The Unexplained

Chapter 20

Their mom must really be that bad if Cas is frantically trying to get Abby to stop.

I make sure to be gentle as I hold it, stepping back. Abby and I lock eyes before she smiles reassuringly at Cas, despite the fear creeping into her eyes. Merlin smirks and grips her arm, pulling her out the door, and they've soon disappeared from sight.

Silent falls over the three of us and I get a small container from the kitchen and I set the heart inside, before placing it on the table.

I look at the both of them. "This isn't over," I scowl. "He has something else planned, this can't just be it. Let's move Aurora up here, we can put her in Abby's room. From what she told you Austin, we can only assume he's going to come to get her back eventually...whether it's through another deal or by stealing." Austin nods and leaves, and I sigh. I sink into a chair and close my eyes, just now processing everything that just happened. About an hour passes before a voice comes from the entrance to the hallway.

"Where's Abby?..." I look up from watching Burn Notice with Cas and Austin, due to Austin's begging,  to see a sleepy-eyed Jack standing there. Conner stands behind him.

Cas pauses the episode and clenches her jaw, averting her eyes. I sigh, and I motion to the container on the table. "Merlin came by...he had your heart, Jack...and in exchange, he wanted Abby."

"More like that demon scum wanted her..." Cas mutters, clenching her fists, probably referring to their mother.

I don't say anything as we both watch Jack's eyes widen before he runs to the table and pulls the lid off. For a few moments, he just stares into the container.

He swallows hard and turns his head in our direction. There's sorrow and even more fear in his forest green eyes.

"This isn't my heart..."

-Aurora-

I shift a little in the soft bed I lie in, the warm purple duvet covering my body foreign to me. I've never slept in anything as nice as this, normally having slept under a scratchy blanket or thin sheet when I was with Merlin. I can't fall asleep, and I've been staring at the dark sky outside the window for the past hour.

"Aurora."

I slowly close my eyes, sucking in a breath at the smooth voice that comes from beside my bed. The covers are ripped off my body, and I gasp as he grabs my arm and yanks me upright. Cold air hits my bare arms and legs, goosebumps appearing and I shudder. 

He's going to take me and hurt me and punish me and do everything he always does...Austin promised me...He said I was safe...

"Look at me." He growls quietly, gripping my chin harshly with his other hand. The other still grips my arm tightly. I flinch, obediently opening my eyes to look into his hard, emotionless ones. "We're going." He starts to pull me to my feet, but I yank my arm away.

"N-No..." I protest, and he slowly turns to look at me. I cower back, pressing my back to the wall.

"Aurora. We're going." He repeats, his voice dropping an octave and becoming deadly.

I tremble and shake my head, gripping the sheets beneath me. "I-I won't..." I refuse, flinching as a shock ricochets throughout my head. I can't withstand him for long, nor the chip. The pain is too much for me to handle. 

He sneers, stepping forward and raising a threatening hand. I flinch, and I let out a small cry as his hand comes into contact with my cheek. "Aurora!" He says a little louder, before stopping as he glances at the slightly open door. He must've broken in through the front door quietly and came here.