A Fighting Chance by Annalisa Nicole Page B

Even if I have to put the damn thing back myself. It will always be the fucking brightest one in the sky. Damn sentimental old man. Ava walks up to us and closes the front door forcing me to let go of the handle.
    “Has anyone seen or heard from Chloe? I’ve been trying to get a hold of her for hours,” she says. Her words are laced with worry.
    Kyle and Amelia also make their way over to us as Asher finally releases me from his death grip. I wipe my tears, look down at my shoes, take a deep breath and look Kyle in the eyes.
    “I kidnapped her,” I admit.
    The flair of anger in Kyle’s eyes erupts before he can think better of why he’s at Asher’s house in the first place.
    “You did what?” he roars. Amelia practically jumps out of her skin, and then places her hands on his arms in an attempt to calm him down.
    “Why would you do such a thing?” Amelia asks.
    “Everyone calm down. Something had to be done. You all know it. She can’t keep going on the way she is. I have a plan and I need all of your help. If we don’t stop this now, I’m afraid this will kill her.”
    “I agree. What do you need us to do?” Ava asks.
    “Uh, hell no, you take me to her, right now! What the fuck is wrong with you? You kidnapped her? Are you out of your fucking mind?” Kyle asks.
    “Look, calm down. I think this is what she needs. I think if anyone can reach her, it’s me,” I say trying to calm him down.
    “No, I won’t calm down. I’m her twin brother. If anyone can help her, it’s me,” he says getting in my face. I calm my shit, and take a step back.
    Amelia puts her hand on Kyle’s chest and in a calm quiet voice she says, “I think Max is right. I think we should let him do what he needs to do. If he can’t get through to her, you can step in, OK?”
    “You’ve got a limited time, and I want to see her. You can’t keep her from us,” he says.
    “Oh, you’ll see her alright. All of you will. I know just what I need to do. You just need to trust me on this.”
     

Chapter 7
     
    Chloe
     
    My mind was reeling trying to think just what Max had up his sleeve. Mostly I didn’t care, but there was a part of me that wished, in some freaky, twisted way, that he finally had enough of me. That he was taking me out in the middle of nowhere to kill me and leave my body to decompose with the rest of the trash. When he kept driving and driving, I started to freak out. I have work in the morning. If I’m ever going to work my way back up to be equal with Kyle, I can’t miss a day. He finally stopped and got out of the truck, opened my door and tried to pull me in his little house of who the hell knows what he uses it for out in the middle of Timbuktu. But there was no way in hell I was going in there with him. When he turned around, took my hand, squeezed it and looked at me, I knew when I saw that look in his eyes that there was no use fighting it anymore.
    The house on the outside is nothing special. It’s just a bunch of logs piled one on top of the other. But the inside, as plain as it is, just has a charm that speaks to me. It’s simple and warm. I’m not positive, but I’m willing to bet that he built it with his own two hands. The kitchen table is rustic, and for a split second I could see myself sitting down and eating a meal at it. The fireplace mantel is spectacular. You can see all the hand carved chisel marks on it. They give it a welcoming feeling that makes you want to sit in front of a roaring fire with a hot cup of cocoa. The mantel piece alone must have taken hours to complete. It’s cool and smooth to the touch and there’s even an elaborate scrolling pattern carved on the front of it.
    Max didn’t say a word as I look around. I feel his eyes on me as he sits in a chair at the table, just watching me. These past few months of none to little sleep, all of a sudden seem to catch up to me, as I stand there frozen with my hand on the mantle.
    I hadn’t felt safe to sleep since the day Max