6: Emergency Running

ASHLEY

I’m shocked by what I just did and I'm sure the man can see it on my face.

Not that I feel guilty, he is the one going around and kissing strangers. That is called harassment.

My eyes narrowed into slits as I moved back. The fear in mine mirrors the shock in his.

The shock dissolves into something that looks so much like anger but I don’t wait to see what it Is because I've already run down the halls pushing over people. 

I’ve never run faster with heels in my life, I didn't even know I could run with heels. Fear is a great motivator.

My lungs are burning desperate for air but I don’t stop, somewhere in my scared mind, I feel like the second I stop I’ll see him standing in front of me like in horror movies so I push my body harder, breaking my limits. 

I can feel my heart pumping in my ears but that only pushes me to run faster.

I don’t stop until I’m outside and even then I hide behind two large garbage cans to save myself from that man.

The adrenaline is still pumping in my system five minutes later, it is a good distraction from the pain all over my body.

I crouch and place my hand on my knees to support myself as heavy breaths pour from my mouth. 

I tap around my body to find my phone but it is not there. 

“Shit,” I think I left it back at the hotel.

I don’t know how I'm going to call her or even Theo or anything. Tears spring to my eyes as I realize that I am stuck here. I’m scared that if I go out that man will get to me, he probably has one of his goons on my trail right now.

If I stay here, I know she won’t be able to find me.

“Where are you Drea?” my voice comes out in a broken whisper.

I kick the hells off, not caring how much they cost or how Andrea will probably murder me when she finds out what I did.

I will move around better without them and she can find replacements for them, she can’t replace me.

I walk back towards the building ducking and dodging whenever I see a man in a suit coming. Almost all the men were wearing suits.

I must look like a shoplifter or something.

“I should have worn black,” I mutter under my breath looking down at the red dress. 

Why not a less offensive and attractive color?

“Are you alright?” a voice asks, making me jump back.

A grunt when I hit the back of my head against the wall.

“Yes,” I finally replied, looking up at him.

He is attractive, clean-shaven with soft features and blond hair that is slicked back. His suit is dark-colored with a darker color dress shirt inside. He has a lean build.

Escaping his hold wouldn’t be as easy as it looks because his arms fill the suit.

“Are you sure?”

I frown and look up ready to be rude with the hope that he would get the message and leave me the hell alone but then I see his eyes on my bare feet.

I move my legs behind me, I don’t know what I’m trying to do seeing as my gown isn’t exactly long or if it is going to help me in any way.

“Yes,” my reply is curt.

“You don’t look fine.”

My face twists in annoyance and I open my mouth to reply but a very familiar voice speaks first.

“Ashley! My God, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Andrea rushes to me and hugs me.

I wrap my arms around her, my body instantly relaxing. I inhale a deep breath and exhale. She rubs my back gently, almost bringing tears to my eyes.

“I’m sorry I left you alone Ash, what happened?” She looks up at the man. Probably glaring at him thinking he was the one that hurt me.

Andrea is not much older than me but she fills her big sister role perfectly. She may be reckless sometimes but she looks out for me and always stands up for me. Even when she doesn't need to.

“Are you hurt? Is everything alright? I thought you said you were going to the restroom.” She is still searching my body. 

She must’ve been satisfied with whatever she saw because she nodded and looked back up.

“I’m fine, it is a long story.” She nods.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Ashley right?” a male voice speaks, making me look over her shoulder at him.

Something about him looks familiar but I can't place my finger on it, I muster a smile and straighten up.

“Erm, so Ash this is Arthur and Arthur like I told you, my sister, Ashley.”

Arthur has dark brown hair and warm green eyes, a contrast to his strong jaw and tight lips. He is tall and broad shouldered and well built.

I look away from him and glance behind me.

I’m probably just being paranoid but I feel like someone is looking at me.

“Can we go now? I feel strange.” I rub my arms together feeling a chill run down my spine.

“Sure, Arthur volunteered to drop us off.” I raise my head in what I hope is a nod before following after her.

“Will you take my shoes?” I turn sharply when I hear a deep voice, only to find the man from earlier. The one that was asking if I was fine, I shake my head and mutter a small thanks.

“Are you sure? It is no problem at all.” I shake my head from side to side and he looks behind him before nodding.

“Here,” he hands me a sort of paper that I assume is a business card but I don’t take it. “The boss said to give it to you, that you should contact him so you will make arrangements.”

“What arrangements?” I ask dumbfounded. 

“Thank you,” Andrea takes it on my behalf and curls her arms around it.

He handed me my heels before leaving.

“Thanks?” It sounded more like a question than a statement.

Arthur takes off his jacket and places it over my shoulder, I look up in question.

“You look cold,” I paused, only then noticing that I was shaking.

“Thank you,” the words are a small whisper and he nods. 

His eyes on me unblinking for a moment before he rolls them, I crane my neck in question and that seems to pull him from his trance, he shoots me a smile before striding to where Andrea is standing by my other side.

That was weird.

The hairs on the back of my head stand and I turn back sharply but I’m met with darkness, the other man is nowhere to be seen and there is no one else on the street but I still feel like somebody's watching me. Creeping in.

When I turn back, Andrea and Arthur have walked a few steps away from me so I hasten my steps to catch up with them.

He leads us to a black sports car, I glance at Andrea when he opens the door for me to get in first.

I have so many questions but they can wait until we go back to the hotel.

I stare out the window at the dark night thinking of tonight’s activities and suddenly it made sense why our parents never trusted me alone with Andrea, she is the adventurous and impulsive child while I am the timid one but they also know that I would do something with her, if only so she wouldn’t be punished alone.

Like the time she broke her skateboard mistakenly and I knew our parents would be upset with her so I hid mine in the garage and said I misplaced it, or when she had chicken pox and was not allowed to go to school she made me hug her so I could get it too and we would stay home together.

My loyalty to her would put me in jail. Theo has said that multiple times, but it won’t stop me from still having her back.

“Ash?” She calls from the front and I sit up.

“Yeah?” I whisper.

“I wanted to know if you were awake, you sound so quiet,”

She’d been calling my name for a few seconds.

“How many more minutes?” I ask and this time Arthur replies.

“Five or so,” I nod and lean back in my seat again, getting lost in my thoughts once more.

My eyes feel droopy and I let into the momentary weakness and let them close only to see the man’s face staring back at me, soulless and with a raging inferno behind those irises.

Whenever grandma talks about the monster that lies beneath our skin I never pay attention to her but right now, I believe there is a monster behind his eyes.

The thought makes me shudder and goose bumps rise all over my skin, even with Arthur’s jacket keeping me warm and the warm interior of the car, I feel chills.

I seem to be in luck when I hear the car door being opened, he opens the door for Andrea and then helps her out before helping me too.

He walks us to the lobby of the hotel and stops by the elevator. I take off his suit jacket and hand it back to him.

“Thank you,” he takes it and nods.

“You’re welcome, it was a pleasure meeting you.” he leans forward and I let him hug me briefly.

I didn’t wait for them before pressing the elevator button and hoping it didn't stop halfway, it looked like it was seconds away from collapsing, just like the rest of the building.

“Hold the door please,” I only nod and do as she asks.

She rises on her tippy toes and kisses Arthur on the lips, he seems shocked if his body stiffening meant anything.

“Goodnight,” she walks into the elevator giggling.

“See you tomorrow,” his smiling face disappears from our view as the door opens.

I stare at her with my eyebrows drawn when she steps in beside me.

“You have a lot of explaining to do, Andrea Mitchell Davis.”

“Yes, yes, I know.” she rolls her eyes, the smile still on her lips.