Six

I walked out of my bathroom and found the bedroom door open. I popped my head of the door and saw Nathaniel coming out of Claude's room. I stepped out of the bedroom as he was locking the door. I walked up to Nathaniel slowly.

"Nathaniel." I got his attention and he sighed, giving me a hug. I guess he thought I'd ran off somehow. "Can I see Claude please?" I asked my voice barely audible.

"So you can give him a key again? No-"

"So I can see he's alive." I told him what I was thinking causing him to pause. He lifted my head up to meet his gaze.

"I am no murderer love." He told me with a serious face expression. I decided to not push on it as my plan failed and I felt like I was walking on eggshells bare footed.

He took my hand and led me up the stairs away from Claude's door. He sat me on the sofa with him sat next to me. I didn't say a word out of fear, "You're being oddly quiet." He stated slowly and quietly. He made me look at him as he studied me.

"I just- I don't want to say the wrong thing.." I choked out and he chuckled. His sinister smile appeared causing me to look away and try to move away from him but his arms came round me too quickly once he saw me try to move.

"You're not going anywhere. You wanted the punishment this is the best thing I could come up with at the moment after letting you spend the day alone. I'm still angry after what you pulled so it's best you don't try to refuse me." He explained making me tense up. I gulped as he put the TV on.

He put shark week on which I knew was for my benefit but I didn't want to watch it. I turned to him, "Can we watch something funny instead?" I asked and he patted my head nodding. He brought the TV Guide up and once he saw a particular film he put that on. I smiled a little as he'd chosen my favourite comedy. It was Blended.

As it was playing I would occasionally get a glimpse of Nathaniel staring at me. It made me a little uncomfortable but I would just try to zone into the film. At one point he went and made popcorn and grabbed some cans of Pepsi for us. He gave me the popcorn and told me to eat up and would occasionally take a hand full for himself to munch on.

Soon enough the film ended and I felt almost normal again, until I remembered my best friends in the basement. I looked out of the window and stood up. I walked over the front door which was locked. Figures.

What stunned me was that Nathaniel came over with his keys and unlocked it. I walked outside and there was nothing to sit on the front porch. Therefore, I sat on the porch and stared into the corn and then up at the sky taking comfort in what I could. Nathaniel left the door open and walked inside leaving me to myself.

I heard his footsteps coming back and I was waiting for him to pull me back inside, but was entirely shocked when he didn't. Instead, he put a blanket over my shoulders causing me to wrap it round me more. I heard his footsteps walk away again and I sighed as my tears started to trickle down my cheeks.

I was really feeling the absence of home. I hated the feeling of utter helplessness. I hated it. I wanted to escape this place but I didn't know how. I couldn't leave Claude and Jeanette here, he says he's no murderer but he's a psycho nonetheless. I wouldn't trust that they'd be alright by the time I came back with the police.

In my head I was begging Axel to find me and them. He had to, he was the only hope I had.

I heard the TV back on from the spot on the porch. It was the news. I heard them talking about us, then when I heard Axel's voice I ran back inside and sat in front of the TV. Not caring if Nathaniel saw I'd been crying outside.

Axel was doing an interview with the news presenters. He was sitting in front of them as they started asking questions.

"So for those who didn't see the report of your opinion, what do you think happened to your little sister?" The woman asked him gently, I saw she was trying to not upset him.

"My sister was devoted to our mother. Our father had left the house at the same time I left for university, that caused my mother to feel the absence of us both. My sister updated me regularly on how my mother was whilst I'd phone every time I got some free time to just check on them. The last time I heard her was the day she was taken. I don't believe she ran away and it infuriates me that my father thinks that she did. I'm now more than ever determined to make it as a cop." He explained the situation and the interviewer nodded along taking everything in.

"So you were close with your sister then?"

"Very, I adored her and I'm very protective of her. It was hard for me to leave her but I figured she was with my mother so she'd be fine. If I knew this would have happened I would never have opted for university dorms."

"The future is very tricky. I understand that completely Axel, I'm a big sister myself and I can't imagine losing her. Especially in her college days. I really do feel for you Axel."

"Thank you. You really can't imagine what it's like or even think that it could or would happen until it actually does. She was so close to university too. She was supposed to send out university applications soon, so I'll do that for her. Hopefully we'll get her back before she goes to university."

"Yes, I hope so too. What do you think has happened to her friends? You're saying that you suspect your sister has been abducted then what do you think has happened to her friends?"

