Chapter 25

At the abandoned building

Charlotte's POV

We hopped in Henry's car, driving from the direction of his house so it looks like he came from his home then the police station so it's not suspicious. I felt the now warm wire bite into my chest under the thick vest. The car ride was silent because I was too scared to speak and my throat swelled as I looked out the window.

Henry placed a hand on my knee, I looked at him as he drove down the street, the look on his face made my stomach fill with regret. He pulled up to the address and I realized that this was the place I in Jasper went on our first date.

"Henry, this is the place he took me a few times before he showed his true colors." The abandoned building was littered with graffiti on the boarded windows, A few lamps on the inside from the gaps between the broken glass.

"Damn why was this the place to go?" I had an idea why, this was the place where he caught me in his trap by being charming and giving me the attention I didn't have from my adoptive parents. He caught me when I was at a low point. I thought we would have the best relationship because we knew each other since we were kids but I didn't know everything.

" I'm not sure," I said nervously.

"Detective said that we have to stay long enough to get him outside without him knowing the police are here."

"I'm not sure if we can do that," I said nervously biting at my short nails.

"Baby I don't know either." He said, wrapping me in a hug, I pulled back and pecked him on the lips.

"Goodbye," I said before getting out of the car, I slowly walked to the entrance and pulled the door open. I walked deeper into the cold now closed down restaurant, one of the lights above the booth was working and I saw him. The person I had nightmares about was right in front of me. I walked closer to the booth and stood at the table. I saw his face with a small grin completely calm. Which made me scared of what was brewing under the surface.

"Why are you late?" He calmly asked for me to sit down, I sat across the table in front of him.

"I had to walk here." I noticed the bags on the floor beside him. He nodded approvingly.

"Okay well, I was hoping you didn't come with your fuck buddy Henry." Her face turned into a scowl.

"We're not fucking Jasper, I don't know why you assume that." I snapped and he reached across the table grabbing my arm.

"I don't know where you got that burst of confidence from but dont talk to me again bitch." He gripped my arm roughly, I winced as he dug his nails in my skin.

"I'm sorry sir. Never again." I muttered looking down. He let go of my arm.

"You've gotten bigger since the last time I saw you, I'll help you lose weight when we leave." He said I knew what he was talking about. He only gave me food periodically to help me 'lose' weight. I only gained 5 pounds in the 3 weeks I've been gone.

"Leaving where?" I asked carefully.

"When you thought it was okay to have the police on my ass we are leaving the state when I'm done with you. Did you get the note I left on her?" I nodded.

"Yeah."

"Fucking her made me miss you. I choked her as you like it but she couldn't take it as you can. She was too unengaging; her screams for help were too annoying." He started nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. He quickly stood up grabbing the bags.

"Enough chit-chat cmon let's go." He said demand, and he lead me to the back of the restaurant. Henry spins through the kitchen blocking the doorway.

"What the fuck are you doing here Henry? We have places to go. Get out of the way." Jasper grumbled.

"No I'm not leaving and you are not taking her with you. Mark my words." Henrys said getting in a fighting stance. Jasper clenched his fists, he reached behind his back and appeared with a gun.

I quickly jumped away from him but he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him pulling me in a headlock, putting the gun to my head I froze in fear my eyes widened with Henry's. Jasper backed us up to the nearest wall he tightened his grip on my neck black spots formed in my vision as he closed my airway.

"Charlotte, you have two choices: either come with me or he dies." Jasper hissed adding more pressure on my head with the gun, I shook in fear I didn't know what he would do to Henry.

"I'll go with you, just leave him alone please," I said shakingly trying not to lose my balance as I felt myself slip into unconsciousness.

He loosened his grip on my neck and I quickly gasped for air. Running over to Henry trying to leave through the back door, I froze when I heard Jasper pull the barrel back with a click. I turned around slowly to find Jasper pointing his gun at my face.

"Don't test me bitch you are coming with me, and that's final." He pointed the gun at me, I quickly nodded my head and followed him. I felt Henry grab my wrist, halting me from following him.

Jasper turned around and pointed the gun at Henry's chest not hesitating on pulling the trigger, I screamed in horror as I watched Henry fall to the ground, blood quickly seeping on his shirt.

