Chapter 5 Senior Year: 2010

This is year I always want to go back in time and repeat. I get goosebumps upon my skin when thinking back to my Senior Year at Blue Bell. Let's say I've been damn lucky. I returned to Blue Bell for my senior year there. Something evil hangs in the air that force my fearful of being at the school. That darkness has left me unsteady and anxious.

Every chance I've gotten I slept in Dante's arms to feel safe at night. I think that maybe since he claims to love me, he won't hurt me...

Until Ms. Santana caught me red handed one morning when I was sneaking out of Ashbrook's bedroom at 5 am. Ms. Santana wasn't pleased to see me. She pulled me right into her own bedroom to screamed at me for loving man with no heart or soul. She wanted to know, "don't you see the danger that lurks here?" She screams at me that I've crossed into a danger zone with Ashbrook. She went on claiming she's very disappointed me. "I've thought you're the girl who's fighting spirit would change things and not give in to her worst enemy."

I've replied, "I love him, and Dante loves me back, you don't know him like I do now," I whisper to her as I cry.

"I know that guy, baby, for almost 10 years, you need to watch your step! Audra, please end it with Dante. You're like a daughter to me."

"I'm sorry I can't, Ms. Santana." I left her speechless.

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I never told Ashbrook or anyone on what I am planning. I had to find a loophole to not get him in trouble because I had been underage while he started to take me to his bed. Mr. Corsair, Ms. Santana, Lindsay, Bryce, Britney, Lionel, Trent, Matt and I still worked on Bloodline while we hold our meetings in the dark corner of the library. Going over what had happened or who had seen coming and going from the school and the brothel. I explained to them what my grandma told me; of the murders of girls by someone to make it looked like they had committed suicide over the years.

Because of what's happened we finally decide to reach out to the news and see if they can investigate more than we have been able to...

Lindsey, Lionel and I did the unthinkable we reached out via an email a CNN reporter by the name of Lori Richards. We had chosen her since she is the first woman to solo anchor a prime-time network nightly newscast, she is the best chance to get the story out, we believe.

We were shocked, Lori emailed us right back wanting to help. She told us we would have turn over significant dirt for her to go on. So, one night on I snuck on to Ashbrook's computer and I downloaded all the files to a flash drive while he slept. Under advisement of my attorney, I still cannot say what I found, but it makes me sick and angry at Ashbrook. However, I know I have to keep acting as if everything is okay between us... and in some messed up way, I wish it was still good. I know, I know...I am messed up...

What Lindsey, Lionel, and I agreed to was for everything we turned over to Lori Richards stay between us three. It's too huge for Bloodline or the school newspaper to know.

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Christmas break was upon us quickly and the investigation was not completed so we were ordered to go on as if nothing was happening. I traveled home to visit my family and on Christmas Eve I held my new little sister, Madison. The holidays had come quickly and I was thankful for the break to allow me to forget what's going on with school. Being able to act as a caring sister is a delight, filling my heart, I finally had the family that I had wished for years ago.

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I've started to realize that Ms. Weaver had been informed on my love affair with Dante. She was being very mean and made my life hell. She constantly made rude comments to me in and out of the classroom. I started hating her.

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It was time for the spring dance. To my surprise, Ashbrook asked for a dance with him in front of everyone. The song "Careless Whisper by Wham" began playing and we started to dance. Ashbrook was full of questions that he already knew the answers too... "had I started Bloodline, and why am I'm even in on it when I say I love him". I began trying to tell him that I not going behind his back. I was so nervous telling Ashbrook my plan was to protect him and to not cause him to go to jail. I explained shakily... I've come to love him deeply. He didn't trust my words. And really, thinking about it...how could he have?

Dante stopped dancing and told me to pick a side, him or Bloodline. I utter Bloodline because even though I love him, I still know what is right and what I have promised my friends...

"I'm done with you, Audra. You've been sleeping with me to make me weak and foolish. I won't tolerate you anymore!" he roared at me storming away while I stood there listened to the end of the song that always is symbolic to me.

