Song for the chapter: Mercy- Shawn Mendes.

The bold letters are the lyrics of the song Ashton is singing in the background.

Present Time

Jane

"You've got a hold of me. Don't even know your power."

The sweet-sounding humming came first, followed by the sound of the guitar, playing from a distance. It crashed my eardrums, causing me to open my eyes immediately.

"I stand a hundred feet, but I fall when I'm around you."

The strings of the guitar twang all out of tune as if someone was testing it, then the melody fell back in rhythm. I was gasping for air, cold sweat trickling around my body. My nightmare came again, I was dreaming of that monster, as always. It was the same nightmare I had been having for about the last fourteen years. I was drenched in nothing but the feeling of betrayal caused by him; my father betrayed me again.

"Show me an open door, then you go and slam it on me."

I was still running around on the cold road, my feet bleeding all the way. This time, I didn't know where I headed, but it seemed as if I followed the trail of the loud music, and that soothing voice was the only hope in that horror.

Where was I right this moment?

"I can't it take anymore. I'm saying baby..please have mercy on me, take it easy on my heart."

The pleading chorus had a taste of intimacy to it, the intimacy which was now at stake; it made me want to cry. It was him. It was Ashton. It was all hitting me hard, his voice was freaking beautiful and I felt like moving my head from side to side, but I couldn't make out if I was dreaming or very much in reality; everything seemed hazy. There was darkness spread everywhere and the drowsiness kept making my eyes close but the husky voice made them open back, again and again. My body felt too heavy yet relaxed and I had no power to lift it anymore. I waited to hear him again, just to make sure I was right.

"Even though you don't mean to hurt me..you keep tearing me apart. Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart."

Yeah, that was my Ashton. I was too sure of it now. The lyrics were mocking me but I didn't care. I knew I had caused him immense pain, it was there in the way his voice cracked. This was him, I had memorised everything about him in my head, it was the only way I survived without him for so long. I rubbed my nose against the softness as a familiar scent hit my nose; I needed this, it smelt too much like Ashton. I pulled him against me and sniffed on the beachy scent even more.

***

A few minutes later, a sudden realisation made me shake my head and roar out of the bed. Ashton wasn't here beside me, but I could swear I felt his presence in the room, he was still singing the song, far away, somewhere. I wasn't able to focus on the lyrics anymore. The volume had lowered.

God, please don't let this be a dream.

Throwing the pillow away from my face and looking up at the brown, unfinished popcorn ceiling above me, I sat up on my elbows and glanced around the room. The music had completely stopped now. A small lamp was illuminating the entire room. I was on a king sized bed. It was an oval, spacious room, with an ash grey paint all over the walls -that was the only colour I could make out at that point. Clothes were dumped on the small basket resting at the right most corner along with a few suitcases and duffel bags. My shoes weren't there and a streak of panic started building in my bones. I wasn't in my sweats either, although my tank top was still covering my body.

What if I wasn't at the place I had initially thought of?

I took a sharp breath and the strong smell of the fresh paint came whirling towards me. It seemed almost as if someone was planning to renovate the entire setting. There was no mirror or a window in the room either. The heated suffocation of being in an unfamiliar place made me get back on my feet as quickly as I could.

My stomach was in knots and an overcoming fear moved all over me, making me shiver with every breath I took. I ran my fingers over each part of my body, wondering if I was hurt or not- no blood anywhere. I didn't know what else to do in that situation. My guard was up. I was too scared.

How did I get here? Was I hallucinating? Was someone keeping me hostage?

Instead of heading towards the closed wooden door, I went to the terrace of the room. Luckily, the path wasn't blocked. I slid my hand over the sheer turquoise curtain and the view outside came in sight; watching what was in front of me was the only thing which calmed my nerves even though the evening sky was mixing with the black and grey hues. The clear blue, crystal sea water moved along the pale, white sand. I had been here with Ashton before. Yes. I was inside his cottage. As much as I loved being here and my heart swelled at the safeness of the situation, my head was still mushy as if I had been drugged.

Why couldn't I remember anything?

My head hurt with all the questions which kept erupting one after another in my mind. All I remembered was asking the cab driver to take left and turn into Ashton's street then how did I end up here?

Was it happening again? Oh, my.. did Ashton see me like that? Did I sleep in the cab or something?

***

"You are awake," his deep voice caught me off guard and I shivered, taking a deep breath. The panic in my body was gone, I wanted to jump and wrap my arms around him. He closed the door behind him and I could hear the sound of smooth footsteps pacing around the room.

