by Sara Schoen
"You're just telling me what I want to hear," my father said smartly.
"You're right," I said with a sigh.
"You're eighteen now, Audrey. I thought this would stop once you turned eighteen; you're above some of these laws now. You're no longer affected by most of them, that’s probably why it was only three offenses this time, but it's gotten worse!" he said. He raked his fingers through his short hair, but his hair just snapped right back into place as if it had never been disturbed.
"Then why was I arrested?" I asked stupidly—I needed to learn to think before I spoke.
"You mean besides breaking curfew, which you can’t do until you’re in college, where they have their own rules, underage drinking, and resisting arrest? James caught you about ready to have sex with someone. Do you even know the meaning behind that?"
"Yes, it's a beautiful thing, and it's between two people who love each other. Wasn't mom like this when she was younger?" I asked turning to my mother, all the color quickly drained from her face. Her face was blank, but she on the verge of tears. I must have really upset her this time.
"Your mom's childhood was different than others’, Audrey."
"Why?" I asked. My mom seemed to be fighting to hold down her dinner.
"That's not important right now. Right now, we have to worry about your behavior. You're supposed to be setting an example for Kate, but instead you're acting like a common criminal. You need to straighten up, and no more seeing this kid that was ready to take advantage of you while you were drunk," my father said as he got up to take Kate back to bed.
"I've been seeing him for over a year! You can't just tell me to stop!"
"You've been what? That's illegal, Audrey if he’s younger than you!" Dad spat at me.
"It wouldn't be if Anna Cowles hadn't been so stupid to get herself kidnapped!" I yelled back at him. “She’s the reason these rules even exist!”
"It wasn't just Anna, Audrey!" My mother said forcing herself from her chair. At least now she had color returning to her face, too bad for me that color was red from anger. "There were twelve other girls before her that were taken! She's the only one that escaped and made it out alive."
"If she had died-" I started, but my mother quickly interrupted me.
"Then another girl would have gone through what she did, and maybe even a few more after that! Eventually he would have been found, and these rules may still be in effect. These regulations were made to protect you, and whether you like them or not they are here to stay! Now go to bed—I don't want to see you for the rest of the night!" my mother yelled, shouting at me for the first time in my life. I knew I had disappointed her, and it crushed my heart, but I didn't regret the choice.
"Fine," I said sourly, as I briskly walked out of the room and upstairs to my bedroom.
I didn't look back when my father tried calling me back downstairs. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. He would take my mom's side like always, even if she was wrong.
They had showed me just how much love can mean in a person's life while growing up, because they always stood together. They had been together for almost twenty years, and their love had never died. I had watched them every day when I was little, just praying I would find someone who cared for me like they cared for each other. They were both so overly cautious, though; I'm amazed they even decided to date each other by how guarded they were.
Their childhood must have sucked, but I wouldn't know since they didn't talk about it. I couldn't get my grandparents to tell me about them as children. It was as if their childhood years, my father from the age of ten until he was nineteen, and my mother from sixteen to twenty, was a total blank. I couldn't find pictures or get anyone to talk about them; it was like it never happened, but everyone would tell me how happy they were together. It was easy enough to see just by the smiles on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes when they talked about each other. They truly loved each other, but I didn't think that love was passed onto me. They hated that I didn't follow the rules; they were too over protective and overbearing when it came to me.
What had I done wrong? Nothing. So why were they punishing me by preventing me from being with friends and having a boyfriend like a normal teenager? It wasn't my fault. It wasn't any of our faults; it was Anna Cowles' fault, but my mom was right. If Anna hadn't been the one to escape, then someone else would have been taken, and eventually one of them might have escaped. The rules would have been made either way, one day, or Steve Bennett would still be out there. That thought sent a shiver down my spine.
I realized how wrong I was. I was acting out against the laws because they were unfair to teens, but it wasn't Anna's fault. She was just the push for it that people used so the laws could pass. She was a front, not the reason.
"Fine, I'll just apologize, and everything will be okay again. Then I can go back to hating these stupid laws and Anna Cowles," I said to myself as I forced myself out of bed.
I glanced at Kate's closed bedroom door and sighed. I did need to be a better example, but once she grew up she would realize why I was acting like this and probably react the same way. The laws were unfair, overbearing, and insane! They didn't make any sense as to how they would protect me. Most didn’t seem to connect to the string of kidnappings, they were just another excuse to box teens in. They should have known that strict laws make for sneaky kids.
I was careful to avoid any of the squeaking stairs as I made my way back downstairs, just in case they had fallen asleep after they took Kate to bed. I lightly curled my toes into the carpet and let a small smile tug on the corners of my lips. I loved the carpet, it was warm and soft, unlike the tile or hardwood flooring that covered my friends’ houses. My mother was always adamant about not having hardwood floors, I'm not sure why, but at this moment I didn't care. The carpet was welcoming as I took a deep breath to gather my courage.
