It Took The Death of Hope

Chapter 6 - Up & At Them.

A Few Days Later;

Sid Wilson...

Today they were planning on getting Ashlee out of bed. Corey told me what had happened the night that she had gotten back from theatre. Hearing him tell it - it was clear that he got a scare. I can't say that I would have reacted any different.

Fucking Cole. I want to wring his fucking neck. Why the fuck haven't the police found him yet? Where is that slimy little bastard hiding?

I had swung by the house that he shared with Ash last night, but the place looked deserted. I tried to get in, but the police had tape up warning not to enter. The tape hadn't been broken so maybe he wasn't there. But where the fuck else could he be? I planned on staking out his folk's house tonight, it wouldn't be the first time that a parent stood by their kid, blindly refusing to see that said kid is as guilty as fucking sin.

I am not telling Corey, or any of the others because they will only try to talk me out of it. I just can't sit back and do nothing. I wanted justice for Ash. Corey had been right about one thing - she deserved peace of mind. If Cole was in jail, then maybe she would find at least a little bit of peace.

Walking onto the floor where Ash was, I plastered a smile on my face as I made my way to her room. Corey was in the middle of pulling his wet hair from his face - he had been more insistent about staying with Ash after her panic attack. My friend was a good friend, there was nothing that he wouldn't do for the people he cared for and that was never more evident than the way he had been with Ashlee. My eyes turned to her tiny frame, lying in the bed, her head resting on Mr. Moonboot as slept kept her safe.

"Hey man," Corey greeted me.

"Morning, how was her night?"

"Not too bad, she had a bit of a melt down around midnight but..."

"Meltdown? What happened?"

"She is just frustrated at not being able to remember," he explained.

A huge part of me hates that he is the one that is here for her. I would give everything to be the one who helps her through all of this, but the honest truth is - I am terrified. Terrified of saying the wrong thing. Terrified of not knowing how to comfort her. Terrified of being unable to talk her down. The girl was so important that I didn't want to be the one who caused her more pain, or trouble. No, it was better that Corey be the one who does this, he was far better at it than me.

"It will come though right?" I asked.

"I think so, but she may have to accept the fact that she may never know what really happened...especially if they never find that limp-dick!"

"I went by their house last night..." I don't know why I admitted that, I certainly hadn't planned to.

"What?"

"I drove by...just to...I don't even know but it's clear he hasn't been there..."

"Sid, we have to leave this to the police..."

"I know Core," I sighed, there is no way I can tell him my plan for tonight.

"How do you know he hasn't been there?"

"The police have that place locked up tight, there was no disturbance in the tape..."

My gut is screaming that his mother and father are hiding him but how can I tell him that? He will only warn me against getting involved and that isn't something that I want to hear right now. I can't hear it because if I do, it might just put me off doing what needs to be done. I don't want to be deterred.