by Nikki Larson
Chapter 24
Jaxton felt terrible. But what could he do? He had to tell her what had been on his mind. He had to warn her. If God was trying to show him that something terrible was going to happen to Sylvia unless she changed course, Jaxton had to be the one to tell her.
He wasn’t surprised that she’d reacted the way she did. She was impulsive, passionate, given to extremes, whether it be joy or sorrow. Most often joy. He knew this about her. And he loved her. That’s what made it so hard. And now she was bent on destruction, on following her own path no matter what the cost.
Jaxton grabbed his Bible from his nightstand and sat it on his plush bed with its deep- plum-colored comforter. Maybe he was reading too much into this. He needed to hear from God himself.
Feeling a rising sense of desperation, he flipped the Bible open, praying God would lead him to just the right verse.
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man,” he read, “for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Though he believed in God’s sovereignty, still Jaxton’s mouth dropped open in awe.
See? God does speak to people in dreams, Jaxton told himself, scanning the words for context. He knew the story, of course, but it was always good to re-examine passages, to glean new things revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.
Just before the verse, Jaxton read this: While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message….
Ah, yes, it was Pontius Pilate’s wife who’d had the dream which was given to her so that she could warn her husband not to have anything to do with the crucifixion of Jesus.
Jaxton’s heart beat hard at the sobering realization that, yes, he was supposed to warn Sylvia about the impending danger on her life.
The danger was real.
And God had been warning Jaxton about it in his dreams.
There was no doubt in his mind now.
This confirmation was shocking, and terrible.
Though he’d suspected that the dream about Sylvia had a concrete meaning, a part of him had hoped it was nothing.
Chapter 25
Once home, Sylvia sorted through her messages. She’d almost forgotten she’d asked Gabe Flores for more information about the reality show. But here was his reply, sent five days ago.
Five days ago?
She really needed to be more organized.
How could she have let this slip past her?
Her career was important.
Even more so now that Jaxton was trying to limit and control her.
Hi Sylvia, the message read, Gabe Flores here. Thank you for your interest in participating in The Real Fitness Gurus of FanGram, the new upcoming reality show. We think your participation will be a great asset. Please bring as many of your fans as possible to the audition so they can support you and cheer you on.
Now that was an odd request, Sylvia thought. But no matter, she was sure she could reach out to a few people and have them come support her. She’d have to send out a group message and see which of her faithful followers would be able to come. The address, date, and time was right there at the end of Gabe’s message: Saturday at noon, at an unusual location: a warehouse in a rundown neighborhood of Netherton Beach. She’d looked it up online. She guessed they were trying to be nondescript, to stay under the radar.
Her excitement was mounting as she thought of what this could mean for her career. More exposure, more people she could reach and inspire.
More fans she could help.
She didn’t intend to be greedy, but it did sound wonderful to become more famous, make more money, expand her influence.
She could use the extra money to do good, to help those in need.
She could hardly fathom the implications.
It was all beyond her wildest dreams.
She was just thinking she should go downstairs and check on her mother when her phone rang. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston was the familiar ringtone. The ringtone she and Jaxton used for each other. Disgusted, Sylvia rejected the call. Only to have him call back a moment later.
“What?” she practically yelled into the phone.
“I was… worried about you.” His deep voice was shaky and uncertain. Well, good. He should be uncertain after the way he treated her.
“Look, I don’t want to hear from you, Jaxon,” she told him. “I don’t want to hear about your delusional dreams and your concerns for me.” His intrusion into her life was just too much. She wanted more for herself, and Jaxton was only going to hold her back.
“Sylvia, this isn’t like you,” he said in a pleading tone. “Please, consider the ramifications.”
“The ramifications of what?” she snapped.
“Of meeting with Gabe Flores,” he told her.
She gasped in surprise. “How did you know about that?” The words were out of her mouth before she could even think of holding them back.
“I know you, Sylvia. I know you better than anyone else.” His voice softened. “I know you want to live a life full of meaning. I know you want to help people improve their lives – to transform their bodies and minds. You want to inspire them to reach for their goals. You want to show them anything is possible.”
His earnestness was killing her.
“But all those desires are going to lead you down a dangerous path. I see where this is going, Sylvia. God showed me what will happen to you if you go there.”
“Go where?” she asked.
“To meet with the supposed TV producer,” Jaxton replied.
Stunned into silence and angry beyond measure, Sylvia stood there in her office and stared at the artwork on her wall. “Never a Victim,” it said. “Always Victorious.”