"So I'm never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you

Now that you're gone

Now that you're gone

Now that you're gone

What I did that was so wrong?

So wrong that you had to leave me alone?"

I wept right there in the middle of the dance looking like a fool.

The next day, everyone knows the love affair between Ashbrook and myself. I have so many mixed emotions, however, I mostly didn't care anymore what anyone thought. I've been hurt by him. Then I learned he had sex with Ms. Weaver right after leaving me alone on the dance floor. It's the talk of the school, the girls in my class try read me the riot act for claiming to be someone that I wasn't.

I've tried everything to talk to Ashbrook, but he acts like I'm not there, ignoring me. How the hell did all this blow up in my face?

Later that day, I find out Ms. Santana filled a pink slip for me to see him in his office. Ashbrook and I had the shouting match and that spread like wildfire through the school. Now causing rumors, one of them had been that we had sex after the fight, it wasn't true. The worst one had happened to be that I had gotten pregnant by Headmaster Ashbrook. Unfortunately, that one is true, I found out I'm pregnant on the morning of the day of my Dad and Charlotte's wedding.

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I had gone home for the wedding. It was all very romantic between Dad and Charlotte, each wrote their wedding vows giving their hearts to one another on our mansion's grounds. The fresh spring flowers surrounded Dad and Charlotte, and they shared their first kiss as man and wife. I was moved by tears. Everybody who's anybody had to be at the wedding of the year to the Portland's elite. Their reception was charming and held inside our mansion grand ballroom. All of my friends were there with their parents, a few of them haven't seen me since 8th grade. I even saw Josh, making small talk with him.

At the end of the wedding day, I was so tired and just wanted to be alone. Perhaps it was my pregnancy, or it's my mind was overload seeing all my beautiful friend's together for the first time in years. All of them had been talking on the subject of their excellent high school that they all go to and their plans for college all the while I stood there being pregnant, but couldn't' say it out loud.

I had to lie telling how great and superb Blue Bell is and yes, I'm thrilled to be there. I could not dare to tell all them that my Headmaster got me pregnant, the pure wickedness within the school walls. I just kept wishing that I should have had to stay home and go to high school with them.

Here while telling this tale, I've found myself feeling that yet again.

Sitting out on the terrace all alone to rest my mind. Grandma joined me and ask me If I had still been dreaming of Dana and had I found the box? I started to sob knowing that I let my grandma down. Telling her everything of Bloodline group and the whole Ashbrook and what had happened since last we had talked

"It's had been complicated like a damn soap opera. And to put the cherry on top, I've taken a pregnancy test. I'm having a baby, Grandma. I am pregnant!" I whispered to her. She starts to cry hugging me close her and trying to console me.

"Have you told your Dad and Charlotte or anyone?"

"No, grandma. It's their wedding day. I don't want to drop it like it's a terrible wedding gift, you two will be grandparents in 9 months." I reply on a slight tone of voice. Looking across the estate, I could see my friends laughing about something that was funny between them all.

"Do you want this baby, we can go live at our beach house, and you can have this baby, and you will never go back to that Blue Bell hell!" Grandma asked as she pulled my attention back to her.

"What about being the girl who's vow to close that damn school, prostitution ring, and sex trafficking down for once and for all, grandma," I question her.

"Do you want your baby, my child? We can make so that bastard, Dante Ashbrook, never has to know this baby is his."

"Yes, I do with all my heart and soul. But, I have to go back there to finish my mission. Afterward, I want to hide with you, Grandma and have my baby. Give me a few weeks, I will get out for good. I know I got into Dartmouth, but doesn't matter to me, now. I had enough school drama to last a lifetime. I can go to Mt. Hood Community College. It will take me some time with a baby."

"Alright, we will figure out how you can go back to school once you've had the baby. Be careful now you have two souls within you, my Audra."

