A/N: Okay I realize just posted a chapter yesterday, but I said I would post the next one as soon as I got 27 reviews. And wow you guys were awesome! It hasn't even been 24 hours and I already hit 27, so I'm being true to my word and posting this right away hope you enjoy, and please read the end notes, I want to clear up a few questions and things that were said.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: AuntieTana for her amazing idea which I did manage to use in here. So thank you so much!
ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO: kikudog6 for reviewing 5 out of 6 chapters. It's really appreciated and I'm glad you're enjoying the story
Disclaimer: I own nothing blah blah blah. You know every time I write this thing I just end up feeling really bad about myself. :/
March 20th
I drove around for hours last night. My headlights were bright enough to see through the trees, but eventually fatigue overtook me. I would have going, fought right through the sleep that threatened to claim me at any moment, but after 4 hours of driving I ended up right back at the barn again. The same place I had been before. I cursed loudly when I noticed it, slamming a fist on me steering wheel. I gave up then, knowing I would be no use to Jade or myself if I wasn't even awake enough to drive a stinking truck properly. Turning the truck off, I grabbed the blanket I kept in the back seat just in case and wrapped it around me tightly. Leaning back in my chair I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to come. But it didn't. I tossed and I turned, only thinking about Jade. I couldn't let myself think negative thoughts; the only thing keeping me going was the possibility that she was okay. Giving up on sleep, I opened the door and climbed out, my boots landing with a soft "thud" on the ground. Wrapping the blanket around myself even tighter I crept across the snow covered floor and went into the barn. Relighting the small attempt at a fire Jade had made I sat beside it once again. For the first time since she'd been kidnapped I felt at peace. Jade had been here, she had sat on this very ground, touched the small twigs that sat beside me. It was like we were almost connected again.
Feeding more twigs from the pile Jade had gathered into the small fire I stretched myself out so that I was comfortable again. Taking one last handful of the sticks I went to throw them into the fire before I fell asleep. But then I stopped. Glancing down at my hand I noticed a small piece of white folded paper mixed in with the brown. Frowning slightly I shook it free. There in the corner, written so small I had to squint, said the words Jade West. In my excitement I dropped the page to the ground. Fingers trembling I picked it up again and unravelled it. It was almost too good to be true.
"Could this really be from Jade?" I wondered. But there was no denying that the handwriting was definitely hers. I scanned the note quickly, not wanting to read it just yet. I just stared at the writing on the page, and even brought it close to my face, inhaling deeply, wishing it smelt like her. But all I could smell was the unpleasant barn smell. Do you know what barns smell like? Trust me, it is NOT good! When I couldn't stall any longer and curiosity over took me, I began to read it.
It's early. Much earlier than I would have woken up at home. My clock says it's 6:00am, but the sun is up and shining and I need to get moving. Fred will be coming downstairs in about 2 hours and I don't want to be anywhere close to the house when he finds out I'm gone. I was packing up my stuff when a thought occurred to me.
Do they even miss me back home? Does Cat cry because I'm missing, or is she still the same annoying red-head we've all come to love. Is Robbie or Rex at all sad that I'm gone, or are they happy I'm not making fun of them anymore? Do Tori or Andre ever think about me, or are they glad they don't have to pretend to want me around? As for beck, is he happy I'm not around demanding things from him? Pushing these thoughts aside I gathered my stuff and left the barn. The snow had stopped but the wind was as strong as ever. I jammed the hat roughly on my head telling myself that of course everyone missed me and would be glad to have me back.
I only wished I believed myself.
I read the last line over and over not wanting it to end. I sat frozen, lost in my own thoughts for 20 minutes. It wasn't until I felt the wetness on my cheeks that I noticed I was crying. How could she not think we missed her? How could she not know how much had changed (and not for the better) after she had left? Our lives were a mess without her. How could she possibly think I was happy not to have her around?
I sat there for a long time; sleep was out of the question now.
"When was the last time I told her I loved her? It couldn't have been that long ago? Come on Beck think." But I couldn't remember. 3 months ago? Maybe 4? The tears streamed down my face faster now. How could I have done that to her? She was my girlfriend, my everything, why did I never tell her.
"Because it would have made you look weak," a small voice answered in the back of my head. I wanted to ignore the voice, tell it that it was wrong. But as it got louder and louder it was impossible to ignore. And it was true. I always wanted to seem tough, and cool. I mean, I made it clear that I loved Jade and that she was mine, (It was kind of obvious I thought, with all the time spent making out in the hallways) but I never actually told anyone that. No wonder she had thought we were glad she was gone. Everyone always assumed a tough girl like Jade didn't need love. But she did. And she does
And so Jade, when I find you, and I WILL find you, I promise to tell how much I love you every single day for the rest of my life. Even if one day we grown apart- which I hope will never happen- I will still call you every day and tell you that, because there is no one else for me. You're the one.
With that comforting thought in mind, I rolled over and fell asleep.
March 21st
I woke up this morning early. The sun was just coming out, but it was enough light to let me see the ground. I walked back to my truck and was just about to climb in when I saw something peculiar. There were 4 sets of footprints leading TO the barn. I stopped and counted again. 4. Two of them were mine; they were the freshest, with only a thin layer of snow covering them. Another was Jade's. They were the hardest to spot and the oldest. But that left the other pair. A medium amount of snow covered them, allowing me to get a good look at the shoe print. The footprints would have come shortly after my first set by looks of things. The shoe was huge and definitely male. The only question was, who did it belong to?
