The Price to Pay

I briefly pulled my phone from my jean pockets and glanced at it, "Just because I got you out, doesn't mean I care" I read with the contact "Baby Prescott" displaying above the message. Joyce and David were rapidly making their way over to me at the door, David seeming more angry than worried. He smacked the phone from my hand and grabbed my face between both hands, examining my purple eyes, bust lip and bruised face. 

"Be careful, David" my mom commanded him, shoving him away from me and eyeing the swelling.  "I see your cellmate wasn't the kindest" 

"You knew? Why does no one in this town ever shut the fuck up" I groaned, rolling my eyes and pushing past her, ignoring her attempts to stop and comfort me, making my way to the kitchen cupboards to raid them. I was starving and hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. 

"Now Chloe, you can't just go around committing crimes and expecting no consequence. The Prescotts won't always be around to help you" Joyce began to lecture

I took a fistful of cereal and shoved it into my mouth and began to talk without swallowing "Yes mom, yes David. I don't need them to help me, I can get out of things myself " 

I carried the box under my arm and made for the stairs. "Just be more careful, Chloe. Please"

"Yes, mom, next time I do something illegal I'll be "more careful" you got it" 

"Chloe, there is no need for the sarcasm. Your mother just cares and you're throwing it back in her face" David moaned, obviously getting more frustrated by me. It was easy enough to get him worked up about anything, just go against what he says or defy him.

I made no further attempts at arguing, though, and trudged towards the stairs, picking my phone up from the floor and shoving it into my back pocket. I looked down at the pair once more as I went up the stairs, David had his arms around my mom's shoulders in an attempt at comfort, but I scoffed and turned away. 

In my room, I slammed the door behind me and flopped on the bed. The notification sound chimed from my laptop and I huffed, rolling off the bed and plopping myself onto the desk chair. I read the conversation from the group chat between myself and the rest of the vortex club. Nathan had been explaining about my predicament and I send the thumbs up emoji to let them know I was back, but not in the mood to talk. In seconds the chat blew up with messages of "thank god you're okay" and "welcome back, biatch." I ignored them but messaged Nathan separately.

"Thanks again, I owe you" I typed. 

Within seconds he responded as if waiting for me to answer him "Damn right you do, don't forget that"

I had a few moments of peace, sitting back in the chair with my feet up on the desk, tapping my feet to the beat of the music that was playing from my laptop. I was on the verge of lighting a joint, even though I knew it was risky with David in the house when I heard him call "Chloe, will you come down here?"

"I don't know David, Will you leave me alone?" I retorted, shoving the joint back into the tin I took it from. I shoved the tin under my bed and left the room. I made a point of staring down at him from the top of the stairs before I spoke. "Can I help you?"

"You have visitors, please come downstairs," he said, sounding almost defeated

I rolled my eyes and jogged swiftly down the stairs. Outside the glass, on the front door, I saw a police car parked out front of the house. I sighed as I knew who I'd be facing when I rounded the corner. There, on the sofa, sat two uniformed officers who rose when they saw me. 

"Miss Price,  Its good to see you again. How's the face?" I recognised the officer as the taller one who helped me last night. I forced a smile and stood across from them, glancing over at the table where my mother and David sat, not looking in my direction. "I'm officer Dawson, this is my partner Officer Collins"

"How can I help you?" I asked in an attempt to sound as helpful as possible

"We are conducting an investigation into the number of teenagers who have abruptly disappeared. The number is dramatically increasing and it is bringing about a lot of suspicion and devastation for the public. Many of these teens have vanished after attending parties.  Do you happen to know anything about a "vortex club?" Collins questioned

"I'm familiar with it" I answered bluntly.

"Now if I show you some pictures of these people who have gone missing, could you please tell me if you recognise any of them?"

They laid the pictures out on the coffee table and I kneeled down to look at them. I skimmed over them, listing off names and causes of death in my head but kept a poker face on the outside.  "Most of them go to Blackwell, I've seen others about. But none of them I really know that well" I concluded and they gathered the photos back up and slipped them into an envelope,

"And what can you tell us about the vortex club?"  Dawson pushed                                 

"Not very much. It's just a title for a group of friends" I shrugged

"Miss Price, I hope you realise that this is a serious investigation and your cooperation is incredibly important"  Dawson warned, leaning forward on the chair and resting his elbows on his knees, hands clasped. 

"I'm aware, but I've told you all I am able to" I replied, holding back any sarcastic comments I could make.

"Then that is all we have to ask, for now, we'll be in touch" Collins ended, making his way to the door, shaking both David and my mom's hand on the way out, Dawson did the same.

When the door was closed, my mom turned to me and gestured to the table 

"Chloe, have a seat." I did so, and kicked my feet up on the table, swinging back on the chair. "David and I have been speaking and well-" she began but buried her face in her hands.

David rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head, I looked away "Well, what?" 

"Well, we thought it would be best for everybody if you went to live with your Aunt Rosie, David's sister, in Albany" she finished.

I stared at her in shock which quickly faded to anger and stood up abruptly, slamming my hands on the table. "Both of you thought that huh? Or was it you?" I shouted,  glaring at David "All you've done is turn my own mother against me but now you convince her to ship me away to an old Bitch that I never liked!"

"Now Chloe that it enough! All David has ever done is try to help you but all you think about is yourself. I think a fresh start is just what you need, even if you don't deserve it. David and I will drive you there tomorrow, you have until then to pack what you want to keep, anything else can stay here for when you visit" She got up and began walking away "You brought this on yourself" she continued walking and disappeared upstairs.

I took one more look at David in disgust and followed her upstairs. He would pay for this, I'd make him pay 

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A/N: sorry another update took so long but I have been busy with work. On another note, thank you to everybody who has read this far! You are awesome!

Question of the day: Who is your favourite LIS ship?