Chapter 26



Lewis’ POV

I pulled up at the hotel and rubbed my eyes. I’d been driving for four hours and was tired but I couldn’t go to my room and sleep yet. It was only morning and I had so much to do yet. There had been another possible sighting of Summer so I came out here in the middle of the huge city to try and find her. All the other sightings had turned into nothing but I couldn’t just not come here in case this one was Summer.

The police search for her slowed down until it practically stopped altogether so now we have to fund it ourselves, it meant that everyone had to go back to work to get the money. I found it hard getting a job after I got out of prison but luckily someone gave me a chance and now I work part time at the local garage, not exactly where I saw myself but I really don’t care. Henry had been great when I was in prison, it was all down to him to try and get the police to focus their attention on Colin, it had taken four and a half months before they started to suspect him too.

Every single day I spent in prison I was going through everything in my head, what could we do to make them listen? I came up with different plans and theories and would go through them in detail every week with Henry when he came to visit me. I refused to let anyone else visit me, I’d hurt them enough and didn’t want them here, or to see me in here.

Michael visited quite a few times, as much as I was angry that he’d put me in here, he was still keeping me updated with everything, well as much as he could tell me, which I respected him for. He would get frustrated at first that I was so fixed on Colin but two days before I got out he started to listen, apparently they had noticed a few discrepancies in his statement against David Smith and after speaking to his work colleagues they started to consider that he might have actually had something to do with Summer’s disappearance. When I got out it was so hard not to get too involved but I knew now that if we had any chance of finding her then I needed to stay away from Colin and let the police investigate.

Not much changed to my routine except that I had to go to work for four and a half hours in the morning before I started searching for Summer or following sightings all over the country. Henry usually came with me but he couldn’t get the time off work and he needed to keep his job, funding the search isn’t cheap even with the donations and volunteers.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Dad to let him know I was here safe and was about to start asking around and showing her picture to everyone. “Paul’s just been on the phone to Michael and they’re going round to Colin’s today, they can get a warrant if needed to,” Dad said, sounding really positive.

I tried not to get my hopes up. “Really? When? Call me as soon as you hear something,” I mumbled quickly. My heart was beating too fast and the urge to get in the car and go back right now was overwhelming. What if they find her and I’m not there? But then what if they find nothing and she’s here?

“Of course I will and you be careful and let us know if you find anything.”

“I will thanks,” I said as I ended the call and took a deep breath. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, they were going to search his house.

I still wanted to go back but I forced myself to check into my room. I asked everyone in the hotel if they’d seen her and feeling a little deflated after they all said no I went out onto the streets. I planned to stay here three nights, usually I just go straight home or just spend one night but this city was huge and I knew I’d need more time.

I stopped people in the streets, going into any shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels that I passed. With every no I felt my heart drop a little more. Sometimes it felt hopeless, she could be absolutely anywhere by now, it’s been eight months.

A couple of my friends have said it’s unhealthy that I’m still spending all of my time looking for her but there’s no closure, if we just knew what happened, well I don’t know. They seemed to think I should move on but how could I be with someone else when I’m in love with her? I don’t want anyone else. I will always love her and no amount of time will be enough for me to get over her, it was that simple.

After a couple hours I started to get worried that I hadn’t heard from Dad. Have they been to Colin’s yet? I grabbed my phone and started dialling. “Hello,” Dad said on the second ring.

“Dad, have you heard anything yet?”

There was silence on the other end of the phone, it only lasted a few seconds but it felt like hours. “They’re having to get a warrant.”

They have to get a warrant? That meant he didn’t let them in to look around. He was hiding something. “He’s got her hasn’t he?” I said to myself as much as him. I’ve known it for the past six months and I left her with him! I still couldn’t quite bring myself to consider that she might not be alive; as far as I’m concerned she’s alive until they tell me otherwise.

“I don’t know Lewis. It does look like he knows something though,” he said quietly.

I started running back towards my hotel, “I’m coming home. I’ll be there as soon as I can, call me when you hear something.”

“Of course I will. Listen, drive carefully okay.” I could hear the worry in his voice which made me feel a little guilty but I needed to get back there as soon as possible; it’s a four hour drive!

“I will,” I said, hanging up the phone and sprinting the rest of the way back. My hands were shaking and it took me two attempts to start the car. I was absolutely terrified about getting that phone call. If she is dead would they tell me before I get home? I doubt it so would they lie or just pretend they hadn’t heard anything? And if she’s okay I won’t be there for her for another four hours! I hoped that she would forgive me but I wouldn’t blame her if she couldn’t, I’ll just do anything she wants to make it up to her.

