Chapter Three-Hundred-Thirty-Five
“Maybe you’ll learn to obey me from now on, eh Ash? It’s too bad you had to watch your boyfriend die all because you had to be stupid” Sean taunted from the front seat as Ashley lay on the back seat curled up in a ball, tear stained cheeks, face pale and trembling. He might as well kill her now for all she cares, he basically just tore her heart out and ripped it to shreds. God what have I done she thought miserably to herself and another tear slipped from her eyes. My whole world came to a complete stop in front of my eyes. Was it not bad enough that mom and dad had to die? Oh Kota, Sarah, and Bella…I’m so sorry…
“What are we supposed to do now? We can’t get into Florida,” Trevor wanted to know.
“I say we take her to the middle of nowhere and kill her there and leave her,” Max informed as he was now in a very bad mood. Having to deal with Ashley’s screaming and crying for the past thirty minutes gave him a headache. He was relieved when she had finally stopped and became dead silent.
“We could go to the airport and fly the three hours to home” Sean replied, ignoring Max as if he hadn’t spoken.
“No they probably have our face everywhere by now, they won’t let us on an airplane.”
“We could hitch a ride on a train…” Max spoke up again as they were nearing the train station. Trevor and Sean were silent for a couple of moments.
“That’s actually the smartest thing you’ve said this whole trip Max,” Sean informed.
“Sean…how in the world are we gonna get on a train?”
“Easy. The way runaways do it. We’ll sneak on.”
“Works for me, I just want to get back to the warehouse,” Trevor insisted while parking the car on the side of the road. They all got out, Sean taking Ashley this time as he was enjoying his cruel torment. This is better then raping her and beating her that’s for sure. He could rape her anytime but ripping out her heart seems to have a much deeper effect on her. He dragged her a long by the arm as they made their way to the train that was headed for Florida and she allowed him to looking like nothing more then a zombie. She doesn’t care what they do to her anymore. They could do whatever they wanted. What was the point of living when there is no Nick?
~*~*~*~*~
“Sean was last seen at the gas station just ten minutes away from the border to Florida,” AJ informed everybody as he walked into Nick’s hospital room. They’re all sitting in there visiting him. They had told him what happened to Ashley, he broke down, they held him as he cried for over an hour, and when he was calm enough and was sure he would be okay they let the kids in. Dakota and Sarah curled up with him and looked like they would put up a fight the very second anyone tried to take them from him.
“How do you know that?” Brian questioned curiously.
“Detective Stabler called me and told me. They were blocking the border when suddenly they got a call about a car being blown up at the gas station. There are tons of witnesses that said they saw someone dragging Ashley into a car kicking and screaming. She didn’t seem to want them to blow the car up for some reason” AJ explained, showing no emotion at all. He’d spent the whole night crying and no longer can. His eyes are all red to prove that he was though.
“Why would he blow a car up in the first place? What was the purpose in that?” Nick asked confused.
“We aren’t sure but Detective Stabler has a theory,” AJ answered.
“Which would be what?”
“He has Ashley believing that he has you and is going to kill you the second she disobeys,” AJ explained. “He thinks that when he saw they were blocking the border, Sean guessed she tipped the guy at the gas station off…so he blew the car up to punish her. He thinks that Sean made her believe you were in the trunk.”
“Oh my god…” Nick whispered, suddenly wanting to cry, his heart breaking at the thought of Ashley’s heart breaking over ‘losing’ him. “She must be falling apart at the seams…by now…so much for her being strong, he pretty much destroyed that.”
“Well, the good news is, Detective Stabler isn’t too far from his trail” Kevin reassured.
“No he’s not” AJ confirmed. “He also told me that he found the car they stole sitting a few ways from a train station. They think he might have hopped a train in order to get into Florida.”
“I want out of this hospital,” Nick informed, feeling frustrated and powerless. “This is a waste of time. I want to go check every warehouse in Florida for her.”
“Detective Stabler is doing it buddy, we need you to stay put for another day” Brian replied while gently squeezing Nick’s shoulder.
“I’m fine. The concussion is gone. I just want to go save my baby now! She’s been tortured enough.”
“Just let Detective Stabler handle it.”
“No offence to Detective Stabler, but she needs me” Nick insisted stubbornly.
