Officer Allan walked the length of our garden, searching for anything that could have been used to take the picture outside of my bedroom. There were no ladders, or any marks on the first floor ground, nothing to prove that anyone had been there. Karen had tried to hold me as soon as she'd found out why I'd screamed. But her touch resulted in another panic attack. So much for getting back to normal...

Karen had called the police as soon as I'd calmed down. She'd had no idea what had happened. She'd made the tea for me, brought it up to my room, and then went back downstairs. Mark had already left by that point. Officer Allan took down his details so she could question him later.

"And what were you doing while this happened?" She questioned, her face a mask of sympathy.

"I was in the shower, with my bathroom door locked."

She looked incredulous. "You were in the shower for 40 minutes?"

"She uses the hot water as a form of self-punishment." Karen answered for me, but not as my sister. She answered as a psychologist.

The officer nodded her understanding. "And you noticed nothing else out of place? Nothing else that felt different or weird?"

"My phone..." I began to say. "I placed it face down when I went into the bathroom, but when I came out it was face up."

Officer Allan wrote down all that I was saying in a little black notebook. She then turned to my sister.

"When you brought up the cup of tea, did you notice anything, like the phone? Did you touch anything else?"

Karen shook her head. "I don't really pay much attention to those types of things. Maybe I should from now on."

"We have a police car parked outside your house. It's for surveillance, just for a while. Until we are sure that no one is following you, or we catch the creep that is. We are also going to need to take your phone as evidence. You can have it back in a few days. What I can suggest for the next few days, stick to school and your house. Don't go anywhere else. Don't try to lose the surveillance."

My sister looked relatively relieved with the news. I, on the other hand, felt terrified. It had to be Andy. Who else would do something so creepy?

"Is there anything else officer?"

I looked up at my sister. She looked like she was about ready to pack up our entire house and leave right away. It was a good thing our mother hadn't been home. She probably would have thought the whole thing was a practical joke.

"No, there's nothing else for now. Please don't hesitate to call me if you notice or remember anything else." She turned to me. "We will catch this guy."

Karen thanked the officer and then walked her out. I sat curled on the couch, covered in my sister's duvet, feeling too numb to think or feel anything. I knew I was scared, but it was like a switch suddenly flipped in my body, and I couldn't process any of the feelings or emotions running through me. It was like my logical side had finally decided to take over. When Karen came back inside, she didn't know what to say or do. She just stood by the door with tears streaming down her face.

"Tali. Let's both sleep down here tonight, in the lounge, we can make it a sleepover party like we used to." Desperation laced her words.

I just nodded. I didn't have the energy to talk anymore. All I wanted to do was sleep.

*****

The sun was shining brightly all through the cabin. It warmed all the rooms. The day had been a good one, the best since we arrived. Caroline had even smiled at me when we'd woken up. Both Jack and Andy had left us alone in the cabin. We were free to roam into the kitchen and the lounge. And Caroline had given up trying to escape. I felt at peace. Caroline and I had been sitting in the lounge, in a patch of sunlight, building a puzzle, when Jack came back. I smiled when he walked up to me. It was expected of me, but I felt it had become a lot easier to do in the last few weeks.

"I have a gift for you Ashleigh."

I didn't even flinch at the name anymore. Somewhere deep down inside of me I knew that all of what was happening was still wrong, but I buried those thoughts, along with my hope and longing for freedom. The less I felt those feelings, the safer I would be, and the safer Caroline would be.

Jack handed me a wrapped box. I looked over to Caroline. She looked disgusted and scared. It saddened me. I just wanted her to be happy. But I wanted Jack to be happy too.

I took the box from Jack, and unwrapped it where I sat. My heart sank into my stomach when I saw the contents. He'd given me paints and brushes. Caroline moved to sit next to me. She put her hand on my shoulder. She knew what I was feeling. I was confused. I was Ashleigh, and Ashleigh didn't paint. Only Talita painted, but I wasn't allowed to be her anymore. I didn't know what to do, so I just smiled and thanked Jack for the gift. As I stared at the paints, I felt a little bit of the old Talita fighting to come back. Caroline must have seen it too, because she gave me a knowing smile.

