Hello people, here comes an update! Hope you are still with me on this journey! This chapter is a little darker..Enjoy!
...
Alex saw Emily's features change as she came back into the room, shaking her head from side to side. "They are not answering their phones! Where the hell are they! We left them an hour ago!"
"I am calling Mona!", Hanna announced, locking eyes with Emily for a moment, before taking her own phone with her out of the room.
Alex couldn't help grow even more nervous. What was going on?!
"Do you really think Mona could be behind all of this? Do you think she would hurt Aria? Hurt Caleb and Spencer?!" Emily sat down on the chair in front of her and Alex could see how shaken she looked. It was once again proof that these girls shared a bond nobody would be able to destroy, and god was she jealous of that kind of friendship. She let her mind wander to Mona, and all she could do to answer Emily's question was shrug, still too worried about the tiny brunette who was missing to really think about those scary possibilities. She didn't know how she could cope if something serious happened to her. She knew it was wrong to ask Mona for help and she knew now she had made a mistake by asking Mona to come between Aria and Spencer, but she still refused to believe Mona was willing to risk Hanna's trust again.
"I don't know. I - I told her not to touch her. I don't know what's happening." She shook her head hysterically, burying it into her hands with a sigh, praying – even though she had never been religious – that they would find Aria soon. She didn't care as tears were falling from her eyes or that Emily was right next to her seeing her in her most vulnerable state , she wanted this nightmare to be over. Out of the corner of her eye she could see how Emily was eyeing her carefully as to find out if she was acting or not, Alex couldn't care less.
It was then that Hanna rushed back into the room. "It's not Mona!"
Alex's head shot up, locking eyes with the blond, an unanswered question on her lips.
"She told me it's not her who is behind Aria's disappearing and I believe her."
"What? How? Did she say she has proof? You know Mona's way of convincing people that she is the victim!", Alex couldn't help but rush out in an aggressive tone, not caring how desperate she sounded.
"Mona is my friend. And unlike you, I trust her." That stung a little, but Alex brushed it off - there were more important things than trying to convince Spencer's friends she was done playing games.
"Besides, she thinks she knows who is behind all this."
"Who?", Alex and Emily asked simultaneously and Hanna took a deep breath before answering.
"She thinks it might be Ezra."
…
"I tracked his car, he is – wait – he is parked right outside his apartment.", Caleb noticed confused as he looked at the small screen of his phone that showed the car's location.
"Do you really think he would hide her in his own apartment? This is Ezra, the guy that spied on us for years!" Spencer couldn't think straight anymore, all she wanted was to know that Aria was safe.
"It's our only lead. Maybe we find something there."
Caleb was right, it was the only thing they got. "You're right. Let's drive."
She was tapping her left leg up and down, nervously clenching Aria's phone into her fist, as they were coming closer to Rosewood's center, closer to the Brew, closer to Aria – hopefully. It was then, as she let her mind wander that she remembered she hadn't called Emily or Hanna about the whole thing and that they were probably still grilling Alex for answers. It was Emily who answered after the second ring.
"Where the hell are you? We have tried calling you guys a hundred times! Are you okay?"
"Yes, we are – ", Spencer tried to explain but was cut short by Hanna.
"Mona thinks it's Ezra!" Spencer was confused, how did Mona find out about Ezra if they were the ones finding Aria's phone? "What? How?" She noticed Caleb making a weird hand move, pointing to her phone. She put on the speaker and he nodded, concentrating on the road again, as well as watching the location of Ezra's car.
"She said she had been spying on him and how she noticed that he was behaving weird, she didn't think too much of it though. But when we called, she hacked into his phone and that's when she found out he had saved photos of Aria's locations and messages. I think he hacked into her phone. Maybe via a virus or something, sent by a text message."
"Why would Mona be spying on Ezra?", it was Caleb who had asked and Spencer could hear Hanna call out his name.
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine, babe. I love you.", he answered with a smile and Spencer had the urge to roll her eyes for a second at their timing, but decided against it.
"Me too. Listen, we will explain later, okay? The thing is, Mona tracked his car, I think they are in Ezra's apartment."
"Yeah, we think so, too!", Spencer agreed, explaining in a rush how they found Aria's phone and the recording. "We are almost here."
"Wait!" It was Hanna again, who yelled out before Spencer could hang up and both she and Caleb looked at each other confused. Spencer could hear muffled sounds, and it almost sounded like someone was crying. She wondered briefly if it was Alex.
