Once In A Lifetime • Zack Merrick

Stay Awake ^20^

Elliott's POV;

I was so nauseous, I couldn't even sleep. I leaned against the wall by the toilet. The funny thing is, I didn't drink a lot. I'm not sick, and I'm not pregnant. It's my anxiety. 

After everybody had left last night, or early this morning, I was getting ready for bed. Zack was passed out already, and I was getting there, when I glanced out my window and saw someone staring straight back at me. 

I blinked, and it was like he vanished. I tried to wake up Zack, but he was out. 

It had to be my imagination, but I couldn't stop my anxiety from going through the roof. My head was pounding. 

I looked up panicked as someone opened the bathroom door, and Zack rushed in. "Babe, are you okay?" He kneeled down next to me, pulling me into his arms. 

I was going to tell him, but I wasn't sure if he'd believe me. I didn't want to sound crazy. "I got sick, that's all." I shrugged it off, but I think he could tell I was lying. 

"Why didn't you come get me?" He asked, running his hand over my hair. 

"I didn't want to bother you over something so stupid." 

He pulled back to look at me. "It's not stupid to me. I have to go home and work on some things for the band with Alex, do you wanna come with me? Anna's not here.." 

I shook my head. 

"I'd rather just stay here, and maybe sleep." 

He nodded slowly, and pulled me up. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and shot me one last worried glance before leaving. 

I sighed, brushing my teeth and stripping down. I didn't bother putting on clean clothes, as I dropped into my bed, curling up in the warm covers. 

-

I woke up to the sound of ringing, and lifted my head. My phone sat on the bedside table, the screen lit up. I grabbed it, squinting at the screen to see who it was, before answering.

 "Hello?" My voice cracked, and I probably don't sound pleasant. 

"Hey, my name is Kyla, Adam gave me your number, and said I should call you? You're Elliott right?" 

I blinked a few times, trying to force the tiredness out of my eyes. "I am." I rolled over, rubbing my forehead. 

"Well, I know this is really last minute, but would you be able to help me? It's my daughter's birthday today, and I originally made plans with Adam for him to come do some pictures, but he didn't realize he'd be out of town, and wouldn't be able to make it. He said I should call you, and that you might be able to help" She rambled nervously. 

I glanced at the clock, that read 12 PM, I had only slept for about 3 hours. "When is it?" 

She cleared her throat. "In 20 minutes.." 

I took a deep breath, before sitting up. "I'll help, can you give me the address?" I grabbed a pen and paper from the bedside tables drawer, and jotted down the address. 

"Thank you so much!" She hung up, and I pulled myself out of bed, groaning as my head started pounding again. 

I took some advil, and quickly went on to getting dressed, and getting all my stuff together. I passed by Anna, who was on the couch, and waved a goodbye, jogging out to my car.

I entered the address into my GPS, and started driving, putting down the windows to allow some air in.

I get there fairly quickly, luckily it wasn't so far away. I heard children screaming happily, and lot's of talking. I sighed, before grabbing my stuff and heading into the backyard like Kyla had instructed me to do. 

A short blonde woman came sprinting to me immediately, shaking my hand. "You must be Elliott! Thanks again for this." 

-

The afternoon goes by painfully slow, but I got the job done anyway. My brain was barely processing anything. I stood by a table that was off by itself, taking out my equipment. As a little thank you gift from Adam, for saying yes to the tour, he had given me a portable printer, so I could get pictures to the customers while at gigs.

I finish everything up just as everybody starts to leave, and I put my stuff away. I find Kyla, and give her the folder with all of the pictures I got today, in it. 

She wrapped her arms around me in a hug, surprising me. I pat her back slightly, and she lets go, handing me a check. 

We say our goodbyes, and I climb into my car, sitting there and just resting for a few minutes, before starting it up. I put the check in my wallet, and started the drive home. 

I swing by a grocery store real quick to grab a donut. I don't know why, but I've been craving one like crazy all day. 

I eat it on the way home, and soon pull up into the driveway. 

I climb the stairs, and push open the front door, surprised at a dark house. Anna's car is in the driveway, and I know that she wasn't hanging out with Aly today, so where is she? Maybe she took a nap. 

I trudged to my room, and put all of my stuff down, and went back out, heading to the kitchen. 

I swung by Anna's room first, and opened the door, revealing an empty room. I furrowed my eyebrows, before going back into the living room. Her phone sat on the couch. She doesn't go anywhere without it. 

I noticed an envelope sitting next to it, and walked forward, grabbing it. My name was written on it in very neat handwriting. 

I opened it up, and pulled out the piece of paper. 

'What you're going to do first, is call your boyfriend. You will ask him to meet, and you will end things with him. Do not contact the police, and do not tell him, or anybody else anything of this.After you end things with him, come back to your house, and you will find another note, telling you what to do next. If you do not do this, she will die. And then it will be another, and another, until you follow the instructions correctly. You are being watched.'  My heart was beating fast, and I turned the paper over. 

A picture of Anna was taped to the back, and I couldn't hold back the sobs as I looked at her. She was tied to a chair, and her face was bruised, cuts all over her body. Her usually bright eyes were dull, and full of fear, and pain. Underneath the picture were words, the neat handwriting taunting me. 

'Her life is in your hands, make your decisions wisely.'

I took a deep breath, the paper dropping onto the table. My hands were shaking as I pulled my phone out of my back pocket, dialing the numbers while tears rolled freely down my cheeks. 

"Zack? We need to talk.."

The End

-

HOLY SHIT IT ACTUALLY HURT TO WRITE THIS BUT THIS IS IT, THE LAST CHAPTER. 

There will be a sequel, and it'll probably be up tomorrow. It's called 'Poison' I'll make sure to post an author's note to let you guys know when it's up