Christian POV

I sat in my car in a parking lot not far from the flying club. I wasn't sure if i should go home or stay close by. I was worried about Ana, and i didn't have anything going on till our date later on this evening anyway. I decided that i should stay close by. I had already gone home and changed into a t-shirt and jeans. Ana was a down-to-earth girl and i could tell through her body language that she would feel more comfortable if i was wearing casual clothes. I wanted dinner to be more of a date than a job interview. I knew that she was excited about the job opportunity but i wanted our date to be more personal this time. I didn't like her going out with Justin even in a group. I have had run-ins with him before, all of them weren't good. This was Ana's life and if that's what she wanted to do who was i to stop her. If she needed me i was here, that's as much as i could do. So, I decided to get a coffee while i wait. I had gone through the Starbucks drive-thru and i was about to take another sip of coffee when my phone started to buzz. Ana picture popped up. Was she in danger?

"Ana" i said as soon as i picked up the phone.

No response

"Ana" I cried

Ana still didn't respond. I hear some muffled noises. Then a smash,as the phone hit the floor. I hung up the phone. Something must be wrong. She had mentioned that they were going down to "The Metro" which wasn't far away from where i was. It would take me only 15 minutes to get there if the roads were clear. I turned the key in the ignition of my black Mercedes and roared out of the parking lot. I was fuming with anger. The more i thought about Ana getting hurt the more enraged i became. i knew from experience that he has done this before, to other girls. The whole experience felt like déjà vu from when i was dating Alice. I was just hoping that when i got their i wouldn't have to break his nose but every part of me wanted to.

I arrived at the bar not more than 15 minutes later. When i walked in, it looked like everyone was still having the time of their lives. The only thing out of place was the fact that Ana and Justin were missing from the group. No one seemed to notice.

"Nathan?" I asked tapping him on the shoulder

"Yes" He replied.

"Do you know where Ana is?" I asked

"I saw her heading to the bathroom about 30 minutes ago" He responded "Is everything OK?"

"I'm going to check" I responded "Stay here i'll be back"

"OK!" Nathan agreed.

I walked briskly towards the bathroom, it was dark so i had to pull my phone out and turn on the flashlight. I shined it around the crevices of the small, dark corridor. I noticed something shiny by the door to the ladies washroom. I shone the light around the area to see what the shiny object was. I crouched close to the ground to get a better look, it was Ana's phone. I recognized the shiny pink case. The screen was shattered and the phone was off. I tried to turn it on but it was impossible to read the screen through the lines and cracks. I stood up and put the phone in my jean pocket. Where was she? I had no idea where to start looking. That fucking Asshole, when i find him i'm going to beat him. I could feel the anger and rage build up like a hot inferno inside me. I clenched my teeth and fists. I looked around the area. Time was of the essence, he could be hurting her right now. WHERE COULD THEY HAVE GONE? No one seemed to notice that they weren't in the bar so they must have used a back door. I looked ahead and noticed that there was a back door that was used by staff to take out garbage. I opened the door to a back parking lot, i let the door click behind me as i walked outside. If they were outside they must have walked somewhere. I checked all 5 cars that were parked in the parking lot but no sign of Ana or Justin.

Where the fuck did they go? i thought

I paced around the parking lot trying to trace their steps as the sense of urgency bubbled up inside me. I noticed that there was a large chain-linked fence that separated the parking lot from residential at the opposite end of the parking lot. I walked towards it slowly, not sure of where else to go. There was an open path built into the fence. I walked through it not knowing where else to go.

I heard chatter coming from a park near by. I walked over towards the sound hoping to find Ana and Justin. It was dark and late, there wouldn't be many people out at this time, chances were good that Justin and Ana were the ones making noise. After all, they could not have gone far on foot. Both Justin and Ana both had cars parked out front of "The Metro". My mind took me towards the worst case scenario. I was expecting Ana to be getting raped, beaten or killed. My heart twisted in agony as the thoughts flowed through my brain. Would Justin take things that far? I didn't know him well, but there few interactions that we have had in the past have all been negative.

I turned the corner, walking towards the sound of voices in the park. I saw Ana and Justin near a park bench over looking a small lake. I stopped abruptly when i made eye contact with them. Nothing could have prepared me for what i saw in that moment. Justin was sitting on the bench crying. Ana was sitting beside him, she had her hand on his back. She was talking to him like a therapist trying to calm down a patient. Then, I saw Justin get up off the bench and walk over to the lake and jump in. What was he doing? Was he crazy? Ana ran over to where had jumped and we in after him. I started to run towards them. I wished i had made it there even a few minutes before, maybe i could have prevented the whole thing. I yelled Ana's name when i arrived at the edge of the lake. I took my jacket off, preparing myself to jump in. Before i could jump, Ana emerged pulling Justin to the edge of the lake.

"Christian" Ana cried as soon as she saw me.