*****

I didn't go to school the next day. I couldn't find the energy to even leave the couch. Karen had taken the day off too, so she could keep an eye on me. I didn't know what to do. I felt confused and angry. I felt terrified and distraught. It was like I'd been kidnapped all over again. I felt dead inside. Karen only left the room a couple of times, once to make some food, another to use the bathroom, and the third to make a phone call. My food sat untouched the whole day. I knew she was worried about me, but there was nothing she could do. When the sun started setting, the doorbell rang.

Karen got up to go see who it was and I could hear her arguing with someone at the door. I was intrigued. It was the first normal feeling I'd had all day. So I got up to go see who it was, and instantly regretted it.

Jordan stood at the door.

"Talita!" He rushed passed my sister to come to me.

"Jordan." I said solemnly. "What are you doing here?"

"He was just leaving Talita." Karen was trying to pull him outside but he wouldn't move.

"I'm not leaving until someone tells me what the hell is happening. Why weren't you at school, and why do you look so grey?"

He was concerned, and it pulled at my heart strings. I didn't even know I had any strings left to pull at.

"Let him come in Karen. He deserves to know what happened." Karen pursed her lips, but she didn't protest. After all, it was the first time the whole day that I'd actually said anything.

I went back into the lounge with Jordan following close behind me. Sitting back down on the couch I wrapped my blanket tight around me again, using it as a type of shield.

"What haven't you been answering your phone, I've been trying to get a hold of you all day."

I shrugged. "The police have my phone."

His mouth gaped open.

"Someone sent her a threatening text last night." Karen explained.

Jordan face fell. "Are you all right? Is there anything I can do?"

I felt a little flutter in my stomach. His face was full of tension.

I shook my head. "The police are taking care of everything."

"Is that why I saw the cop car outside?"

I nodded.

He dragged a hand over his face, like he was trying to wipe away his anxiety.

It made a small smile appear on my lips. Karen noticed it and looked a little bit shocked, but it must have made her relax because she asked Jordan if he wanted anything to drink.

"Coffee please."

Karen nodded, and started to walk away.

"With whiskey if you have?"

"Don't push your luck kid." Karen reprimanded but she walked away with a smile on her face.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jordan asked me as soon as we were alone.

"I have a therapist for that."

"Ok, is there anything you'd like me to do for you?"

I thought for a second, and then an idea came to me.

"There is one thing."

He sat up straighter. "Yeah?"

"I need you to buy some stuff for me."

Karen came back with two cups of coffee, and a cup of tea, handed them over and then sat down next to me, still not touching me.

Jordan took a sip of his coffee, and kind of spluttered. He looked at Karen and smiled. She must have added a kick to his coffee. Probably to thank him for getting me to talk.

"What do you need me to buy?" he set his coffee cup down on the side table.

"I need a canvas and some paints and brushes."

Now it was Karen's turn to splutter. "You want to start painting again?" She asked surprised.

I nodded. I didn't feel like telling her that it was because Geraldine had given me a task to do. It was also because it felt like the right time. I had too many emotions running through my body, I needed an outlet.

Jordan smiled. "I'm pretty sure most of the art shops are closed now, but I can go tomorrow?"

Karen shook her head, "No, no. No need to go buy anything." She then stood up and left the room without saying anymore. Jordan looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. I just shrugged. Karen came back a few minutes later carrying two giant bags. She plopped them down in front of me and told me to have a look.

I unzipped the first giant bag and found all of my old canvasses, the second bag held all of my paint brushes and a whole set of new paints. I didn't know how to fell. When I'd first come back home, I'd told my sister to get rid of them all. I was actually kind of happy that she hadn't.

After another few minutes of me going through the two bags, and Karen and Jordan chatting over their coffee's, a noise came from the front door that had us all pausing. It sounded like someone was trying to get in. The door creaked open, and Jordan stood up looking ready to tackle who ever had come through. A few aching seconds later my mother walked into the lounge. It wasn't until then that I realised I'd been holding my breath. I breathed deep and looked at the confused expression on my mother's face.

"Why is there a police car outside our house?"