Forever

| Chapter Ten ~ Is This Goodbye? ~ |

Noah's Pov
My hands trailed along the dusty bannister as I walked up the stairs, a creek with each step. I was inside the Nolet's home in hope of finding Richelle. I'd managed to sneak in after my conversation with my father and Richelle's. I couldn't believe what they told me, but I was more worried about Richelle than me at this time.

I reached the top of the stairs and was faced with a long hallway. Its walls stood with huge paintings dangling from them, looking as though they would fall at any minute. The floor was oak wood, old. It creaked just liked the stairs and I had no idea where I was going. There were so many doors on either side of the walls, I didn't know where to look. I just hoped that they didn't have a maid who would find me and tell Richelle's father. I wasn't afraid of him, I was just afraid of what he'd do to me.

I had searched through five doors by the time I came to the next. I pleaded that it would be Richelle's. Trying not to make any noise, I gently pushed the door open and peeked inside. There she was. Lying on her bed, face up, as beautiful as ever. A smile appeared on my face but is suddenly went away when I saw that her eyes were closed.

"Richelle?" I whispered, calling out to her.

No response. Maybe she was just sleeping? Maybe she was just sick? Had I been over reacting this whole time? I didn't care. I was just happy to see my love.

I edged closer to her, walking towards her bedside. My head bent down towards hers, and I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. I gently took hold of her arm and rubbed it slightly. Still mo response. Physically, she looked fine. Her golden hair surrounded her face and her skin...didn't gleam in the sunlight? Huh? That was strange. It was dull and pale, not her usual self.

I began to shake her with a little more pressure, starting to panic. I said her name once more but still no response. I grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse. My heart was beating like a drum as I couldn't find it.

"Baby, please," I whispered, so quietly I could barely hear it.

Then, I found it. I sighed with relief. It wasn't consistent, in fact it was barely there at all. I needed to wale her up. What had her parents done to her?

Without thinking, I grabbed her shoulders and began to shake her awake. I stared at her closed eye lids, afraid they would never open. I began to think that maybe the pulse I felt was her last.

To my shock, her eyes slowly fluttered open, but I didn't smile. Of course I was thrilled that she was awake, but I knew that she wasn't okay. I stated intently into her gorgeous eyes as she gazed back into mine. I gently placed my hand upon her cheek, cupping it.

"Noah," she slowly whispered, barely making a sound, "you...you have to go."

"No," I replied, looking at her sympathetically, "baby I can't leave you."

"He's going to find you."

She was referring to her father. A look of terror had sprouted into her eyes and her lip began to quiver a little.

"Shhh," I comforted her, gently pulling forward into a hug. "Sweetie what happened? Richelle?"

I suddenly lost my breath when I looked down. Her pillow was covered in blood from where she was laying. I didn't know what to do. She wasn't physically okay. She was bleeding from the back of here head.

"Richelle," I soon said, not giving her a chance to reply and pulling her back so that we were making eye contact, "Richelle, baby, what happened to your head and your...back?"

My eyes followed a trail of blood from where her back was laying too. I quickly turned to look at the back of her. Sure enough, she was bleeding through her shirt. I didn't want to touch her incase I hurt her more, do I gently placed my hands back on her shoulders.