An hour into the drive home my phone started ringing. My heart stopped as I pulled over and answered the phone. “Dad,” I said quietly. I closed my eyes and waited for him to say something. There was crying in the background.

“She’s okay, she’s in hospital,” he said emotionally. I sat perfectly still, completely unable to move. She’s okay. I had a million questions but I couldn’t talk, I needed to be there now. “Apparently there was a struggle when the police entered the house, she has concussion and a pretty big cut on her head but she’s okay. We’re all going to the hospital now.”

I shook my head, trying to clear my blurry vision. “Where was she?”

“In his cellar,” he said in disgust. The guilt hit me hard; she was in there all the time. I’d been in that house twice and she below me! For six months after I suspected Colin she was stuck in his cellar and I couldn’t even fucking find it! “Lewis? You there?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I hung up and sped back out onto the road, going way too fast considering I could barely see. I felt sick with guilt and just wished I was there with her now. Oh God she’s okay. I gripped the steering wheel with one hand and wiped my tears away with the other, I have never felt so relieved before in my life. My heart was hammering in my chest as I pushed my foot down on the accelerator.

I couldn’t wait to hold her again and tell her how sorry I was and how much I love her. I didn’t speak to anyone else; I did get a couple texts telling me to call when I was at the hospital and Henry would come out and meet me. I don’t know why he had to come out and meet me, I’d soon find her.

With every mile that went by I felt more happy, scared, nervous and relieved that I have ever felt before. I just kept praying that she actually was okay, not just physically. I didn’t want to even think about why he kept her in there or what he did to her, that thought made me feel sick. I shouldn’t have gone this morning; I should have done so many things differently.

Finally, I arrived at the hospital and jumped out of the car after practically abandoning it somewhere near the entrance. Henry was waiting for me as I’d text ten minutes before. “Where is she?” I asked him, walking ahead and going into the hospital even though I had no idea where I was going yet.

“Wait,” he shouted, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. I pulled out of his grip. What the hell was that? He held his arms up, “Just wait a minute. You can’t just go running in there. She isn’t...herself,” he said, pausing to search for the right word.

I shook my head. That didn’t make sense. “What do you mean?”

He looked in pain and swallowed hard. “It’s like she doesn’t recognise us or something, when we call her she doesn’t answer. She won’t say anything and just keeps asking about Louise, Poppy and Rose or something.”

“What? Who are they?” I started walking through reception and Henry led the way, I think he realised I wasn’t standing out here to chat anymore, I needed to see her.

“They’re the girls she was trapped down there with.” I froze, my eyes snapped to him. Was he serious? “There were four of them down there.” I shook my head and continued walking; I couldn’t think about that right now, I was so close to her. He pulled me to a stop again outside room 5 on the ward. “Listen; just don’t go running in there. I know how much you want to but you’ll scare her.” I’ll scare her? I suddenly realised how serious Henry was. God what was she going to be like when I get in there?

I nodded and pushed the door open. My whole world stopped. She was sitting up in bed in a hospital gown with a white bandage on the side of her head. She looked pale and terrified, it was almost as if she wasn’t actually here, she didn’t look up when I opened the door. I thought my heart was going to rip out of my chest as I slowly walked over to her, I wanted to run to her, wrap my arms around her and never let go but the look on her face made me more cautious around her.

“Summer?” Dawn called softly. She did nothing; it was like she didn’t even hear her Mum. “Summer, honey?” Again Summer just stared at the thin white sheet that covered her tiny body, she’d lost weight. Paul tried calling his daughter but got the same response. “Summer?” Dawn said louder, gently taking her hand.

Summer’s head snapped up and she looked at her Mum in confusion. There was absolutely no emotion at all. “Lily,” she whispered. The sound of her beautiful voice made goosebumps spring up all over my body. Wait Lily?

Dawn shook her head, “Who’s Lily sweetheart?” My eyes flicked to Dawn for a second, she looked like hell but you could see the relief on her face.

Summer’s eyebrows pulled together like they did when she tried to figure something out. “Me.” There was silence in the room as we all tried to process that. She’s Lily? “I don’t know,” she said emotionlessly, shaking her head. “Where’s Louise, Poppy and Rose? That’s her real name, Louise.”

Dawn sighed, “I’m not sure honey but the doctor will come and tell us soon and whose real name?” None of this made any sense.

“Heather.” Dawn shook her head in confusion but didn’t ask any more questions. Heather’s real name is Louise? It suddenly hit me, he’d changed their names. That’s why she wasn’t responding to us calling her Summer. I clenched my jaw, I wanted to kill him. I wanted to walk into the police station right now and kill him. I didn’t care what happened to me but I did care about her and I couldn’t leave her, ever again.

