Hey Guys! I REALLY DIDN'T DITCH YOU! Lol. I promise you that. Like I said before, I work two jobs, and now I am currently away at school. I had to move in, get settled in, start classes, etc. So it's been a hectic month or so. It's been crazy! I will have the next chapter up tonight or tomorrow. I'm just putting the finishing editing touches on it. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and the one that is coming up!

As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

I just ran. I didn't care where. I just kept going. Trying to get as far away as I could from that house. I ran for what seemed like hours. Though it probably wasn't. When I finally stopped, I realized I had ended up at the park across town. There were a few people out and about but for the most part, the park was empty.

I sat down on a bench, well away from everyone, and curled up on my side. I let myself break down and just cry. All I could think about was needing physical pain to balance out the hurt. But for some reason, whenever my mind began to drift to that all I could see was Eli. All I could see was the hurt on his face last time I did it. How disappointed he would be.

I decided I should call him so he wouldn't worry, but when I went to grab Jake's phone out of my pocket, I realized it wasn't there. I must've dropped it at some point while running here. That didn't help my mood, especially after my mind kept thinking of how I was disappointing Eli by running off again.

How I was stupid for being out without protection. How I didn't tell anyone where I was going. How I was disappointing Eli and Adam by having them worry. The thoughts just kept coming. As the onslaught of thoughts hit me, all I could do was lie there and stare out in the distance. I had no energy to do anything.

Since I didn't have access to anything sharp, I just decided to lay there. Figuring whatever fate had in store for me next, would be enough. Hypothermia. Frostbite. It didn't matter. For all I care, Asher could find me and take me again. I wouldn't fight. I just don't want to be Clare Edwards anymore. At some point I fell asleep, only to be woken up by someone talking.

"Yeah. I found her." Someone spoke, pausing before continuing. "No. I'm not bringing her back there. Darcy. Stop. Stop playing that card. God doesn't care about us. Don't you get it? If he is truly up there, he is focusing on more important things. He doesn't care about one small family from Toronto." They paused again, listening. "Goodbye, Darcy." They hung up the phone, and then it was silent for moment. "I know you're awake."

"I wasn't trying to hide it." I mumbled. That feeling was still over me, but it had faded a little while I was asleep. "How'd you find me?" I asked sitting up. I glanced around and noticed that it was almost dark out, and it was empty in the park.

"Eli, Adam and I split up with the police officers to find you. I found my phone, that you apparently dropped, a little down the road. So I figured you must've been around here somewhere." Jake explained.

"Do they know I'm okay?" I asked. I felt bad for having them all worry like that. It didn't help my mood any.

"I called Eli before Darcy called me." He nodded. "I'm sorry for how they are acting, by the way. I know how they can get. I get why you left like that."

"I shouldn't have though." I said. "It was stupid. I shouldn't have been so careless."

"Forget about it. You're fine. Okay?" Jake cut in. "That's all that matters. Come on. Lets get you out of here." He stood up.

"I'm not going back to that house." I stated.

"You won't have too, okay?" He reassured. "We'll figure something out."

We headed to his truck, and I climbed in before speaking again.

"Can I borrow you phone? I want to call Adam and Eli." I asked.

"Actually. You don't have too. You can just use yours." Jake stated.

"What do you mean mine?" I asked confused. "I lost it."

"Yeah. But check the bag by your feet." He gestured to a white bag. I opened the bag and saw a phone box with all the stuff that comes with it.

"You got me the phone I wanted?" I asked. "The one mom wouldn't buy me?"

"Well. Yeah. I think you should have it. You needed one anyways."

"Thanks." I smiled at him. He must've bought it this afternoon while everyone was out. Which is why he wasn't there when my mom flipped out.

When I turned on the phone, I realized that all the basic contacts were there. My house. Jake. Darcy. My parents' cell phones. Even Eli and Adam were on the list. I decided to contact Adam. Since I was with him last. I wanted to meet up and apologize to him first, since I did run out on him.

"Hello?" Adam spoke into the phone, after I dialed his number.

"Hi. Adam." I exhaled. Not knowing what to say. "Um. Where are you?"

"I'm at the hotel. Why?" He asked.

"I—I just wanted to apologize for earlier." I explained.

"Oh. You don't have to, though. I heard what your mom said. I saw what she did. It's okay." He stated.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah. Everything's fine." He reassured.

"Okay." I replied, sighing. I would just have to make sure he's telling the truth next time I see him.

