the boy next door

Chapter 21: Numb

Justin's POV:

A few days passed, and I was Trevor's house with Trevor and Lisa. Trevor was trying to track Ashley's phone. When it came to tracking things down, Trevor was always there to do it. Lisa sat on the couch, sobbing softly into her hands.

I sighed and walked over to her, sitting close to her. Someone had to comfort her, I mean. Her boyfriend was too busy helping me find my girl, so I might as well do him a favor back by helping him out with his girl.

"We're gonna find her. It's okay." I whispered as I pulled her into my arms. She sniffles quietly and hugged me back. "Okay." she croaked.

"We got something." Trevor gasped. I quickly got up and walked towards the laptop. "This is the address-" "Let's go." I interrupted him as I slid on my jacket and shoes. He furrowed his eyebrows and licked his lips. "Woah woah hold on Justin. How do we know it's safe?"

"I don't give a fuck. I have to save her. She could be dead for all I know!" I barked, the veins in my forehead slightly bulged. He sighed and nodded in defeat, grabbing his jacket as we all scurried into the car.

Around 10 minutes later, we pulled up in front of a small shack. She was definitely here. I quickly opened the door, slamming it as I looked around for other people. I turned around, noticing that Lisa was getting out as well.

"Hold up kid." I lifted my hands up to stop her. "Where do you think you're going?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Aren't we going to get Ashley-" "We as in Trevor and I. You have to stay in the car." She dropped her mouth. "What?? Are you kidding me right now?"

"Baby he's right, it's not safe-" "THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND IN THERE! I NEED TO BE THERE TOO! SHE NEEDS MY HELP!" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Sh sh baby it's okay." Trevor held her tight, kissing her forehead gently.

"Just stay in the car, please. Justin and I will handle it, okay? I promise." he whispered, staring deeply into her eyes. She sighed and slowly nodded before getting back into the car. After Trevor locked the doors, Lisa stayed low in the seats and Trevor and I made our way towards the shack.

It was extremely small, really old too. There was mold growing around the sides as me and Trevor slowly made our way to the front door. I bit my lip before attempting to open the door. It was unlocked. I slowly opened the door, and Trevor followed behind me quietly.

We made our way inside, noticing that we were in a room covered in metallic walls. I glanced around, before noticing a brunette sitting tied to a chair, her face looking down at the ground, while her hair brushed and covered her face. There were around 6 trays of food left on the ground, untouched. Fuck.

"Ashley!" I shouted, my heart racing once I realized it was really her. My voice startled her, her body immediately beginning to shake as she slowly began to look up, her red eyes staring into mine. I shook my head slowly, shocked to see her like this.

Her makeup was all over her face, tears streaming down her face as her lip quivered, her hair completely messed up into knots. This wasn't Ashley. She looked pale, like paralyzed as if. It looked like her life was sucked out of her body, nothing remaining.

She didn't say anything, instead glanced back at the floor and began to sob. "No no no-" I started as I ran to her, grabbing her and hugging her gently, her body stiff and shaky. I've never seen her like this. She looked, mortified.

Trevor sighed and shook his head with disbelief, quickly untying her arms from the chair as she gasped in pain. "Sorry!" he quickly whispered before untying her legs as well. She didn't reply, instead her eyes landed back on my shoes. "Thank god you're okay Ashley, I thought I lost you." I started. She didn't say a word nor move.

I began to worry. "A-Ashley?" my voice cracked. No response. They ruined her. I glanced down at her, bruises all over her chest and neck, and blood stains on her arms and legs. I felt my bottom lip quiver as I shook my head in disbelief.

"Oh my god." I whispered, and she just continued to stare, her eyes hardly open. She looked exhausted. "Let's get out of here." I mumbled before lifting her up in my arms, as she lied perfectly still.

I quickly ran out the door, running towards the car door, Lisa spotting us immediately and her face growing with fear. Seconds later, a shot echoed through the air. I flinched but kept running and opening the back car door, getting in as I placed Ashley on my lap, along with Lisa's.

"They got her!" I heard Matt holler from a distance. But Trevor already began to drive, swerving onto the street and taking an immediate left, getting as far as possible. "O-Oh my god. Ashley, are you okay? Why isn't she talking? WHY ISN'T SHE MOVING?!" Lisa sobbed, wrapping her hands around her cold face.

Ashley blinked several times before looking around, her eyes beginning to water once more. "H-help me." she choked. "Ashley it's okay, we have you now. You're fine. You're safe. No one can take you away." I whispered. "N-No. Please. Help me. End this. End this all. I'm suffering-" "Ashley don't say that. Please baby, you're scaring me. We're getting you home. And I'm coming with you, you'll be safe-"

"J-Justin. No. I-I'm not safe anymore. I don't feel safe anymore. Not even in m-my own home." she croaked as she began to cry once again. I bit my lip to hold my tears back, not wanting to cry in front of her.

"They did this to her." Lisa spoke shakily. I ignored Lisa and cradled Ashley in my arms. "I'm sorry I let you down. Again. God damn it. I promised you-" "Shh. Please don't. J-J-Just hold me." she spoke, her expression turning blank again. "I'm tired." she breathed. "I haven't slept or ate since they got me."

Lisa covered her face with her hands and began to sob once more. "How could they do this to her? To another human being?" she croaked. I froze at her words. I couldn't imagine how terrified she was. I just felt like crying and holding her tight from now on, not wanting to let her go, ever. I had to face it. She was never safe.