EMBERLY'S POV

Andy is working today, and Ashley hasn't shown up. I keep trying to call his cell phone, but it keeps going straight to voicemail.

I'm starting to worry, each second that passes only adds to the anxiety building in my stomach. I can't tell if I'm overreacting or not, but I have a very bad feeling. I decide to call Andy.

Best case scenario, he can calm my anxiety. Worst case, he can help me contact the authorities.

With fingers trembling, I dial my husbands number. I press the phone to my ear. In the time it takes Andy to answer, I've managed to nearly convince myself that Ashley just lost his phone or forgot that he promised to come by today.

"Hey gorgeous!" Andy's deep voice greets me. I smile slightly. "How's your visit with Ashley going?" My smile disappears.

"That's what I'm calling about. He never showed up. I have a very bad feeling, Andy." My voice breaks. I'm shaking, knowing my gut is right.

"Ok. Don't freak out yet. Let me check and see if he picked up an extra shift in the ER or something." Andy keeps his tone even, so I can't tell how concerned he is. I just nod, then realize that he can't see me.

"Yeah, ok. Call me back as soon as you know something." I say. I hang up, wandering into the kitchen, clutching my phone in my hand. I pull a glass out of one of the cabinets and get ice and water out of the dispenser on the door to the freezer.

I make my way to the large sectional and sit down heavily after placing my drink on the coffee table. I curl into a ball in the corner and wait, feeling the tension building in my stomach as I wait for Andy to call me back. This is so unlike Ashley to be so forgetful. And for his phone to go straight to voicemail-it doesn't many any sense. The more I think about it, the more I realize that something must have happened to him.

My phone vibrates in my hand, making me jump. Andy's name and picture flash on my screen. I take a deep breath before sliding my finger over the green button to answer.

"Hey." I'm already breathless, anticipating any new information.

"Hey." My stomach lurches. The tone of Andy's voice tells me all I need to know.

"Where is he?" I manage, tears already tracking down my face.

"I don't know, Em. He wasn't on the schedule for any shifts today and he isn't anywhere in the hospital. His car is still in the garage and I found his phone. I also found some blood." Andy sounds scared.

"You have to call the cops, Andy. We have to find him." I'm panicking. Andy grunts on the other line.

"I already did. They're on the way." I let out a sob. "We are going to find him, Emberly. I promise. I nod, numb.

"Keep me updated, please." I whisper.

"Stay at the apartment. I'll be coming home as soon as I'm done talking to the police." Andy promises me. I nod, my sobs stopping my voice. "They're here. I have to go now. I love you." The line disconnects.

I sit there for what feels like forever. I can't bring myself to move. Nothing feels real to me anymore. I don't know where Ashley is, but based on what Andy told me, wherever he is-he didn't going willingly. A sharp knock at my door brings me out of my dissociative state. I stand, steadying myself along the back of my couch. I trudge over and wipe my face with the back of my hand before opening the door.

While the main elevator opens into our living room, there's a service elevator that opens to a small corridor that isn't part of our apartment. It has a door that we can access from inside and is only used by delivery drivers. The corridor is empty, the delivery person already haven left in the elevator. A small yellow envelope sits in front of my feet. I bend down and pick it up. I back into the apartment and shut the door, careful to lock it behind me.

I rip open the envelope and empty the contents into my waiting palm. A thumb drive wrapped in a sticky note and secured with a rubber band slides out. I immediately head to my waiting laptop on the couch and unwrap the drive, swiftly plugging it into the proper port. The file menu pops up and I see that the only thing on it is a video file. I click on it and hold my breath as I wait for it to load up. That breath is stolen as it starts to play. Juliet's face has appeared on my screen. I want to shove the laptop off the couch and stomp on it. Just seeing her face brings back so many horrible memories.

I force the bile back down and turn the volume on so I can here what she's saying.

"Hello, Emberly. I hope you and Andy are well. It's been a while since I got to see you both." She's acting like we're old friends. "Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that an accomplice and I were at the hospital yesterday and ran into a friend of yours." My stomach twists yet again as she points the camera away from her face. A mangled cry escapes my mouth when I see him. Ashley is being held upright by his wrists, which are secure with metal cuffs attached to chains. His head is hanging down and his body is relatively limp. I can see blood matting his hair and coloring the skin on his face a dark crimson. The camera is pulled away from him and Juliet aims it back at her own face. "As you can see, he's not doing too well. Come to the address that's written on the sticky note we included with the thumb drive. Come alone. Anyone that is with you will be shot on sight. And Emberly," Juliet pauses, an evil grin spreading on her face. "Make sure you keep this our little secret. I'd hate to have to kill Andy." The video ends and I rip the drive out of my laptop. I desperately scrounge the couch for the now crumpled sticky note.

I shove the thumb drive deep into our kitchen trashcan. I grab my wallet, phone, and keys. Note in hand, I leave the apartment. I know Andy will be coming home soon and I have to beat him out. I won't let him get hurt and I can't afford to say goodbye. He'll know something is wrong. Ashley's life is on the line and there's no way in hell I'm letting Juliet hurt or kill anyone in my place.

I sprint to my jeep, cranking the engine. I pull out of my spot and screech out into the road, my gps loaded with the address Juliet provided me. I feel so numb. I don't know what her plans are, but I don't care. As long as no one else suffers because of me. I let out a shaky breath.

Hang in there, Ash. I'm coming.

A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you have enjoyed this story up to this point. And while this fic is coming to a close, I already have an idea for another BVB fic I'll start once this one is finished.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Don't forget to vote!

Quick shoutout to @danni_loves_you for getting me to finish the update sooner rather than later.

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