Hey guys, so sorry for the delay, it's been hectic and I haven't had a single moment to sit down for a long period of time to get this out until today really. I hope you enjoy, I spent a while thinking about this and which direction to take this chapter but I think this way is the best way to go. It's the beginning of the end truly and so prepare for the next couple of chapters, I hope to get them out in good time, but my routine is about to be shaken up so who knows!
Anyway, enough from me and onto the new chapter.
Chapter Eighteen - Return
For four days now, I've spent my lunch times at Escala with Christian, for two of those days I have returned and made use of the swimming pool for an hour after work. It was getting a little easier every time I went there, the bad memories still surrounded me but I was almost able to look past them. Christian had an appointment he needed to attend after work and so I had made the decision to head to Escala for a swim. I enjoyed swimming a lot more now, I found it relaxed me a lot and I was getting some daily exercise.
I enter the foyer, and then head upstairs to the bedroom, I put on my swimming costume, and then my fluffy robe and tie up my hair. I head back down the stairs and then down the next flight of stairs to the pool. I drop my robe onto the floor and then lower myself in to the warm water. Once I am adjusted, I begin swimming my usual laps.
I soon finish swimming my laps and decide to enter the steam room for a few minutes before heading back upstairs. I open the door, ensuring the temperature is right and then close the door behind me. Something didn't quite feel right, it was rather cold in here, and the steam definitely was not working. I make a mental note to tell Christian later and pull on my robe before heading back upstairs.
Once I am in the bedroom I strip off my costume and place it in the laundry basket before heading for the shower. I step under the water and quickly wash off the chlorine from my body and hair. Christian would return soon, I was sure of it and I didn't want to keep him waiting.
I step out of the shower and dry my body off and then slip into my clothes and dry my hair. Once I am ready I head out of the bedroom and pick up my bag from the kitchen area. I pull my phone out of the bag and notice Christian had sent a text...
*Hey Baby, going to be a while longer than I had hoped. Have Taylor pick you up when you're ready to leave Escala and I will see you at home*
Hmm... What is that man doing? He didn't specify where he was going to me, I assumed he would be going to see John but Christian would have told me.
*Okay. I'll see you at home. Do you think you'll be able to call your repair man or whoever to fix your steam room? I think it's broken...*
I lean against the kitchen counter and call Taylor who answers immediately. He is already on his way to Escala and will only be a few minutes. I head to the elevator and decide to wait for Taylor in the parking lot. My phone buzzes, another text from Christian.
*Sure, baby, I'll have it fixed by tomorrow*
Taylor soon appears and I jump into the back of the SUV, Taylor begins to journey home which doesn't take long. I could have walked home but Christian definitely would not allow that. Once we're at the apartment, I find Gail in the kitchen who is making dinner.
"Nice swim?" She asks with a smile
"Was lovely, thank you. What's for dinner?" I ask
"chilli, will that be okay?" Gail replies
"Of course, looking forward to it. I'm just going to change" I say leaving the kitchen and heading for the bedroom.
I change out of my work clothes and into my comfies, I throw my hair into a high ponytail and head back to the kitchen. Gail was just plating up both mine and Christians dinner, I lean against the counter and watch for a moment before deciding to pour myself a glass of wine. I grab my plate from Gail and sit at the Kitchen table, tucking in to my dinner.
It was a while later now, Christian still hadn't returned home. It was only Sawyer and I here, I sent Gail home and Taylor went back to Christian. I pull out my phone and dial Christian's number, the phone rings, and continue ringing until voice mail picks up the call. I end the call sighing. Where the fuck was he? I begin dialling Taylor's phone, no answer. Why was no one answering the damn phone?!
I flip on the news channel, if something was happening surely it would be on the news channel, right? Wrong. No breaking news, nothing. My last port of call was asking Sawyer. I send him a text asking him to the lounge and he appears in seconds.
"Yes, Ma'am?" Sawyer asks
"Have you heard from Christian? Or Taylor? Anyone?" I ask, I was starting to worry.
"I last heard from Taylor a couple of hours ago, he said they wouldn't be much longer" Sawyer says as he pulls his phone out of his pocket, and begins tapping at the screen.
