In his grasp

Leopard never changes his spots

“You want a drink?” I heard Grey say from beside me. “No thanks Grey, I’m not drinking” I smiled at him. 

“Well I know that one wouldn’t hurt, I poured it just for you and I don’t even like vodka so I can’t drink it” he pressed. I didn’t want any drama so I took the drink from his hands hoping he would walk away so I could throw it into the sand. But he didn’t, he stood there waiting for me to down it in one, smiling at me. I smiled back and took the whole drink down my throat. 

“I want to show you something” he said grabbing my hand. 

“Oh Grey, no that’s okay, I...” he interrupted me and said “I’m not taking no for an answer, no funny business I just genuinely want to show you something”. I agreed to follow him and he took me to a small gap where the caves were. 

“Take your shoes off” he said removing his shoes and sitting on the perch above a small pool of sea water that reflected light through it. I followed his lead and we both put our feet in.

“You know, you don’t understand the effect you have on me” he said with a slight tone of evil in his voice. I looked at him, concerned with how his attitude suddenly changed. 

“You are such a tease Lauren, and I’m not chasing you anymore. We are not in school and I’m not going to be taken for a fool. I know that you like me but you are just too tensed up and stressed out” he smirked at me. My head felt really funny and the feeling made its way to my fingers and all the way down to my feet. 

“What? Grey what are you talking about?” I started to feel frightened. I needed to get away from him I could feel the air getting extremely tense. “I want us to stop pretending Lauren” he continued. I shook my head and stood up grabbing my shoes. “No grey, not again” I went to run away and felt my legs buckle as the feeling began to drain from them. I stared at the sand in confusion as I tried to process what was happening. I turned back to look at Grey who was standing there with his arms folding looking at me smiling.

“Grey? What... what is happening to me?” I stuttered as the loss of feeling started to consume my body. 

“I told you, it’s time to stop fighting Lauren and I think that maybe a bit of time alone will make everything better” his tone was sinister and the look in his eye was daunting. 

“Grey please, don’t do this” I looked back at the group who were far away, too drunk and wrapped up in the party to even realise that I was in trouble. I looked over at Ryan who was chatting to his friends with a drink in his hand. No one was going to protect me. Protect! I grabbed for my phone and managed to unlock it and dial Joe’s work number before my fingers became paralysed. I heard it ringing along with greys footsteps in the sand getting closer. 

“Hello? Cassie speaking?” Cassie picked up the phone. She must have been on her way out as she isn’t normally there at this time. I tried to call out for help but only a mumble escaped my lips as I could no longer speak. 

“Hello?” Grey picked the phone up and said “wrong number” then hung up. I knew Grey had a dark side but not this sort of dark. He was evil. Oh no, I don’t think I can keep my eyes open I can’t control my body at all. My eyes started to blink slower and slower until everything ent black. The last thing I saw was the fire from the group. 

**Joe’s POV**

12:15pm. She’s late. Is she trying to make angry and punish her? The elevator door pinged and opened slowly. Finally. “Your late Lauren!” I yelled. “Um, boss...” it was Cassie standing there looking like someone had just been shot. “Cassie? Why are you in here? You are only supposed to use those keys in an emergency!” I said with anger. She looked down at her feet, trembling and slightly ready.

“What is it?” I asked as I realised she was generally concerned. 

“I got this strange phone call earlier...” she stopped as she was nervous to speak to me. I told her to take a seat and tried to make her as comfortable as I could, desperate to know what was going on.

“Now, what happened?” I asked her softly. 

“I thought it might have been one of those girls who you use to mess around with being jealous or something. But... the line was quiet and everything was silent, I could hear waves and a girl grumble. Then a males voice said ‘wrong number’ and hung up” she said speeding up the way she spoke due to her nerves. 

“So...” I pressured her. 

“So Lauren isn’t here yet, you told me to wait until she arrived before going home. She is always in time and if she isn’t I know that she would call me at least to tell me she was running late”.

It then hit me. “You think it was her on the phone?!” I yelled in panic. She nodded her head. Waves! She was at the beach. Something didn’t feel right, I couldn’t put my finger on it but something felt seriously wrong. 

“Okay Cassie, I will pay you double time but I need you to find her friends numbers and ring them to find out if she is with them, if they don’t pick up then leave them a message, I’m going to call Tom and get him to drive around and look for her and I will take my car and look for her at the beach” or ordered grabbing my shoes and coat. 

Pulling up to the beach, screeching my wheels to a holt, I found the camp fire and ran towards the crowd of people. “Who is Ryan!” I shouted to the group and a tall lad walked forward with dark features and a concerned look on his face. 

“I am” he answered. I walked up to him and gripped his shirt. 

“Where is she?” I said quietly but aggressively. 

“Woah who?” He put his hands up show he meant no harm. 

“Lauren!” I shouted. “What have you done with her?”

“Who are you?” He asked. I stared at him in a threatening way and he looked at the group who were looking at the both of us. 

“Grey took her home, she wasn’t feeling great and passed out and he hadn’t been drinking so he said he would take her home” he replied. 

“s**t!” I shouted running to my car.

“Wait, is she okay?” He shouted to me but I just ignored him. I knew no one would look after her other than me. I was the only one that was able to protect her. I turned my engine on and rang Simon, he was a close friend who was a part of the police department. If anyone was going to track him down it would be Simon.