"He has a gun. There were messages on his phone indicating he was texting someone about buying it."
It was then that all color drained from Spencer's face. All while worrying like crazy about Aria, she still was convinced that Ezra wouldn't really hurt her, not physically at least, because she most certainly knew that deep down he still loved her. However, this information suddenly changed everything, and thoughts of terror and fear creeped into her mind, making her body shake.
"I still have to go inside." She looked over to Caleb, but her statement was directed to all of them.
"We are here.", Caleb announced a second later as he parked the car and Spencer could hear Hanna's cries on the phone.
"You know I can't let her go in there alone, right?" Spencer felt almost guilty for listening to their conversation, but she couldn't help but be the reason for Hanna's pain.
"I know. I love you. Be careful, please. Both of you."
Spencer sighed, promising: "We will, Han. I promise nothing is going to happen to him.", and Caleb ended the call with an "I love you."
…
"Why would you throw away everything that we tried so hard to build up over those last few years, huh? Why would you treat me like just another ex? I am your fiancé, for god's sake, Aria! This -", he harshly pointed between him and her, "was supposed to last a lifetime! How can you treat me like I don't mean anything to you anymore?"
Aria's hands were tied up strongly together as she sat in the corner of the room, not daring to move even an inch. Her body shook with fear, and she couldn't help the silent tears that would run down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that the same person she was so close to marrying was the person she suddenly became most afraid of. Ezra, who was walking in circles around the apartment they once shared, let out a frustrated groan as he wiggled around the gun he had pulled out shortly after they had entered their old "home". It dawned to Aria that there was nothing left in this place that made her feel that way anymore and it almost saddened her to see it vanish before her eyes. This had been her save haven, the one place she would run to when the world around her seemed unbearable to handle, and now it was the place she wanted run from most. Life could be funny that way.
"I never wanted for this to turn into – this – ", Ezra sighed, frustrated with his own emotions. Aria could see how conflicted he was, how hard being the bad guy was for him, but it didn't change his action, didn't justify them.
"Ezra, I know you don't want to do this.", she reasoned slowly. She didn't even recognize her own voice. Ezra turned to look at her, and for a brief second his hard features softened. He kneeled in front of her, and suddenly he was untangling her hands, holding them together with one of his own. Aria didn't dare to disobey as his gun was still clutched tightly in his other hand.
"I loved you. I don't know how else to love but with you. There is nothing else like loving you, Aria. And I can't imagine a world without you, without your love."
His voice shook with sadness, and Aria couldn't help but take note of the heaviness of his words.
"Ezra, you can love again. I know you can."
He shook his head, protesting like a small child and then chuckled quietly. "You don't understand, Aria. You are the one person I want to marry. I want everything with you. No one else will understand me the way you do. If there is no you, then there is no one. Without you, there is no me."
"Please don't say that.", she whispered, not sure where he was heading with this emotional speech, but it sounded too much of an ending and she didn't mean it in a break-up way.
"Aria", he called out her name, stroking her hands softly with his thumb and even though he was supposed to be someone to be afraid of, it strangely gave her a familiar feeling of comfort. After all, this was the man she had loved for almost a decade, and some part of her refused to believe he was capable of hurting her - really, physically, hurting her.
"I am sorry.", she apologized, thinking that she should have said that a lot sooner. She had been a coward by not talking to him, and now this was her karma, his kind of revenge – she closed her eyes. "I do care about you, Ezra. And I swear to you, if you let me, if you let go of the gun, I will help you get through this. I know you are scared of being alone, but I will be there with you every step of the way, okay? I will help you get better."
She tried to search his eyes to make him see that she was serious. Had she known how deep he had slipped, she would have helped him sooner, would have tried to drag him out of the hole he was falling into. As she scanned the apartment with her eyes for the first time, she noticed all the empty beer bottles and take out boxes piling up in the room. She hadn't noticed them before, as her fear had clouded her vision, but now that she was thinking straight, she could see the old shell of a man that used to embrace life to the fullest. And for the first time, Aria understood that Ezra's mental health had maybe never healed to the fullest since his obsession with Alison and that there might still be a voice inside his head telling him that what he was doing was the right thing, no matter how wrong it seemed to everybody else, to her, to the real world.
She was about to carefully reach for the gun in his hand, when she suddenly heard the front door crash open, only to reveal Spencer and Caleb breathing heavily as they stumbled into the room.
