Chapter 25

Delilah's pov:

      I pressed my head against the window, my breath fogging the same spot on the glass with every harsh exhale from my nose. I didn't know whether to be relieved or worried. The peace I was finally able to encounter felt not well deserved for some reason. It was too good to be true. I studied my surroundings with frantic eyes, trying to seek anything, anyone suspicious that might be following us. I could feel the officer catching on to my stiff figure.

      "Delilah, don't worry. You're okay." He said, his eyes meeting with my worried ones through the rearview mirror.

        I exhaled profusely. " But what if they're following us?"

    He heard the distress in my quivering voice. That's when we reach a red light and he turns to say, "Would you like me to have another officer escort us? Will that make you feel safe?"

     "Yes." I breathed out in relief.

He pulled at the microphone of the radio. Speaking a few code numbers and asking for backup. Within a few minutes, I could see another copy of the ford explorer I was in pulling up behind us. The drive to the station was quiet, even though Frank the officer tried making small talk. I appreciated it, he even told me his name. It was comforting to match a face to a name. I felt more at ease, but the feeling of constantly falling never left the pit of my stomach.

The car comes to a complete stop. Frank opens the door for me, all I see is pity on his features. I gave him a weak smile and he escorted me into the station. The first thing that hits me is the smell of damp moldy carpet and as I walk in further I noticed the weak lighting of the station but seeing all the police officers made me feel somewhat safe, safe enough to keep my nerves in check.

"Officer Makenna, here is the file for Delilah Lancaster. Her parents won't be able to make it till tomorrow evening due to the tropical storm." An informing voice said it belonged to a woman with honey blonde hair that was held into place by a tight bun, her eyes a light shade of blue. Her lips were perched as she scanned my appearance, a worried smile tugging at her lips. She handed the folder to Frank.

      "Thank you, Jones." He said.

     "Also the detectives are waiting to ask her some questions."

      "Are you okay for us to ask you questions, Ms. Lancaster?" Frank asked.

        A heavy breath escaped me. "No," I said, half scared.

    I crossed my arms over my chest and looked back and forth between officer Jones and Makenna.

    "But they need to ask you some questions, what you went through is a serious matter and important to address," Jones insisted, eagerness evident in her voice.

      "I want to talk to my family first."

    I needed to hear their voice, they needed to know I was okay. It had been too long, long enough.

    "But-" Jones retorted but Frank raised his hand to interrupt her.

     "Let her talk to her parents. I think she needs a break from all of this, it's been too much she's just a teenager Sarah."

     She seemed displeased by both me and Frank but she silently nodded before walking away.

    "Follow me." He urged as he motioned towards an office down the dim hallway.

       "Thank you, I appreciate it," I said.

    He waved me off as I follow short behind him. He pulled out a chair for me in front of a brown oak desk and handed me the telephone. The smell of damp carpet was stronger in this room.

     "You have five minutes, I'd give you more time but you have to be questioned. "

"You are one lucky kid Delilah."He patted my shoulder before closing the door of the office behind him to leave me to myself.

      Who knew that a stranger could make me feel somewhat at peace. That was Frank and I appreciated his patients and concern deeply. I pull the phone to my ear and start to dial mom's number. The phone was shaking against my skin, it was the tremors of my fingers, the nerves I was feeling. I couldn't believe that I was going to talk to mom and dad. Never in a million years did I imagine being able to talk to them again, to be able to tell them how much I loved them. The phone only rang for half of a second before the call was picked up.

      "Hello?" I could hear the frantic voice of my mother, a voice that sounded so outlandish, out of a dream.

     Tears freshly poured from my eyes at the emotions washing over me. "Mom, it's me, Delilah."

         I could hear something crashing on the other line of the phone. "Oh god, it really is you! When they called and told me they found you I couldn't believe it. Honey are you okay, are you hurt?" I could hear the relief in her tone.

      "Mom, I'm fine. I love you so much!" I whispered, clutching onto the phone as I tried to imagine it was her I was holding.

