Locked Heart

Chapter 1

The vision before my eyes disappeared as I held my ears in pain. Unfortunately, that didn't make the vibration stop, but that wasn't the only thing hurting.

"Hey, hey... Ashlyn, you okay?" his face full of concern. It takes me a while to realize that I had screamed. I slowly nod my head, he sighs before saying, "Cut the bullshit," he raises his two index fingers and sticks them out on his head, pretending to be like a bull before continuing, "I know you've been having the dreams again,"

"I'm fine," I said, rolling my eyes. I look behind me at my clock on the night table. It read 2:22. I looked back at Ashton with a confused expression.

"What are you doing up at 2:22?" his eyes widened before he quickly covered it with a sarcastic face. "Well obviously if my sister screams at 2 o'clock in the morning I'm going to wake up."

Call us close, but we're more than that. We didn't have a choice really, to hate each other or not. We had to be close.

"Ashton."

He sighs, "How am I 5 years older than you yet you boss me around."

"Ashton!" I exclaim once more,

"Okay, okay god damn it, woman," he says putting his hands in the air as if he's surrendering, "I was going to Rae's house," he says with a sheepish grin.

"You mean Raelynn's house?" I said, a grin slowly forming on my curved lips. "What you gonna do at my sister-in-law's house at 2:22?"

"That's actually disgusting that my baby sister said that sentence. Or implied it, and she's not your sister-in-law." Ashton says clearly disgusted. "Yet," he adds. 

I laughed. Ashton and I had the choice to go live with Grandpa, but since Ashton was 19, me being 15 when our parents passed, Ashton was of age, he could be my legal guardian. I knew the real reason he didn't want to leave and live with our grandpa was because of Rae. He didn't want to leave her behind.

It was funny how it had only been 2 years yet it felt like an eternity. Ashton was now 21, and I was 17. Yet with everyone that had happened, forced me to mature way faster. I wasn't your typical 17-year-old. 

"Go to sleep tiger, we have to meet with Ryan guys tomorrow, well technically today- but you know what mean. " I nodded before cuddling up in my cozy blanket. Ashton kissed me on my forehead before closing the door behind him.

  _____________  

My phone vibrates and I walk over to my night table and pick it up. I logged into my phone, swiping across the screen that contained a picture of Ashton and I, watching the sunset when we were kids. 

I read the text and I stopped breathing.

Meet me at 2nd and James if you want to see your parents alive... don't bring Ashton. 

The text read. My heart fell to the floor. I grabbed my jacket and with one look at Ashton's closed door, I ran out the front door. Not knowing who that person was. How they knew my brother's name. Why they had my parents. How they got my number. I ran towards 2nd and James.    

I called Mom and Dad a million times while running down the streets of the lit up city. They didn't pick up, and I was freaking out. 

I stopped running and panted for 2 seconds, before running again. God damn it how far away was 2nd and James?

_____________

The constant knocking on my door woke me up. "Ashlyn wake up! It's 12. Get up, shower and get ready! Tiger!"