51
Ava’s POV
“Holy Hell! Are you okay?” Travis frantically asked. I rolled my eyes at him being so dramatic, “I need money to pay for the cab.” I said.
“I will worry about that, you need to get inside and sit down.” Travis said, reaching for my shoulder.
I flinched at the movement and shut my eyes; I slowed my breath and reopened my eyes to meet a very confused Travis. I shook my head and went inside the house, sitting down on the sofa.
A few moments Travis came back from paying that taxi driver. He walked into the living room and sat across from me, I watched as he looked me up and down, worry in his eye.
“Ava, what the hell are you okay?” He asked cutting his head down and sounding like he was on the verge of tears.
“Travis stop being over dramatic, I am fine.” I replied, trying to comfort him.
Travis looked up at me and shook his head, “Have you seen yourself?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes and tried to crack a smile, “Wow thanks for telling me I look good.” I replied.
“Come on the bathroom is down hallway, first one on the right.” He told me.
I looked at him trying to decipher if he was being serious or not, he was being serious. I got up from the couch and went to the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror.
I gasped at my reflection.
My cheeks were hollow and stripped of color, my lip was purple with a small cut on it, it looked like I had stitches by my eyebrow causing a slit in my left eyebrow, my eyes had bags under them and my right eye had a hint of purple. My neck had the blue imprints of Sylvester’s hand, I brought my hand too my neck and flinched when I remembered what had caused it.
On both my wrists there were black bruises from the chains being so tight, I could only imagine my ankles were the same.
I slowly lifted my hospital gown to expose my stomach, my eyes widened in horror. My whole stomach was black and blue, covered in bruises.
I held my breathe trying to calm myself but failed when my chest let out an unbearable pain. My eyes started to water and I broke down in tears and screams. Sylvester had come back, even though I had spent years trying to get away from him, he had found me.
I would never be able too escape him, each mark was a reminder of how weak I truly was. I would have to be reminded every day of how much I really meant which was nothing.
“Ava!” Travis shouted, barging into the bathroom where I was now curled up in the corner.
Travis walked towards me but I only tried too scurry into the corner more so I wouldn’t be close to him. “Charis.” I managed to whisper in-between my sobs.
I hated myself for pushing Travis away but I couldn’t be around someone or anyone even slightly similar to Sylvester.
Travis understood and walked out of the bathroom too get Charis.
“Ava, hey it’s okay.” I heard Charis cooed.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
I managed to stop my tears long enough to look at Charis and let her come neat me. I felt her arms go around my body and I cried and cried into her shoulders while she rocked me back and forth, telling me that it was going to be okay.
I managed too slow my breaths and stop the tears from flowing down my face. Charis pulled away, allowing me too slowly stand up and gather myself.
“Ava I am here to talk about what happened.” Charis said. I found comfort in her words, she didn’t ask if I was okay or what happened but instead letting me know that she was still my friend.
“Thank you, Charis. I just need a few things and then I will be out of your way.” I said, managing a small smile.
“Ava, I think you should stay here.” She replied, looking at me concerned. I shook my head and hugged her before exiting the bathroom and walking into the living room where Travis was.
“Hey, Blue.” I said, walking over to where Travis was sitting.
“Hey, Shortness.” Travis said, removing his hand from his hands and looking up at me.
“Can I just have a change of clothes and some money? I promise I will pay you back.” I asked, putting my hand on his shoulder in comfort.
“Ava, are you okay?” Was all he said, looking back down at the floor.
“Travis of course. What’s wrong?” I asked, confused on why he was acting so strange.
“What’s wrong? Ava you just showed up too my house looking half dead and in a hospital gown and not with Andrew… Did he do this to you? I swear to God I will kill Andrew if he laid a hand on you.” Travis shouted, getting up from the sofa.
“No, No Andrew didn’t do this to me… certain stuff happened and I will tell you about it but I need to get back too Andrew to clear a few things up. I just need some cloths and enough money for a plane ticket.” I explained, pulling him into a hug.
Travis was taken back from my response and my sudden movement but reluctantly hugged me back after a few moments. “I just care about you and you scared me. I am sorry.” Travis sighed.
“Don’t be sorry. I am going to be okay, like I always am.” I replied, pulling away from the hug.
“Alright, Charis has cloths here and you can use my jet.” Travis said, walking too Charis who was just coming out of the bathroom. “And when you’re ready, I will be here to talk about what happened.” He continued.
I nodded my head and watched Travis look down at Charis, telling her too get some cloths for me.
I smiled at the utter affection he showed for her just by looking at her, he was so in love with her even if she didn’t know it yet. I thought back too Andrew and wondered if he looked at me the same way… did he love me?
Did I love him?
That was just another thing I would have to figure out when I saw Andrew. I needed to make sure that Sylvester was just playing with my head and Andrew didn’t really sell me.
I trusted him and was almost positive that he didn’t but I just needed to make sure.
“Ava.” I heard Charis say, bringing me out of the thoughts. I looked at her and she gave me a pair of sweatpants, a red tank top and a black jacket with some sneakers.
