…………………………………….

Kelsey paced outside on the porch as she waited for him to pick her up. She didn't know what was going on and why he would ask her to go with him. But, Haley was her friend. She prayed that everything was okay.

She picked up her head when she heard a loud screech. Nathan was here. Kelsey rushed to his car and then she motioned him to roll down his window.

"Hey, Kels, I'm sorry that I called you suddenly, but something's wrong with Haley." Nathan spoke rapidly.

"How do you know?" She asked frantic.

"Get in, I tell you on the way." He opened the passenger door for her.

Kelsey shifted in her seat. "How did you know?" she asked again.

Nathan's eyes never left the road. "She sent me a message. It was talking about how she had a few bruises and she ended it with goodbye. I just sense that something's not right up there. If Alex mistreated her, his ass is fried." He said angrily.

Kelsey slumped in her chair. "It's not Alex, Nathan. It's her father."

Nathan pulled the car to a halt. He turned his head to her. His anger only intensified. Her father? Haley was always honest with him, but she never told him that her father beat her. "You're lying. Haley would have told me about that."

"It's true. She didn't want to hurt you after she told you about Alex. I don't think there is anything you can do about this. Her father is powerful. The only boy that can go near Haley is Alex."

"We're going to Asheville and we're going to get Haley back to safety. I owe this to her." He spoke softer. "If she's not okay, then it's my fault."

"Nathan…"

"Just tell me how to get there."

……………………………………………………….

I was still lying on the kitchen floor. My pain was unbearable. I was too scared to move but I could be yelled at for being weak. In the end, I always lost. I froze when I heard a door open. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

"Alex, I apologize for my daughter's behavior. Tree Hill really messed her up. She should be fine by the morning. She really doesn't want to talk to anyone right now." my mother told him.

"Mrs. James I need to talk her. It's really important if we're going to be married." Alex reassured her. He brushed past her and was now inches away from Jimmy James. "Good afternoon, Sir."

"Mr. King, my wife is right. No one can see or speak to Haley. Do you understand me?" he pressed.

"Mr. James I…"

"Do not question me." he said sternly. "Get the Hell out of my house!"

I couldn't take it. Alex should know what's going on with me and I should know what's going on with him, since it' my marriage. "Alex," I croaked weakly.

"Haley?" he sounded concerned. He walked around Haley's father. Jimmy didn't let him pass. "Now Alex, if you go in to that kitchen, our deal is off. Do you understand that? I promised you that nothing would happen to your family's wealth if you just stuck to the arrangement. I forbid you to see Haley until the wedding."

I heard Alex sigh. He gave up and let my father win once again. I shouldn't trust anyone anymore.

……………………………………………………………………….

"Hey Peyton, have you heard form Kelsey? I just got back from her house to take her to the doctor and she wasn't there." Jake called as he closed the door behind him. "Peyton?" Jake turned into the kitchen. He saw Peyton sitting at the table with her earphones in her ears. He sat down across from her and tapped his fingers on the table. When she still wouldn't respond, Jake started coughing loudly.

Peyton took her earphones out. "You know I saw you sitting at the table?"

"Did you now?" he asked politely.

"What's with you? Shouldn't you be taking Kelsey to her appointment?"

"I just got back from her house and she wasn't there."

"What do you mean she wasn't there? Jake. Kelsey's either at Whitey's or practically living here." Peyton got up and threw on a hoodie. "Maybe Nathan knows where she is. They have been talking lately."

Ever since Haley was sent home, Kelsey did confine in Nathan. She found it easier to talk to Nathan about Haley more than anyone. Kelsey knew that mentioning her name ripped a hole in his heart, but somehow he grew stronger at the memories.

"They have?"

"This isn't the time to get jealous. Just stay calm. Kelsey knows whatever she's doing, it's important."

………………………………………………..

"Now turn here and she's the third house down the road." Kelsey breathed deeply. "Now Nathan, I have to do this. Lydia trusts me and you're a boy. So just stay in the truck. I'll go get Haley."

Nathan shook his head. "You know I wouldn't stand back. I'll go with you. Tell Lydia I'm your boyfriend or something."

Kelsey looked at him. "You want me to lie to that woman? She'll tell my mom."

"Well, I heard that you ran away without telling anybody. I think me being in your life for a few hours won't kill anybody."

"Fine let's go." Kelsey hopped out of the car. She noticed Alex walking out of the house. "Nathan, I have to talk to Alex. Don't be jealous."

"I met him the day he came to Tree Hill and took Haley with him. I'll go with you." He took her hand in his as he had to come face to face with him.

"Alex!" Kelsey waved him over.

