Chapter 1
No one's Pov
Tuesday 6:30pm
They grew up together, the '3 Musketeers' their parents call them. They met all at the age of 7 at a sandbox in Swellview park. 9 years later they are thriving somewhat happy 16-year-olds, and over the 9 years relationships end, feelings changed and friendships were broken. Just entering their junior year at Swell view high Today was the week before fall break started, Henry strolled in the very familiar 'Junk 'n Stuff' store. He smiled brightly at and gave a slight wave.
"Hey, Mr. Gooch! Have you seen Charlotte today?" Henry asked concerned. Henry hasn't seen or heard from Charlotte since Saturday. She even missed school. He was really nervous.
"Umm... no, I haven't sorry she's probably with Jasper." Mr. Gooch said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Henry rolled his eyes.
"Okay, let me know if you hear from her" Henry stated slightly annoyed as he began walking to the crazy ass elevator. Henry always wondered why Ray never got it fixed. He pressed the button to call the elevator. He was so distracted by his over concern for Charlotte's safety with Jasper, he didn't hear the slight ding of the elevator until he glanced up from his phone. He quickly entered the small elevator shaft pushing the button. He braced himself for the fast impact. He clenched his eyes closed, he felt the elevator shaft slam to the ground. He opened his eyes when he heard the noise telling him that he is on the floor he requested. He walked in the always lit up man-cave. He didn't see Ray so he thought he was in the back so he decided to call his name.
"Ray?!" Henry shouted walking towards the set of various computers he glanced towards the keyboard and saw a note taped on the mouse. Henry picked it up and it read:
'Hey Henry! As you can see me and Schwoz aren't here we are both in Hawaii on our best friend anniversary! Sorry for the short notice. The man cave is all yours for the week! We'll be back on Thursday, just be safe…. oh! Charlotte and Jasper can come here too. Just make sure they don't frick and frack on my couch and don't have Bianca here (you know that) BTW I also have other people to stop the crime so you don't have to do it alone they will stop the crimes until we return. Have fun! Don't break anything be a safe kid(s) We'll send postcards!
Your boss, friend,
Ray and Schwoz'
Henry POV
I sighed thanking Ray for not having me do all the crime fights myself he is so considering sometimes.
"Thank you Ray" I muttered to myself. I groaned in annoyance. I'm too concerned about Charlotte, and then Bianca she keeps pressuring me to stay over her house this weekend. Luckily I have an excuse for not going cause I have to 'watch' the shop. I put the note down and sat on the couch. I placed my throbbing head on the cold table. I heaved a big sigh, I lifted my head deciding to call Charlotte for the 39th time today (I didn't really count, who would do that? * I actually did*) I opened the phone app debating if I should call her or call Bianca and tell her I can't make it to her house. Bianca has been blowing up my phone, she claims I'm not giving her enough 'attention'. We've started dating about 6 months ago our anniversary is on Saturday. I didn't really want to go, I love her but for the past 3 months I have the feeling she is cheating on me. The thought of it is making me sad but I have my eyes on someone else… I taped Charlotte's contact photo the phone began to Ring. One. Ringgg. Two. Ringgg. Three.rin-
"Hello?" A shaky raspy voice answered. I was stunned.
"Um-Charlotte? What's wrong?" I asked calmly trying not to sound as I feel panicked. She cleared her throat.
"Umm yes I'm fine," she said seeming distracted. Usually, she would be scolding me, especially that I called her 39 times. Something's wrong.
"Where's Jasper?" I asked trying to filter out the hate I have for him. I can feel the heat rising and I am pissed. If he lays a hand on her I am going to kill him. For years I knew something was off about Jasper, But it clearly showed when he started dating Charlotte he became irritated and mean so I began drifting away from him. Charlotte she obviously stayed with him because they are dating. I warned her about Jasper and his behavior but she brushed it off and claimed I was jealous. That was 1 year ago.
"Ummm he's somewhere around here," she said hesitantly.
"Okay…...wha-why were you not at school today or yesterday? Jasper was." I asked nervously clutching my phone the knot in my stomach is beginning to form.
