⚫ Aspen Seraphina Ambrosia ⚫

"Mom," I said in complete shock. My eyes widened at the sight of my mother who was supposed to be dead for five years now but was now standing on the other side of the room where I have been tortured for the past two weeks. My body went into shock and I couldn't even begin to force myself to move.

It had felt like I completely left this world and was in some other dimension. This couldn't be, it couldn't. My mom died when I was 13 after going on a motorcycle ride on her usual route...detectives said they never found the body but that she probably went overboard on the cliff and into the deep waters. It had been five years since my mother's death, she couldn't have been standing right in front of me. 

"Aspen..." Her lips parted and her eyes began to fill with sorrow. Her brown hair had fallen to her chest with its natural loose wave to it. Her blue eyes struck mine but the bags under her eyes had been prevalent. Her black jeans hugged her legs and her t-shirt hung around her torso. She looked exactly like my mind but it couldn't be her.

"Well, well, well Jezzy," Cayde spoke up, walking closer to me as his arms were crossed against his chest "And to think you thought your mom was dead all those years, all those stupid little breakdowns I had to hear about your very much alive mother."

I had no idea how to react, I have grieved my mother's death the past five years of my life and watch it destroy my family, tearing us apart once our glue was gone. Only to find out I was grieving my mother who wasn't dead, but alive and working with a gang that had wanted it out for me. 

Her eyes began to water as she looked back at me. "I'm sure you had some questions..." Atticus trailed off as he walked closer, standing in the middle of the room where my mom and I stood on opposite ends. 

"As you've already known, your mom was involved with the Crestmont gang even as a teenager before becoming their leader. Ashlynn overhear had been one of the best leaders Crestmont had ever had, let alone the best leader the gang world had seen." Atticus took a pause for a moment before looking over to me "When Ashlynn moved away to be with your dad, she left the gang to Vance Gunner."

It was true that when my mom moved to Washington with my dad she left the gang to Vance temporarily before Xander was old enough to take over. It was the reason Mr. Gunner disliked me so much, all because of the feud he had with my mom. My mother had power over him and was the one in control, which he didn't like. It was Crestmont tradition that a man of Crestmont would become leader, but that changed when my mom was a leader and stole Vance's position.

"Our gang began to sink, between RSP, races, and everything else...which we needed help. So we reached out to her mother, hoping she'd join since we were such a local gang to her since we are based in Washington." Atticus continued "But your mother refused, so we did what we needed and took her captive."

Atticus walked closer to me, every footstep inching himself closer to me before standing tall in front of me. He looked down at me, slipping his finger underneath my chin as he forced me to look up at him. My face went cold as my eyes looked up to him, not wanting to show any emotion of weakness. 

"Your mom has been here for five years now, and we need the next Ambrosia to take over where she had left off. We now have you for all the times your mother tried to escape...a plan of revenge." Atticus stared down at me but I took no time to push him off of me. I'd never join the Vipers and work with them. 

"In your dreams." I scoffed in disbelief that they'd actually think I would join them. Atticus went to grab me but I took no time but to knee him in the balls as he tried to grab a hold of my wrist. He grabbed them in pain as he stumbled back, Cole and Cayde each grabbing the sides of my arms and dragging me out of the room. 

My eyes followed my mom's as they dragged me out of the room, my consciousness still being in a state of shock. I didn't fight them as they pulled me down the hallway, knowing I wouldn't win this fight. They both were so silent it was concerning, making me think something bad was going to happen. 

We came to the end of the corridor before they shoved me in the room, slamming it shut behind me. My body jumped slightly from the loud noise, not being able to comprehend what had just happened as I tried to place the puzzle pieces together. 

Coinston was after me only to stir drama up between them and Crestmont. The Coinston's worked with the Vipers in order to reach me for revenge on my mom trying to escape captivity. I ran a hand through my hair, not being able to believe this was all happening. I had put all the pieces of the puzzle together but this puzzle wasn't exactly the best scenic achievement. All of this was revenge...on both sides.

The door opened again, making me whirl around to see my mother standing in the doorframe. "Aspen...I..." She shook her head in disbelief before dropping her words and pulling me into a hug. Her arms wrapped around me tightly, her embrace coming over me as I slowly moved my arms to hug her back. 

Lavender... that was the smell she always smelt like and the scent still held strong to her. The smell itself brought me back to my childhood. After my mother died, I ended up filling my bedroom with lavender scented candles to fill the void but it did nothing but make my room smell of essential oils.

The hug lasted a few moments before she pulled away, tears streaming down her face. Tears pricked my eyes as well but I still felt as if I was in a state of shock. She grabbed my face in her hands, wiping away my falling tears as they streamed down my cheeks.  