"Thank God," He said as he ran over to her. "Hey Kelsey," he said as he gave her a hug. "Something's wrong with Haley. Her parents won't let me go into the kitchen. I'm not allowed to see her until we get married and I have to tell her I found somebody else." He panted.

Nathan looked at him. He smiled in his head. Good, now he won't be in my way of getting Haley back. Wait so he cheated on her? Yet again, Haley did date me while she was away. I still hate this guy.

Alex turned back to Nathan. "Aren't you the guy I met in the parking lot? You're Nathan, Haley's ex? I'm sorry I ruined your reunion." He said.

"That's me. I'm not falling for your nice guy act you know. You did tell me that you owned Haley."

"I had to sound tough. If you were my fiancé's boyfriend, she must have seen something really special about you. But, I have to say you were a dumb ass for walking away. I have never seen her father and mother acting like she's okay when she really isn't. It's ironic that you showed up."

Kelsey stepped between the two. "Alex do you have Jimmy's business schedule?"

"Um why?"

"I know that once every two weeks Jimmy and Lydia have business meetings. I just hope there's one tonight so we can get Haley and get her help if she needs it."

"She'll need it. I heard her voice but it was faint and eerie." He said as he handed her the schedule.

Nathan couldn't process what was happening. This was far from anything he could ever imagine happening to someone, especially someone he loved. "I'm not leaving without her. What's your plan Chief?" He asked turning his focus to Kelsey.

"We're going to have to wait in the car until they leave. You better keep me awake Scott. The silent ride was so boring." She said as she hand the paper back to Alex.

"Nathan, I hope you get her out of there." Alex told him as he turned around to walk away.

"I still hate you." Nathan mumbled to himself. "Hey, Kelse, I think you should call Jake. He's probably worried about you."

"I know he is. He has been for the past month now. I mean he'll hate me for leaving drastically without telling him, since I had a doctor's appointment today."

Nathan hesitated to ask her what was wrong. He got in the car and he waited for her to join him. "So is everything okay with you?"

"Oh, yeah I'm fine. I'm just pregnant, that's all."

"Oh."

………………………………………………………………….

The floor is getting colder, or is it just me? I tried getting up again, but failed. My parents are not my parents. They're dead to me. I slowly closed my eyes as my tired body took me down.

"Haley, you need to keep fighting." I heard a soft whisper in my ear. I looked over my shoulder and saw my sister Rachel. Was I dead? She smiled at me. "You're amazing you know that?" She told me.

I shook my head. "No, I'm not. I keep fighting it and they just hurt and disappoint me more. Mother, is going deep into nothing." I thought I would play along to my conversation with my dead sister.

"I always knew mom was weak anyway. You're not. I know you're going to be okay."

"Um did you see what dad did to me?" isn't she on my side?

"I did. But, you won't be in danger for that much longer. Keep your eyes open. He's here to save you Haley."

"Who?"

Rachel's image was starting to fade from me. "Rachel, I knew you were going to do this! Who's here? Rachel, for an angel, you're being a complete bitch!" She was completely gone and the only remainder of her was the sound, "Keep you're eyes open. He's here."

……………………………………………………………

"Nathan look!" Kelsey jabbed Nathan in the side.

"What?" He asked groggily. He looked over his dashboard to see a big black car pull out of the James' home. He quickly got up and out of the car,

Kelsey followed his motion. "Hold on, you don't have any idea where you're going." She called as she went to catch up with him. "Nathan, I know it's time to put the plan into action, but you still have to be careful."

Nathan kept going towards the door. He tried to open it. "It won't open! How are we going to get to her now?"

"Stop crying. Follow me. There's a way through the basement. I used to do this all the time when I want to visit her." Kelsey opened the side window. "Climb down. Then you can help me."

"Are you sure you should be leading a rescue mission if you're pregnant?" Nathan asked to make sure. He didn't want her getting hurt and causing harm to the baby.

"I'm pregnant, not crippled. Just help in."

Nathan hopped down from the sill. He grabbed Kelsey from it as lowered her onto the basement floor.

"The stairs are this way." She dragged him away to the staircase.

……………………………………………………………………..

I heard a creaking noise. i knew that my parents just left so it better not be some twisted sneak attack. Someone was coming up the stairs. I took deep breaths. The basement door opened and I blacked out from fearing the worst.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Nathan ran to Haley's side. There were pools of blood all around her body. He didn't even think a person could hold so much blood. He didn't want to lay a single finger on her. "Haley, wake up baby." He whispered. "Haley, can you hear me?"

"No she can't." A deep voice said from behind him.

Nathan turned to look over his shoulder.

BAM!

……………………………………………………………