ruby || j.d

-- Chapter 18 -- Movie Night

3rd Person POV

The dusty blush and rosy were fading from the horizon, being tugged away as the navy star studded cloak was pulled over the sky in its place. The crickets were making the steady whir that Xena associated with the night-time. Xena happily skipped down the path, about to turn onto the street. She gleefully walked at a steady pace, kicking small rocks as she strolled toward Josh's house.

As she paced the path, unexpectedly from behind her, an arm snaked across her chest. Taken aback, she attempted to turn her head but the grip was too strong. For a fleeting moment she thought it was Josh, but she was supposed to go to his mom's house to pick him up, so it would be odd for him to be here. As the seconds passed in slow motion, the world spinning, a cloth came across Xena's mouth. Her muffled screams grew weaker as she clawed at the arm that clung to her torso forcefully. And just like that, Xena Parker fell limp in James Mitchell's arms, dragged into his car and carelessly thrown into the trunk, arms bound.

-----------

Xena clutched at her bloody knuckles, mud and dried tears splattered on her cheeks. Her body was racked with exhaustion, her slight frame shaking violently. The torch was running out of battery slowly, the light growing dimmer each time she used it. Gently, she began humming to herself, voice hoarse and crackly, but still a soothingly smooth pitch.

"Ruby I hope I see you," She choked slightly "I've waited all this week, for you to walk my way, your soul has captured me." She trailed off, too weak to continue. "I can't believe this."

-----------

Josh waited on the sofa, tapping his foot impatiently. He was fed up, waiting wasn't his forte, especially when it was day stacked on day, and about his fiancé.

His face was contorted in a frustrated scowl, yet his eyes were worried and darting hastily like cars racing down a highway.

Startling him out of his thoughts, Jenna's phone began to ring. He immediately jumped up, sprinting into the kitchen like the road runner. Jenna was already deep in conversation.

"What is it?" Josh whined as Tyler held him back with his arm.

"Just wait a minute," Tyler sighed, retracting his hand.

"But we've waited almost a week. This is stupid,"

"Josh," Tyler placed both of his hands on his shoulders "This is hard for all of us. We're all trying really hard, I promise, but you have to wait. I know you don't want to, but we have no choice."

Josh's mocha eyes blinked a few times, a tear rolling down his cheek "I blame myself." He mumbled, sitting in a chair, slumping his shoulders in defeat.

"Josh?" Tyler whispered to him, eyes sadly drooping.

"Yeah?" He quivered.

"Don't start with this. It's not you talking. Please," Tyler squeezed him for a few seconds, before Jenna exhaled and faced them.

"Good and not so good news," She looked at Josh, her eye bags swallowing up her once lively ocean eyes "They tracked her phone successfully but the not so good news is they don't know if it's a legitimate lead or not. They think it's odd that the GPS location would be left on so it was easily found if she was taken." She rubbed her temples for a minute, turning towards the kitchen.

"So what, they call you with false hope?" Josh angrily stood up "I can't believe this,"

"Josh," Tyler placed a hand on his shoulder "You need to step into their shoes, they're doing all they can. Take a breath in for me,"
"No, Tyler. I can't do this anymore. Things go well for me for a short time and then it falls to shit. I can't fucking do this," He stomped away in a fit of tears, Jordan earning a shove on the way past him on the stairwell.

"He never swears; he has a short temper. He's really getting upset, this is getting bad, Ty." Jenna sadly admitted, turning toward Tyler.

"I know." Tyler shut his eyes momentarily, exhaling in loss "What can we do?"

"Not much,"

"He has to know this is so hard on you. So hard."

"I know but we have a different connection." She took Josh's place on the couch as Jordan approached them despondently.

"I hate seeing him like this," Jordan climbed onto the opposite sofa to Jenna.

"We all do," Tyler shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I hate seeing you like this Jen," He looked to her features, engulfed by grief.

She shrugged, squeezing her phone "What can I do?" She shook her head.

Tyler crawled next to Jenna, delicately cradling her to the side of his body, as they both despondently stared at the wall.