"Oh I missed the bus," she whispered a quiet 'help me' " and I didn't have my phone" I don't know why she didn't just call me and ask Piper to pick her up. Wait a second did she say she help me? I heard right. I began to panic. Wait what's wrong?
"Charlotte?" I whispered. "Where are you?" I muttered pacing around the Man cave nervous.
"I should have listened," she said and the call cut to an end.
"Charlotte! CHARLOTTE!" I yelled as I threw my phone on the couch. I sat down in the computer chair, and I ran my fingers through my dirty blonde hair and held my sweaty forehead. My previous light headache is now very painful after that phone call. I turned around to face multiple computers. I plugged my phone into the computers hardware try and track where Charlotte was when she called. She didn't sound like herself. This is going to be a long night…
Trigger warning
Charlotte's Pov
Slam! I cried in relief when I heard Jasper grumble and leave the basement. I was in a fetal position on the cold cement floor. I am crying and shaking violently after he beat me, he isn't here now. Thank God. He would always beat me sometimes for a small reason(or no reason at all) like when he caught me talking to Henry or any other human male. I jumped when I began to feel my phone started to vibrate. I looked at the dimly lit stairwell hoping that monster isn't near. I looked at my phone realizing that Henry called me 39 times and 52 text messages my eyes widened in surprise.
'Oh shit I need to answer'
I looked at my phone and it was Henry! I haven't heard or seen him in days, the last time I saw him was last weekend when I snuck away to work to get away from Jasper and his abusive behavior. I never told anyone about what he does behind closed doors. The one person I did tell is dead. Jasper killed him and that night when he found out he tied me up on a wall and repeatedly hit me with a baseball bat, I was hurting when I had to go to school the next day. I began to tear up thinking about it, I was getting pissed but I realize that if I tell Henry what Jasper really does Jasper will kill him, so I sacrificed myself for him Heney deserves to live and be happy with his girlfriend.
I answered it.
"Hello?" I answered on a shaky voice
"Charlotte?...what's wrong? Are you hurt?" 'yes' i wanted to say. I cleared my throat. I had to make up a lie quick. and I hate lying to Henry. I looked up when I heard Jasper stumbling in the house and slammed the front door loudly, I flinched.
"Umm yes I'm fine" I lied I am still staring at the top of the dingy steps seeing if he comes in. 'I think I'm fine for now' is what I really wanted to say.
"Wheres Jasper?" Henry asks the concern coming out of his voice, I can feel the distress in his voice. I want to cry. And me hugging my knees are not helping the feeling of my raw ribs.
"Umm he's somewhere around here" I halfway told the truth
"Okay…...wha-why were you not at school today or yesterday? Jasper was." I can hear the nervousness in his voice. I heard that monster call my name loudly.
"CHARLOTTE!" I heard that monster call me
I went back to the corner of the small basement and pulled my knees to my chest and sobs wrecked throughout my body I clamped my hand over my mouth to muffle them. I uncovered my mouth and spoke again this time quickly.
"Oh, I missed the bus" I lied again "help me" I whispered. "And I didn't have my phone with me." I was praying to god he heard me.
"Charlotte, where are you?" Henry whispered. I heard the creak of the old door to the basement. I quickly moved back to the corner and I muttered,
"I should have listened to you" I ended the call and turned off my phone. I slide my phone back under the storage shelf, moments later Jasper appeared angry. He stalked towards me he grabbed my hair, I yelped when he began to drag me across the bloodstained concrete floor and threw me on my 'bed' it's just covers on the floor and a small pillow. He smacked me across the face.
"You useless piece of shit!" he yelled. "You know that I love you right?" He asked me softly cupping my cheek. I know he's lying but I relax in his touch, I haven't felt in forever. I knew it was over when he punched me square in the face.
"I will make sure you never love again" he whispered chillily in my ear. And I will never open my heart again. I licked my lips tasting the familiar medal taste on my bottom lip. I hope he can find me. This is going to be a long night…
End of chapter 1