Follow Her

Playlist for This Chapter: Set Fire to The Rain by Adele, Exile by Taylor Swift

ONE YEAR AGO

I just couldn't keep the tears at bay. Being slut-shamed wasn't exactly very nice. Especially if it comes from a woman who's possibly your boyfriend's secret fiance.

The cab driver was a kind man in his 40's and asked me if I was alright multiple times. He even gave me tissues and asked if I wanted to call anyone, but I shook my head each time. I gave him the address to my house and he took me there.

I made sure to pay him generously as he drove off and I stood out on the street, staring at the front door. Quickly pulling out my phone from my bag I looked at my reflection and cleaned my face with wet wipes and ran my hands through my hair, bracing myself to go in.

"Oh hey you're back!" Abby came to me and hugged me then grinned. "Did you have fun?" She asked me and I forced myself to smile at her.

"Yeah uh... I have a slight headache so I'm going to rest for a while, okay?" I told her and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Okay... Um.. Ava and Dan went to see a friend and they told me to tell you." She told me and I mouthed an okay to her before going up to my bedroom. Once I was in the shower did I let go, the tears falling freely from my face as my chest constricted.

Where did I go wrong?

I forced myself out and wore a warm hoodie and sweatpants and lay down on the bed, covering myself with my blanket and crying for god knows how long, and somewhere in between this time I fell asleep.

"Dove?" I heard a knock and Ava's voice and quickly wiped my tears away, telling her to come in.

"Hey. Abby told me you had a headache so I brought you some pills and tea." She handed them to me and I took them wordlessly, popping them into my mouth and gulped down the glass of water.

I held onto the hot mug of tea, its warmth radiating to my hands and making me warmer.

"What did he do Dove?" Ava asked me but I didn't answer her.

So much and yet nothing.

"Did he touch you?" She asked me but I shook my head.

I wish.

"Did he hurt you then?" She asked me again but I shook my head.

Yes, he did.

"What happened then?" She asked me and I could no longer keep it in any more as tears streamed down my face. She took the mug from my hands and set it aside and hugged me.

I really needed that.

"It's okay Dovey. It'll pass." She rubbed my back and I sobbed into her shoulder. We sat there for a few minutes and when I had calmed down a bit did she pull away and took my hands.

"I'm your sister Dove, you can tell me anything. I won't judge you for anything." She said and I released a shaky breath and told her everything. She listened with rapt attention until I was done.

"I... I don't know what to say.." She shook her head in disbelief. "And he said nothing to that bitch?"

"No." I whispered softly and Ava scoffed.

"I knew there was something off about that guy." She mumbled and looked at me with concern.

"I want you to rest okay? I'll bring dinner upstairs." She told me and I nodded, lying down and she pulled the covers over me and went out. Just like that, I cried myself to sleep once again.

"Is everything packed?"Abby asked me while I zipped my suitcases and I nodded at her.

It had been two weeks now since 'the incident' and my friends knew all about it. I stopped going to college and took classes online. I left my job at the library and the bar where I sang. I didn't even go to Rosie's during this time.

I just stayed inside, not daring to walk out the front door. Now I had decided I wanted to go back home. To my parents. Abby and Cole were really upset about me leaving but were very supportive of my decision.

Ava and Dan went back yesterday, and I was to leave today on my car. I hoisted my duffel bag over my shoulder while Cole carried my suitcases to my car and put them in my trunk.

He walked over to me and so did Abby while I stared at the house.

"I wish you could stay. We're going to miss you so much." Abby told me and hugged me tight. Cole joined in on the hug and I smiled to myself.

"I know." I whispered and they pulled back.

"Take care okay?" Cole said and I nodded at him.

"You too. And don't forget to visit." I told them both and they laughed, while I started the ignition and waved at them one last time, and drove off.

I turned the radio on and smiled when a soft melody flowed into the car and I hummed to it, admiring the view as I drove back home. I pulled over at a gas station to use the restroom and because I was hungry and quickly grabbing some snacks, I went back and saw a black wrangler jeep parked behind my car, and a man who looked like a bodyguard was filling it with gas, whistling.

Our gazes met and I smiled at him politely but something about his eyes made a chill run down my spine and I sat down in my car, quickly driving off.

It had been nearly 15 minutes since I'd been back on the road when my eyes went to the rear view mirror unintentionally and I saw the same black jeep inching closer to me.

I ignored it, thinking I was just being paranoid and the man must be heading in the same direction. But after half an hour, the jeep was still following me and my hands started to get sweaty as I glanced in the mirror.

It was inching closer to me and I knew something was wrong the moment and I turned the car around, because the jeep turned around too and followed me back.

"Shit." I whispered and stepped up on the accelerator, my speed going well over the limit, but the jeep continued to follow, its speed increasing too.

My heartbeat quickened and I increased the speed even more, glancing in the rear view mirror every now and then. And just when I'd lost the jeep, I breathed a sigh of relief but then when I looked ahead, black cars were parked in the middle of the road and men stood in black clothes with guns in their hands.

I slammed the brakes but it was too late. My speed was too much, and the car went out of control and flipped, rolling over and landing upside down.

I heard footsteps heading towards me as my vision became hazy and I realized blood was dripping down my hands. But I couldn't move. My legs were stuck and no matter how much I squirmed, I couldn't get out and a heart wrenching pain shot through my body.

I clenched my fists in pain as tears streamed down my face. I felt a prick in my neck and the next moment, I felt myself slipping into darkness. A certain someone's face in my vision as my eyes closed and I gave in to the pain.

Help me.