Good evening! Sorry that I didn't update yesterday, but I'm still in a stupid writer's block. But, I have a feeling this chapter will give you some answers to the questions that you may have been asking… Enjoy! –xoxo Courtney
"Ow!" I yelled, as the figure left the room again. I knew that wouldn't be the last of him.
I cradled myself into the corner, anxiously waiting his next arrival. I had no way of protecting myself; and even though the slapping hurt, it wasn't horrible. I knew that it would get a lot worse. I put my head in my knees just thinking about it.
Ezra POV:
I had driven to Spencer's. Don't think that it's stalker-like that I knew her address; it was because Aria had told me the directions whenever she was over at my apartment, and then her parents would call, saying that they were going to pick her up. I made my way up her stairs to the porch and rung the door bell. I really hoped that her parents wouldn't open the door….
A few moments later, I saw Spencer emerge from inside the house. "Ezra! What are you doing here?" she asked, shocked.
I still felt weird whenever she called me by the first name and not 'Mr. Fitz' but I knew that that would make her feel strange, since I was the once standing on her front porch; so I still allowed her to use it. I'm sure I'll get used to it someday.
I smiled, nervously. "Uh, I wanted to know if Aria was there with you?" I asked.
She knitted her eyebrows, confused. "No…I actually drove her to your apartment last night because she was a wreck and apparently thought that you were in danger."
"Danger…?" I asked cautiously.
I saw her eyes look everywhere but mine. She seemed panicked, like whether she wanted to say something to me.
Then, my phone ringed. I barely got texts, unless they were form the school or obviously from Aria, so this was strange. I carefully took my phone out of my pocket and looked at who it was from: Unknown.
I clicked 'read' just to see what the message said.
Ezra! It looks from here like I'll finally be able to meet you soon, because I'll give you a hint to where your little darling Aria is. Ask my best friend Spence about a 'lost friend'. That's where she is. Good luck… -A
I began to worry. Spencer saw the look on my face and began to panic as well. "Who was that?" she asked frantically.
I didn't say anything. I just stared at my phone, speechless.
Spencer came closer, and asked again, more loudly, "Ezra. Who was that?"
Once again, I didn't say anything. I just looked up at her in shock. She grabbed the phone from my hand and read the text. "Oh my god," was all she could whisper.
I finally spoke up. "Our first break-up," I mumbled.
Spencer shot her eyes at me. "What?" she asked.
"Our first break-up. It was over a text that Aria had gotten. She had left her phone over at my place, and while I was trying to grade papers, it kept ringing, so, with me thinking that it was her mom or something, I looked at it. And it was from… A. Is this the same person?" I asked, pointing to my phone she was clenching in her hand.
"Yes," she murmured.
"Wait, you know who this is?" I demanded.
"No, I don't know who exactly this person is, but…" Spencer trailed off. "Ever since our best friend died, we have been getting threatening texts, notes, and emails from A. This person knows all our secrets. They always threaten us and make us do things so that they don't spill our secrets. Now, A knows about you and Aria; they have all along. And, I just can't believe that they have your number now too!" she choked, as a tear left her eye.
I came closer. "Hey, don't cry.. I'll take care of this. I'll find out who this person is, and end it," I claimed.
Spencer sighed, relieved, then got worried again. "But they'll kill you!"
I cut her off. "Not if I get to them first." I looked at the screen again, and gestured to the text. "Now, they said to ask you about a 'lost friend'. Who are they talking about?" I asked.
There where so many questions that had to be answered right now. "Alison," Spencer stuttered.
"But… she's dead. No, Aria can't be in a graveyard. Where would she be?"
Spencer stared at the ground. "No, she can't be. It has to be her house.." she mumbled.
Well, I felt stupid. Why was I thinking a graveyard? And not the most simple thing, a house?
I nodded my head. I saw Spencer's eyes widen. "What?"
"Ali's dead. I know Jason, her brother, just moved back into that house. He's the only one that has to be living there. But.. he never bothered us, only Ali. I don't understand why he would kidnap Aria.." she said, confused.
"I'll find out. Where's this house?" I asked.
