Playing House - Spencer Reid

Chapter One

Chapter One

Ashlyn

"Hey! Where are you? You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago!" Ashlyn, Ash, Manson snapped into her phone. She had so graciously agreed to drive her fifteen year old brother to soccer practice before her play rehearsal.

"Calm down! My alarm didn't go off!" Mathew protested over the phone.

"Matthew. It's four o'clock in the afternoon."

"It's called a siesta, dear sister." He responded with a laugh. "In exploring other cultures!"

"You take French, you idiot." Ash exclaimed. The front door slammed and not a moment later Mathew was pulling open the car door and plopping into his seat.

"You're ridiculous, you know that right?" She asked, disconnecting the call.

Mathew shrugged before flipping the stations on the radio. "I had to get it from someone!"

He settled on one of the electric dance music stations that he knew she hated so much.

"This is awful." She complained, itching to change the station.

"This is my favorite song!" He re enforced this by banging his head to the obnoxious bass. "Loosen up, Ash! Live a little! Isn't that what being a senior is all about?"

"No. Being a senior means preparing for college. Making sure you get your life off to the right start."

Matt made a face. "You are no fun."

Ash pulled into a gas station and put the car in park. Leaving her brother to his annoying music, she retrieved the nozzle from its dock and placed it I to her car. Ash tapped her foot as she waited, humming the chorus of one of her brothers songs. The nozzle gave a 'click' and she placed it back into the dock.

"I'm gonna go pay, do you want anything?"

"Gatoraid and chips please?"

Ash have a nod and shut the car door. The door to the gas station jingled as she pushed it open. She grabbed a blue Gatoraid, a bottle of water, a bag of Lays Wavy Chips and placed them on the counter along with her gas receipt. The man behind the counter rang her up at an agonizingly slow pace. She was already late for rehearsal and opening night was next week. Ash bounced impatiently on her toes as he swiped her credit card.

"Have a nice day." The man said unenthusiastically. She mumbled a "You too" and made her way back to the car.

Ash had watched enough crime shows to know that something was wrong once she saw the open passenger side door.

"Matt?" Her chest clenched in worry.

Ash jogged to the side if the building and looked around the corner. No Matt.

"Matt?" She called again. This time more frantic.

"Ma- " Ash's worried call were muffled by a cloth being shoved over her mouth and nose. An arm wrapped around her neck to restrain her as she struggled. Her arms and legs began to feel more and more like weights. Darkness began seeping into her vision and her chest was burning in fear.

As the darkness consumed her, Ash new what it felt like.

It felt like drowning.

Thank you so much for reading!

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Hannah