I am SO sorry for the extremely long wait. I've been so busy with school and auditions for theatre but the next chapter is finally up! So enjoy.
IAN POV
I had been pacing back and forth for the last twenty minutes searching for something; a lead, a sign, anything to point me in the right direction to save Lucy. My heart was beginning to race; I couldn't sit here in my apartment any longer. I had to call the police; I mean they were trained to handle these types of situations. Weren't they? I pulled out my phone and saw a new message. I opened it quickly.
Unknown:
Don't even think about telling anyone about last nights "events." Wouldn't want anything to happen to our dear Lucy, would we?
I stared at the screen, any glimmer of hope had faded away, and I threw my phone at the wall with anger. I leaned against the counter and pushed my face against my hands, rubbing my eyes; when I looked up I saw something, her purse. I ran over pulling the fringed black purse from the corner and dumping the contents on my coffee table. I ran my hands through her belongings frantically; make-up, mirror, cash, key, a few pens. My eyes went back to the house keys. Maybe there would be a clue in her apartment, it was my only hope.
I ran from my car and took the stairs sprinting to her apartment. I swung the door open and threw my backpack on the floor, and walked inside. Her apartment was so her. I stepped slowly into her living room and smiled when I realized the small skull accents throughout the room. I let myself have a moment; a moment without worries as I walk over and pick up one of the small picture frames that covered the long granite mantle. I look at Lucy, she looks so happy, I close my eyes and her laugh echoes through me. She really has the most beautiful laugh I have ever heard. There's something about it that, as soon as I hear it I can't help but laugh too. The worry starts to resurface as I realize I may never hear that laugh again. I may never be able to tell her how I feel. All I wanted, wanted more than anything was to be able to wrap her in my arms, and tell her I love her. I stare at her picture until my eyes begin to well up with tears. I take a long deep breath and place the picture back on the mantle.
I have to save her, and there has to be a way how. I brush away the tears in my eyes and begin searching through her apartment. I dig through the end tables on both sides of her couch, all the drawers in her bedroom, and search frantically through her desk. I shut the last drawer in her desk and begin to doubt there's any hope of finding something here. I plop into the chair next to the desk and I honestly have no idea what to do. I can't tell anyone and I obviously can't do this by myself. I'm Lucy's only hope, and I don't know if I can save her.
Los Padres National Forest
LUCY POV
I stood standing in front of the huge window and I could feel my heart beating in the pit of my stomach. I stared out at the scenery and I knew I had to run, but I couldn't get my legs to move; I just stood there shaking. I could feel a panic attack building up so I closed my eyes and hugged myself lightly rocking back and forth. After a few minutes I opened my eyes up and walked closer to the window. I pulled up on the glass but, the window was locked. I wrapped my hand around the lock pulled at it to get it open, but it wouldn't budge. The metal lock had rusted over; I grasped my hand around it again and pulled with full force praying it would open. As I frantically pulled on the rusted lock I heard the heavy bedroom door squeak open and I froze.
"Lucy!" his voice echoed through the room, "I'm so glad you're up." His voice made me sick. I stared out towards the window refusing to make eye contact with him.
The sound of his footsteps against the wood sent a shiver down my spine as he approached me. "Lucy, I have missed you so much. Look at me."
I remained where I was, tightening my body and slowing my breathing. At this point he was so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. "Look at me Lucy, Let me see that beautiful smile." He grabbed my cheeks and pulled my head towards him. My whole body began to tremble and I did everything in my power not to look at him. He grabbed my cheeks harder and pulled my face upward, "Look at me Lucy." He spat. I closed my eyes tight and shook my head. He released his hand from my face and I took a deep breath. Maybe he would just stop, just let me go. "Look at me!" he screamed. I kept my eyes shut, and was met with a hard burning slap across my face. My eyes shot open and I immediately looked at him as I grabbed my face with pain. "Good girl." He cooed as he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ears.
"Shh. Don't be scared Lucy. Everything is going to be alright. You don't have to worry about work or life anymore. It's just going to me you and me… forever." He gave me a sick smile and moved closer to me. I shook my head. He was going insane. What was wrong with him? He moved his hand to the back of my head and grabbed a fist full of hair as he pressed his lips roughly against mine. I squirmed back and attempted to get loose from his grasp, but he just grasped my head tighter and I shrieked in pain.
IAN POV
The guilt began to build inside me as I thought through every moment of the last twenty four hours. If anything happened to Lucy it would be on me! I cupped my face in my hands and began to pray. I prayed harder than I ever had before, I prayed that Lucy was still alive. I prayed that she was safe, and I prayed that I would see her again, see her the same way she was last night, happy and full of life. The guilt slowly turned into anger and I swiped everything off her desk in rage. A picture of Lucy slid off and crashed into the small trashcan next to her desk. I jumped up and kneeled down to pick it up when something caught my eye. I picked up a sliver of ripped paper and scanned the writing. There was something so familiar about it. Then it hit me, I knew exactly where I knew the writing from. I pulled out the folded note Lucy's kidnapper had left taped to the door and held it next to the piece of paper I had found in the trash. It was a perfect match. I grabbed the trashcan and tipped it over letting everything spill out of it. I rummaged through and sorted all the contents. There were hundreds of small pieces of paper with that same handwriting, and the hope I had lost before was growing again. I began to wonder how well this kidnapper knew Lucy. How had all of these pieces of paper gotten into her house; and why were they ripped up in her trashcan? Among all of the trash I found a few larger chunks of paper. When I saw the handwriting I immediately began to read each of them
Lucy,
I'm starting to get very angry. I have sent you many of these letters and do you really expect me to believe you have nothing to say in return. I know you still love me and I'm telling you that we can be together. We can get away from work, and friends, and life and be together.
Lucy,
You changed your phone number. How else am I supposed to hear your beautiful voice? I listen to that voicemail at least 20 times a day. I'm going to have to go to more drastic measures to hear you now.
I waited outside your house all day. I knocked and knocked, but you never answered. This is becoming silly Lucy. Stop playing hard to get! We will be together weather you like it or not! You just wait and see!
With all my love,
David
I couldn't believe what I was reading. Lucy was being harassed. She had some sort of stalker, a stalker that had kidnapped her. David. This was the name of the man that had taken Lucy from me. This is the name of the psychopathic lunatic who was obviously obsessed with her. And now he had her. What was he doing with her? I stared down at the name. This gave me nothing! All I had was a first name. I still didn't have a lead, nothing to follow, no way to save her. I searched through the trashcan one last time hoping maybe I missed something. I picked through each small sliver until my eyes were drawn to a picture. It was only ripped in half and Lucy's beautiful face was still in tact. I found the other half of the picture close by and put them up next to each other. It was Lucy and a man in front of an old cabin. They were both smiling, but her whole face didn't look fully happy. It looked almost, fake. I flipped the picture over and read the small description on the back.
We were so happy here. Weren't we Luce? Let's just go back there and start over.
Palomar Mountain State Park 08'
This was what I had been praying for. This was hope. I had to go there. Something inside me just knew she was there. "Hang on Lucy, I'm coming for you."
So how was it? Please comment it gives me a lot more motivation to keep doing this. Thanks so much guys!