Ashley and I met at the restaurant, she asks if she could follow me to my apartment to see where I am staying so I brought her to my apartment. Now the two of us are at the small but comfy living room of my house talking, we have a lot of catching up to do.

I have been terribly worried about Ashley, I couldn't reach her through the phone and I have sworn never to step my feet back in that house.

"When are you going to Australia? Remember you told us that is where your parents, your mom especially wants you to study." I ask in curiosity.

"I told her that I'm not going to Australia, that I wish to study here."

"And what did she say?" I probe further.

"She has no choice but to agree even though she's not happy about it." A comfortable silence filled everywhere as each of us is lost in her own thoughts. "Sasha," Ash calls and I turn to face her.

"I heard everything my mom told you that day but I was so emotionally unstable that I couldn't..."

"No, no, it's okay." I was quick to cut in. "She was right anyways."

Ash stares at me in disbelief. "You believe what happened to me was your fault? How is it your fault?"

"I was the target of the attacker and if you weren't in my room..." My voice cracks as I trail off and tears filled my eyes.

Ash picks up my hand in hers and shakes her head vigorously. "I disagree, Sasha. What happened was never your fault, it just happened and I promise my brother and my dad are trying everything in their power to find out who did that. Moreover, I have a more beautiful face all thanks to the attacker." She chuckles.

I smile at her sadly as if I'm fine as if my heart rate hasn't picked up speed the moment she mentioned him. Jace. Has he seen the picture of us that I kept in the drawer of my room? Or did he...

The doorbell rings also accompanied by a knock on the door thereby bringing me out of my reverie. Only Claire does that, ringing the doorbell and also knocking on the door.

"Claire is here. I will go get the door." I walk towards the door and open it for her.

"I started coming the moment you called and I swear if this is a prank..." she was saying when she spots Ash sitting on the couch, she turns to me with an eyebrow arched as if asking who she is. "You told me Ash was here."

Ash and I burst into laughter at the look on her face, she walks closer to Ash still confused. "Oh my!" She says while staring at Ashley. "This is...Ashley?"

"Yes. I was also surprised when I saw her at the restaurant."

Claire squeals happily as give her a bone-crushing hug.

"I can't breathe," Ash whispers to Claire and we all started laughing again this time with Claire.

I can now remember everything, I mean everything. I can't believe my mom could play with my intelligence like this, even if Cassie could lie about us what about mom? Dammit! They both made a fool out of me.

"How are you feeling now Jace?" My mom asks me but I gave no reply. She tries to touch me but I flinch and shift away from her. A look of hurt flashes through her eyes but I don't care, I can't believe she was as selfish and insensitive as that.

"I'm sorry Jace, I only did what I thought was the best for you."

"What you thought was the best for me?" I scoff. "You are the one that gave Cassie the chance to do this to me, the chance of making a fool out of me and putting antihistamines in my coffees."

I wince at the sudden pain I feel in my head, my mom tries to touch me again but drop her hand at I the glare I gave her.

"Do you know the pain of seeing who you love with someone else every day? That's what you did to Sasha. You're heartless mom." I see tears glistening in her eyes but I can't tell if she's faking it or not, I just don't trust her anymore. "I am never going to speak with you again."

The tears are now rolling down her cheeks but I'm not moved. I need to find Sasha, I don't think my heart can take being far away from her anymore.

"Jace please forgive me, I admit I was selfish and wicked but all I'm asking for is your forgiveness." She pleads but I turn my back to her and pay deaf ears to her pleas. She hurt me. She betrayed me.

I feel like there is something else that isn't right, something else that needs to be fixed but I can't remember what.

I'm all alone in my apartment after Ash and Claire left and I just had some pasta for dinner. I give out a long weary yawn as I change into my pajamas and flick off the light in my room. I'm so exhausted, I turn on the bedside lamp and plop down on the bed ready to sleep when I hear the doorbell ringing.

Who the hell is it? I wonder but decide to ignore it, I am half asleep when I hear the doorbell ringing again. I hiss and walk out of the room to get to the door. I open the door ready to lash out on whosoever it is but became surprised when I didn't find anyone outside, I walk out a bit and look around but didn't see anyone. Am I hallucinating? I'm sure I heard the doorbell ring, maybe it's just some kid trying to play a prank on me. Yeah, right? At this time of the day.

I lock the door and go back to my room, when I entered the room, the first thing noticed was that the window is wide open and then the light which I switched off before is now on. Now I am terrified, I spot my phone on the bed and was about to pick it up when I felt a hand around my neck. I open my mouth to scream but something was immediately placed on my nose and mouth firmly. I struggle to keep my eyes open in vain.

"Sleep baby, you will be okay." A voice whispers in my right ear.

That is the last thing I remember before plunging into darkness.