Where's Daddy?

Mystery Man

Ashlyn's POV

I woke up in the morning with my knees to my chest. I didn't know that if I fell asleep like that, that I wouldn't change position. But I guess that was because I didn't have anywhere to move. I looked out the window, but I couldn't see because of the frost. "Great." I sighed out loud. I looked in the back to see Dalilah sleeping comfortably in her carseat. I grinned to see that even when I was uncomfortable, she was sleeping like a rock. I guess that was because she was wrapped up in my coat. I tried to stretch but realized I couldn't move anywhere with my knees up here. I wiggled around and finally got my feet on the floor. I stretched and yawned. While I looked around for my phone, I noticed my slippers on the passenger seat. I picked them up to wear and found my cell phone under it. I put the slippers on and slipped my phone in my shorts' pocket. Slowly, I opened the front door and saw a half a foot of snow in the gutter. When I put my foot in the snow and stood up, I realized how freezing it was out here. Since I had my doors and windows closed before it started snowing it wasn't that cold in the car. I gently closed the door to keep it from waking up Dalilah. I rubbed my bare arms from the cold and noticed that I was only wearing a tank top. I guess this isn't the ideal get-up for winter. A white tank top with short shorts and bare feet in cheap slippers. I pulled out my phone to dial Ben's number, but it was turned off. As I was turning it on, a young man suddenly showed up next to me. I took a deep breath in and shoved my hand in my pocket. "What do you want!"

"Chill! I just-"

"Get away from me! I will mace you!" Even though I didn't have any mace I thought I was better to have him think I was dangerous.

"Stop. I won't hurt you! I just want to know if you had a smoke on you?" I looked down at myself in surprise.

"Do I look like I would have cigarettes?"

"Ma'am. I'm sorry if I scared you, or offended you, but I just want a cigarette. I apologize." I was surprised at his kindness, actually. I was about to say no, when I realized Nixon always wanted me to leave a carton in my glove box when he came over. "Yea. Hold on." I turned to open the door and climbed over to the passenger side to open the glove box. I realized that it wasn't the best choice because I had my butt exposed to a guy I didn't know and I was very vulnerable. When I opened the glove box I saw the carton and when I grabbed it noticed a can of mace next to it. Thank you Nixon for being so overprotective! I quickly grabbed them both and shoved the mace in my pocket, but never removed my hand from the pocket. "Here." I climbed out, not looking at him, and opened the box. I tried to shove out a cigarette with my thumb when I looked up at him. I was already out of the car and standing up. When I looked up he had a gun in his hand and pushed me up against my car. He held my arms down with his free hand and held the gun to my head. I was in shock and dropped the carton of cigarettes. "What do you have!"

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me, lady! What do you have!"

"I don't understand!"

"Drugs, alcohol, money?" He really emphasized on the last word.

"I don't have any!"

"You liar." He shoved me up against the car again, hard. It almost bruised my rib.

"I don't! I swear!"

"If you give it to me, I won't kill you."  Maybe not kill, but hurt seriously.

"I told you! I don't have any drugs! No alcohol! No drugs!"

"I don't care about the drugs or liquor! Where's the money!"

"Get off me! I don't have any!" He then smacked me in the head with the gun. I thought he had shot it, because I started to feel limp, but I saw no blood or heard anything. Just a small thump.

"Give it to me now!"

"I already told you! You idiot!" I guess I shouldn't have called him that.

"Alright, you want some? I'll give you part, but I get the rest."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What do you think? Ashlyn?" I just about passed out. How did he know my name? I stared into his dark eyes, which I hadn't done before and I realized, they were filling up with tears. I looked at him confusedly and sympathetically. He then smacked me in the head again. "Huh? What do you think?"

"I don't have anything you want." I tried to stay calm for Dalilah, I knew she might wake up if I scream again.

"Alright. Then what do you have?"

"Nothing important to you." He got off me, but didn't take the gun away from my head.

"Get it out." I widened my eyes. And I mean WIDE. He smirked a little and chuckled.

"What?" I demanded.

"I knew you had something." I winced at the thought. If I told him about Dalilah would he back off, or kill us both? Would it help me or not?

"Mommy?" I heard the faint whisper and couldn't help but widen my eyes. The guy looked around to see if anyone was standing there. Apparently he heard her too. "Sh." I faintly whispered back. He looked back at me, confused. I guess I was stupid enough to answer her back. "What are you doing?" I looked around and started to hear Dalilah call me again. I stopped her in the middle.

"Nothing."

"Liar. What's going on?"

"I told you. Nothing."

"Don't lie."

"You don't listen very well do you?"

"I very will blow your head off. No lies." It finally clicked in my head.

"Not unless it's not loaded." He asked for the smart remarks.

"It is." He seemed speechless.

"Don't lie." I just almost laughed myself.

"I could kill you right now. So I suggest you shut up."

"If that gun was loaded, you would have killed me already. You had your chance. Why didn't you use it? Hm? Either, your stupid, or it's not loaded."

"You know what!" I then heard the whisper again. "Mommy?" It sounded louder and more desperate. She was scared, I could tell. Well, I definitely would be if my best friend was getting threatened right outside my window. My eyes widened again, but I brought them back into focus. He stared straight into my eyes and I could seee the tears coming back. I could feel the lump in my throat beginning to form. "Please. Don't hurt me." I whispered to him. He dropped the gun and let go of me. I started to bring my hand out of my pocket and realized I was still holding onto the mace. I could have used it. He looked at the ground and slowly lifted his head. One tear fell down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. "Can I see her?" I was shocked, but I nodded. I scrubbed away the frost from her window and she stuck her face in the little circle. "Hello!" She said smiling.

"Hello." He sniffled and wiped his nose. He went from the six foot tall man that was attacking me, to a three foot man that was in love with my child. He then dropped to his knees. He put his head in his hands and started to sob. "Can I hold her?"

"Um. No?" For an attacker wanting to hold his victims child? That's a new low.

"Why?"

"'Cause you just attacked me!"

"I didn't know it was you!"

"You called me Ashlyn!"

"I saw your ID in the seat of the car." He then looked down sadly. I got down on my knees to comfort him.

"It's okay. I won't tell the police. As long as you don't hurt us."

"Why would I hurt you!"

"I don't know. 'Cause you just threatened me that you would!" He put his head back in his hands. Then looked back up.

"Can I please hold her?"

"No! I already told you!"

"Why can't I hold my daughter!" I widened my eyes. HUGE. How could this man be her fath- Oh my gosh!