Forest *Complete* ✅

Chapter 1

Blake POV

"How can he be gone?" I roar.

"There's a vehicle missing from the garage and we assume it's his," Joseph explains.

"Take the cars and search in every direction for him. He couldn't have gone too far yet."

He nods and starts rushing around, demanding everyone to get a move on. No one dares argue with him. Some go back inside to double-check in case he hid somewhere, I highly doubt that though. Others take a car each and go in different directions

I don't join their search, a bit more worried about getting Zo somewhere safe. I search around in the trunk for something to make a makeshift bed for her. I find a pillow and soft blanket from a date we had a little while ago. get Zoey settled in the backseat with a pillow and blanket. 

"Please stay with me, I just got you back," She begs.

"I'm not leaving, I'll be right up front driving," I tell her with a kiss.

I get in, start the car, and we start driving. I put my hand behind me so she can hold it until she falls asleep, which happens within minutes of the drive home. It's a good two hours or so away from home, so I think about everything that's going to happen in the future. If we can't find him tonight, then he can easily come back and try to ruin our lives again.

I can't let that happen. For the next few months, if that happens, Zoey is going to be under protection at all times and with someone that I trust or me all the time. She was going to be anyways, but if Dareen isn't found, there'll be extra protection put on her. I can't lose her, not now, not ever.

I'll protect her, even if it kills me.

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We get home around 3 in the morning and there's still no sign of Darren. Everyone is on their way back now, but I've got some of them working already to secure our houses as well as the high school most of our friends go to and the middle school Hannah goes to. I also get some surveillance on the daycare Ruby's son goes to.

Ruby's family is in the least amount of danger, but I can't take any chances. I pick Star up and carry her upstairs. I tuck her in, kiss her goodnight, and go to leave.

"Stay with me please," Zoey says as I reach the door.

I turn back around and climb into bed beside her. She moves closer to me and I wrap my arms around her small, thin figure. Since her imprisonment, she's gotten thinner and I can feel every bone. I hate it so much, but I have her back and that's amazing. We fall asleep a little while later, both exhausted from today's events.

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I understand that this was a bit short for a first chapter, but bare with me for now.