"I'm worried, Christian never not answers his phone, neither does Taylor" I tell Sawyer, he nods as he presses his phone to his ear.
"No answer, Ma'am" Sawyer says as he taps away at his phone once more. I sigh again. "I'm going to go and consult the team, see if anyone has heard from them" Sawyer walks off.
Sawyer doesn't return for an hour, I've spent that time on the couch dialling Christian's number whilst watching the news channel. I must have called at least 100 times. Sawyer looks at me, I was expecting bad news from him, the look on his face was not a good sign. What in the hell could he be doing?
Before Sawyer even has the chance to get his words out, we both hear the door and footsteps enter the hall. I jump out of my seat and walk into the hall to find Christian, looking very sorry for himself. He immediately embraces me and I couldn't help but cry. I was so worried that something had happened, he never went more than an hour without sending a text, or email or anything. I pull back and look at him, he looks like he had been through a tough few hours.
"Hey, baby why don't you go warm up the bed for me whilst I shower and I will tell you everything" Christian says, I nod and we leave Taylor and Sawyer in the hall and head for the bedroom.
Whilst Christian is showering and freshening himself up I strip off my clothes and slide under the covers, using the time to try and calm myself down. I really could not wait to hear what Christian had been up to. Finally, he emerges from the bathroom and slides into bed pulling me close. He looked much better now, I look up at him and he takes a deep breath.
"I'm sorry I had you worried, Anastasia. I had so many things to take care of, my phone died in the middle of my appointment with John and Taylor was taking care of something for me. I should have made more of an effort to contact you" Christian says "My session with John was a long one, we had lots to talk about" Christian admits
"I'm just glad you're safe and haven't been kidnapped" I reply, "Did you remember to book in the repair man?"
"Yes, I did. They're going to come tomorrow, hopefully before your swim so that you don't miss out" Christian replies
"Great. Shall we get some sleep? You have a busy day tomorrow" I say looking at him
"Of course, Anastasia. Good night, I love you"
"I love you too"
I wake up to Christian draped over my body, he sure did like sleeping close to me. He was still sleeping, his session with John yesterday must have really taken it out of him. Everything that has happened really must have really taken a toll on him, which I fully understood and wished he would open up to me a little more about his feelings. I carefully get out of bed, and quickly take my shower before getting ready for the day. I wanted to make sure Christian had a big breakfast today as he missed dinner last night, so I head to the kitchen, Gail is already pouring two mugs of coffee and making breakfast.
"Good morning Miss Steele, omelette's okay for you both?" She asks
"Perfect, Gail. Christian missed dinner last night so he'll need something to sustain him" I reply
"I did notice he hadn't eaten his chilli, maybe he can eat it for lunch" Gail suggests
"Good idea, I think we're coming back here for lunch instead of Escala" I say
Gail nods "No worries, Miss Steele"
"Ana, please call me Ana" I remind Gail
"Sorry, Ana" Gail says before she hands me my plate and cutlery.
Mid way through eating my omelette Christian finally makes an appearance. He takes a seat and Gail immediately places his breakfast and coffee in front of him. He begins eating without saying a word, almost shovelling his food into his mouth. I watch him with a smirk on my face, things like this made everything seem so normal, underneath all the money and power he was just a normal guy.
"We will be back for lunch today Gail" Christian reminds her as he stands
"Yes, Ana did remind me" Gail replies
We set off for GEH. I was counting down the hours until the work day ended. My day was filled with taking constant phone calls from various people who would only speak to Christian, which was not going to happen. Christian spent all day in the board room, and only just managed to pull himself away for lunch back at the apartment. As soon as the clock strikes 5, I am out of the office and in the elevator down to the lobby. Sawyer brings me to Escala, Christian and Taylor had a meeting to attend with Barney which seemed quite important.
I step into Escala, Sawyer disappears as he usually does so that I can do my own thing. I head upstairs and change into a swimming costume and my fluffy robe before heading down to the pool. I find the pool empty and without water which was strange, Christian didn't mention that the pool was out of action. Sighing I head back upstairs and back into the bedroom ditching my work outfit for something comfier.