…
"We have to do something", Spencer urged as they stood outside Ezra's apartment, hearing loud voices coming from behind it. Spencer flinched when she heard Ezra scream out, but she couldn't identify the words, despite trying her hardest to understand.
"I am going to use my shoulder to break the door." Caleb stated, looking for Spencer's approval and she nodded as he handed her the metal bar they had picked up downstairs. They knew that it would bring little help in case Ezra would use the gun, but they had to try.
The door cracked open on the first attempt, making Caleb fly into the room as Spencer rushed to help him up, before looking across the room to see the one person that mattered most to her.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she locked eyes with Aria, and unspoken words crossed the two lovers, as Aria's eyes shone into hers.
However, the moment of joy and relief lasted only a mere second, as the crash had not only brought Aria's attention to the new pair, but Ezra's as well. Turning around, he pointed his gun towards them. "Step back!", he shouted, balling his hand into his fist and Spencer could hear him curse under his breath. "Do not come any closer. One more step and I - I will - I will blow your heads off!", he stuttered, as tears fell from his eyes and Spencer held up her hands, watching as Caleb followed suit.
"We won't come any closer.", Caleb affirmed, and Spencer wondered how he managed to stay so calm.
"Did you call them?!", he shouted over his shoulder to Aria, who hadn't moved from her sitting position and she shook her head violently. "No. I swear, I didn't call them."
Spencer felt waves of anger boil up inside her as she watched Aria's shaken frame on the floor, wanting nothing more than to sprint forward and let her fist crash into her former teacher's face, before cradling Aria into her arms to whisper words of comfort to her.
"How the hell did you find me here?", he demanded and Caleb spoke first: "I tracked your car."
"Dammit!", he cursed loudly, and kicked away one of the beer bottles on the floor. Spencer's breath hitched as the glass shattered, but stood still, her eyes not leaving Aria.
"Listen, Ezra. I am sure your neighbors will hear you screaming and the door is still open and that means the police could be here any second. So why don't we just handle this ourselves? Why don't you put away your gun, and we can talk this out, okay? We all know this isn't you."
Spencer wanted to scream at Caleb, wanted to lash out at Ezra and tell him that there was no way of talking after he had kidnapped Aria and basically threatened all their lives, but it wasn't the time for the truth, or even for justice, so she played along. Nodding to indicate that Caleb was right. She could see Aria standing up slowly, their eyes not leaving one another, and she silently tried to tell her not to move. Aria didn't seem to listen to her though, as she rose to stand behind Ezra. "Ezra.", Aria said softly, and it sounded so sweet that Spencer almost felt betrayed at the mere sound of Aria calling her ex's name.
"You don't have to this." She spoke quietly, and she reached out a hand to touch his arm. Her eyes moved away from Spencer's and locked with Ezra's as he turned to face her from the side, his gun still moving back and forth and suddenly there was a silent conversation going on between them that Spencer couldn't read.
"I am so sorry for having to do his, Aria." Ezra wiped away the fallen tears from his face, and moved the hand in which he held the gun. In an instant, Spencer's eyes grew wide, wanting to yell out and sprint over to them, but Caleb's arms moved to hold her in place, preventing her from moving any further and she felt too paralyzed to even speak.
With a trembling hand Ezra raised his gun, but to all their surprise he didn't point it to Aria, but into his own chest. His hand was trembling as he began to shake his head and Spencer could see Aria's face grew paler than it already was.
"Don't!", she heard Aria scream. And Spencer's eyes widened in shock and terror as Aria's hand reaching around Ezra's, her body pressed firmly behind his. The taller girl couldn't believe how reckless her girlfriend was being.
"Aria!", she finally yelled, but Caleb's strong grip wasn't letting her move. "Please -"
"Shut up!", she heard the smaller woman scream and Spencer was too shocked to say yet another word. She couldn't believe what was happening, all she could do was watch in horror, as Aria was risking her own life to save a man, who had not only used and betrayed her, but also kidnapped and threatened her.
"What are you doing?", Spencer could hear Ezra hiss, as Aria didn't move from her spot behind him, her hand still clutched around his and the gun.
"Ezra, if you shoot you, you will shoot me too. You know that the bullet will probably go through both of our bodies, right? I won't let you do this. I won't let you.", Aria's calm voice and determination surprised Spencer. And even though she thought she was being beyond stupid for throwing herself in for Ezra Fitz, she didn't think she had seen a stronger version of Aria Montgomery.
