Chapter 6 – The Betrayal

Catherine came to see Ashleigh in Shady Hills to give her some news. She was springing her from Shady Hills. Catherine had heard that Det. Chase was onto where Ashleigh was and knew she had to get Ashleigh out before Det. Chase got her out.

Then she thought of her family’s home and the basement that was designed as dungeon. She could bring Ashleigh here and no one would be the wiser. Then she could put her plan in motion.

“Hello bestie!”

“Catherine, please! Let me out of here!” Ashleigh pleaded. “For Charles’ sake!”

“Don’t worry. I’m here to help you.” Catherine said as she jabbed Ashleigh with a needle.

Ashleigh woke up to find she was in a new prison, Catherine’s family’s home basement.

“Catherine, what did you do to me?”

“I got you out of that asylum.”

“And into another prison?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, are you missing your fiance?”

“Catherine, why are you doing this? Haven’t we been friends since childhood?”

“I’m sorry, are we? Friends? Besties?” Catherine chided her.

“What are you talking about?”

“Would a friend betray her bestie by sleeping with her guy?”

“What?! I never slept….” Ashleigh began to say, but Catherine cut her off.

“You slept with him! Stephan!”

“Stephan?! Your boyfriend in high school?”

“Yes. I caught you together!”

Ashleigh flashed back to their senior year as she remembered that day. But Catherine got it all wrong. Ashleigh was only congratulating him with an embrace after he confessed to wanting to propose to Catherine. But Catherine’s jealousy and insecurities ruined the proposal and Stephan was killed in a car accident when he tried to go after Catherine, who had taken off in her car. Catherine has blamed Ashleigh ever since that horrible night.

“Catherine, he was planning to propose to you. I was only…”

“Save your damn excuses, Ash! I know you wanted my boyfriend!”

“You have it all wrong?!”

“Well, too bad you’re locked in here. No will be able to save you now.”

“What are you planning?”

“I will be comforting poor Charles. I will be marrying him!”

“Catherine! Please! Let me out!”

But Ashleigh’s pleas fell on deaf ears as Catherine started to leave, “Sorry, Ash, but karma’s a bitch!”

Desperate and hopeless, Ashleigh fell on her tiny bed and cried. How was she going to get out of here?

Catherine went back to town and began her plot to seduce Charles to become his wife…a Navy SEALs wife!

Chapter 7 – The Seduction

Secure in the notion that Ashleigh was locked away forever, Catherine found her way to Charles apartment to begin her seduction. Charles’ was out on bail, unbeknownst to him, paid by Catherine.

“Hello? May I help you?” Charles asked Catherine, who was bringing dinner to him.

“Yes. I’m Catherine Jorgensen. I’m Ashleigh’s best friend.” Catherine introduced herself to Charles.

“I see you brought dinner. Please come in.” Charles said, inviting her in. “I haven’t felt like eating since Ashleigh’s disappearance.”

“I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I thought some dinner might cheer you up.” Catherine said, putting on her best sympathetic performance.

“Well, it was nice of you to think of me.” Charles said. “Would you care to join me?”

“I’d love to.”

“I don’t care to be alone and your company is a refreshing change of pace.”

Catherine and Charles sat down to dinner as they ate the dinner she made: lasagna and a tossed salad—Ashleigh’s favorite. This was going to be easy to seduce Charles.

After dinner Charles poured the two of them a glass of wine as the two of them sat on the sofa. They reminisced the times they shared with Ashleigh, leading the two of them to kissing and nearly making out. But Charles stopped himself before things went too far—to Catherine’s dismay.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.”

“Hey, I understand.” Catherine said. “I’ll be on my way.”

But as Catherine started to get her things, she tripped on Charles’ stairs on his front porch. Feeling guilty for Catherine’s accident, he invited her to stay in his spare room. He helped her back inside and to the spare bedroom.

After Charles left her alone, Catherine smiled to herself, “This was going to be so easy.” Then she rubbed her uninjured ankle.