I pull on a pair of sweat pants and a plain white t-shirt and then a pair of my favourite converse. I place my work clothes in an over night bag and pull my hair into a bun on the top of my head. I then grab a jacket and pull it on so that I wouldn't be cold. I decided to sit downstairs for a little while, watching out the window as the world passed by. It was becoming easier now to be here, that fear that would took over me was now going away after the first few minutes. I missed Escala, I wish we could just move back in but I wasn't sure when or if I would be able to spend longer than a few hours here alone.
I am lost in my thoughts when I feel someone grip over my mouth, holding it tight. I was unable to move my head to see who it was as they had full control of my head. I'm pulled up onto my feet and dragged over the couch and onto the floor, I flail my arms trying to break out of the grip but the person was too strong and over powered my strength ten folds. I am pulled onto my feet and walked over to the elevator door. The button is pushed by the person who is wearing black leather gloves and a black leather jacket, I continue to try to struggle but I am just too weak. Someone was taking me away and I couldn't do anything about it.
A blindfold is placed over my eyes and tape over my mouth in the elevator, my hands are secured with cable ties. I am walked out into the parking lot and thrown into a vehicle. I try to scream but it didn't matter now, no one would be able to hear me. I hear a door shut and the motion of the vehicle moving, it was moving fast, my body is thrown from one side to the other as the vehicle moves. I try to limit the movement but I was unsuccessful, the pain of being thrown around by the erratic driving was too much.
I wish Sawyer had been linger around the apartment, I wish he wasn't tucked away in the room the team used when we wanted them to leave us alone but stay at a safe distance. I wish I had kept Sawyer closer by, but we had been doing this for days, the same routine, where I had told him to go relax for a while whilst I swam and spent time alone at the penthouse. I wish things could have been different so that I was not in this position. Kidnapped by someone that I had no idea who it was. I was stupid, so fucking stupid.
After what feels like 100's of miles, the vehicle stops. I didn't know how long we had been driving for, the pain of being thrown around over took all thoughts I had. I hear the door open up and the same hands pull me from the vehicle and onto the ground. I am pulled to my feet and the blind fold is taken off of my face, I could see again. We were at an abandoned industrial building. A firm grip was on my head as we walked towards the door that was open ajar.
I am pushed inside and I finally turn to face my captor. Jack Hyde. He looks me up and down, a smirk on his face. Jack looked a lot different from the last time I had seen him, he had coloured his hair dark and was wearing contacts that changed his eye colour he also had a short beard. With all the changes he had made to his appearance he still looked like Jack Hyde. That face would never change.
Jack walks towards me, taking off his gloves and stretching his fingers. I begin stepping back trying to get away from him. He was yet to take off the tape from around my mouth, I was terrified. Why had he chosen now to take me?
"Don't be frightened Ana" Jack says as I continue stepping backwards. "Stop fucking moving"
I immediately stop in my tracks. I had to do as he said, I had no idea what this man was capable of or why he was so hell bent on causing us misery. Jack walks towards me, taking my face into his hands, he looks at me like he has been waiting for this moment for a long time. He gives me a smile and then rips off the tape on my mouth. I immediately cover my lips, the pain was so bad.
"Speak to me, Anastasia" Jack orders.
"Why? Why have you taken me?" I ask
"Because you should be mine, the life you live should be with me. I should be Christian fucking Grey" Jack shouts, I look at him confused
"What?" was all I could manage
"A long time ago, when I was a little boy I was in and out of foster homes. Along comes broken Christian who is snapped up by the Grey's, that should of been me. I should have been adopted by them" Jack tells me, I was bewildered, I didn't know much about Christian's life before the Grey's, I had no idea that Christian had even spent time in a foster home.
"That's crazy" I say, he instantly slaps me.
"Don't you dare call me crazy, Ana, I'm not fucking crazy" Jack shouts again.
I hoped Sawyer had realised I was missing by now, I hoped they were looking for me, I didn't want to be subjected to Jack Hyde and his craziness. How the hell did Christian have this effect on people even at a young age? Jack begins pacing and running his hands through his hair, it was almost like he was planning his next move.
He snaps his head at me, I am standing in the huge open space, there wasn't much here only a mattress, with sheets and two pillows, and two camping chairs nearby. I spot a gas bottle that was hooked up to a bbq a distance away from the mattress and chairs. Has he been living here?
