Shadows In Durango

Chapter 89

*****Sofia's POV*****

I hurry to find Mr Stanley to let him know that Vincent was off school today and that I was back from my 'holiday' if you could even call my couple of days of torment a holiday!

I wondered how much stuff there would be to catch up on in the supply closet but knew that I would find comfort in the silence through doing it on my own.

With Vincent not being here and with everyone else being at class, I would have some proper time to think.

"Mr Stanley! Hey!" I call, seeing him up ahead as he exits one of the science labs and turns to find me in surprise.

"Oh, Sofia! I thought you two had been avoiding me!" He stops in his stride in order for me to catch up, chuckling as I shake my head instantly.

"No, not at all! I was out of town for a couple of days and Vincent is off school today so it will just be me." I explain, as he nods and smiles kindly.

"Excellent! Well you know where to go and what to do!" He nods finally, as I force out yet another smile before hurrying towards my private sanctuary that helped me to avoid going to gym class.

I still couldn't think of anything worse than going back to that same class, the one I had quite literally been assaulted and humiliated in!

Shaking the negative memories away, I pull down the handle of the door, stepping inside and immediately seeing that someone must have left the lights on since it was usually dark whenever I would get here...

I hear the door close over behind me, as I round the corner to step into the main section of the storage room, before nearly shrieking when finding someone bent over inside of a large cardboard box on the floor - their back to me. Thankfully, I stopped myself just in time to save any embarrassment, as I immediately wonder why Mr Stanley hadn't mentioned there being another student assigned to this job now...

"Uhh... hey? We haven't met yet because I was out of town for a couple of days..." I break the awkward silence, as the guy immediately stands to his full height and turns to face me the moment he hears my voice coming from behind him. And it is only in that moment that all time seems to stop.

My heart climbs up in to my throat and then in to my mouth, as my saliva seems to dissipate completely. I open and close my mouth in a desperate attempt to find oxygen that suddenly seemed to be running low... "Sofia?!" He states, as I find myself backing up slowly, shaking my head from left to right in shock horror of who was stood before me.

It can't be him!

I babble out in sheer disbelief, feeling my back hit the cabinets behind me as I almost fall

attempting to process that my ex-boyfriend, the one who had proven himself to be a total bastard back home, was now somehow stood right in front of me here in the damn storage closet! This can't be real, maybe I was taking ill? Maybe I was starting

feeling my hands shake as his

have looked so caught off guard then I would have made a dash for it almost immediately, believing that he was here to find me to take me back to my

last time I had seen him, both in height and in muscle, but his face

It was definitely him...

same? God it's been so long since I last saw you. You look so, different!" Ashton admits, cocking his head to the side to look me over which immediately makes me feel uncomfortable. What was he playing at?! From what I remember, my father had him running around to do his dirty work like

fold his arms firmly across his chest, but I was thankful that he maintained the distance between us. With a quick glance

leave, and don't act like you don't know why Ashton! It was pretty clear that we were over... but just answer my question, why on earth are you here?!" I become defensive, being forced to

that it doesn't help to ease my anxiety a little, as I watch him sink down into the chair to his left - posing no further threat to me -

working for my father then I would have time to skip town before he finds

also had to keep in mind that I couldn't trust this guy as far as I could throw

and I wouldn't ever forgive him for how he had acted towards me, especially after my

down a little? I won't hurt you, you know that." Ashton

as I remain glued to my current spot - reaching behind me to check that I still had my phone in case of

have been able to find you sooner apparently."

blinking profusely would cause him to disappear, I find myself staring through him as he

blew up my car and then smashed our house windows and after that, my uncle didn't want me involved with them and so he sent me away." He explains, shaking his head at the memory as

he was still an

whisper, my voice

us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is

first, but I hated it and so I came here to live with my grandmother for

lives here? In Durango?" I repeat, as he