“She also needs you healthy and okay,” Kevin informed. “You need to stay here an extra day to make sure you are fine. For her sake. You can’t take care of her until you’ve taken care of yourself.”
“I’m fine!” Nick informed, his voice rising slightly. “I feel fine! I just want out of here!”
“I’m sorry Nicky but that’s not under our control.” Nick closed his eyes as tears threatened to fill them at the word Nicky.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“I always call you that…” AJ replied.
“And so does Ashley,” Nick whispered. Everybody went quiet not knowing what to say. Nick hugged Dakota and Sarah closer to him and he leaned forward and kissed the top of their heads. He sat there thinking quietly for a few moments, and then reached over and hit the button he was told to hit if he wanted or needed anything. He certainly does need something. He needs out.
“Hold on Kota and Sarah…I’m gonna get myself out of here and then I’m gonna go look for your mommy” he promised them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Later on that evening, when Sean, Trevor, and Max had finally made it to Florida they were almost run down by Detective Stabler and team. Luckily though, they spotted them just on time and managed to run off the other way. They played hide n seek with them around the trains for a little bit and when it was safe to, made a mad dash for the woods. They ran all the way to the warehouse (which was only fifteen minutes from the train station) with Ashley hanging over Sean’s shoulder the whole time. When they arrived at the station, Max sat on the couch wanting nothing more then to lounge and relax, not caring in the least bit what they did to Ashley at the moment. Sean carried her on downstairs, eager to start torturing and Trevor followed simply because he wanted to, feeling so much better now that they were in their hiding place. When they got downstairs, Sean carried Ashley over his shoulder as he walked through the under ground tunnels quietly with the comfort of Trevor at his heals.
“What do you say we attach her to the torture machine and see what we can do about dinner, huh?” Trevor asked hopefully as he slid his hand into Sean’s.
“I want to have a little fun with her first. I’ve waited all this time, you can’t deny me of it.”
“Okay but after that we get dinner okay?”
“Kay,” Sean agreed and Trevor squeezed his hand gently. They walked for ten minutes through the tunnels until suddenly they reached the lake. Sean carried Ashley across the bridge to the other side where the torture machine is. He set Ashley down and stripped her completely of her clothes before pressing her back against the wooden board. He placed her hands in the cuffs, then her feet and he securely fastened them. Ashley rested the back of her head against the board not being phased a single bit as she still hasn’t gotten through the trauma of losing Nick. Losing him makes her feel like she has nothing left to live for. He is her entire world. There’s a feeling in the back of her heart that is telling her she needs to fight to survive for their children because they’re going to need her but she just can’t summon up that strength no matter how hard she tries. Nick is her strength. He taught her how to live and love again after losing so much. He gave her that confidence to be strong by believing in her and loving her. But now in her heart and mind it’s been taken away from her. The last bit of happiness that she swore to herself Sean wasn’t going to take away. How dare he take Nick away from her? Wasn’t her parent’s enough? She let a tear slip from her eye and slide down her face as Sean lifted her up into the air placing her above the water and she braced herself for the torture that she’s already been through once before – in both reality and her nightmares. She closed her eyes and held her breath as she felt herself being lowered again but into the water, not the safety of the ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“He finally got a hold of Ashley, Quentin.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m positive. I watched him take her to the Warehouse myself.”
“Excellent,” Quentin replied feeling very pleased to hear this news.
“So what’s the plan?”
“We take her tomorrow afternoon.”
“Why then Quentin? Why not now?”
“Because the timing has to be perfect Cameron, that’s why. We have to know that he is thoroughly distracted in his own plans.”
“How are we going to do it?”
“I need to think about it over night. Let me be I will have something by morning” Quentin ordered and his lackey and messenger left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile in New York when Nick had summoned for help to come to his hospital room his doctor showed up and he spent all afternoon arguing with him on whether or not he is okay and if he should get to leave or not. Finally the doctor agreed to run some tests and after doing so thoroughly he decided he could be released at eight o’ clock that evening if he behaved himself until then and rested up. So Nick stayed on his best behavior, the only thing on his mind being to save Ashley and by the time eight came around the doctor let him go. Brian who had come to get him with the children drove him back to the hotel. When they got there Nick took Dakota and Sarah up to their hotel room and settled them in front of the television with cartoons, Bella, and Marcus.