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After that night, I returned to Blue Bell knowing, I had to act fast and I had to go into the woods that I came to fear the first chance I had. I quietly tell Ms. Santana and Lindsey that I'm pregnant and ask them to keep it to themselves. At a Bloodline meeting, I've apprised that I'll be going to that trap door in the woods all by myself to prevent anyone else from being harmed. Mr. Corsair, Ms. Santana, Lindsay, Bryce, Britney, Lionel, Trent, and Matt gave me a hard time, objecting to my mission. Calling this a suicide mission for me to go on alone, they insisted that a guy must go with me. I've told them this "I know what I am getting into but I need to do this on my own." No one was happy. It was against all of their better judgments for them to let me do this.

Lionel and Lindsey bug me to go along with me all week, I always told them no. It's my calling not there's! I finally break down and explain to them that I'm the one that Dana come to me in dreams. In fact, they all warn me every time they see me.

Ms. Santana reminded me I have another life in me. Like I didn't know that...ugh...

I told her that I'm aware of it and nothing will stop me. Ashbrook and I haven't spoked a word to each other since I've returned from the wedding. I hardly ever see him in the halls and I know that Ms. Weaver is with him now. Chloe told me, he's spending a lot of time at the brothel, drinking, have lots of sex with all of the girl's right under Ms. Weaver's nose.

Ashbrook wanted her as well. She turns him down, told him no because she's my friend. He did own it, after all. Ashbrook forced her one night. Chloe told me she worried it might hurt me to know. I told her, she didn't and I was much more worried about what he did to her.... Chloe claimed she felt Ashbrook had turned into a real monster now; something dangerous behind his eyes. She and Lindsay are terrified of Ashbrook and the way he is acting at the brothel.

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Receiving an email from Lori Richards that same week, she is coming to meet us three by the side of the main road outside of the school to talk to us and pick up the flash drive to review on the same night that I want to go in the woods. They me told to put it off, but I say no because time was of the essence for me. We planned that Lindsay and Lionel would meet Lori to give her the flash drive and talk with her. I will go under that trap door for the last time to close Blue Bell for good.

The night of my journey into the woods came. Handing the flash drive to Lindsay while we hugged each other wishing good luck to another. Lionel ran to me, and he passionately kisses me on the lips, telling me that he always loved me. I was speechless walking away saying nothing to Lionel.

I went into these woods for last time wearing a backpack, holding a camping lantern. Frightened of what will become of me. I made damn sure that no one-tailed me. Hiking fast looking for the trap door. It took a good three hours to find the trap door.

I've got that same sick feeling that something horrible will happen after I go in there. Taking a long deep breath in, letting it out. Opening the door and climbing in. I began looking for something that Dana had been telling me about, that box. The room looked the same as I found it years ago, a full-size bloody bed. Pictures of dead nude girls on the walls. Like they were champion trophies. Smelling like hell, looking the same as I remember. Why did the Police never take everything out of this devil hole just after we found the bodies? My heart is pounding.

"Dana, where is it? Where's did you hide it years ago!" I yell aloud.

"Under that rug, Audra." hearing her voice in my mind and but yet, I looked around for Dana.

"Don't waste time now. Find it. Oh, find it, Audra, and get the hell out of here!" Dana demanded. I've finally comprehend her voice is inside my head.

I've moved the jute rug that looks like it's 100 years old. Finding, a smaller looked trap door. "The key, Dana!" I've panicked.

"Under the bed's mattress, I hid it in a hole, it is sewn shut on the bottom," Dana told me. I went to the bed lift the dirty old mattress. Seeing a small hole that had the key, ripping it, and getting the old golden key out. I've pushed the cushion back in place running back to the locked trap door. Opening it only to find many old notebooks and important documents, putting everything into my backpack.

"Long, at last, I can shut down the whole fucking Blue Bell Academy and everything that happens to be connotation to Blue Bell." Yelling aloud with joy, like one did when they won a long, ongoing video game. "Nope, you won't. My Audra! Sorry to say you didn't win. I won this game, my love!" Coldness ran upon my back. While I turn to see, Dante smiling wickedly from ear to ear.

