A dreamy soul

Chapter 5 - Unanswered Calls

Elle POV

The next day, after a restless night, I sit down on my couch looking at my phone. With a thousand thoughts running through my head, and a stomach full of dread, I am stuck at an impasse. I do not know what to think, do or feel right now.

Did he find me? Is something wrong with mom or dad? Is he still looking for me? These thoughts are going by so fast that I feel nauseous.

I finally build the courage to call Andrea and ask her to come over.

I know that this conversation will be difficult, but I am too afraid to do this on my own.

Andrea knocks on the door and I let her in. She sits on my couch and looks at me bewildered.

"Hey, what's going on? It sounded like you were in a panic!"

This is when I take a deep breath and start talking. I tell her about everything. The romance, the abuse, the running, my parents, the missed calls, everything.

When I am done speaking, she just looks at me with tears in her eyes and she pulls me into her arms.

"Oh my goddess, Elle, why haven't you told me any of this before? I could've helped you."

I start to cry. Sobbing I tell her.

"I'm ashamed. It's my fault I stayed there and didn't see the signs sooner. I'm the one that fell for his charm. I don't know what to do. I am so lost and afraid."

"Okay so... 1. It's not your fault. Don't ever think that you are to blame for his despicable actions. I'm with you on this. Now this is what we are going to do. You are going to stay with me for a few days and leave your phone with me. I will answer the phone for the next while. When we figure out who is calling/trying to get ahold of you, we will think about what we are going to do next. Got it?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to impose on you. I know you have a lot on your plate right now with the bar and everything. I would hate to make things more difficult for you."

"No making things more difficult for me would be you not coming. Because then, I would be worried about you all the time. I happen to know for a fact that Vincent likes you and if he ever found out I didn't protect you, I honestly think he would have my head on a silver platter." Chuckling, she gets up, grabs my hand and pulls me to the bedroom to pack a bag.

30 minutes later, we are walking out of my apartment heading to her home.

___________________________

There has been nothing eventful that happened over the last week. Vincent came to visit me at work, and he also walked me back to Andrea's every night.

However, if there hasn't been anything eventful, that also means that there haven't been any other phone calls from the un-listed number.

Discouraged, I decided to bake something. While I am pulling the cake out of the oven, Andrea barges into the house.

"Elle, Elle, ELLE, she runs towards me in a panic."

Dropping the pan I reply "What's going on Ang"

She is holding the phone out to me.... "They called it's your mom and dad, hurry take it"

Excited, I answer the phone, "MOM? DAD?"

I hear them on the other line. "Ella, you need to listen, it's an emergency. There is a PI that has been hired to look for you and the guy has been sniffing around the house and neighbourhood. He let it slip that he was close to finding you, he knew you went to British Columbia. How he figured it out we don't know, but we are on a burner phone that he can't trace but we are worried about him finding you. We had to warn you! He is doing everything in his power to get you back. Maybe it's time to change locations again."

"No, Mom, as scared as I am I cannot keep running. I will make sure that I have some form of security. I can't keep going on always looking over my shoulder. God, I wish he would just give up."

"Ella, baby, it's become an obsession. He won't let you go quietly." sighs my dad. "If you're going to be staying put, maybe its time for you to get some self-defense lessons."

Andrea perks up and says "ACTUALLY Mr. and Mrs Adler, we have what's called "warrior" training here in town. It's probably too advanced for you right now, but, I know the teacher and he would love to help you out."

I look at her puzzled. My parents both replied in unison "YES! Thank you so much Andrea, you are such a great friend to our girl."

Andrea smiles and says "Not a problem, honestly she's like the sister I never had. I will set everything up for later this week"

After our emotional goodbyes, I tell my parents I love them both and they assure me that they will be in contact shortly. I hang up look at Andrea and start to cry. I give her a big hug, and she holds me tight while she coos "don't worry Ells, we will make sure your safe again."

After I calmed down and started to doze off on the couch, Andrea picks up her phone and dials a number. I hear her speak in the distance. "Hey, it's me, Elle needs your help." Before I could ask her who she was speaking to, I fell into a deep slumber.