I was about to step out to see my parents when I heard my father talking. “We can't tell her what happened. It won't change her mind about the laws, and it will only change her perspective on us. Anna Cowles has been the fall guy for years, and used to push for these laws. Even our daughter blames her for the laws that others claimed would help, but they haven’t. These laws don’t make any sense, but if we tell her that, she will think it’s okay to keep getting arrested. She will continue to put herself in danger, and that will cause something bad to happen."
"I didn't support those laws though, Garrett," my mother responded. There was an edge in her voice that made me cringe, she was about to cry again.
"I know you didn't, but your recovery was the push point. My name doesn't come up nearly as much because of how long I was gone. You were the one that told the story, so subsequently, you are the one that is well known for it."
"You should have told it," my mom said with a sad sigh.
"I was only a witness, you were the main individual that was needed to put Steve behind bars."
I poked my head around the corner to see him holding my mother. The mention of the Steve Bennett case increased my curiosity. They were talking as if they had been there for it, but they had always told me they didn’t live in Virginia, and they didn’t know Anna Cowles either.
"I'm glad you were there through it all. I couldn't have done it without you. I love you, Garrett."
"I love you too, Anna, but I think you could have done it if I hadn't made it through the beating. You were stronger from the experience, and while my loss would have hurt, you could have done it."
"Maybe, but then no one would come within ten feet of me. No one would want to date me after being kidnapped and defiled,” my mom said with a light laugh in her voice.
"They wouldn't know what they were missing then, because you're an amazing person and an even better wife. Even if you wouldn't let me name one of our daughters Kelly," Dad said with a laugh as my mom slapped him on the back of the head.
"That's not funny," Mom stated with a giggle.
"It made you laugh, so I th
ink it's funny."
"You always made me laugh, even when I was trapped in that house and we were screaming down each other's throats."
They laughed about old memories as I started to connect the dots. Did she say she was kidnapped and trapped in a house? My father had said she was the main witness. She said that she didn’t advocate for these laws. I shook my head trying to get rid of the thoughts that my mom was Anna Cowles. My mom's name was Anna Williams until she married my father, then it became Anna Thomas—unless she changed it so she could move out of the area undetected. Why else would she have been the reason Steve was put behind bars? Could my mom be the Anna Cowles?
"Are you Anna Cowles?" I asked, emerging from behind my hiding spot.
"Audrey, we thought you were in bed," my mom said, avoiding my question.
"Are you Anna Cowles?" I asked, repeating my question.
"Audrey, we didn't want you to know because it would affect how you saw us. We wanted you to have a normal childhood, one that we didn't have. In this case ignorance was for the best,” my father said, taking over the conversation.
"You lied to me?”
"We did it in your best interest! Did you want to know that Steve Bennett took your mother from a public park in broad daylight and shot two people? Did you want to know she was tortured and there was nothing anyone could do about it? What good would that have done you?"
"I'm the child of the Anna Cowles! The girl that was forced into a psychopath's home because she didn’t fight?" I blurted out in anger and betrayal.
"Audrey!" my mother shrieked.
"I hate you, and I never want to see either of you again!" I screamed as I ran out of the house. I heard their calls behind me, but by the time I was down the block I knew I was free. I had nowhere to go for the night, though; it was against the law to go over to friends’ houses this late. Their parents would call the police on me, and I’d be taken right back home—but if I'm going to break another law tonight, it's going to be wiping my memory with alcohol.
I cut through yards and made my way downtown where Mark took me to get my first drink. They didn't check identification, and I was able to get a few drinks pretty easily. I didn’t think about getting home afterward, I figured I would make a new friend while I was out anyway. I might as well get tipsy so I could flirt my way home.
"Give me one," I said to the bartender. He slid a beer my way, and I grimaced. I hated the taste, but it was all he would dish out to underage kids. It was against the law, but he got paid by every teen that came here and probably made more money like that. I gulped down the beer, knowing it would take a few more, but eventually I lost count of how many I had had. By that time the bartender had told me he thought I had enough and I was caught off.
"Do you want me to get you a ride home?" the bartender asked.
"I got her. I'm sure she won't mind," a deep voice said from behind me. I swiveled my chair and turned to see a handsome man in his early twenties with jet-black hair and light tanned skin. His smile was breathtaking, along with his enticing scent of fresh rain and flowers. It brought a smile to my lips.
"I wouldn't mind at all. I'm Audrey Thomas," I said, as I almost tipped out of my seat.
"I'm Damien Clark. Now let's get you home before you pass out," he said with a light chuckle that made me swoon. Or maybe that was the over-consumption of alcohol.
He wrapped his arms around me as he assisted me to the ground so we could walk out together. I ended up mostly leaning on him before he put me in his car and drove off. I watched as the streetlights faded away and were quickly replaced by trees. I didn't notice I wasn't going home until it was too late. He didn't even ask for my address—instead, I was going somewhere much more sinister, and I could only hope I would make it out alive.