"So are you meeting up with Eli?" He asked. "Because he's the one you should be worried about. He was practically going crazy over you."

"I figured." I sighed. Just another problem I have to deal with. "I'll call him now."

"Okay. I'll see you guys in the morning. I'm going out to dinner with my parents, but if you need me for any reason I'm available." He explained.

"Thanks Adam." I smiled. We said our goodbyes, and I hung up the phone. I didn't even pause before dialing Eli's number.

"Hello?" I heard Eli's voice through the phone, and immediately I wanted to break down and cry right there. I refused to do that though, because it would worry Eli and Jake, and I had worried them enough today.

"Hi." I murmured into the phone.

"Clare." I heard him exhale, most likely in relief. "Are you okay? I heard what happened."

"Yeah. I'm fine." I stated.

"Do you want to come over to the hotel? Or are you going to your house?" He asked.

"I'll come over." I spoke without hesitation.

"Alright." He agreed to meet me outside when I got there, before hanging up.

"Where to?" Jake asked, after I put the phone back in my pocket.

"Um. Can you drop me off at the hotel? Because I definitely don't want to go home right now." I sighed.

"That's fine." He replied.

We talked on and off for the rest of the ride to the hotel, and as promised, I saw Eli standing out front with two police officers. Before I left the truck though, Jake spoke up.

"I just want you make sure you are okay, Clare. Are you?" He asked.

"More or less." I shrugged, looking at him. "I expected this to a certain extent, so it really wasn't all that surprising."

"Well, I just want to let you know that everything will work itself out. Even if Mom and Darcy don't lighten up, you can always stay with me. I've offered before, that you could, and the offer still stands. I don't mind." He explained.

"I know. I just wouldn't want to burden you. You travel a lot and you don't need your little sister on your back." I said.

"You wouldn't burden me, and I actually am going to be working a seven-month project for a building being built here in Toronto. So I wouldn't be traveling any time soon. Just think about it okay? It's an option if everything gets too hectic with Mom." Jake suggested.

"I will. Thanks." I smiled before getting out of the truck. I made sure I grabbed the bag with all the phone stuff, before shutting the door behind me. I waved Jake off as I walked towards Eli.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Eli asked.

"I've had better days." I sighed looking up at him.

"Come on. Let's go inside." He said, directing me towards the hotel. We walked through the lobby, with the officers in tow, and into the elevators.

"This is a nice hotel." I commented as we stepped out of the elevator. I followed Eli down the hallway, before continuing. "Where does Adam stay? Is he at this hotel, or another?"

"His suite with his parents is actually two doors down from mine." Eli gestured to a door that we passed by. "I think he said he was going out with his parents somewhere."

"Yeah. He said that too." I nodded. Eli stopped in front of door, taking a key card out of his pocket to slide into the slot. He let an officer go through first, before gesturing me to go.

"Welcome to my temporary humble abode." He said, gesturing to the suite.

"It's huge. But isn't it costing both of your families a lot of money to be staying here long term? Although I've never stayed here, I do know that this hotel is not exactly known for being cheap or modest in any sense."

"My parents have gotten a discount, along with Adam's family. For the special circumstances." Eli explained. "So we were able to afford it. I mean my parents can't stay here forever, but they'll be fine for now."

"That's good." I said.

"Let's get you cleaned up." He directed me to one of the doors that was off the main living area. It turned out to be a bedroom with a personal bathroom. "Why don't you go take a shower right now, and we can talk afterwards?"

"Okay." I nodded in agreement. He kissed my forehead, before I turned and headed into the bathroom.

I turned on the water and let it run while I went to plug my phone in by the sink. I slowly undressed, not really seeing any reason to rush, especially when I didn't have the energy. I climbed into the shower and literally just stood there. I let the water run over me, but I didn't move or try to reach for anything to clean myself with. After a few minutes, I got tired of standing and just sat where I stood.

My mind kept replaying everything that my mom said. Everything that has happened to me the past few days. This was torture. I expected this kind of stuff from Asher and his group of hostages and workers. I didn't expect this from my own family. My mood was headed down hill, and I was struggling so much, trying to keep my emotions in check.

I had noticed the razor on the shelf in the shower when I had gotten in, but I ignored it. I had no use for it, because I wasn't really focusing on taking a full shower. It was just supposed to relax me. Of course, now with my current mindset, that razor was currently my one focus. I reached up and grabbed it, clutching it in my hand.

I just stared at it. My emotions were warring with my better judgment. My emotions were winning however. I took the razor and pushed down, dragging it across my skin.