Rory
Seventy-Five
Afew days passed since Hades officially asked me to be her girlfriend, but I was already labeling us after I came down here.
There was something special about Hades.
Maybe it was her beauty and her brains, or maybe it was the fact that I didn’t have to fight for her to love me.
She chose her feelings naturally. Hades would treat my heart the way it deserved without me having to ask.
It also terrified me. How did I love naturally without forcing it?
This would be something we would learn together.
Hades would be home in a few hours, and I knew I needed to figure some things out.
I sat on the detective's number and jotted down everything I would talk to her about. I opted against telling Hades because I didn’t want her to worry, but I knew I needed to do this.
When Hades got home, I would curl up with her and sob, but I had to take control and start finding out more about my past.
“Calloway,” the woman said as she answered her phone on the first ring.
“Uhm, hi. I don’t know if you remember me. My name is Rory er, Aurora Vincent. You handled my case in Nevada.”
I heard her shuffle things around. “Yes, Au—Rory. I wasn’t expecting a call. What can I do for you?”
“I wanna know information on my case. I can’t remember anything, and it’s affecting me now. There was a news article I read about a boy. He was found wanderin’ and talkin’ about a princess?”
“We never found out who he was. We took him to the hospital to get checked out, but he snuck out. We tried to find him again, but he evaded us. I wish I could tell you more.”
I swallowed hard. “Did you find anythin’ there? Was there any evidence of another kid there with me?”
She sighed. “If there was another kid with you, it would’ve been another girl. There were a lot of princess dresses and clothes. Jude Booker didn’t have any known children nor did he have any other foster kids. I don’t know why he started with you.”
I laughed bitterly. “Just shit luck, I guess. Abusive mom. Abusive foster parent. Life said good luck, kid, you’re on your own.”
“I’ll keep looking, Rory. Your sister was determined to find anything she could to help find out why he did it and if we missed anything.”
I nodded, forgetting she couldn’t see me. “Thank you. And there was no one else found? It was just me?”
“Yes. We had cadaver dogs search the area, and they didn’t find bodies. You were the only girl we know of in Nevada.”
“Thank you. If you get anythin’ else can you call me? If I find anythin’ I’ll let you know.”
“Of course. Take care, Rory.”
The line went dead, but there were still so many questions.
Maybe when I looked at the case files I could remember more things about what happened.
I wanted to know why I couldn’t remember it now.
My brain wanted to protect me? No. Fuck that.
I needed it to let every memory seep out and bleed so I could find out why this happened to me and who was with Jude.
My phone vibrated once more. I wanted it to be Hades telling me she was coming home to me, but I couldn’t be that lucky.
UNKNOWN
Pretty princess.
Let down your hair.
ME
LEAVE ME ALONE
UNKNOWN
NO. You are MY pretty princess. You were always meant to be MINE! And then she took you from me!
ME
Did you kill her? You keep playing these mind games with me. Be a fucking man and tell me the truth.
UNKNOWN
You’ll find out.
ME
Fuck you. When I find you, you’re going to die just like your fucking dad.
UNKNOWN
When I have you, I’ll finally have your taste…again.
Again?
I threw my phone across the room onto the couch. I wanted to know if he killed her or not. But by his cryptic messages, I was going with no. He needed Cinder to get me. If he killed her, then he wouldn’t have any leverage.
There was banging on the door, causing me to jump ten feet in the air.
I knew I was in Crestview, but I’d been here for a week and a half with no issues.
Did my stalker text me just to tease me?
The banging on the door grew louder, but when it wouldn’t budge, they started throwing something at the windows.
I scrambled to grab my phone and called Hades. I needed her to come home, but if this asshole broke in, I would stab them.
“Come on, princess, I just want to save you.”
There was banging on the front door with the maniacal voice mocking me in the distance. He was here, and I was frozen.
“Your prince deserves a kiss. I miss your taste.”