The connection

Chapter seventeen - Unknown danger

Alex

I was led on my bed staring up at my ceiling, wishing for it to somehow open up and swallow me when I was disturbed by a soft knocking on my door. It took all my energy to pull myself from my bed and walk to my bedroom door.

When I finally managed it, I was met by my mums concerned face. Great this was all I needed.

"Alex honey you have a visitor" she eyed me suspiciously as my gaze moved to the direction of the stairs. I mumbled thanks to my mum before trudging downstairs to see who it was, mentally preparing myself for it to be Chase or Natalie. I was surprised to see it was Mike standing there looking slightly awkward.

"Hey, err...I wondered if we could maybe go somewhere and talk?" His voice remained flat; shit he must have found out about Natalie. He looked like he was taking it pretty bad.

"Yeah of course, did you want to talk in my room?"

"Actually, did you fancy a drive, I've got my car with me. I guess I just maybe need to get out and clear my head"

"Of course, I'll just grab a jacket. Give me 2 minutes, I'll meet you at the car" I said offering him a weak smile. This wasn't easy on either of us.

We drove in silence for about ten minutes before I decided I couldn't stand the awkward tension any longer.

"So, uh where are we going?"

His eyes flicked to the sat nav on the dashboard. "My parents have a cabin out near Fraser creek. I like to go there sometimes to think, it's only another five to ten minutes. I thought it would be a good place to talk"

I gave him an understanding nod. "I guess you heard about Chase and Natalie" I half mumbled not really wanting to think about it. Part of me was hanging onto the fact that Chase might be telling the truth, what if Natalie had tricked him. I shook the thoughts from my head and turned to watch the trees go by as we drove closer to the forest. Mike seemed to understand my need for a distraction and turned up the radio slightly for the remainder of the journey.

About 10 minutes later we were pulling up at a small wooden cabin in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.

"I can't believe this place is only a twenty-minute drive away, I'm surprised you don't throw parties here" I exclaimed as we got out the car and headed for the door to the cabin.

"My mum would kill me if I trashed this place, they use it all the time to get away from it all. I've brought Natalie here a few times" he trailed off. I couldn't help but notice the hurt flash across his face when he mentioned her name.

"Mike Listen...about Natalie"

"It's okay Alex, I know it must be hard for you too" he shot me a sympathetic look. Deep down in my gut I couldn't help but feel like I wasn't seeing the whole picture. Chase would never hurt me like that, he loved me.

"Actually, I'm not so sure"

I watched as he furrowed his brow trying to understand what I meant. I answered before he even asked for an explanation

"Chase said Natalie had tricked him. Something about it all just seems off to me, I think I believe him. I think he really did think it was me in that supply cupboard" I looked at the floor unable to meet the judgement of his gaze.

"I didn't want to believe it either when Josh called me but when I confronted her the guilt was written all over her face. There was no denying it"

"Really, what did she say" I asked, not really wanting to torture myself with the details but desperate to know the truth.

"She said it had been going on for weeks, that they were in love"

Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I shook my head.

"No, that's impossible. She must be lying"

He looked at me with pity in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Alex, she seemed pretty convincing. She said something about him using you to make her jealous. Apparently, she felt guilty about cheating on me and tried to end things with him, which is when he started seeing you, to try and make her jealous"

This couldn't be true, I felt like someone had ripped my heart out and smashed it into a thousand pieces. The ache in my chest was unbearable. How could he do this to me, how could I have not known. Then it hit me.

Think Lex, you know me. You've seen inside my head, heard my thoughts. You know the truth baby. Believe in us Lex. Believe in me.

The welcome intrusion in my head snapped me out of my spiral of torment.

"She's lying. I don't know why Mike, but she lied to you. Chase loves me, he would never hurt me like that"

I rose from the sofa suddenly feeling the need to go and find Chase, I had to find him and beg for his forgiveness for my impulsive kiss with Josh. I had to make things right between us.

"Mike, I need to go, can you take me back home please" I scanned the room for my bag not seeing it on the counter where I'd left it. I was pulled out of my search by the sound of laughter.

"What's so funny?" I asked confused by mikes sudden outburst

"You Alex. You're what's funny. Running back to your man whore of a boyfriend with the illusion that he loves you. It's enough to make me what to puke" he spat out standing up from the sofa and heading towards me.

"Listen Mike I'm sorry about Natalie I really am but- "he cut me off before I could finish.

"I don't give a fuck about Natalie" he said pushing me up against the wall

"Mike what are you doing- "he grabbed my jaw before I could finish and slammed my head against the wall. Shooting pain went through my body as I instinctively raised a hand to my head before he gripped it in his and twisted it back down to my side. I let out a cry at the pain of the angle he held my arm.

"Your fucking man whore of a boyfriend ruined everything for me. He took the women I loved and fucked her like a piece of meat when she was supposed to be mine" he slammed my head into the wall again.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I tried to process what he was telling me. I had to get him to listen.

"He didn't sleep with Natalie" I choked out in between sobs begging him to believe me.

"I'm not talking about Natalie you stupid bitch, I'm talking about Lauren" he roared at me whilst pulling my arm so far behind my back I heard it pop. Excruciating pain filled my body. My vision was blurred as I struggled to keep myself upright.

"It was you.... the video the blackmail" I gasped struggling for breath as the realisation was finally hitting me.

"He took her from me and now I'm going to take his precious sweet and innocent Alex from him. When I'm finished with you, he won't even be able to look you in the eye again without thinking of me fucking you.

I felt bile rise to my mouth as I tried to struggle free from his grasp. I needed to get out of here. I needed help. I willed myself to reach out to Chase, images of the cabin and Mike flashing across my memories. I couldn't concentrate, I was so scared and the pain from my head and my arm was becoming unbearable. I felt his hand move to my dress hiking it up in one quick motion.

"Noooo get off me" I screamed but he was too strong. He pulled my arms above my head holding them in place with one hand. Bolts of pain shot through my body as my injured arm let out another pop. I was fairly sure I had dislocated it. I tried to kick out my legs to fight him off, but it was no use. I felt his hand trailing up my thigh getting closer and closer to the edge of my panties. I could not control the tears as sobs fell from my mouth as I felt his fingers edge there way to the lace of my panties and then it all went black.