14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Ashton
I’m losing my mind. I’ve searched this entire school but can’t find Jinx anywhere. It’s been five days, and I’m thinking the worst. Did she leave us again? Did her stalker find her, and she’s lying dead in the forest? I haven’t talked to Atticus in days. I had to get away from his anger. If I had to listen to him bitch about Jinx leaving alone once more, I was gonna lose my shit. It also doesn’t help that Archie was useless and couldn’t help.
Spencer has been silent around us and actively avoiding us. It seems like he holds us responsible for Jinx's disappearance in some way. In a way, I can't blame him at all; we snatched his best friend away when we moved here. I get why he and Jinx were so close; we took her right from his side.
I send another text to Jinx, begging her to come back and I hope she’s safe knowing it’ll go unanswered. I don’t want to give up because what if that message is the one she finally answers? I move around Maddox’s dorm, waiting for my phone to ding.
I moved in here a couple of days ago when Atticus threw a glass at my head. I couldn’t take it anymore. I’ve been leaving the window open, hoping Edgar would visit, but even he hasn’t returned. My only reminder of her is her cello sitting in the corner and her clothes thrown across the bedroom floor. I need her back; my demons are slowly creeping back in, and I’m not strong enough to fight them off without her.
The dorm door flings open, and I swear if Atticus has come in here to bitch at me one more time, I’ll knock his fucking teeth out.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale. “Ace, I’m not in the mood.” I turn around and freeze. I’m not sure if what I’m seeing is true or not. I check the date on my phone and look at Maddox. There is no way he can be here. He can’t be here.
“Ash? What are you doing in here?” He walks into the room, trailed by a tall guy rocking a man bun and some serious piercings that would put Atticus' tattoos to shame. How can someone handle that many piercings on their face? The eyebrow, horizontal, eyebrow, bridge, snake bites, septum, and double nostril. I can’t imagine trying to clean all of them.
I raise my brow at Maddox and his new friend. Maddox points to him, and I nod.
“This is Wilde. I met him in rehab.” He says it so casually that I’m not sure how to act. It was five days.
I look down at my phone and pull up Atticus’ name because hell if I’m doing this alone.
Me: Get to Maddox’s room now. It’s a fucking SOS!!!!!
“Why are you in my room? Where’s Jinx?” He tosses his bag on the couch, and I watch Wilde walk around the room. I’m not sure how I feel about him. He has yet to say a word, and that irritates me.
“Can you sit the fuck down or something?” I finally snap at him.
“Oh, sorry. I've never seen inside a dorm room before. I find it interesting.” He sinks on the couch, tapping his knee with his fingers.
“Ash, answer the questions.”
I can't handle this alone; I'll crack under the pressure, and Maddox is fragile. I don't want to be the one to mess him up and have to take the blame for it. Once he finds out about Jinx, it’s game over, and I’m not sure about this Wilde guy; what good is he to Mad?
“I need you to answer some questions first. Who is he?”
“Oh, that’s Wilde.”
“Yep, we established that, Mad. But who is he?”
They look at each other and shrug. “I’m Wilde, and I’m a recovering heroin addict. I was in Black Orchid for two months before Maddy came along. Let’s skip all the bullshit, I helped him escape today so he can get back here.”
“You fucking escaped, Maddox?” I’m at a loss for words. Who is this guy? Because the Maddox I know would never think about pulling a stunt like this.
Atticus bursts through the door, his hair disheveled and his shirt halfway tucked into his gray sweats. He gives the room a quick scan, and then he locks eyes with Maddox.
“The fuck is going on here?”
“We were just getting to that, brother.” I cross my arms and wait for Maddox to explain why he escaped.
“It’s not that big of a deal. Wilde knew I wanted out, so he helped me out. I’m here, and I’m sober. Can’t we just move on? Where the fuck is Jinx?” His jaw twitches when he stops talking.
Atticus looks at me, and it’s a look that says we need to tell him. If not, this will only get worse for us. But I don’t want to be the one who has to break the news. You can call me a coward, but I can’t do it.
