Aurora's Secret

T W E N T Y F I V E

I tried my hardest to yank out of his grip but his hold was strong and savage much like the wild look he had on his face. I had seen many crazed looks on the men's faces but none like this before. I was actually cold to the bone scared.

I knew dad and Ashton had made it outside but it would not be a second before they came rushing back in for me. I noticed Logan was nearby and within his grasp was a badly beaten up and lethargic looking Kendal. I felt sick to the stomach.

"Kendal!" I cried and he looked in my direction but didn't say anything.

Suddenly the doors behind my were kicked hard open and they flew against the wall revealing a very angry looking Ashton and my dad just behind.

"Oh so much for taking care of them Lover boy." Ashton scoffed and rolled his eyes as he quickly whipped out his gun. "Guess I'll take care of them."

His gun suddenly opened fire under his fury and he aimed right at Kendal causing me to scream at the top of my lungs but I then noticed Logan's harsh grip eased significantly on Kendal and he fell against him and then lifelessly to the floor. "Kendal!" I screamed as he got up unharmed though weak and stumbled away from a now paling Logan and to my father as he slumped against the wall.

I breathed a sigh of relief but then tensed again when I realized Eric still had me in his clutches. "Eric, let me go. It's all over."

I felt him laugh. "It's not over 'till I say it's over." He growled as he threw me to the floor in front of him and I heard his gun cock.

I watched Ashton's face panic as a million things flashed through his eyes as Eric flicks off the safety and I sob loudly and pleaded to Ashton with my eyes. The bang went off causing me to squint but I felt no pain despite my knees completely giving way beneath me again. I was always hopeless in situations like these.

Eric's hold on me didn't falter and he still had the gun but now Kendal was lying in front of us with blood slowly seeping from beneath him. It was as he turned his head to me and forced himself to give me one last courageous smile that I realised he had taken the bullet for me.

I silently let the tears fall down my face as he then slowly went limp. Eric laughed. "He was only a burden anyways."

"I've had enough." Is all I heard from Ashton before he let rip with his gun and all I could do was scream.

***

The next thing I knew I was being lifted off of the floor and into to the warm embrace of someone's arms and carried bridal style. I looked up to see Ashton's hard face staring back at me as I watched his eye instantly soften.

"Hey." Was all he said.

I tried to say it back but nothing came out. Instead I just watched him as he took me to wherever we were going. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue considering it was spring and rather chilly but it kept me distracted for a while from the thoughts I had like- where were we going?

It was only when I tuned into the slight clink of a gun as it occasionally hit Ashton's leg while he walked that everything came rushing back to me.

All three of my long term captors were dead.

I suddenly launched myself up and startled Ashton but not enough to stop him catching me again and assuming my bridal position.

"Where's Kendal?!" Was all I demanded even though I already knew but Ashton only rolled his eyes.

"Oh, lover boy?" He tutted. I nodded. "I'm sorry but he didn't pull through. And before you ask neither did the other two psycho kidnappers."

I know. But my mouth still fell open. "W-what?" Why was he being so insensitive?

"I left them all there to die Rori, I can't have any of them tracking you down ever again!" He raised his voice a little and made me jump, his arms around me purposefully relaxed to show me he wasn't mad. "I am sorry you lost some humans you kinda cared about but they weren't worth it."

I just didn't have the words to reply. He was right but deep down I sill felt some sort of pity. Or was it... guilt?

I just decided to change the subject. "Where are we going?" I quizzed in a monotone as I went limp in his arms.

"I'm not sure. I'm just following your dad." He replied, his time of voice suddenly calmer as he gestured with his head to in front of him. I had been so focused on Ashton and the sky this whole time that I hadn't even noticed my father just a metre or two in front of us. I leaned over a little as we continued and I watched the other bits of scenery like how we were now in this beautiful country side.

"Were pretty sure you have nothing to be afraid of now but just to be safe your dad says there's somewhere you guys can stay till you leave the country." Ashton said without any emotion.

"Wait what? Country?" I asked holding up a hand.

"You can't stay here anymore. There are still a few rouge gang members after your dad so you'll never be fully safe..." He shook his head.

I couldn't say anything but my dad suddenly came into view. "I'm afraid so."

I sighed. "Well it's not like I have anything to get back to but... I just found Ashton again and I don't ever want to lose him." I recalled what he had said when I had tried to run away back when I was at his house. Ashton gave a me a halfhearted smile.

"I'll be fine." He consoled but I shook my head.

"It's not that. It's that I'll miss you. You've saved my life." But he disagreed.

"Anyone would have done the same."

My dad butts in. "Kids, kids." I gave him the evils. "Okay, my grown child and company... The fact is you can't stay or you'll end up a hostage again just with some much worse people." I doubted that fact but I let him continue. "So we're going to America where I have a house."

"You have a house in America?!" I really shouldn't be shocked because I haven't seen him since I was five but still.

He nodded. "And we leave this evening."

"Just one question." I said quietly and Ashton chuckled. I raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"All of this is happening and you only have one question..." He smiled to himself, obviously amused.

I rolled my eyes and continued. "What's going to happen to mum?"

"Ah." My dad began. "Well, she confessed to treating you horribly and actually doesn't want to..."

"Right. She wants continue her life as a hippie. Drifting from town to town finding as many lousy men as possible." I sighed and my dad suddenly spluttered on the air. "Oh. Sorry... it's just,"

"I get it. The final say is it's just me and you." My dad said defiantly. "Unless... Ashton here would like to join us."

Ashton didn't say anything but just looked at me.

"Won't you come with us?" I asked.

He took in a long breath. "I want to... but my life, though empty without you, is here. With my dad." He said sadly.

I nodded slowly. "I understand." And then I just hugged him close.