I was scared to say something in case she didn’t respond to me but I knew I had to, she hadn’t seen me yet. “Sum?” I said quietly. She didn’t move, her eyes stayed fixed on the sheet. I took another step closer and sat down on the side of the bed. I could hear my heart beating in my ears. There was no way I was going to call her Lily but she wasn’t responding to Summer and I didn’t know what to do. Please remember baby. That’s it! “Baby?” I said softly, making no attempt to move in case it scared her.

Her head snapped up and her eyes fell on me straight away. I couldn’t breathe. Neither of us moved or said a thing, we just stared at each other. It wasn’t some big reunion where you grab each other but it was so intimate I almost wanted to ask everyone to leave. I tried to control my emotions but after eight months of her missing I couldn’t help it, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Way to be strong for her, I’m such an idiot!

She reached out and wiped the tear from my cheek. I wanted to grab her as her soft skin grazed the side of my face. She suddenly looked like she was going to break down, her eyes showed so much pain it actually hurt to look at them. I moved closer and wrapped my arms around her just in time to catch her as she slumped forward, into my chest and started crying hard.

I pulled her onto my lap and buried my head in her hair; it smelt different to her usual scent. We both cried for a while, I missed her so much, I didn’t even realise how much until I got her back. It was like I could finally breathe again. I kissed her head over and over until she stopped crying when I pulled back to look at her. We were alone now; everyone must have wanted to give us some time alone.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, pressing my forehead against hers gently and staring into her eyes. Yes it was probably the most stupid question I could have ever asked her but I didn’t really know what to say. She shrugged her shoulders, not taking her eyes off me. “I’m so sorry Sum,” I said honestly, wiping away the remainder of her tears.

“Why are you sorry?” she asked, frowning in confusion.

“For not finding you sooner. For leaving you that night. For not trying hard enough and for not protecting you.” I took a deep breath to calm down. The guilt I felt was still so overwhelming. She shook her head to argue but I pressed my finger to her lips. “I was there Sum, in his house. I was there twice but I didn’t find you. I didn’t know there was a cellar, baby I’m so sorry.”

She closed her eyes and held onto me tighter, “You didn’t know. I don’t blame you Lewis, it wasn’t your fault.” How can she say that so easily? Not even be angry with me.

“But-“ I was cut off when she clamped her hand over my mouth, she shook her head and looked at me the way she does when the conversations over and she’s won, which was most of the time. “I love you so much Summer,” I said once she’d moved her hand.

She smiled for the first time, “I love you too.” Happiness exploded inside me and I pressed my lips to hers, kissing her tenderly. She responded immediately, I ran my hand through her hair and over the side of her face, needing to touch her.

After a little while of kissing and just holding her everyone came back in the room and sat either sides of the bed. I was sitting against the headboard and she was lying against my chest, neither of us had let go of the other yet and that was absolutely fine with me.

Michael came in followed by two other police officers. He smiled at us both and then looked apologetic as he pulled out a little notebook from his pocket. “I’m so sorry to do this now but we really need to ask you some questions Summer.” I was about to argue for her, surely they could wait until tomorrow but Summer nodded, I guess if she was ready to talk about it then it was fine, but were we ready to hear it? “Okay I’m just going to come out and say it.” The other two officers looked at him like he’d gone crazy but he ignored it. “No one’s saying anything against him and he’s saying you all stayed down there because it was what you wanted.”

“What the hell?” Henry shouted angrily. “They were locked down there for fucking months-“ Dawn grabbed his arm and pulled him down, ending his rant.

Michael shook his head, “We all know that but the cellar door was unlocked when we got there, we have no proof that they were locked down there. Summer I need you to tell us what really happened because right now we have nothing to charge him with.”

My blood ran cold, he might get off? I looked at Summer; she was trying to figure something out. “Where’s Louise? She would have told you.” Michael opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it again; he didn’t need to say anything though we all knew from the look on his face that she was dead. Summer’s tiny body froze against mine.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered in her ear. I had no idea who Louise was but she seemed important to Summer. She nodded pressed her back into my chest. I expected her to breakdown or something but she just remained silent which was so unlike her it was scary.

“Summer I need you to tell me what happened,” Michael said again, smiling apologetically. She shook her head and everyone sat still in shock. “Summer if you don’t tell us what happened he could get off. You want him to be punished for what he did don’t you?”

“No,” she whispered, turning in my arms and crying. I held her until she calmed down again. We all hoped that she didn’t mean that. What the hell happened down there to make her want to protect him? As much as I wanted him to rot in prison for the rest of his life I knew that if he got out it wouldn’t be for long. I can see six people in this room, not including me, that would kill him in an instant.

When she calmed down Michael stepped closer. “Summer?”