"What the hell is going on here?" I asked angrily helping her pull Justin's body out of the water.

"He just went over to the edge and jumped" Ana cried.

"He's not breathing" I answered trying to remain calm.

"He needs CPR" Ana cried.

Ana started CPR immediately. She sat on his torso focusing on deep chest compressions. I saw her bend over to give mouth-to-mouth, without thinking i pushed her aside and stepped in. I wasn't sure of the details of what he had done to her but i didn't want her to have to put her mouth on his for any reason, even a good one.

"i'll take over Ana" I said "You've been through enough"

"ttthhhank you" She said shivering.

"Go to the car and warm up" I yelled throwing her the keys.

"I..I th..think that he's go..going to have hy..hypothermia if we don't" Ana explained shivering.

"You are going to get hypothermia if we don't warm you up too" I interrupted "go to the car Ana!"

"OK!" Ana agreed going to the car.

Justin started to chock, spewing water all over Christian. Ana came running out of the car after only being in there a few minutes.

"Your going to need help getting him in the car" She said still visibly shivering.

"Take my jacket" I instructed"Now let's life him to the car"

Ana walked over to the edge of the lake where my jacket was and put it on. She acted quickly, coming back over to Justin's body. She was stronger than i thought as we both lifted Justin's dead weight to the car. He wasn't much help but he was taking shallow breaths. We both used all the strength we could muster to push his body into the car.

I wanted to warm her body up. I pulled her in close to me. I felt every breath she took. Emotions flooded through me. I didn't want see her like this. Shaken, scared, alone and cold. She had handled the situation beautifully. Ana was amazingly patient and kind. Most people would have handled the situation without a care for the other person. Even though Justin was clearly in the wrong, Ana had defused the situation like an experienced hostage negotiator. There was more to than just beauty, it was easy to see.

"Now we need to focus on you. Get in the car" I demanded

"He needs to go to the hospital" Ana pleaded.

"I know. That's where we're going" I shot back.

"Ok" She answered in agreeance getting into the car "Do you have a blanket?"

"No. I wish i did" I answered "because i would give it to you"

I hopped into the car and sped off the the nearest hospital.

Ana POV

I wasn't sure that Justin didn't plan to harm me. With every step i felt like i was falling further into the abyss. Would anybody find me? What was he thinking he would tell everybody at work if i didn't return? Is it the alcohol or is he an obsessive psychopath? How would anybody find me? I looked back at "The Metro" it was barely visible. we walked past the back parking lot, then through a chain-link gate.

"Where are we going?" I asked trying to hide my fear

"I'm not sure to be honest. I just want to walk" Justin replied.

"Let's go back to the bar" I suggested.

"No we need to be alone together, just for a moment" Justin answered still a little tipsy.

"I'm scared. What do you plan to do with me" I pleaded.

"I want to talk to you alone. Calm down! I haven't done anything to you yet" Justin growled.

"I want to go home Justin. Just let me go and we can forget this whole thing ever happened. We can go back to being friendly in the office" I pleaded.

"Shut up! i'm trying to think" Justin yelled.

We stopped at a park five blocks from the bar. I could see that he felt exhausted and defeated. Regret spread across his face. There was a man made lake past the park that was surrounded by large stopped at a park bench over looking the water. The water seemed so calming, i could see the water ripple with each light breeze.

"I don't want to hurt you Ana" Justin said slumping over the bench.

"You scared me Justin, You really scared me" I said.

"I want you to like me. I can get a little out of hand when i get drunk" Justin admitted putting his head into his hands and giving a long sigh.

He seemed so vulnerable. Seeing him like this stripped the fear away, there was more to his pain than i realized. I sat down next to him placing my hand on his back. I could see that he was hurting inside. Maybe he needed someone to talk to. I could be a good listener and that's exactly what Justin needed in that moment. Something was wrong and it had nothing to do with me. That was painfully obvious. For the first time i saw a side of Justin that i never knew existed, he was a tortured soul.

"Ana" He mumbled "I haven't taken my meds in two weeks. I'm such an idiot"

"What meds?" I asked trying to get more information.

"My doctor says i'm bi-polar. I've been feeling so good though. i can do this myself. I'm strong. Maybe the doctor was wrong and i'm not that bad" He cried out.

"If that's the case you shouldn't be drinking" I pointed out

"I like drinking" Justin affirmed

All of a sudden i felt him stand up and walk over to the lake. He stared down at the water as though he was seeing something in there that no one else could. All of sudden i saw him lean towards the lake falling into it. He sank like an anchor. Without thinking i jumped into the lake. I wasn't a lifeguard but i was the only one around and he needed help fast. I dove into the dirty water. I found him quickly as the lake was not that deep. I wrapped my hands around his torso using every bit of strength to pull him to the surface. Just as i started CPR Christian rushed over to help. I was so grateful he was there. I felt as though i had been saved.