Chapter 13

The paramedics had arrived with the cops and against my wishes, Mr. Carlton had me checked up before he took me home. And he seemed even more furious once he discovered that David had choked me. My throat hurt, and it hurt to speak too, so I just let them examine me so I could go home soon.

David had been taken away, and after I was given an ok, Mr. Carlton finally took me to his car, where I curled up in a ball, hugging myself as I shivered uncontrollably. I had come down from the height of adrenaline from trying to escape David, and now fear had enveloped me again.

It was dark inside the car, and David's face was fresh inside my mind again. I used to have nightmares of him screaming and hitting. His face had haunted me for years. But as Liam grew bigger and we grew closer, healing together, the nightmares had stopped.

But now he was back. I don't need to close my eyes to see his face. The look of hatred, the thirst for revenge...I'm seeing him, I'm feeling him, and I keep hearing him. It just won't go away.

I covered my ears with both my hands to try to silence him. But he was too loud. Over and over again, I keep hearing him shout, "I hate you!" You ruined my life, and I will end you!

What if he had succeeded in taking me with him. What if he hadn't got caught... I would be paying. I would be facing the punishment he had wanted for me.

I stifled a sob as I heard the car doors open, and Felix and Mr. Carlton got in the car. I tried to stay still and calm myself down now that I was no longer alone. But my shaking wouldn't stop, and I could feel Mr. Carlton's eyes on me.

Felix had started the car, and we were finally on our way home. Soon I will be in my room. I can keep myself together until then, can't I?

I stayed huddled up in my corner, trying to block out David by concentrating on the man sitting next to me.

Suddenly, something came in front of my face, and I blinked in the darkness, trying to see what it was. Seeing that it was a can of soda, I took it and stared at it, puzzled.

"It's for your face. I couldn't find anything else at this hour." He told me.

I looked at him and smiled before placing it on my face, wincing a little as it touched my swollen cheek. The coolness soon started to soothe my skin, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the relief from the pain.

There wasn't much traffic and we soon arrived at the mansion. Mr. Carlton got out of the car, and I followed him.

He walked in silently. Come to think of it, he hadn't spoken much in the car either. And he was walking ahead of me and without turning he just wished me goodnight and went in his room.

I stood there wondering if something was the matter. Maybe I had overstepped my boundaries at the elevator, hugging him like as if I had a right to. Maybe he thought I was trying to take advantage of his kindness and hoping for more.

Now I felt really embarrassed, wanting to explain myself, but as I didn't have much energy leftover from tonight's events, I decided to apologize to him first thing in the morning...

..........

I woke up to a sudden sound. Opening my eyes, I found that the room was still dark. I lifted my head, looking towards the side table, wanting to see what time it was, but then I felt something soft covering my face, pushing me down onto the bed.

Fear gripped me as I couldn't breathe. I tried screaming, but it came out muffled and weak. I was kicking and struggling, trying to get away, but then I felt a body on top of mine. Straddling me down, making it impossible to get away. I was choking and gasping, feeling my lungs getting empty, when suddenly I felt my upper body being swiftly lifted up, and then I felt myself be able to breathe. I filled my lungs until I started to cough out.

As soon as I was able to, I tried throwing away whatever was still holding, trying to jump out of bed. I couldn't at all grasp what was happening to me. All I knew was that I had to get away.

But I felt myself being shaken aggressively with someone screaming out my name, making me finally snap into attention.

I blinked a couple of times before I was able to comprehend that the room was now flooded with light. I tried focusing on who was holding me in place and saw Mr. Carlton's face, looking down at me with fear in his eyes.

"Ashley, please, it's me," he said. "Look at me. It's ok. It was only a dream. You're ok. Nobody is gonna hurt you. Please, Ashley." He begged.

A dream? I thought. I blinked, trying to come out of the haze. Trying to wake up from the horrific nightmare that Mr. Carlton said I was having. Was it just a dream? But it felt so real. My body felt weak, and my chest hurt.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Mr. Carlton kept repeating, pulling me to him and hugging me tight, softly stroking my hair. "I should never have left you alone. I knew this would happen. I am so sorry."

"What would happen?" I whispered weakly, confused. I rested my head against his stomach, trying to even my breathing so I could regain some strength.

"You had a nightmare, Ashley. You were thrashing around on your bed, gasping for air. I was coming this way to check on you when I heard a scream. I thought you were getting attacked, so I busted in. But you were here alone and struggling on your bed -"

"I'm OK." I said weakly, lying. But he looked more upset than I was, so I just wanted to make him feel better.

He plopped down onto the bed near my feet, his shoulders sagging, letting out a breath.

"I'm so sorry, Ashley." He said again, surprising me.

I pulled my legs closer to me, sitting up straighter. I tilted my head, wanting to get a better view of his face. He looked really dejected.

"Mr. Carlton? Why are you sorry? What happened?" I asked him.

"What happened?" He repeated, giving a dry laugh. "Did you look at yourself in the mirror? Can't you feel the pain? Your cheek is swollen, and so are your lips. You can barely open your left eye, and you can barely speak. I can see what he has done to your throat, too, Ashley." He said, looking at me, his eyes flashing in anger and his jaw tightening.

I touched my throat as his gaze zeroed in on the marks left on it, making him frown and look away again.