She jumped up out of bed; I managed to catch her as she stumbled. “Stop calling me that,” she shouted making everyone flinch. “Rose! Poppy!” I followed her out of the room, practically holding her up. God what the hell is she doing? She continued shouting out for them until a girl with dark brown hair ran towards us. She pulled out of my grip, hugged the girl tight and they both started crying. I stood back with her family, my family, Michael and the officers.

No one knew what to do but I knew she needed to be in bed after hitting her head that hard. The girl pulled Summer along to her room and they both got into her bed. It didn’t seem like she needed me right now so I sat at the end of the bed, completely unable to take my eyes off her, I was scared to in case she disappeared again.

They talked among themselves for a while and I picked up little bits about Colin although they called him Clover. Mostly they just talked about Louise and Poppy, who was doing well and looked like would make a full recovery. Rose said she had to go and that Summer should do whatever she thinks is best but that she wasn’t going to say anything. He must really have something over her.

As soon as Rose left Summer looked at me, I moved back to her side immediately and put my arm around her. “I’ll tell you everything,” she said to Michael. His face lit up like a child’s on Christmas morning and he flipped his pad open ready to take notes.

I sat there feeling sick to my stomach as she described everything that happened The cellar, the flowers, him beating them, their routine, how obsessive he would be over cleanliness, the clothes they wore and how he changed their names. I thought it couldn’t get any worse but I was wrong. Bile rose to my throat as she told Michael that piece of shit raped her every week. My whole body tensed so much that my muscles started to ache almost instantly. I clenched my jaw and held my breath to stop myself being sick. I have never hated anyone as much as I hate him.

She turned to look at me when she was done and I tried to hide the fact that this was killing me. I just held her, wishing there was something I could say or do to make it better for her, but I knew no words would ever take away what she’s been through. Michael left, confident that Colin would go to prison for what he’s done, I hoped so.

Summer didn’t say anything and avoided eye contact with everyone. We all tried talking to her but it quickly became obvious that she wasn’t ready yet. After half an hour of silence she fell asleep. I stayed awake most of the night just watching her. Everyone went home to get some sleep but Dawn stayed too, she was sleeping awkwardly on the chair.

In the morning Dawn went to get something for us to eat and drink. “I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said quietly, her voice was muffled against my chest. She’s sorry?

I pulled her back and looked into her eyes, “You have nothing to be sorry about, none of this was your fault. I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again.” She smiled a small smile and kissed me, taking me by surprise a little. I kissed her back and held her as close to me as physically possible.

After three days she was allowed to come home. She had been amazing over the past couple days, I was really proud of how strong she was, sure she cried a lot and struggled to adjust to being out of that cellar. I was surprised at how calmly she could talk about everything and we did talk about it a lot, it made me feel sick but I knew she needed to be able to talk.

Poppy had gone back to using her real name, Rebecca, or Becca as she preferred. Her family had been in touch and when she gets out of hospital she was going back to live with them, Summer was so happy for her.

Rose couldn’t handle being out and would ask for ‘Clover’ all the time. I could tell it hurt Summer and Becca that they couldn’t do anything to help her, she even refused to talk to them. She committed suicide thirty hours after they got out. It hit Summer hard but with everyone’s support she was coping. She and Becca spent a lot of time talking and luckily Becca’s family only live twenty minutes away so they could stay close, I had a feeling they would really need each other.

Colin was in prison and being questioned by police, with Summer's statement I don't think he'll ever get out. There was a chance he would go to a psychiatric unit but as long as he was locked away I didn't really care where it was. I tried not to think about him at all and just focused on Sum.

We all stood around as Summer walked into the house, looking around at everything as if she’d never seen it before. “I’m tired; I’m going to lie down.” She grabbed my hand and led me to her room where she slowly laid down and pulled the cover over herself. I just stood there for a minute taking every part of her in, it felt amazing to see her lying there. I got into bed with her and wrapped my arms around her.

She looked up and kissed me lightly making my heart crash in my chest. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.” I really meant it; I loved her more than anything in the world and now she was back with me. Where she belongs.

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Wow almost over now!!!

Poor Louise and Rose huh, I wanted to kill off more than one 'cause I'm evil like that! A few of you thought it would be Lewis that died...I'm not THAT mean! lol!

They're back together!! Whoop whoop and some of you doubted I'd be that nice to them *shakes head*

Anyway thanks to all of you that voted for the last chapter. You almost ruined my laptop as I spat my water out when I saw it had gone over 700 votes lmao! Seriously thank you, that chapter got the most votes ever and reached number 3 on the What's Hot list! :O

Thanks for reading and if you liked it please comment, vote, like and tweet! <3