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Chapter 7
"Thanks for the ride home Justin," Kristi says, unlocking the door to her house after the ride home Justin had promised earlier.
"You're welcome. It was a pleasure to take you home in exchange for getting to know you better," he returns, enjoying the slight blush it brought to her cheeks.
"You're so sweet Justin. Do you want to come in for a few minutes? You know, before you begin your long trek back to your hotel?"
"I'd love that Kristi," Justin replies, following her into the house, closing the door behind him. He follows her down a hall and into a huge living room. "Geez... You've got a nice place here."
Kristi laughs and says, "If you think it is great now, I have to show you the game room another day. For now though, I'm really tired and am going to get something to drink. What would you like?"
"I don't know. I think I'm scared of spilling on this white carpet in here."
"Don't worry silly! Daddy isn't that protective of this house. Just don't make too big of a mess, okay?"
"Oh, that just helped ease my nerves. Lead me to the kitchen and I think I'll get my drink in there."
"Okay, whatever you say Mr. Curly Top sir!" Kristi jokes as she instantly starts running for the kitchen with Justin trailing her.
Just as they both make it into the kitchen, the lights go out. "Did we trip over some electrical wire or something?" Justin asks, putting his hands out in front of him to avoid running into something.
"No, it was me. No one messes with my girl and gets away with it. Say your prayers blondie," a deep male voice says from the darkness just before Justin feels himself being grabbed around the neck and strangled. After what seems like eternity, Justin gives up holding onto consciousness as he feels himself flying through the air and hitting a wall.
"No, Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kristi screams, being the last thing Justin hears before surrendering to the darkness.
After knocking Kristi out a little with a smothered rag, William tosses Kristi into the passenger seat of his car and laughs. 'To think that this little whore looks so innocent right now. Oh, she will get what is coming to her very soon,' William thinks, jumping into the driver's side and taking off for some unknown destination.
Kristi begins to slowly open her eyes after she feels herself bounce in her seat caused by William flying over a speed bump before getting onto the bridge. 'What the heck happened?' she wonders, noticing that William looks like a crazed maniac. 'I remember the lights going out and then hearing Justin scream... Oh my God! Justin! What happened to him? I have to get to him and get myself away from this man. Come on Kristi, think of something.' She looks out the car window, keeping her head tilted away from him, scanning the water under the bridge, weighing her chance of survival. 'You have no other choice. Jump Kristi!' After closing her eyes and slowly moving her hand to the door handle she does just that.
It's a long way down to the water but Kristi doesn't seem to notice as her life begins to flash before her eyes. She sees herself as a baby and watches as that baby became a child and then a teenager. 'So much has happened since those innocent years. If I had only seen through William's act that day I met him! Things would have been so different. Maybe Justin and I would have even had a chance. Justin...' Kristi finishes her crazed thoughts just as she hits the cold water that swallows her whole.
"Mr. Timberlake?" a voice asks, drawing Justin's attention towards the single light he sees in the darkness.
'Where am I and who is that?' he wonders, contemplating if he should go to it and answer the voice. 'I better not. It could mean more danger...'
"Justin! Come on Curly you have to wake up and snap out of it! A lot depends on whether you snap out of it so get out of it! I mean it!" another voices pleads, causing Justin to realize that the light couldn't be danger since that is JC's voice. Justin focuses on the light and realizes that it is getting bigger by the second.
"Nurse! I think he is coming to!" another voice exclaims.
Justin hears a huge wave of noise hit his ears as he is blinded by sudden brightness. "I knew he'd come back to us!" JC exclaims, paining Justin's ears.
"What's going on?" Justin asks, barely getting out the words.
"You've been in a coma like state for a week now and have made us all sick to death with worry! Kristi's coach found you unconscious in Kristi's house and you've been in the hospital since," Chris explains.
"Oh no! Kristi?" JC, Lance, Chris, and Joey all look at each other, leaving the room to be draped with heavy silence. "What is it?"
"Justin, we didn't know how to tell you this. No one has seen Kristi since that night and the police suspect that whoever harmed you, kidnapped or killed Kristi. Do you know who it was?" Joey asks.
Justin closes his eyes and fights the overwhelming sense of dread that washes over him. "Her boyfriend - William."
"She had a boyfriend?" Lance asks.
"That would explain things. Justin, you need to tell the police," JC urges.
"We just heard it sir. Thank you for thinking of us. If you all don't mind, my partner and I would like to talk to Mr. Timberlake now that he seems better," a police officer says from the entrance of the room.
"Certainly officer. We'll see you later Justin!" Joey says, exiting the room with the others.
"We realize you just became conscious but we need to know some important facts about that night. Is that okay?"
Justin nods his head in agreement and waits for the first question to be asked.
"We understand that you were there at Kristi's house the night she was abducted, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct. I had just dropped her off from shooting the video and we were going to get something to drink when the power went off. I heard a male voice before I was then strangled and then thrown in the air. From what he said, I can only conclude it was William, Kristi's abusive boyfriend."
"That's what we thought. We just needed a confirmation on that," the other officer replied.
"So where is Kristi?"
"We can't say Mr. Timberlake."
"What do you mean?" Justin asks, panicked at his answer.
"I mean that we can't tell you anything. As it looks right now, you need to focus more on you getting better and staying safe than on Miss Kristi. Trust me, things will be fine. Thank you for your assistance and time," the officer says getting up and exiting the room with his partner.
As the door clicks shut, Justin closes his eyes and fails to hold back the tears. 'Wherever you are Kristi, please be safe, please...'