- Genevieve?"

"Yeah- wait. This isn't the way to the airport," I suspiciously state.

"Who said anything about going to the airport?" Deputy Jones snarls, a sinister glint in his eyes. "You need your rest, go to sleep."

I open my mouth to object, but before I can he shoves a wet rag in my face. I unwillingly breathe in the fumes, which I'm sure are probably chloroform or something like it.

Though I try to resist, darkness consumes my mind till I'm tossed into an inescapable, black hole of nothingness

And just like that, my life is shifted yet again.

A/N

dun Dun DUUUUN! I'm getting pretty good at this whole cliffhanger thing.