Spencer told me the address and I ran back to my car; but before getting in, I turned back to Spencer. "Thank you, Spencer."
She smiled. "Just be careful, and I want to see both of you back safely," she exclaimed.
I gave her a reassuring smile, and made my way to Ali's house.
Aria POV:
I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep until I opened my eyes, and started to panic. I thought that me being here had been a nightmare. Nope. It was all real. I had also forgotten that I had my arms and legs tied together, because I tried to rub my eyes tiredly and ended up falling over.
I heard the door open. Oh, not again.
The figure still had the ski mask on, and was still as abusive. He stood me up and pushed me forcefully until my back was against the door. "I'm expecting a visitor," he whispered in my ear. I wanted to pull away from him so badly and slap him, but he had me pinned.
He kissed me right my ear. He did not just do that. Was he going to end up raping me? I cringed at the thought. I hoped that I would get out of here before he could. He moved to my face, and kissed my lips.
I didn't respond. He pulled away and smacked me. He then pulled out a knife, and held it up to my throat. He slid it up to my lips, and then down to my waist, just lifting the skirt few inches. I started to cry.
The figure saw my tears and carefully wiped them with the knife. He spoke. "Now.. there are many places that I could use this on you. It would be very interesting… Oh yes, a sight to see…" he trailed off. "I'll do it if you don't KISS ME BACK!" I jumped at his sudden scream.
Man, this guy had anger issues. He slapped me again, taking me away from my thoughts. He kissed me again, and I yet again, didn't respond. I didn't want to let him win.
He took out the knife again, walked behind me, held one hand in his, and slit my wrist with his blade. I screamed in pain, crying in agony.
He walked in front of me. "Did you learn your lesson?" he growled.
I slowly nodded my head as more tears rolled down my cheeks. He kissed me again, and forcefully opened my mouth open. I started to kiss back. It was the worst thing I could ever do. More tears escaped my eyes, and I bit his tongue. He moaned, thinking that I did it because I was enjoying it, and pushed me up against the wall harder. My back hurt from the sudden push. I bit his tongue again as hard as I could, and he pulled back and screamed.
He took that knife in his hands again. Oh no. "Well, that's a start," he whispered, and he pressed the blade hard against my cheek. It was pressed so hard that he cut my skin, and I screamed again. Then, the figure just left the room. I slid down to the floor, and cried out. I knew that I would be dead before I could ever escape this dreadful death chamber.
Ezra POV:
I pulled up in front of the house. I walked in front of the house. I was the last house on the street, and there was only 3 houses on the block to begin with, which was weird. I knew that it wouldn't be smart to just walk through the front door. I tip-toed around the side to the back door. I carefully turned the knob on the door once I got there, but it was locked. I saw that there was a basement, because I saw a window close to the grass. I walked over, stood behind it, and kicked the glass with my feet until it broke. I lay down the grass and looked through the new open window. It was pretty dark in the room, but I saw a small petite figure in the corner, shaking, and crying uncontrollably.
"Aria?" I asked loudly.
The crying stopped. "Ezra?" I heard the person scream. I knew that beautiful voice could only be one person. I slid through the window and fell down on a cabinet. Guessing that Aria would laugh, I only heard quick breathing. She must be scared out of her mind.
I picked myself up from the ground and began to run to the love of my life.
Aria POV:
I was more than relieved that Ezra had came to my rescue. I was going to make it up to him. He knelt down by my side. He looked at my face in horror. What has he done with you?" he asked, holding my head in his hands. He looked down at my wrist. It had been retied in front of me, instead of in back. It was probably so it would be easier for him to just cut me out of nowhere. He gasped.
"I'm so sorry," he said, as he began to cry. "If I hadn't yelled at you, this never would have happened," he said, as more tears fell. I wished I could just wipe them away.
"No. Don't blame yourself. It was my fault too," I stated. He leaned over and kissed my lips. When we parted, he began to untie the roped on my hands and feet, until the door opened again, and we both froze.
I really really really hope you enjoyed this chapter! Yay! So Aria and Ezra finally reunite.. for now. Pretty please review! Xoxo Courtney