“Does he have to be here? I don’t know him.” Atticus points to Wilde.
“He stays. Spill it.”
Atticus shakes his head as he walks to the open window. “Five days ago, Jinx went missing.”
Maddox jumps to his feet, almost toppling the coffee table over. “What?” he yells, waving his hands around. “And you didn’t think I should’ve known sooner?”
“We determined it was best that you did your two weeks without worrying. We didn’t want to jeopardize your progress. Sorry that we tried to look out for you.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Atticus. You’ve never looked out for anyone besides yourself. Should I ask what you did because this has you written all over it.”
Atticus acts quickly, catching me off guard. Before I know it, his fist collides with Maddox's jaw, causing him to stumble backward onto the couch. Wilde and I rush to restrain Atticus before he can throw another punch.
“That’s enough, Ace.” I get in his face, trying to block his view of Maddox. “Don’t, he didn’t mean anything by it. Let him process what you told him.”
Atticus pushes Wilde off him, and I dart a glance from him to Maddox. I’m glad he’s here because Maddox also needs a friend, and I can’t be in two places at once.
“That’s no excuse for what he said. I might be an asshole, but I would never put Jinx in harm's way.”
“I know that, and deep down, you know that. Jinx means everything to you. Now, can you act civil?”
He groans. “Yeah, but I swear I won’t think twice. I’ll beat him into the ground if he says something again.”
I pat him on the back. “Good. Now.” I turn to Maddox. “Smarten the fuck up, sober or not, that comment wasn’t called for. You have no idea what we’ve been going through. Every day has been one huge torture test. There hasn’t been a sign of her, not a note, nothing. We have no clue where she is. She vanished into thin air.”
Maddox rubs his jaw, staring at the wall. “When was the last time you saw her?”
Atticus explains softly, "When we were at swim practice, she had to go to the restroom, and then she was gone," his voice trailing.
“And nothing since, no note, phone call?”
“No. It’s been radio silence. If someone kidnapped Jinx, why haven’t they reached out to us?
“May I ask something?” Wilde says, taking a seat next to Maddox.
I wave him to go ahead because what isn’t there to be asked at this point.
“You checked every place in this school?”
“Yeah, every building, room and nothing.” I tore almost every room apart, hoping to find a clue, but nothing. I came up empty every time.
“This school is older than dirt. There have to be secret doors somewhere that you haven’t figured out yet. What about the basement? Does this dorm have a basement?”
“It’s the laundry room. Trust me, I checked it. Nothing, not even a shoe left behind.”
The only thing left is burning this entire school to the ground. Because if the asshole that took her, or if she doesn’t reach out soon, I’m going to lose my shit.
“Have you gone to her dad’s house?” Maddox asks.
Atticus looks at me. “Didn’t think of that, to be honest. After what happened, I didn’t think she would want to go back there.”
“I didn’t either. I’m not even sure if Mom still hangs around there.”
This entire thing has my head in a mangled mess. Searching her dad’s house never crossed my mind. What if she’s been there the whole time? I only want her back and an explanation. I can't stop thinking that she didn't just walk away from us; something terrible happened instead. I'm beating myself up for not enabling her location. It's driving me crazy trying to figure out what happened.
“Where’s my car keys?”
“Back in our room.”
“Let's go. I’m not gonna be able to rest until we check that house.” He stands and heads for the door. It doesn’t feel real that Maddox is back or Jinx is gone. This can’t be my life right now. My only concern is that Maddox is going to relapse since he didn’t do the entire two weeks. And what happens if I’m not there to pick him up this time?
“Maddox, wait.” I can’t let him go. He can’t be disappointed if she isn’t there. “I think you and Wilde should stay. I don’t want you to go in case Mom is there.”
He pins me with his deep hazel eyes. “Ash, I don’t give a shit about Serena. I’m headed there. Now, go get my fucking keys.”
I’m done. I’m not starting a fight; I’m mentally exhausted, and trying to convince Maddox otherwise is like talking to a brick wall. From the look on Atticus’s face, he feels the same way. I guess we’re all taking one giant field trip to Grovedale.