Vapor

Chapter Sixteen

Another short update before bed! I had to get it out there because I've been dying to get to this point of Vapor. PLEASE let me know what you think!

Work count: 1.5K

Warnings: Language, mentions of kidnapping and violence.

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We drove back to the chateau in silence. None of us wanted to address what had happened. None of us wanted to talk about how we failed JJ. I let out a sigh as I got out of the van. I walked quickly into the guest bedroom and grabbed my stuff. I felt Kiara walk in after me and grab my wrist. She knew I was bailing. She knew I was looking for a way out of all of this.

"A, what are you planning?" she asked. She looked at me with concern. She knew my head wasn't in a good place right now. I knew she was just worried for me, especially after the traumatic situation this afternoon.

"I just need a few days off," I muttered. "I'll come back this time, I just feel like JJ won't want to see me for a while."

"Adelaide," she said firmly.

"I just can't be here right now!" I yelled. My breathing felt heavier as I turned to look at her, tears in my eyes. I knew that I was spewing bullshit, but how could I face JJ right now. How could I look him in the eyes knowing that I hurt him, that I failed him. I grabbed my bag and brushed past her. I walked out to my car and got in. I threw my stuff in the backseat and drove away. After everything that happen today, my anxiety was at a whole new level. I pulled into the beach parking lot and got out. If I went home like this my parents would just worry.

I got out of my car and sat in the sand, pulling out my vape in order to chill out for a while. The feeling of nicotine running through my veins was almost enough to distract me from today's events. The dependency I had on my highs were almost an issue at this point. Any chance I got, I was using them to ease the anxiety I felt. I was definitely self medicating. I laid back, trying to block the sun with my arms. I squeezed my eyes closed and replayed JJ's words in my head. I'm not the kind of person who lets their friends get hurt for them! He was right. JJ was loyal and caring. He wanted to protect those close to him. I was the opposite. I hurt everyone I get close to. I let others fight my battles and watch as they suffer because of me. I hated who I was.

The hours passed quickly while I laid in the sand. I didn't even notice the sun had gone down by the time I sat up. The moon was glowing a bit and I bet my parents were winding down and going to bed. The likelihood of running into them were fairly slim now. I walked back to my car, when I felt as if someone was watching me. I heard a family voice from behind me.

"Where are your fellow thieves?" Barry. I turned to see his face. He looked at me with a smirk as if he knew something I didn't. It looked almost like he was conspiring a plan inside of his head. "Cat's got your tongue, princess? I asked you a question. Where are your friends?"

"Not here," I said. Now was the time to be brave. Now was the time to protect them. I couldn't fail them anymore than I already had.

"Good," Rafe's voice said from behind me. Before I could even turn around, I felt something crash against the back of my head. I fell to the ground and felt someone kick my side, knocking me onto my back. My vision was blurring and as my eyes fluttered closed, I looked up and saw their evil faces staring down at me.

JJ's POV

I rushed over to Addie's house and set the telescope down in the grass. I tried to throw rocks at her window in order to get her attention. The light was off though and no one came forth. Was she ignoring me? Or was she not home at all? I continued to throw them, hoping my persistence was enough to make her give in and talk to me.

"Dude, stop. She's not here," I heard a voice saw from the window over. I knew that was Sydney's room, but I didn't think she would be able to notice the small pebbles. I asked her where Addie was. I felt a bad feeling well up in the pit of my stomach. If something happened to her, it was my fault. I shouldn't have left her alone just because I was upset. I promised her that I would protect her no matter what. "She hasn't been home for a while. We thought she was with you."

I sighed and asked if she could bring the telescope inside. I needed to find her. I walked around the entire town, looking for her. I checked all of her favorite spots, except the beach. When I finally made it there, I spotted her car. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I ran over to it. There was no one inside, but that meant she couldn't be too far. I jogged down to the ocean and walked up and down, looking for any sign of her, but there was nothing. I called out her name frantically as I searched near the water. She wouldn't have... I glanced out over the huge ocean as horrible thoughts raced through my head. I splashed through the water, searching for her. What if she went out there and just decided she's had enough... What if she was dead? What if this was all my fault? I pulled myself out of the water and collapsed to my knees, thinking the worst possible thoughts.

"Hey Maybank," a sinister voice rang out. I looked up to see Rafe standing not too far from me. "What's the matter? Looking for someone?"

My blood ran cold as he smirked at me. I ran forward and grabbed his polo shirt. I shook him and demanded him to tell me where she was. All he did was laugh though. I felt my fist collide with his face and let him drop to the ground.

"Careful JJ. Just remember anything you do to me, I can do worse to Adelaide," he tossed me his cell phone. There on the screen was pictures of Addie tied to a chair. Her head was hanging as if she was unconscious. I kicked him hard and threw his phone into the sand. I demanded him to tell me where she was. I demanded to know why he had taken her. I was losing my fucking mind. "Can't tell you that, but I'll be sure to tell her that you said hi. Hopefully she won't be too drugged out and can actually process it. Maybe you can answer something for me though. Whose bright idea was it to steal from a drug dealer? I think I already know the answer though. Let's just hope that that doesn't cost Adelaide her life."

It took all my restraint to not beat him to a pulp. Instead I just sank to my knees and slammed my fists into the sand. For the second time, Addie was taken because I failed to keep an eye on her. If I hadn't let my anger get in the way, she would be here in my arms right now. This was all because I had to let my emotions get to me...

Adelaide's POV

I woke up with a splitting headache. I tried to reach up, but my arms were bound to the chair. Everything seemed all too familiar. I was bound the exact same way as I had been years ago. The scenery was different though. Instead of the neatly decorated house, I was in some sort of storage container. The walls were metal and there were no windows. The room was dark, yet I could still see somehow. My vision was still blurry from the impact of whatever the object was and my head colliding.

"Where am I?" I called out. It echoed back at me. "JJ!"

"He's not coming sweetheart," Barry's voice rang out. It echoed like a ghost against the metal walls. He walked circles around the chair I was in. He stared at me before yelling. He asked me where his money was and I told him I didn't know. I told him that I didn't have it and he told me he already knew that. He flicked my arm a little bit and it took me a second to process what was going on. He then flicked a needle and looked at me. "Sorry sweetheart, if you aren't going to be any help to me, we at least need to keep ya quiet."

I felt the needle pierce my skin. I tried to squirm as he injected me with some substance. He told me to stop moving so much and held my arm tightly. I cried for him to stop, but it was too late. The room around me spun and my head fell backwards as visions of my past began to dance around my mind. Whatever drug he had given me, was certainly doing exactly what he wanted it to do.