Chapter 3
Sunlight hit me in the face. I moved to get away from the light, and my arm hit something solid. I shot up to see that my arm had hit Damien’s bare chest. At first I was confused. How had I gotten here, and why I was with him? Then I remembered the bar, the drinking, and the amazing sex we had last night. He had been masterful and was pleasing to both my body and eyes.
So much for being a one man kind of girl; I was sure Mark wouldn’t have asked me out after last night anyway. Too much happened. It was overwhelming, and Damien had been there when I needed an outlet.
As I looked at him, I could still feel the need to mold my body to his and feel his lips on my skin. He looked so peaceful sleeping, so mouth-wateringly handsome and seductive as when I met him in the bar. A small moan escaped my lips as I pictured him over me again. His eyes focused only on me as if I was the most important thing in the world.
“Careful, if you keep thinking about it I won’t be able to restrain myself,” he said in a hazy voice.
His eyes fluttered open to reveal the stunning icy blue that had captivated me. Damien rolled over and wrapped his arms around my small frame to pull me toward him. I felt his lips trace the shape of my jawline as he pulled me on top of him. His naked form pressed against mine as he hugged me tightly.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he growled seductively in my ear.
“Hey yourself, handsome.”
Damien moaned slightly as a smile spread across his face. He tangled his fingers in my hair to pull my face to his again. His lips found mine easily, and in a few seconds the kiss turned heated before he pulled away.
“You are just so lovely. It’s such a pity that I have to take you home,” Damien growled, tracing his fingers down the curves of my body.
“I don’t want to go home.”
“Why not? What would send such a beautiful young lady running to a bar for comfort?”
“My parents spent eighteen years lying to me about who they are?”
“What do you mean?” Damien asked, as he kissed down the length of my neck.
“My mother is Anna Cowles, and my father is Garrett Thomas,” I spat, as Damien continued to kiss a trail up my neck. He paused for a moment, the names must have shocked him—they were well-known.
“I’m sure they just wanted to keep you safe.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want to go back. It’s her fault the laws are like this; she was too stupid to take care of herself.”
“Well then, what do you want to do, Audrey? We are kind of close to your home, and I have to take a trip today. I can’t just leave you here to fend for yourself. What if someone came along to kidnap you?”
“I could defend myself,” I stated proudly.
“Not all of the people that mean you harm make it so obvious,” Damien said, before he kissed my lips.
“Well, were are you going for your trip?”
“I have to visit a family friend’s home. He is away for a while, and I have to make sure his house is in order for his return.”
“Could I come?”
“You want to come? Don’t you have school today?” Damien teased, as a smirk curved his lips.
“I do, but I can skip.”
“You’re worried your parents will show up to talk to you, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I stated honestly, as he toyed with my hair. I watched as he closed his eyes to think it over. He relaxed, showing off a square face and strong jaw—he truly was such a handsome man.
“I would love for you to come with me, Audrey. Just let me get ready, and we'll be on our way.” I watched him pull on a pair of jeans and a blue plaid, button-up shirt. His icy blue eyes were watching me in the mirror the entire time.
“Would you like to shower? I don’t know when we will be back, but the water there is shut off, and you may not be able to shower for a while.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
“I’ll put your clothes in the wash so you have something clean to wear,” Damien answered as he left the room, giving me one last kiss on his way out the door.
I smiled as I walked into the shower and rinsed off. The shampoo foamed in my hands as I scrubbed away the conversation with my parents last ni
ght. The water wrapped me in a protective covering, as I tried to understand their choice to lie to me. I watched the suds slowly run down the drain as I decided I needed more time away from them to think about it.
I hadn’t realized how long I had spent in the shower until Damien knocked on the door. “You’re clothes are dried. Whenever you’re ready, breakfast is downstairs,” he said, as he laid the clothes on the sink and closed the door behind him.
I shut off the water as my reply and stepped out of the shower. I quickly dried off and pulled on the skinny jeans over my damp legs. They snagged in a few places due to the moisture, but eventually got into place. The t-shirt pulled over easily and I was out the door before Damien could come to knock again.
I raced down the stairs and started eating quickly so he wouldn’t leave without me. If he did, I would either get arrested or have to go to school, but both would take me straight to my parents.
“You know you’ll have to see your parents again one day, right?”
“I will hold off on that for as long as I can,” I stated, as I thought about how they must have felt waking up this morning and seeing me gone. They had probably called James, and he would be out searching for me. I needed to get out of town for a while. I could do that, I was old enough to take care of myself. I just needed Damien to get me out of town, and then I could come back when I was ready.
“You eat, and I will pack up the car.”
“Is it a long trip?”
“It’s about an hour. It’s not far, but I still have to put some stuff in the car. Just eat, and I will be ready in a few minutes,” Damien said as he kissed my cheek.
I sat silently and thought over what had happened with my parents. I felt bad for yelling at them and saying I hated them. I didn’t mean it; I was angry. They would understand when I got home. Every time we fought I ran out and left for a few days, then I was punished and it went back to normal. I’d go home after this trip with Damien—something fun before I get grounded again.