"Please let me go. I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you." His sobs were uncontrollable by now, and his hands shook with every second that passed.
"You don't want to do this. I know you don't.", it was Aria's sweet voice again and Spencer's eyes stayed glued to her girlfriend.
"Nobody moves!", Spencer heard someone shout and she saw a police officer came into the apartment, as another one was close behind. She briefly wondered if it was the neighbors who had called them, or their friends. The two men passed through Caleb and her, coming to a stop when witnessing the scene in front of them.
"I just want this to be over.", Ezra pleaded while Aria didn't move from from her position.
"I promise you, we will get through this."
"I hurt you. I hurt you. There is no way you can still care about me."
"I still do. I care. And I don't want you to take your life, Ezra."
"I just feel so alone."
"I am here. I am not going anywhere. Please just calm down and give me the gun."
"I am so sorry.", Ezra cried, and for a spit of a moment, Spencer held her breath, but released it just as quick as Ezra let slowly go of the weapon, slumping to the floor suddenly, burying his head inside his hands, as he started weeping like a small child.
In one second Aria slumped to the floor as well, and placed the gun at a distance beside them. Her arms encircled his tall frame, and Spencer spotted Caleb moving to grab the gun, handing it to the policeman, who was too confused to react.
Spencer watched as the two bodies stayed clinging together for a moment. Aria held onto Ezra's fallen form, whispering words of comfort; Caleb breathed heavily as to calm himself down, and Spencer was rooted to the spot - watching the couple sob while holding onto each other like they were the only ones in the room. That's when she felt a sensation cringe inside her, and while she tried to tell herself that she had no right to feel that way, she couldn't help but let it absorb her fully: Jealousy.
The rest of it, happened in a blink of an eye. After moments of waiting, Aria finally let go of Ezra and the two police officers handcuffed Ezra to bring him to the station. Spencer witnessed how Ezra turned one last time to Aria, mouthing what looked close to "I am sorry." and "I love you". She furrowed her forehead as she saw the hint of a small smile grace Aria's features as she watched after him. She couldn't analyze the moment any longer however, as she suddenly felt a body pressed into her, arms embracing her in a crushing hug. She didn't hesitate in bringing her closer, as she felt Aria shaking in her arms, rubbing her back, while kissing her head repeatedly. Tears of joy ran down both of her cheeks, and Spencer felt warm again, her heart finally healing after being terrified for so long.
"I am sorry, Spence. I couldn't let him kill himself. I just -"
"Shh.", Spencer interrupted, drawing circles onto the slim body in her arms as she laid her head on top of Aria's. "It's okay. I am here. You are safe."
All thoughts of Ezra had suddenly vanished, as she realized that Aria was safe and sound in her arms and how close she was to losing her.
"I am never letting go of you again." She promised while holding her girlfriend close to her, not caring that other policemen and some other people had entered the apartment. Looking over Aria's head briefly, she saw Caleb smile softly at her and she couldn't help but thank him with a wink as he seemingly tried to explain the situation to the cops, letting her and Aria have their moment.
"I love you.", she heard Aria mumble into her chest and her heart skipped a beat at those simple words. "I need you to know." Aria looked up then to meet her watery eyes and Spencer's heart filled with warmth and love. "I am in love with you.", she heard Aria whisper and Spencer smiled as she felt kisses being pressed into her neck, that mixed with Aria's tears.
"I know.", she softly replied, letting her hand wander through the thick locks of brown hair. "I love you, too.", she whimpered, finally allowing herself to fully show her emotions. "I was so terrified, so scared. I am never letting you go again."
"It's okay." She felt cold hands being placed onto both of her cheeks, and she could feel Aria lowering her head so they were on eye level. "I am here. You found me." Spencer couldn't describe how much she felt just by looking into the brown orbs that were starring back at her. She nodded, unable to form words and she felt Aria run a hand across her cheek.
"We are together now. It's all that matters."
"It is.", she agreed, finally dipping her head to meet Aria's lips in a kiss that tasted of tears, and relief, but most of all of hope, and love.
...
There you have it! Aria is saved!
But there are still some things left in the open.. now that Alex and Mona kind of helped to get Aria back - will the girls finally realize that Alex is willing to try to change? What if Alex' secret of going behind Aria's back and spying on her comes out? You will have to wait, review and stay tuned to find out!
All the best and see you soon with another update! Please tell me what you think in the meantime! your words is what keeps an author writing these stories for those who are reading them!