Soulbond

Chapter 5

That dryness in my throat was unbearable. It felt like a desert in my throat and my body felt weak. I couldn't move my hands or legs. Even lifting my eyelids felt like a struggle of lifting a thousand bricks. What had happened to me? This must be a dream. I was not even conscious enough to pay attention to my surroundings.

Suddenly, I heard some voices which made me alarmed. Wait, what? Who's that? What's going on? There were so many questions that I wanted to be answered but putting all my thoughts aside I tried listening to the conversation. The voices were barely understandable.

Two people were talking, but about what? They were men. One of the voices was a bit heavy.

"You've been careless; I thought this will make you a bit careful." The other person said in a mocking tone.

"Whatever you want will be done. Don't even dare to touch her again!" The heavier voice almost growled.

Before I could listen to their conversation further, a sharp stinging pain shot through my body and darkness enveloped me.

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I slowly opened my eyelid, the light from outside burning my eyes a bit. My body still felt weak.

Upon opening my eyes, I spotted a devastated-looking Kaylee with red and puffy eyes staring at a far corner of my room.

"Hey," I said directing her attention to me.

Her eyes widened looking at me. She almost ran to me and poured me a glass of water. I took it slowly, my hand shaking a little with the weight of the glass. Drinking water never felt this relieving as it did right then.

"I'm sorry Celine." She said rubbing her nose with a tissue.                          

"It's ok, I can't even remember much." I almost mumbled.

"You were kidnapped. Somebody took you. You were just gone! Why didn't you call me?" She was almost at the edge of crying.

"I called...” My mind trailed off to the last things I remembered, dialing the first number on the screen which turned out to be Ashton's. I did talk to him but, then it was all blank. Guess the kidnapper drugged me or something. Wait, then how was I back now?

Everything felt like a nightmare, how Mike cheated on me, how I went to that party and saw Mike with Layla there, then slapped him. How I left the party and got kidnapped afterward. This was all so messed up.

"You called Ashton," Kaylee stated. Now I was more confused than ever when she said that. I did remember accidentally calling Ashton but how was she aware of this? 

Before I could even think further, Kaylee said something that left me even more confused and shocked than before.

"And it was Ashton who got you back safe." What the hell? Ashton? Was he here? Last time I checked he was out of town and now...

Just then someone entered my room, and my breath got stuck in my throat.

A tall, strong figure with protruding biceps held a tray in his hands. The sky-colored shirt loosely hung on his body with a pair of shorts, as he used one of his hands to comb his hair back revealing those familiar gray eyes and a sharp jawline with stubble. His eyes met mine softening a bit and, for a moment I forgot everything that had happened. I transported back to the happy moments 3 years ago when these eyes would comfort me whenever I was down. But the best friend I left behind years ago was no more there. The person standing in front of me was someone else and was probably the reason why I was alive now. So it was true, Ashton was back in town. 

I blinked looking away.

Kaylee took the tray from Ashton's hands and put it in front of me. I turned my face away, definitely not interested in eating. Both of them shared a look and then Ashton turned his face towards me.

"Eli, you have to eat." His dominating voice made me stare at him for a while before I hesitantly took the knife and fork, and started eating. 

What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I listening to him?

‘Probably because you owe him your life.’ A voice in the back of my mind said. But still! Since when did he become so dominating? Well, what else could I expect? He had changed after all. Pushing all my thoughts aside, I silently ate.

"Do you need anything else, Celine?" Kaylee asked as soon as I finished eating.

I shook my head.

"Then you should rest now, I'll be downstairs." She said passing me a smile and made her way out of the room, leaving me and Ashton alone.

I glanced towards Ashton. He was staring at the picture frame on my bedside which Kaylee had gifted to me on my birthday. She made sure to put a picture of me and Ashton in it as Ashton used to be my best friend. 

"I'm sorry," I said sniffling.

Ashton stilled upon hearing me sniffling. He slowly turned his gaze towards me and lowered himself on my bed. Taking my hands in his, he started rubbing them in a soothing manner.

"Shut up Eli. Kaylee told me all about what's been going on." He stopped to take a deep breath. Then using his other hand, he placed it under my chin and lifted my face up so that I was looking him straight in the eyes. His touch made me shiver a bit, and I got a weird fuzzy feeling in my stomach but I couldn't help and get lost in those grey eyes.

What the hell is wrong with me? I never felt this way before, whenever someone touched me. Even Ashton had touched me before, I just never felt this way. It was probably because of my body being tired from all the previous events. Soon my thoughts trailed off as my eyelids became heavy, and the ash-colored eyes were becoming blurry now.

"Nobody's gonna hurt you now. I'll make sure of that." I heard a faint whisper before everything became black.