"J-Jack, please."


Fuck. Something was wrong. I knew something was wrong - Why the fuck didn't I go after her earlier?! Ember started crying into the phone. From the sounds of it, she was incredibly upset. I'd only ever seen her this upset about her mother. Before I could even get another word out, I was stumbling into the front door, trying to get my chucks properly on my feet. Two seconds later, I was slamming my car door and starting the engine.


"Ember, where are you? I need you to tell me where you are."


"I don't know! There's a river and a bridge. I'm not in the City, Jack. Please, come get me!"


My fists gripped the steering wheel harder as I stepped on the gas. It would take me at least forty-five minutes to get to her. That was entirely too long. Whatever had happened, it didn't even matter now. The only thing I cared about was making sure she was safe and never letting her go again.


I tried to think of a faster way to get out of the city. It was hopeless, even with the quickest route, I was still thirty minutes away from her. There was probably no where for her to go. No so safe or public place around, not if she's that far out. Then it hit me - The guys were still going through with our plans tonight. Alex could get to her at least ten or fifteen minutes faster than I could.


"Jack?"


"I'm still here. I'm coming, Ember, but it's going to take a while. Are you hurt?"


"A little, yeah," she sniffed. Through the phone, I could hear her feet smacking against pavement. "I just want to come home, Jack."


"All right, listen to me. Run as fast as you can back toward the city. You're going to have to get off of the phone with me so you can move quicker. There has to be a gas station somewhere. When you find it, lock yourself in the bathroom and call me."


"O-Okay."


"Promise me, Ember!"


"I promise!"


There was so much more I wanted to say to her, but I would only be slowing her down. The quicker she moved, the faster I could get to her to. It took everything in me not to break down in the car just because I knew she was hurting, but I fought the desire and hung up on her. It was for her own good. Driving at least ten miles over the speed limit, I dialed Alex's number and tapped my steering wheel until he picked up.


"Dude! Decide to come out tonight?!"


"Get in your car. Right now. Get in your car and start driving."


Alex didn't even ask me what was going on. I heard him mumble something to the guys and then I heard movement. He was digging out his keys, climbing in the car and starting the engine. I heard his car burn rubber out of whatever parking lot they were in and I couldn't be more grateful to have such an amazing best friend.


"Where am I going, dude?"


"City limits. The bridge. Just drive until I text you a location."


Alex mumbled and okay and hung up on me. I was in panic mode now. At least, I hoped, one of us were likely to find her and get her away from whatever left her stranded out there, but there was the little thought in my mind.. What if we didn't? What if, because I hung up on her, someone picked her up? Or tracked her down? Or just straight fucking murdered her?! Oh God, I couldn't handle that thought. Ember was slowly, but surely, turning into my whole world. Without her, I literally don't think I could go on.


Tears were pooling in my eyes now. I never should have let her go. I was the worst boyfriend.. The worst brother, even, in the entire world. She had to hate me for this. She had to blame me as much as I blamed myself.


Beep!


A text message. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I opened it, trying to keep the car under control with my speeding and reading. It was Ember. Why hadn't she just called? Whatever the reason was, it didn't matter, because I had a location. She was at the.. Gas and Go? Mother of God, she was really far away. I decided against texting her back, because with my nerves and lead foot, it very well could have killed me, and forwarded the message to Alex.


I tossed my phone into the passenger seat and tipped the gas a little harder. Eventually, the city turned into houses. Houses turned into trees, trees turned into streams and creeks. I was close. I was honking at any car in front of me until they let me go around them. I was cursing to the top of my lungs, looking all around for a sign of a gas station. When I thought I should give up hope and call Alex for directions, I saw it. And I saw Alex's car.


He must have read every detail of the text message because he connected it to Ember. By the time my brakes squealed and I barely stopped in time not to hit Alex's car, he was walking out of the store with an emotionally damaged girl on his arm. My heart sank for a mile in my chest. Her hair was matted all over her head. In the glow of the light, I could see tears on her cheeks and for some reason Alex's shirt was devouring her body, leaving him in the spare hoodie he always kept in his trunk. Confusion left me breathless, but none of that mattered right now. I just need to see her, touch her, feel her to know she's okay.


I literally jumped out of my car and scooped her up in my arms. Alex took a step back, but kept his gaze away from me as Ember collapsed in my arms, bawling so hard that her body was shaking against my chest. We stayed that way for a good ten minutes before I escorted her back to my car. She slid in with ease. Under the bright light from the open door, I could see a purple bruise forming on her perfect face. Whoever did this to her, I swear they'd pay for it.


"Alex, I don't even know what to say. Thank you."


"Get her home, Jack. And don't let her go."


He gave me a quick hug before we parted ways. Ember cried quiety the whole way home. My fingers rubbed her wrists and her thigh while I fought the desire to ask her what happened. She'd tell me when she was ready. Right now, she was okay. She was alive, and though she wasn't well, she was back in arms length. Ember was mine to love, to hold and protect, even if it was a secret. I loved her entirely too much to ever let this happen again.

Notes

Awwwwe. That's fucking teeeeaaaam work!
-Jess.