Ashton and I were breathing in the same room. Just us.

If it was someone else, I would have been screaming at the top of my lungs, but this was him. My Ashton. The one I trusted. It was all I had dreamt of for the past couple of days, I was dawned to him. I hated that I flinched, I no longer wanted him to feel as if I needed any sort of distance from him. He had me wrapped up around him and I couldn't even stop my heart from desiring Ashton so fiercely. He made me feel wanted. Maybe loved too.

I knew this moment was too real. I closed my eyes and turned around, the nervousness was still present in the way my body moved. This was the person I had fallen deeply for; the sight of him made me want to get down on my knees and weep. I almost burst into tears for the way I ached for him, he was the only light in my life. Everyone else had left me behind, except Ashton, who was ready to fight for me. He was still here, knowing how venomous I could be.

There he stood wearing a clean, white button down shirt. The shirt was barely covering his rippling abs, he was perfectly handsome and muscular even in the dim light. He hadn't shaved in long and his frown line was deepening; it was all I could tell in this much exposure of light.

Ashton was leaning against the closed door, as if he was keeping me inside, too afraid of losing me again, but then his arms crossed over his chest. The distance was too much, I wanted him closer to me without any barriers. The tension in the room kept building up and I could swear I felt as if my heart would burst out any second. That is what Ashton's presence did to you.

His sight was heated and I wondered if he was feeling what I felt at this point. He was under my skin already.

He placed a finger on the fullness of his lips, waiting for me to answer him. I was giving him too much silence but I knew what those soft lips could do to me. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I needed them back against mine. Now that I knew what Heaven felt like, I never wanted to take a step back. I wanted the warmth of his body to connect with the ache burning in me. The torture of being away from him was too intense. I had so much to tell him, to scream at him for not responding to my messages then cry holding him because I knew he would hold me for as long as I asked him to.

I had completely forgotten that I had a messed up past or that I ended up in his house without knowing why or where from. All I knew, I was with Ashton and he was there right in front of me.

I had a lot of convincing to do today.

"Ashton," I smiled at how his beautiful name swirled out of my mouth, making blood creep up my face as I pushed my distracting thoughts aside. I had a lot to talk about but no voice came out of my mouth. Then I put my hand on my heart as it beat so loud against my palm. I took a few steps towards him but he didn't move, he kept studying me with an obvious confusion lingering around his face. After what I had done, I didn't expect him to come any closer to me.

He was thinking of what to do, he didn't know why I was here. All he remembered were my cold, harsh words and it was time to change that.

My eyes met his and I could vividly see the piercing hurt in those beautiful greens, the hurt I had caused him. He kept passing me an unknown glare.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, coldly, but the care in his voice couldn't go unnoticed. I knew he was just being careful with me but I really wished he had said 'hi hope' instead. I hated that he was so distant but I couldn't possibly forget that I made him feel unwanted. I pushed him off. I had to win him back and do exactly what my heart begged for.

"Why did you come back?" Ashton asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.

"Um-" I stuttered. He immediately closed his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. Then he turned around, opening the door. The way he questioned hurt me and my entire body froze.

Why had I come here, huh? Because I need you, Ashton.

He was gripping the door frame too tightly. There was something troubling him. Was it his mom? How was she now? I knew I was too much for him to handle.

Stepping out, he almost left me alone in the darkness just like my Aunt once had. A drop fell from my eyes, my face was wet with tears. There were too many emotions growing inside me. He couldn't see me, it was too dark where I stood.

"When I saw you, it seemed like a dream. I don't know why you came back, Jane. You still won't talk. I will leave you alone now." He said in a calm tone but I could feel the anger mixed with hesitation in that voice. He wasn't giving me much- just an expressionless face.

Ashton stopped for a few seconds, I waited for him to at least look at me but his head was bowed down the entire time as if he was having trouble keeping his eyes steady on me. He was gone without looking back. My heart twisted in pain and I ran down the stairs, after him. I would fight until I couldn't fight anymore. I needed this much control of my life and that is what Ashton had taught me- to give in unconditionally.

"I miss you. I came back to tell you that I overreacted. You think I hate you now cause you still don't know what I never said. I wish I never left the way I did," I blurted out, almost screaming. He was slipping away and I wanted him near me. There. I said it. He whirled around within seconds and his eyes trailed down my body then back up in as his jaw twitched. I couldn't tell if he believed me or not.

***

Note: I changed the 2 days back part to 2 hours back because it made more sense lol.

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT. Next POV is Ashton's ^_^