"Well that's what I'm not entirely certain about. I know my little sister Josaline was most likely to be abducted because of home life. Whereas her friends, I can't be certain of because I don't know what their home situation is like. They might have ran away but I find it highly unlikely for Claude."

"And why just Claude?"

"Well he's probably going to hate me for saying this on live TV... But he was clearly in love with my sister. He stuck with her through her hard times and her good times. They've known each other for years and during that time I saw the change in Claude. Sometimes I would catch him just admiring her as she talked about something she was passionate about. It was obvious he was falling in love with her, she was just too blind to see it. Not to mention she told me she didn't want to ruin the friendship."

"I'm going out on a whim here, do you think it's possible the abductor, abducted her friends?" She asked and Axel stayed quiet thinking for a moment.

"I'm only an assistant at my local police department at this moment in time. When the police start a case like this they brainstorm. What could this abductors intention be? Where was the location she was last seen? What was she wearing? Who she last spoke to, you know that sort of thing. Soon enough you start to narrow the search down, you pin a specific area and close it off to the public. I can't exactly tell you what they're doing as it's an open case and if I was to give out information on this matter, it would later become inadmissible in court. So they wouldn't be able to use that information. But regarding your question if he wants control of my sister than that would be the best way to get it. She's very intact with her emotions, she loves who she loves and that's it. I've seen her be protective over her friends and I don't envy anyone who hurts them in front of her." Axel explained and the interview smiled and nodded at the last sentence which caused me to chuckle.

"I see, she's a fiery one then?"

"Yes, fiery- I prefer fiesty. She's very fiesty, when she doesn't want to do something you have a hard job to try and get her to do it. She's stubborn like that."

"Yes she is." I heard Nathaniel mutter which made me chuckle again. Maybe I was more than he bargained for.

"Well I don't want to upset you about this topic anymore than we may have already. I hope they find her soon. Is there anything you'd want to say if she was watching or her abductor is watching?"

"Thank you. I can't imagine her having access to a TV if she was abducted but sure. Josie, you're strong and independent. You're a fighter and I know whatever you're going through right now you'll get through it. You're going to come home and be with us again I promise you. I won't stop until I find you. As for your abductor, you missed your opportunity for a trade. I'm going to hunt you down until the ends of the earth and take my sister back. You're going to jail where you're going to spend the rest of your life. You'll never see her again, and you'll be wishing by the time I find you that you'd never had taken her in the first place-"

The TV was turned off and I turned to Nathaniel about ready to complain at him but stopped in my tracks when I saw his expression. His expression was dark and frightening, I wasn't sure what he was going to do. Maybe Axel had striken a nerve in him.

"Your brother sure is cocky." He told me staring at me dead in the eyes. I gulped frightened of what Nathaniel was going to do.

"He just wants me home.." I stated barely audible. He sighed and walked over to me.

"You are home." He told me, it made me shiver in disgust as he pulled me up by my hands. He smiled at me and stroked my cheek, "I have a hobby you know?" He stated and I froze fearing the worst. I was too far into my own fearful thoughts to respond to him. "I want to show you it." He told me.

I snapped out of my thoughts and pulled out of his grasp. He wasn't holding my hands tightly so it was easy to do. He watched as I moved away from him and he walked to the stairs. I gulped as I knew there was only three rooms up there two of which I knew of. He nodded his head to the direction of the stairs indicating for me to follow him. He disappeared up the stairs and I slowly followed him, knowing if I didn't he'd get angry.

I reached the top of the stairs and I saw him waiting for me at the third door. The door I never went in. I approached him slowly and nervously as he opened the door for me to walk into the room. I walked inside and he followed me in. He turned on the light and I felt myself trembling in fear as I looked around the room.

There were hundreds and hundreds of photos of me, my family, my friends. Everyone I ever knew and met, all of the photos had me in. I felt myself go dizzy and I found it hard for me to breathe.

"Josaline?" I heard Nathaniel's concerned voice call out and I was so disoriented I couldn't think where he was. The whole room was spinning, I couldn't breathe and my legs were giving way beneath me as I looked from picture to picture. Photos I never even knew existed. "What's wrong Love? You've gone pale-" He came to my side and as I felt the contact I pushed him away instantly.

The next thing I knew I felt a hard impact with the floor as everything went black and Nathaniel calling my name worried.

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So thats this chapter! Yes, I've portrayed Axel as Timothee Chalamet cause I thought he would fit the appearance of Axel.

I hope you all will support this book as it's now going to be the only one I'm updating ♡