"But Mr. Carlton, you didn't do this."

"I promised Liam that I would protect his mother. That I won't let anything happen to you. That I will keep my eye on you. He trusted me, but I failed." He looked so disappointed in himself that I couldn't help move closer to him, shaking my head in denial.

"Mr. Carlton, you didn't. You didn't fail! If it weren't for you, do you have any idea where I'd be right now. He was going to take me with him. He planned on raping me and making all his men rape me! Over and over -" I choked out between a sob. Mr. Carlton filled the space between us, taking me in his arms, stroking my back while my tears spilled out uncontrollably.

"H-he was going to lock me up a-and use m-me as their entertainment." I told him brokenly. I looked up at him, placing my hand on his cheek, making him look back at me. "So please, don't ever think that Mr. Carlton. You saved me. So thank you. You did keep your promise to my son. Because of you, he would be able to see me tomorrow when he wakes up." I said, smiling up at him.

We grew quiet, lost in each others eyes, reliving what had happened and being so grateful to be able to see each other again. I truly have a newfound appreciation for every little thing in life.

"I was so scared." He said, covering my hand with his, removing it from his face. I blushed, realising my bold move in touching him. I had been too intent on comforting him. But he just wrapped his big hand around my much smaller one and stared down at our enclasped hands. Through the tingles that pulled at my heart strings, I felt the warmth and comfort of having our hands enclasped. So I stayed still waiting for him to continue.

"One moment, you were sitting at your desk, and the next, you were gone. And that's when I heard that he had disappeared. I thought I was too late."

My heart filled with guilt just imagining the fear I had put him through. I looked back up at him to meet his eyes, trying to reveal to him how sorry I was for disappearing on him like that. He squeezed my hand in reply.

"He had tricked the cops who had been keeping track of him, so they had no idea when he disappeared." He continued. "I came out and couldn't find you anywhere. I'd had all the floors searched, but we couldn't find you, so I went to the ground floor just as the cops arrived.

But then the elevator started coming down from the floor next to ours. I knew there was no one there cause I'd searched that floor myself. So I waited to see who it was. And it was you. All bloodied and bruised.

You were out of my sight for only a couple of minutes, and that happened. I keep thinking. If only I hadn't forgotten the bathroom... he wouldn't have been able to lay a hand on you.. and he would have been caught, too." He said dejectedly, making me shake my head at him again.

"Please don't." I said, lifting myself on my knees so I could be eye level with him, on the bed. "Don't go down that lane. It's my fault, too. I should never have just disappeared on you like that. You wouldn't have had to search the entire building if I'd just told you where I was going. Please don't let guilt overtake you. Everything happened for the best. I'm fine, and David is in jail." I told him, trying to reassure him. I placed my hands on his shoulders, staring him straight in the eyes.

He searched my face, his beautiful gray eyes intent on finding if there was even a trace of fear or any kind of post-trauma. I looked back at him confidently.

Talking to him had calmed me down he had spoken to me about the fear he had faced in the fifteen to twenty minutes he had been looking for me. And I felt brave knowing that I had battled my own demon instead of cowering away, letting him do whatever he wanted to me like I had done in the past. Who knows what would have happened if Mr. Carlton hadn't found me. But I knew I wouldn't have gone down without a fight. I was proud of myself today, actually.

I suddenly grinned at him, remembering how David had been lying on the floor. Mr. Carlton gave out a chuckle.

"What?" He asked, his eyes showing confusion and amusement at my sudden change in mood.

"Remember how he was lying on the floor groaning." I asked. I was now very excited, I bounced on the bed before sitting down again. "I did that. I can't believe I was actually able to send that man crawling on the floor." I said, still not being able to believe it.

I mean, in case no one had noticed, I'm not only normally a meek person, but I was pretty much a hopeless case when it came to physical activities. I would probably break my own hand if I tried punching someone. To kick him in the nuts in one try was a miracle.

I sighed gleefully, reliving my glory moment when I heard another chuckle from Mr. Carlton.

I looked up at him to see him shaking his head at me, and my smile turned into a pout as he wasn't celebrating my victory with me.

"Sometimes I wonder if you truly are a thirty five year old Ashley." My eyes widened as I was instantly offended. "But yeah, that was a sweet move. But tell me, you had no idea I was right outside the elevator. What was your next move? I know you ran, but he had a gun." He said, his voice turning serious.

"Yeah, he would probably have shot me. But that would only help me. Someone would hear the gunshot right." I told him defensively as I stared into his shocked face.

"And what if it had a silencer on it?" He asked me, making me feel stupid now for my dumb bravery, dulling my excitement.

I didn't say anything bowing my head. I heard him sigh.

"It was brave, Ashley. He was hurting you. You stopped him. And I was outside. You didn't need to get shot to get anyone's attention. But with the risk of getting attacked again due to the increase in the number of enemies, I think you need to learn how to fight." He told me, making me groan. "What?" He asked.

"Fighting is so much physical work." I complained.

"Seriously, Ashley." He said, rolling his eyes, "Tomorrow you can rest. But starting the next day, you are going to learn self-defense, understood?" He said, speaking to me like a father speaking to a disobedient child.

I pulled a long face as he left the room after giving me a satisfied nod.

I grumbled under my breath as I lay back down on my bed, pulling the covers over my head. I just hated physical activities....

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