Followed - First Book in the 'Missing' Trilogy

3.

Riker's P.O.V.

*4 days later (Sunday Morning)*

I sighed as I made my way to Vanni's apartment. I honestly didn't know how to feel. Savannah avoided me for the last 3 days and she stood me up on our date last night. Now I knew for sure that something was very, very wrong. As I walked through the complex entrance, a horrible thought crossed my mind. 'What if she's cheating on me?' I thought 'she wouldn't do that, would she?'  I shook my  head to get rid of those thoughts. I steadied my shaking breath and tried for a smile as I reached Vanni's door. I went to ring the buzzer, but as I got closer to the door, I realised it was open. I furrowed my eyebrows, a sense of worry and dread rising in my chest. Suddenly, I heard a crash from inside followed by a scream. Savannah. I pushed the door open and ran inside. What I saw nearly broke my heart. Savannah was on the floor, surrounded by glass, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead. I ran over and helped her up. "Are you O.K.? what happened?" I asked 'I'm fine Riker, I just tripped, please just leave me alone," she said shakily  "I don't need you here,". Hearing those words come out of her mouth hurt me more than she knew. "But..." "Please just go!" "Tell me what happened here. Where did all this glass come from?" She didn't answer but I saw her eyes flick to the frame of a, once glass table and up to the window, which now had a considerably large hole in it. "Did someone break in? did someone do this to you?" I demanded, my anger level rising "N - no Riker! I told you, I tripped. N - nothing happened, I'm fine!" She was beginning to raise her voice, something she does when she's scared. "At least let me help you" I said softly trying to hep her into the kitchen. I wet a kitchen towel and began to dab at the cut on her forehead. Suddenly, she slapped my hand away. "Riker stop! I told you, I'm fine. I don't need you help and I Don't need YOU!" she shouted at me. "I'm your boyfriend, I love you, I'm not just going to stand here and do nothing. you're clearly hurt. I just want to help you," she looked me in the eyes "Well maybe..... maybe I don't love you anymore...." she said almost inaudible, almost. I stared at her, tears spilling down my cheeks, my heart breaking into a million pieces. 'What... but...." I couldn't even speak "You heard me. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore..... we're over.". She pushed me out of the apartment and slammed the door in my face. Without hesitation I turned and ran all the way home, not stopping when my siblings tried to speak to me. I went straight to my room, flopped down on my bed and sobbed.

Savannah's P.O.V.

I slammed the door , walked into my room, sat on my bed and wept. I can't believe I just did that. It was the only way to keep him and his family safe, but still, saying those words to his face broke my heart. The only part of me that was still whole. Now even that is broken. I'm broken. I've nothing left to loose. My stalker can do whatever he wants to me now. I don't care. I fell asleep, still crying, on my bed.

Later that night, I was woken up by a loud beeping noise. I shot up, realising I was in a car. my eyes widened as I saw who was behind the wheel. My stalker. "I see you're awake sweetie"  I stayed silent 'I decided I didn't want to travel to get to you anymore, so I'm moving you somewhere a lot closer to me!" he laughed like a maniac as I cowered in the back seat. I looked out the window but it was dark and I didn't recognise any of our surroundings. I made a sound halfway between a choke and a sob. There was no getting out of this now. This is my new life. Suddenly I saw a flash of something peeking out of his back pocket. An I.D. badge. My hands were tied but I managed to move around to read it clearly. Now I finally knew his name. Brian. After a few hours, he pulled up in front of an old warehouse. He pulled me out of the car and I fell on the ground. Brian grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. He bent down and whispered in my ear,

"Welcome Home Sweetheart!"