CHAPTER 24
Ashlyn
“Oh, thank god, someone’s come for us!” I grab Georgette and start dancing around the room with her. She’s not moving, and when I look up, I see a sadness settle into her big blue eyes.
“What’s the matter? I thought you wanted to get out of here?” I question.
“Of course, I do. But…but they are coming for you, not me. You need to use this opportunity and run. Run like hell Ash.”
“I promise you right now you’re coming with me. Either you come or I don’t go, we’re a package deal now.” I smile at her.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“If something happens and I can’t get out, promise me that you’ll go. You have a baby girl to think of. You can always send someone back for me.”
Tears build up in my eyes thinking about leaving her behind, but I know she’s right. I nod my head in understanding praying it never comes to that.
“Do you have a notebook? Something you can keep hidden from everyone?”
She quickly runs over to her desk and pulls out a tiny notebook and hands it to me with a pen. I quickly write down the bars address and my phone number.
“If we get separated you come to this address. You get to start your life over and I’d love for you to be a part of mine. I can help you in any way that you need.”
She nods her head as we hear the front door slam shut.
“Crap, we need to get you ready. They’ll be expecting you soon and we don’t want them to know something is going on.”
Georgette runs to the closet and pulls out a white dress that looks like a burlap sack. She tells me to quickly undress and put it on. Once it’s on I look in the mirror and can’t stop the laughter that’s building.
“I look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Where are the Ghostbusters?” I double over laughing and have to cross my legs to make sure I don’t pee.
“The Ghost who?” She questions.
“When we get out of this we’re having a serious movie marathon. All the good stuff. She’s the Man, Dirty Dancing, The Notebook, White Chicks, Bad Boys 1 and 2…” I lose my train of thought when Gwen enters the bedroom unannounced. I hope she didn’t hear anything.
“Oh dear, don’t you look beautiful.”
“Where’s my mom? Shouldn’t she be helping me get ready?” I question.
A murderous look crosses her face. “I’m your mother, don’t ever forget that. And soon, I’ll get the opportunity to really be a mother.”
Something about her statement doesn’t sit well with me as she gazes at my swollen belly. She always references my baby and never once confirmed when I asked if they expect Mr. Caldwell to raise the baby with me. She’s a wildcard that I need to keep my eye on.
“Georgette, don’t forget about the garland, and her braid better be acceptable or else.” She stares down her daughter.
“Of course, mother.”
In the blink of an eye Gwen has Georgette up against the wall with her hands around her throat. She coughs and sputters trying to get out of her hold, but this woman’s like a freak of nature.
“Don’t start dear, know your place and know it well. Do not mess with me after that stunt you pulled. I hope you enjoyed your time on the outside because it will never happen again if I have anything to say about it.” She lets go and Georgette drops to the ground gasping for breath.
Gwen looks over towards me. “Finish getting ready, you have one hour before you’re a married woman.”
After the door shuts behind her I help Georgette off of the floor. She’s still breathing hard and visibly shaking.
“Why doesn’t anyone do something about this? Doesn’t your mom or dad know this happens?” She just shakes her head no.
“She told me if I went against her she’d out my friend Victor. He’s…gay. It’s not accepted around here and it would be an immediate death sentence for him. I can’t do that to him so I have to deal with it.” Tears slide down her cheeks as I pull her head against my chest.
“This place will get what’s coming to it. Every last one of them will pay for what they’ve done.”
*****
As promised, Mr. Caldwell picks me up shortly after Gwen exits the room. My hair is braided so tightly to my head it’s giving me a splitting headache. Georgette assured me this was how it had to be.
He helps me up into the horse and buggy, yes, I said a horse and buggy, as we make our way to the ceremony. He claims my hand in his own. They’re clammy and it’s grossing me out. I don’t know if he’s nervous or because it’s a bazillion degrees outside.
I look around constantly searching for Mr. J. He has to be around here somewhere and I know I need to be ready for anything. My full faith is placed in him and I know he won’t let me down.
My feelings slightly waver as we get to our destination. Then we’re in the gazebo at the town common standing in front of the whole town and who I presume is the priest. Still no Mr. J. I hope they didn’t catch him.
I feel a tug on my hands and look up into Tobias’ eyes. I learned his name in the buggy, Tobias. If this wasn’t such a shit situation I’d think it was pretty cool he had the same name as Four. The Divergent Series is my jam.
As I look around I see a bunch of faces I don’t know nor have I been introduced to. Never when I pictured my wedding, did I think of this. Married off to a stranger in front of a group full of people I don’t know.
I always imagined a big beautiful princess dress and the man of my dreams at the end of a long aisle looking at me with tears in his eyes wondering how he got so lucky while I think the same. Mr. J would be walking me down the aisle towards that man holding my arm tightly in his own, not yet ready to let me go. Even though I’m not blood, he’s every bit the father I never had. All of our loved ones would be there watching on as we recite the vows we wrote. I’d earn a few laughs from mine because let’s face it, I’m funny as shit.
This is all wrong and there is nothing I can do about it. Maybe if I was just thinking for myself I’d be a little gutsier, make a more ballsy move to get out of here. But it is what it is. My baby girl’s my number one priority. I just stand there staring into the eyes of a man making false promises for a life that was chosen for me. Please Mr. J…
It’s not until I’m almost forced to say “I do” that I’ve lost all hope. If he were going to come wouldn’t it have been by now? As the priest starts the vows that I’m supposed to repeat, we hear a noise out in the woods.
Something gets thrown through the air and lands in the aisle between all the townspeople. Immediately something hisses and smoke begins to pour everywhere. A couple of large men that almost look like they’d make great bouncers at the bar, grab Tobias and pull him to safety leaving me where I stand. Chivalry is clearly not a top priority here. As if everything’s in slow motion, I turn around and see Mr. J in all his glory sprinting for me as the fog thickly settles over everyone. It hasn’t reached me yet when he wraps his arms around me, careful of my midsection, and starts running towards the woods.
“I can’t leave Georgette!” I yell.
In the distance, I hear her faint voice. “Go!” Cough. “I’ll find you.”
“Ash don’t fight me, we need to get you out of here now.” I can hear the struggle in his voice as he continues carrying me. I’m definitely not at my lightest right now.
We reach the woods and he places me on the ground but doesn’t stop. We’re running through the woods as fast as we can, heading god knows where. Tears form in my eyes at the thought of leaving my sister behind.
We stop and Mr. J pulls me into a hug.
“I promise someone will come back for her, you have my word. I would’ve come for her a long time ago had I known she existed.” An emotion that looks like sorrow passes over his face.
I wipe my eyes and nod. I’ll be of no help to her if I can’t get out of here. So with a new determination, I decide that we’re going to get out of here so we can get help.
“I found a hidden road that runs parallel to the town. We just need to make it to the car and we’ll be in the clear.” I nod my head and we take off again.
This dress makes it difficult to run, but I hike it up and run as fast as my legs will take me. I’m seriously happy I haven’t given up jogging yet. I’m still huffing and puffing but at least I’m not a heap of a mess on the ground right now.
A sob bursts out of my mouth when we get to the car, at the relief in knowing that after this crazy nightmare, I get to go home. We jump in the car and Mr. J floors it out of there.
“Breathe Ash.”
I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath. Taking in a lung full of air I lie my head back on the head rest.
“Can I use your phone?” I ask.
He doesn’t even answer, just hands it to me.
I dial the number I know by heart and listen for the voice I have been craving to hear over the past few days of hell. He answers on the second ring.
“Jack? Jack, where are you? We think we have a lead on where they took Ashlyn.”
“Josh.” I whisper.
And suddenly, everything’s okay again.