"My Aspen..."

"Y-You're alive." I stuttered the words, the two words not feeling real enough to actually say. At this point, I had lost my battle to the tears that were building up within my eyes. She nodded slightly, dropping her hands from my face before pulling me back into another hug. All the years of grieving were for nothing, we had all thought my mom was dead when she was right beneath our noses...in a town where we used to take trips as a family.

I pulled back from her arms and blinked slowly, taking all of this in as it hit me like a ton of bricks. "I know you're confused, shocked, hurt and so much more." She tried to sympathize with me "I can only imagine what you're feeling, and I'll explain everything sweetie. You just have to listen to me when I tell you everything."

I nodded in agreement and we both took a seat on the edge of my bed. She took a deep breath before turning her head to look at me, grabbing my hand in hers as she began to think of where to even start with the explanation. "I know you know about me being in Crestmont," She admitted "It was a life I hated to hide from you guys but I did it for your own safety."

This entire time I had been so angry with her for living a double life. She wasn't traveling for her job as a sales director, she was traveling back and forth to be with Crestmont and help lead a gang when she had a husband and two kids back at home who were completely in the dark about what their wife/mother actually had been.

"I knew if I had admitted to being in Crestmont it would break your father. I also knew it would mean one day you and Aster would someday join, which was a life I didn't want for you. I had grown up in it and wanted so much more for you guys. When I heard about you both joining, it broke my heart knowing what you'd have to endure." She explained, her voice filled with sorrow "When the Vipers asked me to join I said no, but that was an answer they wouldn't take. They then threatened if I didn't join they would go after you, Aster, and your father."

My mom became silent for a moment, closing her eyes shut tightly as she processed everything in her mind. "I knew I needed to go with them to keep you guys safe. They made me fake my death on the motorcycle before being held captive. They knew if I was announced dead there would be no search for me, meaning I'd be stuck here forever."

I remember the day of my mom's death and my dad screaming at the police officers that it was impossible for her body to not be found but they said she must've gone overboard and washed out into the water, too deep for us to find her. My dad said they were just lazy and not willing to search for her and instead was less paperwork for them to presume her dead. 

"You've been watched your whole life, Aspen. Since I was out of the picture, the Vipers, Coinstons, and Crestmonts have all kept an eye on you; all wanting something from you. Crestmont was the one who got you though, thankfully. Since you were only thirteen, people have kept their eye on you as they hoped you'd be the next leader, expecting to follow in my footsteps."

"I don't understand.." I shook my head in disbelief, not understanding how this was true "Why me? I don't want this, I don't want to be some next gang leader. This entire time I've had this pressure to become the next Ashlynn but all I want to do is be the next Aspen." 

"Then be it." She squeezed my hand, forcing a small smile "I've watched you and your brother since I had been gone, always keeping up with you. You have no idea how many times I wanted to just hug you and tell you that you would be alright and at one point I hoped you would find Crestmont to gain more family. The truth is Aspen, as much as you don't want to be it; it's in your blood, and  you were born to be a leader."

I was so confused. I had grieved my mom for years till I found out about her double life once I joined Crestmont. Once I learned about that, I resented her for lying to us and keeping us in the dark. The anger built up in me as everyone compared me to her and forced me to be the next her when all I wanted to be was myself. Now I'm finding out she's always been alive but did all of this to protect her family.

"You've watched me?" I asked, thinking back to everything she said. At times in my life, I did feel like I had my mom watching over my shoulder but always pushed it off as I wished she was with me. "Always did when I could." She smiled at me "Before I tried to escape, they used to let me go out with them and I was able to sometimes watch from afar, and just to see you was a gift. to me."

"You are so strong. I know all about Cayde and the court cases, something I wished I could've been there for but I'm so proud of all you have done." She let out a sigh, her eyes looking directly into mine as she elbowed me slightly in the side, narrowing her eyes at me "But on a happier note, you and Pierce Gunner I hear?"

"Oh yeah, I guess..." I trailed off thinking about the picture of Mercury on his lap that Tucker had taken. I didn't know where that had left Pierce and me, considering I was already worried about Mercury and then the minute I'm gone he's with her. I missed Pierce so much and every time I closed my eyes I could see him. I wanted nothing more for him to just pull me into a hug and tell me everything was going to be alright but that reality was far away. I had also forgotten my mom already knew Pierce, something that was a bit weird to me.

"Aspen I know this about the picture and I guaranteed it was staged for them to give you a weakness." She assured me, knowing how manipulative gangs could be "I've known Pierce since he was born. A super sweet kid who just caught up in the wrong world especially after what his aunt had done to him." 