“Thank you.” I replied, grabbing them and racing into the bathroom to change. I refrained myself from looking in the mirror again, not wanting to have another panic attack.
Once I had completely changed I walked out of the bathroom and back to the living room where Travis was waiting to take me to the airport.
“Bye Charis, I love you and have fun with Travis.” I smirked, hugging her.
“Shut uppp, and I love you too. Please be safe.” She replied. I nodded and turned too Travis.
“I am ready to go and you really don’t have too let me use your jet, a normal plane is just fine.” I told Travis, walking up too him.
“You’re lucky I am not coming with you. Charis and I have to go too South America for some business later today so you’re lucky you caught me when you did.” Travis said, walking too the door and getting into his car.
My eyes widened as I followed him out the house and into the car. I knew Travis and Charis would be in LA for 2 weeks the day of my birthday because they talked about it at the bakery. So if they were leaving today that meant that it had been 3 weeks since I was taken… 1 week with Sylvester and 2 in the hospital.
“Fuck” I thought to myself.
“You okay, shortness.” Travis said, already driving us to the airport.
“Yeah sorry, just thinking.” I replied, looking out of the window.
I heard Travis murmur something but I ignored it and continued looking out the window until we arrived at his jet.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay you.” I said, getting out of the car and walking up to the prepared jet.
“Just take care of yourself. I am really worried about you, shortness.” Travis sighed, embracing me.
“I promise I will. I just have to take care of a few things but I love you and I will be safe.” I said, wrapping my arms around him.
“Okay call me if anything happens.” Travis said, pulling back and placing a kiss on my forehead.
“I will. Oh and if you break Charis heart I will kill you.” I said sarcastically but seriousness laced in my voice.
“I won’t.” Travis said, laughing.
I waved him goodbye and walked up the stairs into the plane. I gasped at how big and luxurious it was leather seats on each side, wood walls, gold accents and what a few rooms further into the plane.
“We will be taking off soon miss.” A stewardess said, motioning me to sit down. I complied and sat down in a very comfortable seat, relaxing my body.
A few minutes later we took off and I finally realized how utterly exhausted my body and mind was.
I didn’t ever have time to realize what Sylvester did too me and my body or what I did too him but by the time I thought about it I was already slipping into a deep slumber from the exhaustion
“We are here, Miss.” I heard someone say, making me wake up. I looked around me and saw the stewardess tapping my shoulder.
I nodded and got up from my chair and exiting the plane, since I didn’t bring any belongings. I let the cool air of New York calm me, closing my eyes and inhaling the sharp air.
The sky was dark but the lights of the city in the distance made it enough for me to see where I was going. At the bottom of the jet stairs there was a black SUV waiting for me.
I walked over too it but was stopped when the driver got out of the car and pointed a gun at me.
My eyes widened but I stood my ground, after what I had been though did a gun didn’t scare me. I raised my eyebrow challenging him; his face went from a scowl to a smirk obviously enjoying my reaction.
I lunged towards him and kicked the gun out of his hand, disarming him. His surprise gave me an opportunity and I took it, punching him in the jaw and then kicking him in his knees making him fall to the floor.
“Melissa taught me well.” I thought to myself. I looked down at the man who was on the floor, giving me a chance to observe him.
He was far from small but not too big, giving him an advantage in the fact that he could be quick. He had a tattoo on his neck and his eyes were a dark grey.
“You’re hot, I almost don’t want to kill you.” He said, laying on the floor but kicking my legs out from behind me, causing me too fall on my ass.
“But my life depends on it.” He continued, standing up and grabbing the gun that was on the floor.
“Who wants me dead?” I thought, getting up off the floor to face the man again.
“Maybe I can get it out of him?”
“Who sent you too kill me?” I asked, standing up in front of the man and the gun pointed at me.
“I had him right where I wanted. I just needed him to answer the question then I could kick his already hurt knee causing it to shatter. He would then fall to the floor but try to grab my leg with his hands but I would only break both his wrists and then shot him. Ending his misery.” I planned out to myself.
“I guess you should know and since you put up a fight I will end you slowly.” He smirked almost laughing. I clenched my fists together trying not to kill him before he gave me an answer.
He looked back at me, dead in the eye and replied, “Andrew Jayson.”
My whole body froze in horror and didn’t have time to react when he aimed the gun at my stomach.
Boom.
Boom.
I fell to the ground after he shot me twice, holding onto my stomach that was now bleeding out. I watched as the man took a picture of me and returned to his car, racing off. I took my hand off my wounds and placed them on the floor, I rested my head on the ground and looked up at the dark sky, unable to see the stars.
I had always felt like a star in the night, a light that was surrounded by darkness… fighting it off and always shining but now I felt nothing. I had no light, no hope, nothing.
Andrew had me killed, he wanted me dead. It was all true, he did sell me… I trusted him with my life and he betrayed it.
“I loved you Andrew… why?”
Was the last thing I thought before I died…