“Daddy I wanna goes home to Florida” Dakota announced sadly just before Nick could escape to his room.
“I know baby and we’re going to. Daddy just needs to go pack everything up okay?”
“Nick we shouldn’t leave until tomorrow morning. It’s late and you were just released from the hospital” Marcus tried to reason even though he knows Brian has been trying to do it all night to no avail.
“I don’t care. Ashley is the important thing here and I am fine” Nick snapped somewhat. “We’re going home tonight I don’t care what any of you say. You can either come with me or stay but either way I’m going.”
“I’ll come with you,” Kori announced, suddenly walking into Nick’s room and over hearing the argument. Nick looked at her and saw his desperate need to find and rescue Ashley mirrored on her face.
“Are you all packed and ready to go? I’m leaving in an hour if even.”
“Yeah I’m packed.”
“Okay,” Nick approved deciding he could use the help. Kori is strong therefore she’ll do perfectly. Nick turned and went into the bedroom and got right to packing and Marcus shook his head and looked at Kori.
“Watch the kids for me” He told her and then turned and walked out into the hall going off to make sure the others were packing their things as well. There is no way Nick and Kori are leaving here alone. He’ll stand in their way if he must. They’ll hate him for it, but eventually they’ll see that it was for their own good. Kori sat on the couch and allowed herself to relax for the first time all day and watch some cartoons with the kids. Now that she knows someone is on her side she can stop to breathe a little. She’d been worrying about her sister all day and it killed her knowing she was just sitting around when Ashley is out there somewhere being tortured to death.
~*~*~*~*~
“Hey Ellie,” Kevin greeted his daughter as she padded on into his room and crawled up onto his bed and sat down. She watched him as he moved around the room and quickly packed up his things and hers.
“Hi,” Elenore replied softly. Kevin looked over at her observing her closely when he had noticed her mellow mood. He’s been sensing something was wrong all day but he hasn’t tried to figure it out just yet thinking that maybe she is just upset over the whole ordeal like everybody else. But now he is just not so sure.
“Ellie honey what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Elenore shrugged, looking down at her teddy bear that she’d been carrying around all day.
“Are you sure?”
“Mhm.” Kevin eyed her for a couple of moments as he folded up clothes.
“Jerry tells me you haven’t spoken to Dakota all day,” he pointed out. “And that she hasn’t spoken or looked at you at all either. What’s going on between you too?” he wanted to know, as Ashley never got the chance to tell him about the conversation she and the two girls had at the party the other night.
“Nothing Daddy,” Elenore insisted, trying real hard to sound convincing. She hoped that her being on the verge of tears at the mention of Dakota didn’t give herself away. “She’s just upset is all…she’s wanted to do nothing but cling to Brian all day an’ then her daddy.”
“Yeah but princess it’s not normal for the two of you to not talk to each other. Especially during a time like this, you are always here for each other. Whats going on?”
“Nothing…nothing is going on. Everything is fine” Elenore snapped somewhat, before climbing off of the bed and leaving the room as Kevin watched her go with worry in his eyes. He knows something is going on between the two best friends and he doesn’t like it. He for one can tell that it’s really upsetting his little girl no matter how hard she tries not to admit it and two, he has a feeling that whatever it is they’re hiding…is about to blow up right in their faces and none of them need it. Not right now. When Elenore left Kevin’s room she went to the living room and lay down on the couch and just stared at the television as Josh and Chris played video games.
“Ellie baby, what’s up?” Jerald asked as he stood near by with a bag of cheetos in hand and he like Kevin noticed her uncharacteristic mood. Even if things are extremely hard right now she is never this depressed.
“Nothing,” Elenore answered quietly. Jerald stared at her for a couple of moments.
“Honey are you okay? Why do you look so depressed?”
“I’M FINE!” Elenore shouted angrily and she sat up on the couch and glared at her favorite Uncle. “I’M NOTS DEPRESSED! WHY WON’TS PEOPLE JUST LEAVE ME BE?”
“There is no need for you to shout at me like that, we’re just concerned for you.”
