CHASE
17

Five days. Five days and I hadn't saw Chase. I had been released from the hospital a day ago and mum spent the entire day pampering me. It was nice while it lasted but I knew I had to go back home. I had to stick to the decision I'd made. One last visit, one last visit and that would be it.

I listened to the silence for a moment or two, enjoying the peacefulness before I opened the door and faced my fears. I had decided that I didn't want to visit Chase anymore. He had made it pretty clear that he didn't want me to visit. Although a part of me still didn't want to believe that he was the one leaving the notes and trying to hurt me, I had to be rational. My life depended on it and I didn't want to put my life on the line anymore. Truth is, I was starting to get terrified. I felt paranoid everywhere I went, I didn't want to feel that way anymore.

Opening the door, I stepped into the room. The lights were off and I couldn't see a thing. It was in the afternoon, why was his room lights off? Not having any windows here made it pitch black and that made me feel even more aware. Tracing my hand across the wall trying to look for the light switch, I could feel my chest heaving up and down. Relief washed over me when I felt the light switch beneath the palm of my hand but that soon ended as I felt his hand on top of mine, pressing my hand onto the light switch, the bright lights turned on and I came face to face with a predatory Chase.

He was inches away from me, his gaze held a threat that chilled me to the bones. 'Hi.' My greeting came out awkward and panted as I looked up at him, suddenly hating the fact that he was so tall and that I had to crane my neck back to get a glimpse of those hungry eyes.

'Where have you been?' He sounded rough, like he was angry with me or maybe even upset. I turned my face to the side and stared at the bathroom door, not wanting to feel intimidated by his sudden closeness.

'Away, thinking.' My voice was barely a whisper, I had to close my eyes and steady my breathing to be able to get my shit back together. I almost went limp against him as I felt his fingers wrap around my throat, he leaned in closer, his breath hot on my skin. I didn't understand his actions, instead, I stood there awkwardly staring at the bathroom door.

'Look at me, Bella.' He demanded and he didn't have to demand twice, I instantly looked straight at him, not wanting to anger him any further. Clearly he was angry and I wasn't sure why. I was doing what he told me to do, to stay away.

'You're not coming back anymore.' He wasn't asking, he was stating it, like he already knew that I'd decided not to visit. For a second, I considered him being a mind reader but then I brushed it aside, I was surely losing my head.

'No.' It hurt to tell him no, a part of me still cared for him, I still wanted to help him but I knew that it wasn't worth the risk anymore. He eyed me down, clenching his jaw every so often as his rigid body towered over mine.

A smack to the wall behind me made me flinch, my entire body spasming with fear as his hand connected with the wall, soon after he walked away and paced the floor, stopping momentarily to take a look at me. My heart was breaking by just taking a glance at him, he looked a mess. I couldn't help but want to hold him and make it all go away, to let him know that I still have faith in him, that I'd still do anything to make him get better. I had to force the thoughts out of my head, I didn't want to be stupid, this wasn't a joke and it surely wasn't safe anymore. I couldn't be selfish, if anything happened to me, my parents would be torn apart, I couldn't let that happen.

'Chase..' I tried to say something, anything but he interrupted me. 'Don't' He walked back over to me, his hand on my hair, stroking it like I was a dog. 'You're all the same.' I could hear the hate in his words, yeah he hated me. I had to believe that he did.

'Go Bella.' He leaned down and left a small kiss on my forehead then took a step back, giving me space to leave. I didn't know what to do, my mind was overflowing with thoughts and I considered saying fuck it and staying, instead, I stood there staring at him, waiting for him to tell me what to do.

'I'm no good for you, go.' He turned his back to me, my eyes fell onto his clenched fists, I could see that he was trying to stop himself from something, I just didn't know what that something was. I jumped up in my spot as I heard him growl the word 'Go.' And with that, I whispered 'I'm sorry.' And left, I left with my heart in my hands, I was trembling from head to toe, it felt wrong to leave, to turn my back on him. I had no obligation towards him but in my heart, I had made it my mission to help him and here I was, backing out like a coward. I felt pathetic.

Tears rolled down the side of my face, I quickly wiped them away, I wasn't sure why I was crying. I knew that I made the right decision, even if I helped him, it wouldn't take back the things he'd done. I'd have to live with myself knowing that I took a murderer's side. My thoughts came to an abrupt stop when I spotted a familiar person from the corner of my eye. Luke. What was he doing here at the Whitley Psyche Hospital parking lot? Whatever it was, it wasn't good. His eyes were on me, watching me as I paced up to my car. Quickly getting in, I hit the gas and pulled out, when I looked in the mirror to see him, he wasn't there.

Why did I feel like the nightmare hadn't ended? Why did I feel like it was just about to begin?

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