If she only knew everything else...

"Well, I guess I can kiss that fantasy goodbye considering I'm never getting out of here." I let out a sigh, feeling more and more defeated as the days went on. "Don't say that." She shot me a look "They'll be here very soon. I promise." 

Her words were filled with hope, a quality I didn't understand how she had after all the years of being held captive. I had lost hope after being held captive for over two weeks. In the two weeks, I had been beaten, cut, raped, and tortured and was now at my ending point where I couldn't keep fighting to go on. 

"I better get out of here before they come searching for me." She pushed herself off the bed and started to walk towards the door before turning around to face me "I love you, Aspen."

"I love you too, mom..." I spoke silently before she headed out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I sat in complete silence, processing everything that had just happened. This all felt so unreal and not possible. I laid down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as I realized the secrets and mysteries had all been solved. I was so focused on figuring everything out that I never thought about how I'd process it.

My mom's still alive...

* * * * * *

⚫ Pierce Henderson Gunner POV ⚫

"This building is about 12 different floors, we need to enter through here; which is the back. If we enter through here we can make our way upwards but not cause a disruption. The sooner they find out where we are is the sooner chances of one of us getting shot." Xander explained as he shuffled through printed-out" pictures of the warehouse. 

"Coinston Leader is Nixon Kingston. Members are Knox Kingston, Katarina Langford, Ethan Hemmings, and Jules Harris. Vipers Leader is Atticus Jenson. Members are Marley Lennon, Cayde Matthews, Amora Adler, Cole Beckett, Beverly Walker, and Harlow Nash." Archer listed off all the names of the people we were up against "Atticus is ex-military. They may be few people but they are dangerous and willing to kill anyone who gets in their way."

"How are we supposed to find what floor she's on? For all, we know they could have an escape room and leave as soon as we get there." Harley added in concern, and as much as I didn't like to admit it-there was many issues with this plan.

"God I miss Ashlynn, she was good at this shit," Sawyer commented, making us all look over to her and stay silent. It was true that Ashlynn was the best when it came to planning things like this and if she were here, we would have already had Aspen back. 

"I doubt they'll have a plan for anything. We'll be unexpected." Tucker spoke up about the plan. I sent him a glare as something didn't feel too right about how he had been acting. I grabbed June's wrist and pulled her away from everyone and to the other side of the bedroom so we far enough from everyone.

"I don't like how Tucker's acting, somethings up with him. He fucking hated Aspen and now he's all about finding her, it doesn't add up." I was sure something was up, he had been suspicious and disappearing for time after time. He was the one who talked to a Coinston in the first place before Aspen had been kidnapped.

"He's just trying to help, Pierce. You're thinking way too far into this. You'd say the same shit if he wasn't saying anything. At least he cares enough to add something to the table." June rolled her eyes in annoyance, completely shutting down what I had said.

"I'm serious, June."

"I am too." She narrowed her eyes at me "Stop overthinking everything, it's just going to make things worse. Right now we need to focus on Aspen and finding her, not worrying about Tucker acting helpful for once."

"Exactly. For once," I repeated her words making her see how it was weird for him to just start giving a shit now when he hadn't for how long. Juniper rolled her eyes at me, waving me off as she walked away and joined everyone else. I quickly walked over to the nearby dresser, grabbing the printed photos out and heading out of the room.

Heading down the steps, I made my way down to the hotel lobby before heading out and to the side of the building. I made sure to keep my head down and keep quiet, not wanting anyone to call the news reporters as the whole nation was over me for "killing my girlfriend."

Leaning up against the side of the wall, I placed a cigarette between my lips and lit the end. My mind immediately went to when Aspen asked me to stop smoking, something I have tried to but didn't expect for everything to take a turn when I made a promise. I'd stop again once we found her but for now, I needed something to take the edge off. 

Shuffling through the photos, there were so many of Aspen from baby photos all the way up till now. We printed the photos originally for the police but they've been next to useless in searching for her. I stopped at a photo of Aspen and her mom from when she was around 13, with her lips smiling cheesily. 

Ashlynn stared directly at where the camera was placed as she placed her head above Aspen's. They were on some sort of boat, the ocean in the background. It was a picture from where their life was still normal before everything had gotten flipped upside down. 

Ashlynn was always like a second mom to me, she was to everyone. There was always one specific memory I had when she had walked in on me one time as she was over our house, visiting with my parents while she was on a trip away from Washington.

"Knock, Knock." A voice said behind me, making my head snap around to see Ashlynn standing in the front of the doorframe of the empty living room. I sighed, turning back around as I didn't want to be bothered by anyone right now. 

