Stockholm Syndrome *One Direction Fanfic*

Chapter 3

Gone.

Just like that. I kept telling myself "She's not dead, just gone." But as the days passed, hope faded. Autumn turned to winter. Snow began to fall again and the temperature dropped into the teens. I sat upstairs in my bedroom staring blankly out my window. I half expected Abigail to come bursting through my door at any second, blabbering on about the new shoes she bought or the hair cut she wanted to get or what celebrity she thought would be on "Dancing with the Stars" tonight. She never did.

Luke came by every now and then just to be with my family. The news about Abigail hit him pretty hard and he hasn't smiled since October. My parents have been spending more time with me and always try to make me laugh, but I know they are just pretending to be strong for my benefit. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I will hear my dad throw something or my mom crying softly into her pillow. Maybe it's me who has to be strong for them. . .

Christmas was just around the corner and it seemed that everybody's spirits rose, except mine. My parents started to except what happened and to just appreciate what they have now and be grateful. But something gnawed at me. I had to find out what happens to my sister. The police never found her body just her blood. Maybe she's still alive. Maybe. . .

I ran downstairs and dressed for the weather. I told my parents I would be back in a couple of hours and headed out the door. I walked down to the end of my road before realizing I didn't know where I was going, where I would start. Then a thought hit me. I began running, not even sure of what I would find or if I would find anything at all.

I skidded to a stop and found myself in the public square. This was where the police found traces of Abigail's blood. I looked around the square. No one was here and everything was silent. But something didn't sit right. I didn't feel alone even though that's how things appeared. I felt as if I were being watched. I shook the feeling away and began searching around for clues. Snow began to fall and the wind picked up. Soon it was completely dark aside from the streetlights.

I sat down on a park bench and put my head in my hands. Something wasn't right, something just didn't add up. I've been here for hours and didn't find anything. I started thinking about all the possible connections to my sisters disappearance. Suddenly, that feeling like I wasn't alone hit me. I looked up. Nothing. I sighed and looked down at my hands. Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw something that wasn't there before. A shadow, a human silhouette.

I kept my eyes low and began breathing harder. For whatever reason Grace Collins popped into my head. I saw her lifeless body sprawled out in the alley and began replaying that night in my mind. I shook my head. Get a grip, I told myself.

I stood up and began walking towards the park and away from that strange shadow. The wind blew harder and the trees whipped around violently. Snow blew around on the sidewalk making little funnels. I never turned around to see if someone was following me or to find out who belonged to that shadow. Soon I found myself in front of my house, and I felt a rush of relief. I walked through the front door and took off my shoes.

Something felt strange. I looked up and realized the whole house was dark. I shrugged it off. Maybe my parents went to bed early. I looked at the clock. 7:07 p.m.

Maybe they left. I walked into the kitchen and turned on a light. I picked up a piece of paper from the table.

                                       "Went out to eat, be back late."

I sighed and threw myself onto the couch and turned on a light. I grabbed a soda from the fridge and a book from the bookshelf next to the couch. To Kill A Mockingbird. Hmm, good choice. My eyelids grew heavy and before I knew it I was asleep.

In my dream I was running down a country road. It was dark and cold and my legs felt heavy. I felt like the road went on forever and I grew weary. The tempeture was dropping by the second and I felt like I would would freeze to death if I didn't keep running. Suddenly, a cold laugh filled the air around me.

"What's the matter love? Are you afraid?" A husky voice seemed to speak in my mind.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to get away from that voice but I couldn't. It was like it was only in my mind. Then I could see something in the road ahead of me. After a lot of squinting and determination, I realized what it was. It was a person. And my next immediate thought was to get to that person. I don't know why but I felt like I had to get to it. Then the ground below me opened up and darkness swallowed me.

I woke up gasping for air. I sat up and wrapped my arms around me. I noticed my skin was ice cold but I was drenched in sweat as if I really had been running. When I finally calmed down I started to notice my surroundings. The lights were off again and I felt a constant stream of cold air on my side. Looking over I realized the window next to the television was shimmied open. I tried to stem the sudden wave of fear that came over me as I walked over to close the window.

"Does the cold bother you, love?"

I froze in my tracks. That voice. . .

"You look terrible, are you sick? How about you take a seat."

I turned around and peered into the dark kitchen. A man sat at the counter. As my eyes adjusted I saw he held something in his hand. My breath caught in my throat as I assumed the worse. The man stood up and I closed my eyes hoping I was still dreaming. When I opened then again he was right in front of me. How did he get there so fast?

He laid a hand on my forehead and I flinched. "Not a fever, but my, you've looked like you've seen a ghost."

"Who are you and why are you here?" I tried to sound brave but my voice squeaked.

He laughed. "Like you've never seen me? Why I just saw you a couple hours ago. And what a fond meeting that was?"

The image of the shadow in the park flooded my mind and I gasped but quickly disguised it as a sneeze.

"I'm sorry, you've been mistaken. I've never seen you in my life."

His green eyes twinkled. "I'm afraid Im not. You see, you have been quite a problem for us for a while now." He made a motion with his hand. Someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth. My eyes widened and I tried to wiggle free. I felt the person behind me laugh as he gripped me tighter. I winced.

The man in front of me smirked. "I wouldn't do that. You don't want to get hurt."

I felt myself getting weaker and black splotches danced across my vision.

"Please. . ." I croaked. Then my legs gave way and darkness engulfed me.