**Chapter 16**
***Aria's POV***
"That sounds crazy." Alison said when we told her who Charles was, she sat shocked in an armchair in her living room.
"Your dad lied to you, Ali." Spencer reiterated bluntly.
"So Jason never told you about Charlie?" I asked her, hoping that maybe she would remember something from her childhood that Jason had shared when they were little.
"No nothing."
"Your dad knew all about him, he's the one who told Jason that Charlie had to go away." Spencer told Ali.
Ali was silent for a moment before she stood up from her chair, walking over to the piano where there were photos of her as a child. She picked up one of the pictures of her and her mom, looking back over her shoulder.
"Jason used to say that there was something missing from this family." She said, before turning back to the photo where there was no Jason in sight. "I always thought that he meant him. But maybe it was Charlie he was talking about."
She set the photo back down on the piano, taking a deep breath before turning back to us. "There's probably proof of Charlie somewhere in this house." Alison told us, obviously planning on searching for proof.
"We've been through this house with a map." Hanna argued, and I was kind of on her side.
We had searched through this entire house several times, looking for things that would clue us in on what had been happening to Ali. I doubted there was anything in this house, not after all the searching we had done.
"Yeah, but you were looking for my hiding places, not my parents'." Alison returned, which was true.
We each gave a nod before spreading out to try and find proof of Charlie. I went upstairs, feeling awkward but heading straight into the master bedroom. I searched through all of the dresser drawers, felt around for creaky floorboards, and checked behind every painting and picture in the room. But there was nothing there. My phone chirped, causing me to drop the picture that I was holding. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, opening the messages to see one from Jason.
-Jason: Hey, sorry I got held up at work. I'm gonna be running late tonight. Can I pick you up at 8?-
My eyes widened looking at the time, it was already after 5 and I had totally forgotten that we had plans tonight, what with everything going on with the girls. I was afraid that this would go over the time and I didn't want to disappoint Jason.
-Aria: That sounds good. I'll see you then.-
I sent back, before setting an alarm on my phone for 7pm, so that if we were still hunting I would still have time to let Jason know. I moved on to the master bathroom, digging through the cabinets and at the lining of the cupboards, trying to find something. I set everything back to the way it was before leaving the master suite behind. I moved on to the sewing room, digging through piles of patterns and fabrics. I gave a sigh, about ready to leave the room behind when I went to turn off the light. My gaze caught on the button jars sitting innocuously on a shelf. I flipped the light back on, remembering that I used to stash money in my mom's button jars when I was a kid. I grabbed the first of the jars, opening it up and emptying it out on the nearby table. I rooted through the buttons, but there was nothing there. I grabbed the other one, pouring it out, but there was something that stuck in the bottom of the jar. I pulled out the envelope, heart pounding in my chest.
It was folded up inside, but there it was. Proof that Charles DiLaurentis existed, that Charlie was real and that he was our kidnapper. The image was of Mrs. DiLaurentis with two little boys and a baby in her arms. I felt like I was about to collapse, that it was all real. That Charles was really related to Ali and Jason, that he had hurt me. I looked at the two boys in the image, amazed how they were such night and day. That Jason was safe and warm, that he was an anchor to my sanity. And Charles was cruel. The abusive monster who came in the night and beat me, choked me, raped me. My mind stuttered over the last word, struggling to admit that he had done that to me. That I was a victim, broken. I pulled myself out of the spiraling thoughts, needing to escape, needing fresh air. I ran from the room, running down the stairs and outside to the back porch.
"Aria?" Spencer questioned when she saw me.
I looked over at her and Alison, feeling the cold night air surrounding me and relieved the panic that was consuming me. They were standing over potted plants with trowels in their hands, Ali was still digging around the roots looking for something. I never would have thought to look in potted plants, though I would never have thought to hide anything in plants either.
"I found something. A photo." I admitted, holding the creased photo out to her and Ali.
Ali took the photo, staring fixedly at it as she walked back into the house. Spencer followed her back inside, calling for Hanna and Emily. I shivered at the cold that surrounded me, but I needed the fresh air. I closed my eyes, trying to fight back the memories that were threatening to rise to the surface. I didn't want to break down now, not in front of everyone.
"Aria, are you coming?" Spencer called from inside.
"Yeah." I shouted back, heading back into the house.
The girls were gathered around Alison when I walked into the living room, all eyeing the photograph that I had found. Ali looked shocked still and I could understand her shock, that she had a brother she never knew about and that he was our tormentor.
"Where did you find this?" Hanna asked, looking up at me.
"It was in the button jar, in the sewing room."
"You're smart, Aria. I never would have thought to look in the button jar." Alison commented, she sounded far off and distracted.
"Well, it's where I hid my candy money from Mike when we were kids." I shared, remembering all the times that he stole my candy money and used it himself. Then I found the button jars, my mom didn't sew too often so it was safe from her and Mike.
"My dad should be home soon, you guys should go." Alison finally looked up from the photo, actually seeing us all for the first time since she sat down.
"Are you sure you don't want us to stay? Make sure you're not alone?" Spencer clarified, I think she had filled Ali in on the fact that Andrew was being released and that Charles was still out there.
"No, I'll be okay." Alison reassured. "I think I need to be alone for a bit."
We all gave her a hug before heading out of the house, walking back over to Emily's where we had left all our cars. It was only a few blocks away, cutting across downtown. We had walked over since it was such a short distance; also the fresh air was welcoming as opposed to the stifling air inside.
**End Chapter**
Hope y'all enjoyed this one. Let me know what you think