“Well, DON’TS be! I DON’TS deserve it!” Elenore insisted firmly and she slid off of the couch and ran into the room she shares with the boys and she went straight for the closet. Jerald raised his eyebrow and looked to Josh immediately.
“Josh? Do you wanna tell me what’s going on with your cousin?”
“Kota has been giving her the silent treatment all day.”
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“You will tell me because if this is endangering the girls…”
“Sean is Ellie’s father, he has Ashley. Put two and two together” Josh told him, and then turned and immediately went back to playing video games with Chris before he says anything else.
“I know you aren’t trying hint to me that Kota is mad at her just because Sean is her father. That isn’t something Ellie can help.”
“No, there’s more to it then that but you see I like it better when I am on Ellie’s good side, not her bad side so I’m not going to answer anymore of your questions.” Jerald scowled, wishing more then ever that Brian were there to witness his son with that attitude. He would not tolerate that in the least. Shaking his head he turned around and went to put the cheetos away and wash his hands.
~*~*~*~*~*~
When everybody finished packing their stuff and were ready to go they all headed to the airport where their private jet is waiting. When they were onboard with luggage, puppies, and all and were settled in and up in the air headed for Florida, Brian spoke up.
“I think all kiddies should be escorted downstairs to the big screen TV where there will be a slumber party set up and all. It’s not bedtime yet, but you all need to get settled down at least.”
“I agree,” Nick replied as he stood there cradling Bella.
“Daddy Sarah an’ I wants you to sleep with us tonight” Dakota insisted, instantly clinging onto his leg.
“I know sweetheart and I will I promise. But let me hang out up here for a bit so the grownups and I can talk okay?”
“Kay…” Dakota replied softly and Nick gently took hold of her hand and led her and Sarah down below where he himself could get them situated. Brian, Kevin, Howie, and AJ all followed with their group of kids. Once the children were all settled and were left alone with Marcus everybody went back upstairs where they could discuss freely on everything that’s going on. All of the children were in pajamas and sitting comfortably in their sleeping bags with 101 Dalmatians playing on the big screen. Josh chose to sit in between Dakota and Elenore, but shortly after he did he learned that it was a big mistake.
“Will you tells Ellie to quit bein’ a pig? Other peoples would like some popcorn too” she whispered in Josh’s ear after having sat there watching her best friend enjoy the bowl of popcorn that she was given to share between her, Josh, and Dakota. Josh turned and looked at Elenore.
“Ellie why don’t I hold the bowl since I’m in the middle?”
“If Dakota would like some popcorn she can ask for it herself instead of ignoring me.” Josh rolled his eyes and gently took the bowl from her before placing it in his lap.
“Or you can just not be stubborn and let me hold it.” Elenore scowled and crossed her arms over her chest before going back to watching the movie, her eyes going wide as Cruella De Vil entered Anita and Roger’s home just after the puppies were born. Soon enough just as Josh and Dakota were settled back into the movie, Elenore decided she wanted popcorn. She reached her hand into the bowl just at the same time as Dakota did and Dakota scowled and swatted at it.
“Hey! I was getting popcorn first!”
“No you weren’t, wait your turn!”
“Nooo,” Dakota began. “You wait your turn!” she told her, before quickly grabbing a handful just when Elenore swatted it away causing some popcorn to spill out onto Josh.
“Agh! Stop it you two or else I’m moving!” Josh threatened.
“See what you’ve done Kota?? Your gonna makes Joshy move!”
“An’ if he does he’s gonna move an’ sits on the other side of me – aways from YOU.”
“Will NOTS.”
“Will SO.”
“If you don’t knock it off I’m gonna go sit next to Chris – way on the other side!” Josh spoke up again.
“No Joshy please! You promised me you’d sits with me,” Dakota pleaded, on the verge of tears the way she’s been ever since Ashley went missing. She linked her arm with Josh and rested her head against his shoulder. Elenore rolled her eyes and bit her tongue holding back the comment she is just dying to use but can’t. Dakota has blackmail on her. She sat there watching Dakota now as she snuggled up against Josh and snacked on popcorn. She watched her for a few moments, and then smirked as an idea popped into her head. When Dakota’s hand wasn’t currently there, she reached into the bowl and got a handful of popcorn. She sat there innocently eating it for a couple of moments. When she was sure she wasn’t paying attention she reached back behind Josh and threw popcorn at the back of Dakota’s head. Just before she turned to accuse her, she instantly went back to watching the movie as if she hadn’t done a thing. Dakota narrowed her eyes suspiciously but otherwise didn’t say anything. It could’ve been anybody. She once again rested her head against Josh’s shoulder and watched the movie. Elenore sat there for a few moments, and then once again reached back behind Josh and threw more. Dakota lifted her head up quick and caught Elenore turning her head.