"I lost everything because of that man, that man doesn't deserve what he has. He doesn't deserve you. You are mine now" Jack begins muttering as he walks towards me again
He grabs my face, holding my chin tight as he stares into my eyes "How does a man like Christian Grey manage to get you? A young, beautiful educated woman like you" He lets go of my face, and walks away again pacing back and forth.
"We need to move, if we stay here too long he will find us" Jack says. He grabs my arm that was still secured by cable ties and throws me into the back of the van.
I hear Jack's footsteps walk off into the distance and then back again. He gets into the van, and places a duffel bag beside him. I sit against the seats, there was no point trying to scream, no one would hear me, at this point I had given up trying to struggle, I didn't want to make this situation worse, I wanted to give up completely. I couldn't take any more trauma. I didn't want to be here.
Jack begins to drive, his driving still erratic and fast. I wasn't sure where he was taking us, but I knew wherever it was I didn't want to be there. I wanted to be with Christian, back where I felt safe. God, I missed Christian. It begins to get dark on the drive, I had no idea where we were I couldn't see out of the window very well and the back of the van was very dark. No contact had been made to Jack yet which worried me, would Christian be able to find me?
The van stops, and Jack exits the van, I try to look out the window. It was very bright, it looked like we were at a gas station. After a few minutes Jack hurries back to the van and begins driving once more. How much longer was this going to go on? Please find me Christian, I need you to find me.
"We're here" Jack says, before he exits the van and opens the door at the back.
I hesitantly climb out of the back, Jack then turns me around and cuts off the cable ties from my wrists. I hold my wrist, and rub it, after recovering from an injury, it definitely did not like being restrained for so long. Jack takes a hold of my arm and leads me into the motel reception that we had stopped at. He books a room and once he has the keys he pulls me along to the room. He opens the door and pushes me inside.
"Here" Jack says chucking a bag at me, I look inside and there is one bottle of water, a bag of chips and a sandwich.
"I don't want it" I reply, putting the bag on the side
"You need it, you need to be strong, to live our life together" Jack tells me
"In a motel? On the run? I don't want to be with you" I say, looking at him, the anger in his face appears instantly.
"You don't get a choice, Ana, this is it. I am taking my life that I deserve, starting with you" Jack replies
"No, you've kidnapped me, soon you will have everyone on your back, you will go to jail" Jack slaps me, I hold my face.
"Don't you ever fucking talk back to me" Jack is gritting his teeth, my words must have hurt.
Jack's phone begins to ring, was that my Christian? Had he finally found a way to contact us? Jack looks at the phone and answers it with a smirk "Well, well, well... Hello to you too, Christian" I snap my head and look at Jack, my eyes widening. My Christian!
"She's fine, in fact she said she doesn't miss you at all. You know she came willingly don't you? No struggle at all. Ana wants to be with me" Jack says, he looks at me raising his fist, giving me a warning not to open my mouth
"Yes... She is very happy with me, she loves me, she said it herself... She doesn't want to talk to you, she can't stand you Christian. She has specifically asked not to find her" I begin to cry, what if Christian was believing all of this? What if he wouldn't come and find me? I begin to shake.
"Well, nice chat but I have to go, Ana wants my attention" Jack cuts the call, and puts his phone back into his pocket. I was frozen, unable to move, Jack moves towards me, wrapping his arms around me, and pulling me close to him.
"It's okay Ana, he won't come looking for us" Jack whispers as my shakes worsen, I couldn't move myself to move away from him, not that it would have mattered as he would only force me to be near him.
After a while, I am sat on the chair, I am tired, hungry and wanted Christian. Jack had been pacing the room, muttering to himself. I couldn't quite make out what he was saying but I assumed he would be figuring out his next steps. My eyes begin to flutter, the tiredness taking over me. I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, but I didn't want to sleep, I couldn't sleep, I didn't want to leave myself vulnerable to Jack Hyde. As much as I tried to fight it, slumber overcame me, it was peaceful, I saw Christian and his beautiful smile, the way he looked at me made me feel so happy.