"How did you know I'm here!" I growled at him.

"My dear love I am the Headmaster I've had eyes everywhere." He replied back to me. "Audra, I've thought that have we might have sex... my favorite way! I will murder you in your own blood after I've come." he laughs coming closer to me into the lantern light. He looks like a madman.

"You're a monster! You are not my Dante!" I take a deep breath and remember that I should make my attacker see me as a human if I am to have a chance to get out alive...

"I am still deeply in love with you, Dante! Also, I am pregnant, and I am going have this baby we made from pure love, please don't hurt me..."

"Is that so Audra. You will meet our baby soon after I am all done with you for once and for all!"

"Keep the hell away from me and our growing baby, your DAMN BASTARD!"

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Hours later, in the early morning as dawn begins to break the day. I walk back to the school grounds, looking like I walked from hell, wearing nothing but my shoes, blood all over my naked body, out of breath, so cold and frozen. I hear people calling, shouting my name. Looking for me over every inch of Blue Bell's grounds. I yell until someone hears me. Shining their flashlight on me, as it's not quite sunlight yet.

"OH MY GOD. Audra is alive, and nude- get her a blanket and calls for an ambulance A.S.A.P., the girl is covered in blood! Don't let any guy see her naked." A woman yells to people, rushing to take her arms before I fell down. I observe that woman is a cop, I confess crying, "I killed Headmaster Ashbrook. It's self-defense after he beat me and rape me, trying to kill me."

"Oh Audra, you'll be fine now, sweetheart. I'm Police Officer Beverlee," she winks at me.

In the ambulance, I had been in and out of consciousness. I realize slowly, Ms. Santana was by my side holding my hand along with Police Officer Beverlee on my other side. I was told that my Dad and Grandma are on their way. I fainted at the thought of my baby and how everyone will know at school. I awaking in the hospital later that night seeing my Grandma and Ms. Santana, right beside me smiling at me with tear's their eyes.

"Please tell me is my baby okay."

"Yes, your baby is wonderful growing in you while we speak," Grandma told me.

"I did it!"

"You sure did, Audra! Save your voice... I love you dear one." Ms. Santana cried putting a motherly kiss upon my forehead.

Dad was not happy to learn that he shall be a new dad and grandpa within the year, especially when he found out it was that bastard Ashbrook's.

The hospital discharges me the next day. Dad wanted me back home with him. Police Officer Beverlee told my dad that I needed to stay in town. I was required for questioning due to my knowledge of the events at my school. I was now the key witness; also that Blue Bell had FBI, CIA, and Police there around the clock, investigating. My Dad agreed to let me stay as long as grandma could stay with me at a hotel near the school and not at the school.

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Upon returning Blue Bell for questioning... observing it, a sadness had settled on everyone's faces while I pass by them. My school feels so cold, dark and empty. I was trying to find Lindsay but she wasn't in our room. I went all over the hallways to see her or Lionel. Until Britney, Chole, Matt, Bryce, and Trent found me with tears in their eyes. I asked them what is happening, "where's Lindsay and Lionel."

Britney was the one to tell me the horrible news... telling me that Lindsay and Lionel had been murdered by Ashbrook before he found me in the woods. In shock and in denial, crying and wanting to be somewhere alone, I just kept running. Ms. Santana found me and confirmed that Lionel and Lindsay were murdered on the same night, filling in the details that Ashbrook and Mr. Baxter were implicated in their murders.

I confess to her that Lionel and Lindsay have primary information on a flash drive that I took from Ashbrook's computer while he slept one night. They were on their way to meet the CNN reporter Lori Richards to give her a flash drive. That I faced danger in the eye and lived to tell the story, and they didn't. I cry my heart out while Ms. Santana comforts me. That night Grandma was allowed to sleep with me in my dorm room because I couldn't bare to leave my friends spirits.