"What did you do?!" I yelled scared as I bent down and put two fingers to his neck to check his pulse. At first, I didn't feel anything, then I felt a steady thump, I cried in relief.

"He needed to go to Charlotte," Jasper mumbled, I looked up at him angry and sad. I stood up and punched him in the face.

Jasper instantly knocked me across the face with the gun, I screamed as I fell to the ground he pulled up from the floor and he got up in my face. His menacing eyes staring in mine, fear crawled up my spine as I saw the familiar look on his face. I shook my head.

"Please don't…" I said pleading I knew what was coming.

"You shouldn't have laid a hand on me." He snarled. Grabbing my head banging it against the wall, my head spun with pain as he repeatedly banged my skull against the wall.

"I'm- I'm so- sorry!" I wailed as he punched my stomach, I fell to the ground and he began kicking my chest if I felt the air leave my body. If I felt like he was hitting me with a block of concrete, through the waves of pain I looked at Henry and hoped he was alright. Suddenly I felt hands wrap around my neck,

"Help me please!" I strangled out feeling my body go numb,

"No one is going to help you. You are now completely alone, no one will miss you." He said coldly, tears filling my eyes as he tightened his grip on my neck. He was right no one would miss me, everyone would just move on with their lives. Right before I passed out I faintly heard someone mumble something before the gun went off, Jasper yelled falling on top of my sore body. I felt Jasper move to get up, I took a few deep breaths and tried to crawl from under him.

"Stop right there Dunlop!" An officer yelled pointing a gun at him, I looked up at the officer scared. Japer stands up holding his hands in the air, Another officer behind him cuffs his hands behind his back.

"Jasper Dunlop you are under arrest for the murder and rape of Carla Jones, Sexual rape and domestic abuse against Charlotte Bolton, 1 case of arson, 1 count of attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you.." Officer Tompson said as he took Jasper out of the room, I look over at Henry the paramedics ran in the room quickly stopping at me,

"No check on him," I said weakly. Trying not to lose my breath.

"Ma'am you are severely wounded, you need to be checked." I shook my head.

"I'll be fine, He's been shot. I don't know if he's breathing." They looked at me concerned and then rushed over to Henry. I smiled as they put him on the stretcher, I was glad he was getting help.

I slowly stood up bracing myself against the wall so I wouldn't fall on my weak legs and limp to the entrance of the building. Before I could take a step out of the abandoned kitchen detective Warren came walking up to me with a sad smile.

"Do you need help, honey?" She asked softly, I nodded and she gently wrapped her arms around my waist. I leaned half of my body weight on her as she guided me to the outside. I saw Jasper being guided to one of the squad cars, His gaze caught mine.

"This isn't over BITCH! I'll get you when you least expect it." He spat at me with venom in his voice as he was pushed roughly inside of the car.

"Shut it, Dunlop." Officer Tompson grumbled slamming the door closed. I quickly looked away from him as Warren walked me past the car Jasper was sitting in.

"Charlotte, he's just talking bull, don't listen to him."

"I know. Can you take me to the back of the paramedics?" I asked quietly. The detective looked at me concerned,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I do." I nodded.

"Alright." We walked to the ambulance. I hopped up in the back of the truck and looked at Henry. He had an oxygen mask on and his eyes were still closed.

"Thank you, Detective."

"No need to thank me but you are welcome." She said with a small smile closing one of the doors, my eyes filled with tears.

I was so grateful for the people that helped me and I returned the smile. She closed the other door leaving me, Henry, and the paramedic alone. I reached over and grabbed his hand, he turned and slowly opened his eyes. His lips formed a small smile then when he focused on my face it fell.

"Baby are you okay?" I wiped my bloody face with my sleeve.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying not to show how much pain I feel.

"Your bleeding, your face is swollen, what happened?" I shook my head.

"Nothing Henry I'll tell you later okay? You don't need to worry about me. Alright?" I asked, trying not to wince as he cupped my face.

"Okay, whatever you say Char." He said slowly I could tell the pain medications were kicking in. The medic gently pushed me away from Henry, cutting off his Jacket and shirt. I refused any help from the paramedics, I wasn't interested in getting looked at while he was still wounded.

End of chapter 25…