***Chapter 41***

**Aria's POV**

I didn't get to eat my ice cream. I know that really shouldn't be bugging me, that there were bigger issues ahead of me that required my attention. But it did. I had thrown the full container into the freezer even though all I wanted to do was curl up in bed, cry, and eat my fucking ice cream! Breathe, I told myself. Jason was kind enough not to talk during the drive to wherever we were going, I wasn't really paying attention anyway. Today was terrible. I pushed my doctor's appointment to the back of my mind, knowing that in a few minutes I was going to be back facing Charles. I was just staring into space when I realized that the car had stopped and Jason was holding my door open. I moved to unbuckle myself, every movement a struggle as my body fought against me to not go into that building. My instincts were telling me to run as fast as I possibly could. But I knew that would be useless. Charles would always be able to find me. My throat was tight and it was hard for me to breathe. I closed my eyes, taking the moment I needed before turning to Jason.

He was standing with his hand outstretched, waiting for me to step out of the car. He didn't deserve my anger right now, but that was all that was keeping the fear back. Hesitantly, I reached my hand out, placing my cold hand into his larger warm one. I almost sighed at the comfort that seemed to roll off of him in waves. I finally stepped out of the car, moving closer to Jason so the scent of his cologne engulfed me. He closed my door behind me, I could feel the excitement and nervous energy radiating off of him.

"You ready?" he questioned, looking into my eyes.

I gave a nod, the best that I could manage at the moment. He led the way, keeping me at his side the whole time by our connected hands. Offering me strength, the best that he could right now. The arcade loomed in front of us and I could feel my heart beat pounding in my chest. Jason pushed the door open slowly, taking a glance back to make sure that no one had followed us here. I almost wished that the girls had, it would make things so much easier to know that they had my back. I rubbed my free hand against the leg of my jeans, taking what comfort I could from the coarse material.

"Charlie, you in here?" Jason called, stepping further into the arcade. "It's just Aria and me. Just like you said."

I kept my eyes peeled for any movement in the darkened arcade, the outdated game machines looming well over my head. It seemed like this place was at least maintained, since there wasn't that dusty smell in the air and I didn't see any spiderwebs along the tops of the machines. Maybe this place was only closed for the day, though I wondered how that was. But I had long since stopped questioning how A did anything, he had a talent for working horrific miracles.

"Charlie?" Jason called out again, the hope in his voice causing knots to tie in my stomach.

There was no movement in the darkened arcade and I could feel my nerves ratchet even higher. I tightened my grip on Jason's hand, leaning in closer to him. Warmth still radiated off of him, but it wasn't enough to fight back the tide of icy terror that was threatening to take over me. His thumb rubbed soothingly against the back of my hand, offering silent comfort while we waited.

"Maybe he doesn't know we're here." Jason suggested, clearly upset since Charles wasn't coming out right away.

"I'm sure he knows we're here." I replied, speaking for the first time since we left his house. I barely resisted the urge to rub at the back of my neck, not wanting to tell Jason that his brother had placed a microchip under my skin so he would always know where I was. I shuddered at the thought, but shook my discomfort away. There was no way that Charles didn't know we had come here.

There was the sound of shifting across the arcade, near the skeeball machines. Immediately, we both turned to look at the source of the noise. Near the back entrance stood a figure cloaked entirely in black, face obscured by a mask that I was all too familiar with. Jason took a step closer while the figure held their ground, not retreating yet still not coming closer to us. I moved in Jason's shadow, keeping him between my tormentor and me. The figure took a step to the side, moving so that he could see me from my place behind Jason.

"You're not wearing the dress." A clearly modulated voice rang out from the figure, but I could practically hear the frown in the voice.

My jaw tightened, fury rising past any reason or fear. I moved past Jason so that I was closer to the figure. How dare he try and dictate what I wear? He had already done enough to me. "I'll never wear that thing again." It came out as a harsh snarl that sounded nothing like me.

In a flash, he grabbed my left wrist, hand cinching down harsh as a vice. My mouth popped open in pain, but weeks of abuse kept any sound from escaping me. My instincts rewritten to be the compliant victim he crafted, terror locked my muscles in a desperate attempt to avoid the pain his fury brought. Suddenly, all the anger, all the bravado slipped back and I was that scared little girl again, naked in the dark. Jason's hand had released mine when I was pulled suddenly, but it returned wrapping around my right wrist. Charles took a step back, attempting to drag me away with him. My shoulder screamed in protest, pain ripping through the joint and shooting down my entire arm. Silent sobs racked my body with the pain and fear.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Jason asked, trying to reach out and hold me close to him.

Another rough tug made me stumble towards Charles, tears beginning to blur my vision. I never should have come. I was going back to that place and not even Jason could protect me. My legs were shaking underneath me, threatening to collapse any second.

"You're coming with me." He ordered, the natural voice coming out stronger through the modification this time.

I tried to fight back, pull away, but my attempts were weak at best. The tears were streaming down my face now, as I was held between the two brothers like a rag doll. My joints were straining painfully. I couldn't go back to that place, I wouldn't survive. Not on my own. "Please let me go. Please."

The words escaped my mouth quickly, coming out in a babbling stream. It had never worked before but begging had to help this time. I couldn't take it again. That place had nearly killed me. Those hands had nearly killed me. And that was before. When his plans had involved keeping us all alive as Ali's friends. When there were others waiting for me. Before we destroyed his memories and ran away. My vision blacked in my desperation, reminding me of his hands wrapped around my throat until I woke up alone.

"Please Charles. Please." I sobbed, trying to fight back. Jason's grip on me tightened in desperation, but so did Charles'. "Please."

I looked at the mask, the faceless visage that plagued my nightmares. The words came out on their own, any plea to save me from him. My throat was tight and air was barely coming into my quaking lungs. I couldn't go back there. I would do anything to not go back.

"I… I'm pregnant." The words broke free, a desperate hope to save me from that place. "I found out at the hospital today. You knew I was there."

My left wrist released, as though it burned through his gloved hand. The pressure from my right wrist sent me tumbling straight into Jason, slamming against him as my legs threatened to give out.

"What?"

"Rosewood Police. Put your hands up." A shout came from behind me, and any chance of figuring out who had questioned me disappeared.

All the action started at once. Police coming in, flashlights cutting through the darkness. Charles turning, ducking behind a machine. Lights and sounds of arcade games flashing on, changing constantly. There was the sound of a machine whirring on, sending out projectiles. A sharp pain in my left shoulder as something hit me. Then the opposing force of a warm body driving me to the ground, pain jarring as I smashed into the floor. Smothering weight held me down, suffocating me. Jason's smell comforted me through the quaking terror of weight pressing me into the ground, along with the sound of him grunting in pain. More cacophonous sounds as more voices added to the chaos, sounding like Spencer or maybe Emily. I closed my eyes, needing to back away from the overwhelming world. Cries sounded as someone crashed into something, more police voices commanded attention and my silent sobs consumed my senses.

"He got away." The final voice sounded, drowning out all other sounds and feelings.

The world came crashing down around me, as I lay there pinned down in the dark.

Charles was still out there. He could still be coming for me. But not today.

***End Chapter***

Hope y'all enjoyed the chaos of this chapter. Thanks to the folks who have been reviewing and leaving thoughts, it helps me review story points for things going forward.