A Stranger In My Home

Chapter 18

Author's Note: Music suggested to me by @blondgrl and definitely worth a listen - lyrics fit really well with this chapter. Picture on the side is Derek as his most psychotic self... Thank you all for reading, voting and commenting. It warms my heart. I feel very strongly about this subject matter, and I hope I've treated it respectfully. I aim for stories with a word count of about 50,000 words, and this chapter brings that number up to 40,000, meaning we have a little way to go before it's time to wrap up. Hope you'll enjoy the rest of my little story :)

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 “I need your help.” It was the first thing out of Jason’s mouth when Jim came to the door.

“Jase?” Jim rubbed his eyes, which were bloodshot. “Baby’s been up all night with a cold, we just got her to settle down,” he complained.

“Sorry, Jim, but Julie’s missing.”

“Missing?” Jim blinked. “As in…?”

“As in Derek took her,” Jason said. “I need to find him. He would have to have taken her somewhere. The Sheriff’s Department might get someone to check on their old house or his car, but I want to cover all my bases. I need you to work some magic for me, can you do that?”

 “Sure, what do you need?”

“The name of the girlfriend that provided his alibi, for starters. Any record of him renting a car, checking into a motel, renting a house, you name it.”

“And what are you going to do?”

“Right now I’m heading over to their old house. Call me when you find anything.”

“Okay. Be careful, Jase. I don’t wanna be standing up with you in court again.”

“As long as Julie’s safe, I don’t really care what happens to me,” Jason said and turned to leave.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Jim said but Jason ignored him and ran for his car.

The adrenaline was pumping through Jason’s blood as he drove off. After Logan had offered his assistance, Jason had realized he could use the help. He just wasn’t about to trust a guy he just met. Jim was the one who was going to help him get Julie home safe. He’d left Logan in charge of keeping an eye out for Julie, should she return to the school for some reason.  It gave the professor a sense of purpose while keeping him out of the way.

What he said to Jim was true – as long as Julie got back safe, he’d be happy to go to jail for it. The temper he’d kept in check for all these years was about to be unleashed on Derek, and Jason didn’t know what would happen. All he knew was that Julie deserved a shot at a normal life.

-

“You’re not dressed,” Derek noted when he returned and Julie tensed.

“No. I’m not wearing that,” she said, raising her chin. This was it, she was taking a stand. If she gave in and put on the outfit, he would win. She was done being the loser.

“Filthy whore,” he snarled and slapped her across the face.

Julie’s head snapped to the side and her hand went to her cheek, but she forced back the tears and turned to face him again.

“I’m not your property,” she said defiantly and had the brief satisfaction of seeing him surprised. That is, until his anger returned at full force and she was struck down, falling to her knees.

“Put on the dress or you’ll be sorry,” his voice boomed ominously. Julie felt her lip quiver, but she bit down on it. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t break. She wouldn’t… Julie was vaguely aware when Derek’s knee jerked up towards her chin, but after that everything went black.