The Other Side Of Fear[1]

Chapter 43

So, it may not seem like it right now, but we are actually very close to the end of this book ☹️ I'll be updating faster than usual as the final chapters are all completed now and I'm eager to get them out😘

I spent the rest of the day stuck at home, biting my nails and trying not to overthink until the day was over and I lay awake in bed most of the night. I felt sick that Cal was stuck in that cell on some shitty hard bed and had to keep calming myself down with positive thoughts.

On Sunday, my phone never left my side incase he called me, hopefully saying he was out. I knew he wasn't stupid enough to risk staying in there if he thought they had enough on him and I calmed myself down enough to manage to complete the rest of my English essay. It was a bad idea to do it whilst dealing with so much on my mind but I needed a distraction and my anger, anxiety and worry actually motivated me enough to enhance what I was originally planning to write.

Late afternoon came around and with no phone call from Cal, I was as panicked as ever and snuck downstairs to steal a couple of my Dad's cigarettes from the kitchen counter. I sat at my bedroom window and puffed away as I tried to think of what I was going to do if Cal was going to be sent down for this. My only option felt like giving in the footage but that would still put Cal in prison and maybe me too.

As the darkness came in, I climbed into bed, wiping away a few tears that escaped as I realised they were going to take the full 72 hours they could hold him and put everything into making sure they kept him there. That would mean finding evidence wherever they could to keep him in their custody. That would mean getting a warrant for the cabin and raiding through all of his property until they found something to use. A thought struck me suddenly: it would also mean finding the laptop and the footage that was on it.

I felt the rise of panic inside me again and it was worse that there was nothing I could do right now. It was pitch black outside and my parents would never let me leave. I stayed awake all night, pacing my room, smoking cigarette after cigarette as my stress levels grew and eventually, the sun began to make its appearance. I ran around my room, throwing on any old thing that I could find, putting my fingers through my tights in the process and ripping a huge hole. I barely even paid attention to it, not caring about how I looked as I threw on my jacket and shoes, grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

It was still very dull out but the street was quiet and the neighbours were all still sleeping. I moved quickly through the streets and into the woods, making my way along the stream carefully due to the lack of light.

Once I arrived, I ran to the door and pulled at the handle, cursing to myself when it didn't open. I sprinted down the steps and ran around the cabin to the back where I headed for the door and yanked at it aggressively, kicking it when it too didn't open. I tried to catch my breath as I glanced around and spotted the window of Cal's room cracked open. My bag dropped to the deck and I bolted to the window, gripping the frame and prying it open with all my strength until the gap was enough for me to squeeze through.

I climbed through the gap, pushing my body right inside until my hands reached the floor and I brought my legs in through the window. Jumping to my feet, I glanced around the dark room where Cal and I had only just been together two days ago and I wondered if we'd ever be back here again or if I'd only ever see him in prison for the rest of his life.

Cursing at myself for thinking negatively, I ran to the lounge where I dropped to my knees by the armchair, pulling the laptop out from underneath and jumping back to my feet, heading for the bedroom again. I leaned out the window and carefully dropped the laptop to the deck before squeezing my body back out and pushing the window shut. Glancing around as I moved, all I could see was darkness but in the distance I could make out the yellow tape spread across the trees. I resisted temptation to walk over there for a look and I quickly pushed the laptop into my bag and tore my eyes away from the place Jared Lane had been buried this whole time.