Although Ashlynn never did get the hint, walking around the side of the couch before taking a seat next to me. My parents were both in the kitchen and had just gotten over a screaming match. I didn't move at all, continuing to stare ahead as I internally begged for her to leave the room.

"So I heard you got suspended today." She let out a sigh as she looked over to me "What'd you do?" For a moment I debated on whether to respond or not, not daring to look at her as I didn't tear my eyes away from the fireplace. The right side of my face was stinging and burning, my skin becoming bright red after being hit by my dad. 

"Punched someone,"  I muttered under my breath, not wanting to explain any further. I punched a kid named Finn Waters, some stuck-up rich kid that's always rubbing shit in people's faces...so I decided to take care of it. My parents weren't very amused though as this was my third time being suspended within the past year. 

"Hmm, where'd you punch him?" She asked, making me furrow my eyebrows in confusion as to why she asked where I punched him instead of lecturing me about it like everyone else. "The nose..." I trailed off in confusion, not understanding what she had been getting at.

"Good choice, super fragile spot. Will almost knock anyone out." Ashlynn gave me a look of amusement before her lips broke out into a smile "I'm not here to lecture you, Pierce, you'd have enough of that from your parents. I know you've had a difficult time lately, I just wanted to make sure you were okay." 

"I'm fine."

"Really? Because your cheek says otherwise." She narrowed her eyes at me "My daughters your age and trust me, she's everything but fine. You're at a time in your life where a lot is going to start changing and you need to be prepared to adjust to what's to come."

"Aspen, right?" I asked curiously, trying to recall the name of her daughter.  "Yep."  Ashlynn said, pulling out her phone and showing me a picture "This is her,  she just turned 13 and is sure a handful."

"She's pretty," I admitted, looking down at the girl with bright crystal blue eyes and long light brown hair. I had never met her, but Ashlynn did talk about her a lot whenever she was around. 

"You guys should meet someday, I'm sure you'd get along,"  Ashlynn said as she put her phone, taking the photo away from my eyes. "Is she joining Crestmont?" I asked, not knowing if that was ever in question since Ashlynn's own family didn't even know about her life in a gang.

"Not if I can choose."  She mumbled the words out, the subject obviously being a sore subject. "Ashlynn!" My mother's voice called from a distance, making Ashlynn stand up and start walking away before stopping in her tracks.

"Pierce, you know I'm always here if you need someone to talk to."  She reminded me before heading out of the living room and leaving me in silence.

I blew out a drag as I thought back to that time with Ashlynn, feeling bad she was more of a mother to all of us rather than to her own kids who needed her more than anything. I finished off the cigarette, my mind not being able to get away from Aspen for even a second. 

I heard crinkling through the bushes, my head snapping over to see reporters with cameras on the other side as they spied on me. I scoffed in disgrace, so over the entire nation being on my ass. Making my way back inside, I rushed up to the hotel room to get as far away from them as possible.

"We need to do this before the police get here tomorrow which means tomorrow morning we need to get out of this hotel and find Aspen. If the police intervene we will never get to Aspen, they'll just drag it on longer."

"Ready for tomorrow?" Aster asked as he stood beside me, glancing over to me as he waited for my response. "Ready to fucking kill everyone who's laid a hand on her," I answered sternly, imagining how I'd rip Cayde's head off by tomorrow for what he had done to her. 

"It's not going to be as easy as you think." My dad commented, gaining a spot next to me as we all stared over as Xander spread all the pictures out across the table as we set up our plan to intrude. 

"I think we'll manage." 

"Don't get ahead of yourself Pierce, they're going to be a lot more powerful than you think they are."  He narrowed his eyes to me as he raised his glass of pure whiskey over ice. I didn't want to think about what could happen, all I was focused on was getting Aspen back once and for all. 

* * * * * 

A://N Happy Early Update! I'm going to try and get another chapter out by Thursday if you guys can get this chapter to 400 comments!

What did you guys think of this chapter? I'm so excited to write the next one

You finally got to meet Ashlynn? What did you guys think?

Lots of you were worried she'd be evil but now you know everything that has been kept in the shadows!

Do you think Ashlynn did the right thing of faking her death so her family wasn't hurt?

Why do you think Ashlynn never wanted Aspen or Aster to join Crestmont?

Do you think Aspen is meant to be a leader like her mom says?

How do you think everyone will react to finding out Tucker is actually working with the Coinstoins? Do you think he'll lead them to danger?

What'd you guys think of Pierce's little flashback with Ashlynn?

How do you guys think the next chapter is going to go over?

~ Ash