Forgotten Memories

Chapter 15: The Box

-Aria-

(24 hours before)

He's still sitting there. He stopped pounding on the door, thankfully.

I roll my eyes. "I can see your shadow under the door," I mutter, but he doesn't hear me.

I exhale exasperatedly and try to rip my pillow with my teeth dramatically. I'm just waiting for him to leave!

I'm about to throw my pillow at the door when I see him slip his phone under my door. What the-

Suddenly, I hear it. It's a song playing.

"'Cause it's you, who takes care of everyone else, you need to allow me to help, you are appreciated."

Tears form in my eyes. He did not just break me with a song, did he?! Ugh, damn it, Gonzalez. I'm so vulnerable with you.

I listen to the rest and sigh. I will never be able to leave with him doing this to me. I'm about to kick his phone back under the door when I pause. I don't want our goodbye to be like this. Quickly, I unlock his phone (his passcode was always my birthday), and open a new message: to me.

Thanks for everything.

I close the app and stop the music. His shadow moves and I sigh. "Goodbye, Luke," I whisper, and slide his phone back.

Defeated, he gets up and leaves silently.

I almost strays crying again, but I need to be strong, for myself.

For Luke.
Falling asleep right now seems good. . .

••••••••••

"Get up."

I open my eyes groggily. "Hm?"

"Get your lazy butt off the ground," a male voice whispers. He nudges my side and I groan, fully awake now. I look up and gasp. It's Alex, and he's pointing a gun at me.

He sighs. "Hey there."

••••••••••

"All I want you to do, is write a letter. You know how, right?" I nod.

He smiles, looking tired. "Good. You just have to make it seem as if you wanted to leave consensually. Got it?"

I nod shakily, and start writing.

Dear Luke,

By the time you read this, I will probably be miles away. . .

••••••••••

. . . Love, Aria.

"There. I'm done."

He looks up from his phone. "Oh, good. Okay, I'm gonna go check on the rest, make sure they're asleep. Don't try anything." I nod.

He leaves, and I release the breath I didn't even know I was holding. I grab another sheet and write my "will".

When I'm done, I flip the letter over, and start writing in invisible ink.

Luke,

I'm being held at gunpoint. I wrote this letter because I'm supposed to make it sound like I wanted to leave. I didn't. We're going to Mark's house, but I don't know which one. He has two apparently. Please help.

-Aria

I look around my room and see my blacklight. I stuff it in the Box under my bed and reach my seat before Alex comes back. Now, I just have to wish Luke finds it before I'm dead.