     "I love you too sweetie." She sobbed.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Sweetie, I'm okay. I'm so glad I can hear your beautiful voice again." Her voice quivered.

"Mom, how's dad doing?"

       At my question, I heard his voice take over the line and engulf my body with warmth.

       "Delilah, It's me, dad. I'm good now that I can hear your voice. I love you so much, my angel. I hope you know that, I'm sorry we don't tell you often."

      "I love you too dad." I try brushing the tears from my cheeks but they keep falling.

      "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I disappointed both of you."

      "What? You haven't disappointed us, honey. You are smart and strong. My daughter is not a quitter. We are proud of you." The emotions made his voice deeper.

     It was the first time my parents said they were proud of me, and I cherished every single second of it, especially now, that I needed it more than ever to get me through this. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on the phone as Frank Makenna peered into the room.

        "I have to go," I whispered.

       "Wait, honey."

      I was relieved to hear those words. I wasn't ready to let them go. I rose a finger at Frank, indicating I just needed one more minute.

       "Yes, dad?"

    "Your mother's sister lives down in Georgia. To our luck her husband Anthony is a police officer who works at that station. We want you to stay with them till tomorrow. We will be there in the afternoon to pick you up." He informed me.

     "Aunt Lucy?"

     "Yes."

"Okay, I love you guys so much. Please let Naomi know I'm okay and that I love her." I said, a knot in my throat forming at the mention of Naomi.

"Okay, We love you, Sweetie."

"Bye." I hesitated but ended the call once Makenna stepped further into the room.

"Detective Hopper and Peters would like to speak with you now," Frank stated.

His words were spoken unassertive at seeing the fear and anxiousness that was washing over me.

"Just know that you are not obligated to answer the questions you don't want and you can stop when you start to feel uncomfortable. Also, You can call me if you need anything, I'll be next door."

A shaky breath left me at his words.

"Thank you."

He nodded and welcomed the detectives to enter the office before disappearing from the room. I hugged myself, a mechanism I used that mentally gave me the strength to feel somewhat safe. They were both intimidating to look at, their towering stature was overwhelming. One was lean with orange-red hair. And the other was buff with raven locks, they were so different yet held the same poker face of an expression making me shift uncomfortably in my chair.

       "Hello Delilah, I am detective Peters and this is my partner Hopper. Is it okay if we ask you a couple of questions about the last few months?" The one who looked like a bodybuilder said as he pointed at the frail detective.

      I slowly nod, glancing away from their burning gaze.

       "Great, first question. What were you doing the night you were kidnapped ?" Peters asked while taking out a notebook and pen.

       I hesitated as I remember the night it all happened, the night I wanted to forget.

     "I went to a party with my friend Naomi," I stated.

"At what time did you get to the party?" Hopper questioned.

"It was late at night, probably nine or nine-thirty," I responded while fumbling with my fingers.

"Can you tell us what happened that night, before the incident?"

A shaky breath escaped me. "Well, I was with Naomi in the beginning, but the crowd pulled us apart. I was feeling uneasy because I'm not used to a lot of people so I went to the kitchen to get a drink and then..." I froze and my brows furrowed at remembering vividly what happened next.

"Then what?" Detective Peter asked.

He had gotten rid of that blankness his eyes once held. They became brighter, he was now invested and curious.

I hugged myself tighter. "Then, a guy offered me a soda and I don't remember anything that happened after that."

The sad part was that it had seemed like it had happened years ago. It felt like a distant memory. It felt so clouded yet so clear at the same time, almost like it never happened, like a dream.

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

"Blonde shabby hair, brown eyes. He's about six feet tall." I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Did he tell you his name?"

I struggled to get his name out, for some reason I didn't want to tell them and I felt aggravated with myself for feeling that way.

"His name's...Isaac." It was barely a whisper that left my lips.

They both exchanged glances before interest was evident in their eyes.

"Isaac Fisher?" Hopper asked as he rubbed a slender hand over his face.

"Yes." I was able to choke out.

I couldn't withstand the tension in the room anymore as their questions became more specific, especially about him. I couldn't think about Isaac without hurting inside. The office began to close in on me as an excruciatingly warm shiver consumed every inch of my body.