The thought of Christian brought me comfort, being back in his arms, where I belonged to be. The man I WILL marry in just a few short months. We have so much to accomplish together, so much time that needed to be spent together. I wanted to travel the world with him, to explore many more firsts, learn more about each other. I refused for our time to be cut short.
"WAKE UP" Jack shouts at me, I open my eyes, Jack was inches from my face.
"Stop whispering his fucking name!" Jack orders me, I look at him confused. Was I talking about Christian as I slept?
I sit up, readjusting my position. I wasn't sure how long I slept, it was still dark, it can't have been long. I was still hungry, and tired, but I won't let it happen this time.
"How long are you going to keep me for?" I ask
"For as long as I fucking like! Don't you get it? I have you now, we can be together, no one is coming for us" Jack tells me
"He will come for me, he won't give up, whatever you tell him he won't believe" I say
"STOP being so negative!" Jack replies "No one will find us, I can assure you that"
"You think so? He found your number, he will find me, and you WILL go away for a very long time"
Jack turns and punches the wall, his face red and his breathing fast and hard. He was unhinged, what possessed Jack to feel this entitled? I look at Jack and he is facing the wall, his head down. I felt like he was trying to calm down and regain himself. I needed to behave, go along with this, make him believe that this was what I wanted, I needed to make this easier for myself, I couldn't bare to do it, but I had to.
Jack finally calms down, and takes a deep breath. From the window I could see that daylight was about to break, I had officially been kidnapped for at least 12 hours now. I wondered if Christian was any closer to finding me. I wondered how long it would take them, I imagined Christian pacing the office of Barney surrounded by his team, with the police on hand, I imagined Christian going out of his mind and shouting orders at everyone, I imagined them tracing our every step, a team out there following our trail.
Jack looks at his phone, and then turns on the TV to the news channel. My face was right there, along side Jack's. We were on the news.
"Fiancee of Christian Grey has been kidnapped by Jack Hyde a former employee of SIP now known as Grey publishing. Police are working hard to trace the steps of Miss Steele and her captor" the news reporter says before he flips off the TV.
A small smile forms on my face, Jack's face was now out there he was a wanted person, which meant people would be on the look out for us. Jack couldn't hide any more. I watch as Jack frantically grabs his bags, and phone and keys, he looks at me and moves towards me, grabbing my arm once again. If he wanted to stay undetected, we would have to move, and fast.
I am once again thrown into the back of the van and Jack enters the drivers side, he now has on a hat and sun glasses, he begins driving. I had no idea where we were but we were definitely out of Seattle, maybe we were in Oregon, it was the neighbouring state of Washington.
"What are you going to do when they find us" I ask
"They won't fucking find us" Jack tells me
"Okay, fine, they won't find us" I reply
Jack's phone buzzes. He doesn't answer, it continues ringing, and ringing until finally Jack gives in. "Christian, how can I help you?" Jack asks
"Putting us all over the news will not help you, Christian, Ana does not want to be with you" Jack says "Fine, fine, you can talk to her, but on my terms. I will call you" Jack hangs up the call, and pulls in to the layby at the side of the road.
Jack is in the back of the van, he dials Christian's number and produces a gun from his jeans. My eyes widen, this was his warning to behave.
"Anastasia?" Christian says, his voice was panicked, yet sleepy, he hadn't slept a wink.
"Christian" I reply
"Are you okay? Has he hurt you?" Christian asks
"I'm okay, I'm a little hurt from the restraints..." I trail off, I wanted to tell him I loved him and missed him and that I wanted to be with him.
"I will find you okay? We're on your trail, it won't be long" Christian promises me,
"That's enough now, time to hang up" Jack says as he rips the phone out of my hands, "Got to go!" Jack hangs up the call and I wipe away the tears...
"Let's get back on the road shall we?" Jack says, he slams the back door and is back in the drivers seat
Jack begins to drive again, my eyes are failing me again. I was sleepy, way too hungry and the only way to fight it was to allow myself to sleep. Jack couldn't hurt me whilst I was back here, if he wanted to remain undetected he wouldn't stop the van for any thing else now. I allowed the slumber to over come me, laying down on the hard surface of the van. I close my eyes and think of better days, returning to Christian.
Where I longed to be...