chapter 15

Matt and Shannon sat on a bench outside of the grocery store in Greensboro for the third day in a row and watch the passes by go, Matt looking for anyone that looked like Simon. Their chances where slim but they needed to try for her sake and for Jeff’s. They had already been sitting there an hour that day and they were deeming it hopeless.

Amy and Shannon sat under a tree in the park hoping to find him walking through. If anyone saw him they were to follow him and call the others. Shannon tapped Amy on the shoulder and she looked up to where Shannon was pointing at.

“That’s him!” She said standing up.

“I’ll call Matt!” he said as he got up and grabbed his phone and followed Amy who was now in pursuit of Simon. “Matt, we got him. Yeh he’s now heading out of the park. It looks like he’s walking home. No he isn’t going to wards a car or anything that’s why I said it. But you go get our car and I’ll call you back when we find out where he’s going. Ok. Bye.” Shannon said as he hung up the phone and ran to catch up with Amy.

After following Simon un-noticed for ten minutes they stopped by a corner of the street Simon had just turned down. They watched him disappear into a house. Shannon grabbed his phone again and dialed Matt. “no.45 broad Street. Ok, see you in a minute.”

Once he had his phone back in his pocket he turned to Amy. “Now what?”

“We wait until he leaves and then we go save her.”

“How do you know she’s in there?”

“Because she would have gone back to him.”

“But why?”

“It’s kind of like he’s brainwashed her into believing things that aren’t true and that she has always done something wrong, something that deserves punishing.”

“How bad does he hurt her?”

“He used to be very bad, but after she left with us god knows how bad he must have been.”

“I don’t wanna think about it.”

“Me either.” Amy said as she watched Matt drive around the corner and pull up on the side of the road.

Shannon and Amy got into the car. “Which house is it?” Matt asked.

“That one over there.” Amy said pointing at the large white house. “What do we do know? Just wait?”

“That’s all we can do. I say we take it in shifts to sit out here and watch out for him or her to leave.”

“We’ll I think I’m going to get some food. Anybody else want any?” Shane offered.

“Yeh I do actually.” Amy said from the back seat. “Why don’t you get us all something?”

“Sure. I’ll be back soon.” He said getting out of the car and heading back to a McDonalds they had past about five minutes before getting to their new stake out place.

At ten thirty that night Leah was curled up in a ball on the sofa as Simon stood over her. “LOOK AT ME!!!!!!” he screamed down at her. When she didn’t he grabbed a handful of her hair and made her. “I’M GOING TO THE CLUB WITH MY MATES AND YOU BETTER SORT THIS PLACE OUT WHEN I’M GONE GOT IT?” he questioned her. She weakly nodded. “It’s the Saturday before Christmas and you haven’t put a single decoration up!!!” he said releasing her hair. “There had better be some when I get home!" He snapped as he turned and left the house.

Amy shook Matt’s arm and pointed to the house, the only one in the street with no lights on it. They watched as Simon walked down the street and turned away down the next street. After a long minute the four of them got out of the car. “Guys?” Shannon questioned.

“Yeh?” Matt asked as he stopped walking.

“Do you think it would be better if only you and Amy went I mean she only knows you and she probably doesn’t want strangers around her.”

“Good idea, I hadn’t thought of that. Ok. You and Shane stay at the car. I hope we’ll be back with an extra one soon.” Matt said as he and Amy continued their direct line to Leah’s front door.

Leah heard the knocking on the door and ignored it. She sat on the sofa in pain as usual. The knocking didn’t go away. It just grew louder and she sighed and slowly got of the sofa and made her way to the door. She put the chain on the latched and opened it. She gasped as she saw Matt and Amy standing in front of her.

“Leah. Can we come in please?” Amy asked softly.

“Why are you here?”

“We came to get you. We need your help and by the looks of it you need ours.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need any help. Why do you need my help?” she asked.

“Can we come in please?” Amy asked again. Leah hesitated but unhooked the chain and opened the door.

When they all were seated Amy began.

“Jeff is hurting more than ever. No one can make him do anything. He doesn’t leave his dads house. He quit his job. He’s given up on life Leah and I know he misses you.”

“He doesn’t miss me Amy. He’s better of without me.”

“No he’s not. Can’t you see that? You made him happy. And he needs you now more than ever.” Amy said looking the smaller more fragile redhead in the eye. “And I know you need him to. He made you strong, He made you feel safe didn’t he?” she asked already knowing the answer.

“Yeh he did. “Leah replied quietly before sighing. “I can’t go anywhere Amy. Simon will kill me. He nearly did when I came back here.”

“Leah you have to leave him once and for all.”

“I can’t.”

“You can Leah.”

“No Amy I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry Leah. We should have never let you go before. We’re here to make up for that.”

“Amy…”

“No Leah.” Matt said. “Look at you. You are black and blue. That wouldn’t have happened if you had of stayed with us…with Jeff.” He said sighing. “Jeff is depressed he’s on pills for that and sleeping pills. The physical beatings may have stopped but not the mental ones. They never will…unless you help him.”

“Matt please…” Leah said crying. “Please take me to him.” She asked.

Matt just smiled and Leah got up and led them up stairs. “Can you get the case from under the bed for me?” She asked Matt and he obliged.

“This is full.” He said as he lifted the heavy case out of its hiding place.

“I know. I packed it a few weeks ago. I was going to leave, to find you but I couldn’t.”

“Come on, lets go.” Amy said as she took Leah’s hand and led her from the room.

“Amy?” Leah asked. “Can you promise I will never see him again?”

“I can do that. I promise he will never come near you or hurt you and you will never set eyes on him again.” Amy said with a smile.

“I didn’t think you would leave this easy Leah.” Matt said as he followed behind the girls down the steps.

“Jeff needs me and…I need him.” She said as she grabbed a couple of things from down stairs and looked on more time around the torcher chamber she had been confined to for the past two months. “Amy? Can you help me walk? It hurts to.” Leah asked.

“Of course.” Amy said as she went straight to Leah’s side and carefully wrapped an arm around the fragile redhead. Leah watched Matt shut the door on the end of an era of her life. One she would rather forget but knew she never would.

 chapter 16

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