"Was Isaac Fisher your kidnapper?"

"Y-yes." My throat went dry.

"Did he sexually assault you?"

"What did he do to you?"

"Where were you during those four months?"

"How did you manage to escape?"

The longer I took to respond the faster they bomb barred me with questions. My throat was closing up, I suddenly forgot how to breathe. I couldn't take it anymore and shot out of my chair. It was too much for me to process. Both detectives jerked backward in surprise at my unexpected reaction.

"I think that's enough."

Hopper mirrored my action, pushing himself off the chair next to me.

"Look, the sooner we talk about all of this the faster we can find Fisher and have him pay for his crimes." He raised his voice to show authority but I wasn't giving in to any last bit of it.

I had been scream at, shot, hit, and almost assaulted to show men any more submission. I step in front of him, my chest meer inches from his. There's nothing these men could take away from me that I hadn't already lost.

"Isaac didn't do anything to me, and I don't owe you anything." I hissed.

"Ms. Lancaster, do you have any idea how dangerous this man is? He's killed dozens and has been on the run for two years, and you're telling me he hasn't touched you even once?"Detective Peters gapped at me, challenging my response.

"No."

"I think I'm done answering your questions detectives."

I looked between both of them before leaving them to their thoughts in the room. I breathe out a deep exhale as I walked out into the hallway. I winced to myself as I heard their footsteps shuffle behind me. I walked faster.

      "You're all done?" Asked Frank.

      I was relieved to see him. "Well, I got uncomfortable."

        He approached me and stood next to me as Detective Peters and Hopper walked, shortening the distance between Frank and me.

       "Delilah, we have to ask you more questions. It's critical to our operation."

"I believe, Delilah has had enough for one day, even for a couple of months if you ask me." Frank shrugged, stepping towards them as he prevented them from getting any closer to me.

"You guys can do this some other day right? What's the rush?"

Hopper and Peters exchanged annoyed glances. Peters shook his head, barking back a dry laugh.

"Fine, but we will keep in touch this can't end like this," Hopper said in warning.

      They looked at both me and Frank before turning on the balls of their feet. Relief washed over me as they walked away.

       "I'm sorry about them, They can be assholes at times," Makenna whispered.

      "It's okay."

     "Anthony just finished his shift, so he will be waiting for you in the lobby to take you."

     "Thank you, Frank." My voice was full of appreciation.

     "No problem kid, I'm just doing my job."

"Why have you been so nice to me? You don't even know me?"I asked curiously, as my brows furrowed.

"Kid if I was in your shoes I'd want someone to treat me the same. Plus you remind me of my daughter." He smiled.

     He guided me to the lobby where a man in his late forties stood, his hair was a shade of hazelnut and his eyes brown. He flashed me a toothy smile as soon as he saw me walk in.

"Hi Delilah, I'm Anthony. How are you?" He asked.

I didn't personally know him but I could tell he was trying his best to make me feel comfortable.

"I'm okay."

He studied my attire, his smile turning into a frown. I know I didn't look the most presentable and I also knew he wasn't expecting to see me like this. I'm almost positive he was waiting for me to look like the specific description my aunt gave him. I'd be shocked too if someone was the complete opposite of someone's illustration. My hair was no longer a rich honey-brown that cascaded down my back. It was now a short and brittle beach blonde. I no longer fit into my skin like before. My bones now hugged tighter to my flesh. I seemed very malnourished.

Frank waved at me. "It was nice meeting you, Delilah."

"It was nice meeting you, Frank Makenna." I gave him a closed-mouth smile.

As soon as he turned to leave Anthony cleared his throat.

"Let's go see your aunt, she's dying to see you."

***

Author's Note

Hey everyone it's me, Aster. I know, I know. It's been a week and a half since I last updated so it's a record for me! I'm on a roll, I'm so excited to keep writing this story. So much more has to happen. And I can't wait for you guys to read it!  Let me know what you guys think of this chapter. Well until the next update my water lilies.

Love - Aster