The next day brought the hard part sharing my nightmare of a story on how Headmaster Dante Ashbrook tied me up, beating, raped, and use his hunting knife to cut me and how I've ended taking his hunting knife and using it on Ashbrook to kill him. I've told the same story over, and over again to the police, FBI, reporters, I was everywhere on CNN, FOX NEWS, and the top News Broadcast in America. Stories came to the surface putting Mr. Baxter and Ms. Weaver in jail forever along with other school staff and board members. I had suspected correctly the local police had been paid off for overlooking what was found under that trap door in my freshman year after I found the three girls.

New rules were announced at Blue Bell and no one would be allowed have sex at the school; and if you were caught it would be mean permanent expulsion. New teachers were been brought along with on-site counselors. Ms. Santana was named the Headmistress for the rest of the school year; while explaining the doors of Blue Bell Academy would be shut. The sweetness of victory is mine at last, and it's felt all so great. Lori Richards was the chief reporter for the school's updates and given exclusive access to the details as they came to light.

I decided to stay at school and finish the year. We even hold a funeral for Lionel and Lindsay on the school grounds. Everyone in the school shows up. I speak at the funeral. In fact, it was very hard saying farewell to two best friends.

I also had to figure out how to grieve the man I loved while coming to terms with the fact that same man almost killed me.

The rest of year I didn't make a wave in the school's newspaper. Shucking to my school duties. The day I graduated Blue Bell Academy was almost as sad as the day of the funerals. The year of the Class of 2011 was just extremely sad.

The murders hang over our heads, but we smile while we walk for graduation to get our diploma in front of our family, friends, fellow classmates, and the school faculty or what's left of them.

The next day I was really to move back to my home with my family. Grandma and I started to pack my dorm room early. I've said my goodbyes to all of my friends. I asked my family to go to the car to wait for me. I wanted to take one last walk around school before I left forever. Seeing Mr. Corsair, stopping him saying farewell to him. Mr. Corsair hugs and kisses me on my forehead, telling how I made him proud to knows me, wishing me all the best in life.

Ms. Santana was standing with my family by our car telling me to always call or text her. She wants to come to Portland to see the baby right away. I kiss Ms. Santana's cheek goodbye for now give her a hug. I get into the car, and I never look back at Blue Bell as we drove away!

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I did it, I actually closed Blue Bell's doors because of the sex scandals that went on from day one. It wasn't' over just yet, going to court in Washington D.C. for days on end.

I was the main key witness testifying to everything that went on at that school. Admitting to finding about the series of stories I had uncovered in my research and was told by Ashbrook of our past American presidents that had secretly gone to Blue Bell to have sex with the girls. Along with Washington's list of powerful people that's still coming out, putting a huge nail to the coffin of the prostitution and sexual trafficking. The heat was on Washington's top influential people.

And finally, it's all done for me. On my last night in D.C., I dreamt of it. Dana with Lionel and Lindsay. Looking so happy and at peace. Each of them being dressed in all white, in a nice place I've never seen. They thank me while they took turns talking to me while they dance joyfully around me.

"I am not trapped in that evil school anymore, thank you, Audra," Dana sang to her words making a song on her new-found freedom.

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That same night I dream of Ashbrook, dreaming of how I wish it could have been...

I see him sitting on a rock by the flowing brook. Ashbrook looks like an angel while he peering right at me. Walking right up to him I smiled causing him to let out a laugh while he stands up.

"Audra, you're perfect," Dante rejoices with pure happiness. Pulling me into his arms.

I smile "Yes, I sure made of it my love." Letting Ashbrook passionately kiss me. Yes, I know he almost killed me, remember I warned you I wasn't innocent...

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January 7, 2012, I gave birth to a healthy and beautiful boy that I'm named Jayden Ashbrook. After my great-grandfather, first name and my baby has mine and my grandma's unconditional love.

~*~ The End ~*~