The answer took no time at all. There was only 1 house within 200km of this place. It had to be the kidnapper's. Jade was in trouble. Sprinting back to my truck, I started it up and drove off fast. I had to find Jade, and I had to find her fast.
March 21st
I never thought I would miss that barn. Or even the dungeon at that. But I honestly do. Perhaps I should explain more. ugh "perhaps." Now I'm starting to talk like Vega… maybe I am starting to lose it...
Oh and I lied, I'm not going to explain more.
awwwe I bet you're all disappointed. WELL GET OVER IT!
Okay enough of this. I'm tired alright. I couldn't sleep last night, I was so cold and food deprived that my body wouldn't relax. As well as I have officially went 1 month without a coffee. I think I have a right to be a little cranky today if I want to. So get off my back okay!
Oh my god I'm talking to a journal. I'm seriously losing it. No I'm not even kidding; I think I'm actually going crazy. Ha, who'd have ever thought Jade West would be the one that ends up all insane like in the movies? Actually now that I think of it, probably everyone.
But no, it's not just the talking to my journal thing that makes me think I'm crazy. (Otherwise we would have had Cat tested more than once) it's this morning, I kept hearing things, it was my name I think. Someone, it sounded like a guy, was screaming it loudly. I got scared. What if it was Fred? I was just walking along, trying to keep as quiet as possible, when I tripped over a tree branch. Startled as I hit the ground hard, I let instinct take over and I shouted out
"OW!"
Clamping a hand over my mouth I waited. There was nothing. And then…
"Jade, Jade!"
"It's Fred, he's coming for me, he found me. No I can't go back there," I thought to myself. quickly and skilfully, I climbed up as high as I could go into a nearby tree and waited. Whoever it was walked right underneath me and I noticed with a sigh of relief that it wasn't Fred. At this time I was starting to lose consciousness. The cold and tiredness was finally becoming too much. But I didn't dare pass out until the coast was clear.2 minutes later I let out the breath I hadn't realized I had been holding and let myself settle into the tree, fighting to stay consciousness until I had position myself safely in the branches. Right before I passed out, the image of the passerby swam before my eyes once more as I thought about him.
"Wow he had great hair, and that was a nice coat. Same one as Beck has I think…..wait a minute. BECK!" but it was too late. I had already blacked out.
March 22nd
I spent all day yesterday looking for Jade. I drove for a while, but then spent a good 6 hours looking on foot in the thicker parts of the forest. I knew I had to hurry. What if Fred had found her already? I thought of turning back multiple times and checking to see if he had already captured her and brought her back to the house, but then I'd catch sight of Jade's footsteps, and feel hopeful again. There weren't many to be seen anymore. The large gusts of wind were filling in the holes that the shoes had made almost instantly and I knew I would haven't much longer until they were all gone completely.
It was getting close to night again when I heard it. It was a scuffling sound coming from a few hundred yards in the distance. After walking through these woods for multiple days I had grown used to the different noises the animals made. But this was different, because right after the scuffle came an angry
"OW!" It sounded quiet, but I definitely heard it.
Catching sight of another faint outline of a footprint in the snow, my heart hammered excitedly.
"Jade! Jade!" I screamed as loud as I could.
"Jadelyn West, JADE!" I walked and screamed for nearly another hour, but I never saw another footprint, and never heard another sound. I had thought I was so close.
I returned back to my truck, tired, cold and sore, but none of that mattered. It may seem like a sappy thing to say, but it was my heart that hurt the worst. Every time it seemed I would get my hopes up, only to have them crushed again. It was almost more than a person could take. My fist closed around Jade's letter in my pocket.
"No, if Jade can survive whatever that man did to her, then I can handle this."
I can do this.
March 23rd
Dear sir or madam,
A candle light closure ceremony will be held March 25th in honour and memory of Jadelyn West. The service will be held at the city park by the lake and will start at 9:00. We hope that you will be able to attend and help us celebrate the life of our daughter.
Sincerely,
The West's
I can't believe their giving up. That's what they're doing. They're accepting the fact that Jade is dead and they're trying to move on. But she's not dead. Do you hear me journal. SHE'S NOT DEAD! (I think writing in capital letters makes it look like I'm shouting. I hope I didn't hurt your ears journal
I know she's not dead, and I don't want to go to this service. Beck wouldn't have left if Jade was dead. He must know she's still alive.
My therapist says I'm in denial. She says it's perfectly normal for this to happen, but I'm not. I know Jade is out there. She's strong. Maybe not stronger than Beck, but she can handle herself. After all she's the only person I know that would pick a fight with her jail mate that's twice her size and weight and still not back down.
I'm not giving up on Jade and neither is Beck. Tori is refusing to go to the service too. See Jade, don't give up on yourself, and we're not giving up on you.
A/N: okay well that's the end. PLEASE REVIEW! And also please review before favourting or following. Again you don't have to, but I'd love it if you did.
And to clear up a few things. Firstly this story will be about 17 chapters long. It might have less it might have more. I'm not sure yet I guess we'll have to play it by ear.
Secondly, reading back on the last chapter I did say eh and ya a lot. It's just kind of the way I myself talk, and I guess it comes out in my writing. So I'm sorry if it's annoying
And once again a HUGE thanks to AuntieTana for giving me an amazing idea for this chapter. I actually re-wrote almost the whole chapter because of her, and it was extremely appreciated.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW and I hope you enjoyed the chapter the next one may be a bit dull. I don't have any major ideas for it yet, so if you have some let me know!