“I SAW you!”
“I don’ts know what you’re talking about!” Dakota grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw it all at Elenore, causing it to spill all over her.
“HEY!” Elenore snapped, before throwing the rest of the popcorn that was in her hand at Dakota in return and suddenly a full on war erupted back and fourth, some of it accidentally hitting Josh just because he chose to sit in the wrong place at the wrong time. Josh scowled and scooted back so he was no longer between them.
“He has my mommy! I hope he dies!” Dakota declared.
“YOU take that back Dakota Ann!”
“MAKES me, Elenore whatever your names are Richardson!”
“You do realize I can, right?” Elenore threatened.
“Oh what are you gonna do? kills me Ellie? Are you gonna be a monster like that bad news father of yours?” Elenore looked suddenly taken aback at those words. That actually stung. She knows how sensitive she gets when people tell her she’s gonna end up like Sean. It especially sucks coming from your best friend.
“He is NOTS a monster!” Elenore shouted. And then paused. “All the time!”
“No just most of the time though, right” Dakota snapped.
“YOU SHUTS UP RIGHT NOW!”
“NO! I’m sorry that the truth hurts you so much Ellie, but SOMEONE has to tell you!” Dakota yelled back. “YOUR DADDY IS A BAD MAN AN’ HE’S OUT THERE HURTING MY MOMMY AN’ YOU’RE SUCH A SELFISH BRAT AN’ DON’TS CARE!” Dakota roared and somehow without knowing it, she ended up standing up and towering over her best friend. “IT’S NOTS FAIR! MY MOMMY WAS ALWAYS NICE TO YOU! SHE WAS ALWAYS FAIR AN’ WOULD’VE DONE ALMOST ANYTHING FOR YOU IF YOU JUST ASKED! AN’ HERE YOU ARE PROTECTING THE MONSTER THAT’S HURTNG HER!”
“He is my daddy! You don’ts understand!” Elenore sobbed. Dakota scowled and reached over and picked up the bowl of popcorn that Josh had left sitting on the ground and she lunged it at Elenore hitting her in the face and spilling popcorn all over her.
“ASHEE WAS MY MOMMY ELENORE, SO DON’T YOU TRY AN’ TELLS ME I DON’T UNDERSTAND!” She told her. “YOU WANNA TALKS ABOUT NOT FAIR? YOUR STUPID EVIL DADDY TOOK HER AWAYS FROM ME AN’ I DONTS HAVE HER ANYMORE. THAT’S NOT FAIR! AN’ I HATES HIM FOR THAT! AN’ I HATES YOU FOR PROTECTING HIM EVEN MORE!” Just then, not being able to take it anymore, Elenore lunged forward and shoved Dakota to the ground and she began hitting and punching her as she cried her heart out and Dakota fought back with all her might, the two of them rolling around and knocking things over. Footsteps could be heard running down the stairs. Marcus had only gone upstairs for a couple of moments; the last thing he expected was an entire riot to break out while he was gone. Josh, Sarah, Ryan, Laila, and Chris all stood back as they watched the fight, making it very clear that they were not apart of this at all all of the adults came running into the room then. Kevin went over and grabbed Elenore and Nick went over and grabbed Dakota and they pulled them both apart.
“What is going on down here??” Nick demanded to know as Dakota struggled to go after Elenore wanting nothing more then to pull her hair out.
“THAT SO-CALLED-BEST FRIEND OVER THERE RUINED EVERY CHANCE OF ME AN’ SARAH HAVING A MOMMY!” she shouted. “It is HER fault our Ashee is gone, because SHE’S been communicating with Sean behind all of your backs!” She revealed causing silence to break out all around and all eyes fell on Elenore.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