“Jaxton, you don’t understand,” she pleaded. “I love you but you’re no good for me right now. I have to do this. I can’t let you stop me from reaching my dreams.”
She pressed the red button on her phone to end the conversation and slouched down to the floor.
Was she really the terrible person she felt like right now?
But no, she couldn’t be.
Jaxton thought she was, but she wasn’t.
He thought she was being foolish, but she was only pursuing her dreams.
She was fulfilling her life’s purpose, the plan God had laid out for her.
Jaxton, for one, should understand that.
But he didn’t.
And that is why she was better off without him.
Chapter 26
That Saturday, Jaxton was beside himself with worry and heartbreak. For the past three days, he’d been racking his brain, trying to decide what to do, how to proceed.
And then he remembered to pray.
The moment he thought of that, he had a sudden realization that he should reach out to Blaine.
Maybe he knew something.
Jaxton’s hands were trembling as he picked up his phone and called his best friend. If only he could keep calm, cool, and collected. Sylvia needed him now, and he wasn’t going to allow himself to fail her.
“Hey, Jaxton,” Blaine said when he answered.
The lump in Jaxton’s throat almost prevented him from speaking at all. “Um, hey, Blaine,” Jaxton began as he paced in his kitchen. “I’m worried about Sylvia. I was wondering if you could help me.” He wasn’t one to mince words when he was in trouble. Or, more accurately, when someone he loved was in trouble.
“Hey, what’s up?” Blaine said, not as nonchalantly this time.
“I think Sylvia is about to get herself into some trouble. She’s making some bad decisions, and I need to help her. But I need some information.”
“Some information, huh?” Already Blaine sounded reluctant. “What’s this all about?” he questioned his friend.
“Well, I had this dream….”
Before Jaxton could finish, Blaine was all over him. “Not this dream thing again….”
“Yeah,” Jaxton said, as unapologetically as he could mana
ge. He wasn’t going to be ashamed of the things God had told him. He was on a mission – one that could mean life or death. “No, listen to me,” he pleaded sternly. If his voice was commanding, maybe Blaine would pay attention.
“I’m listening, Bro’,” Blaine replied.
“Sylvia’s been all gung-ho on her career, you know?”
He could hear Blaine sigh on the other end of the phone.
“Just hear me out, man,” Jaxton commanded.
“Okay, okay,” Blaine relented.
“So she will stop at nothing to become more popular, to reach more fans. And I admire her ambition; I do. But she’s getting out of control. It’s become an unhealthy obsession, this FanGram fitness stuff. So anyway, this guy approached her and gave her his business card. Said he was a TV producer of some reality show that is coming up. He wants her to meet with him to discuss it. The only thing is – it’s a scam, man. I feel it. No – I know it, because of these dreams I’ve been having.”
Again, Blaine let out a long, disapproving sigh.
It only served to make Jaxton more determined to make his best friend understand. “Look, it’s not like I just accept these dreams at face value. I have some dreams that mean nothing, I understand that. Everyone does. But then I have these dreams where God is trying to tell me something. I know because I pray about them afterwards. And God shows me which dreams to pay attention to and which ones to disregard.”
“Oh, he does, does he?” Blaine’s voice was full of sarcasm.
Which only served to arouse Jaxton’s anger and frustration. “Dude,” he pleaded. “Get off your high horse and listen to me for once. Sylvia might be in danger. It’s no joke. How would you like it if her blood was on your hands?” He knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he was desperate for Blaine to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
“Hey, don’t even go there, man,” Blaine replied.
Jaxton could practically see his friend’s face reddening with anger, his muscles tensing under the strain. “Okay, then,” Jaxton continued. “I need your help. Do you have access to Sylvia’s computer?”
“What do you mean, have access?”
“Would you just shut up and listen to me for once?” Jaxton yelled into the phone. “Go into Sylvia’s office for me and just see if her computer is up.”
“Yeah, it’s on,” Blaine reported.
“Great, do you have her password? Can you get into her emails, her messages, stuff like that?”
“I don’t get into her stuff, man,” Blaine warned him.
“Just this once,” Jaxton urged him. “It’s important.”
“Yeah, I got that,” Blaine replied. “So I see her FanGram messages. They’re up.”
“They’re up?” Hope rose in Jaxton’s heart. “You can see them?”
“Yeah,” Blaine replied, his voice still reluctant.
“Okay, do you see one from Gabe Flores? Or Kinkt360?” Jaxton’s mouth was suddenly dry and he took a long swig of his drink.
“Kinkt360? That sounds sketchy.”
“I told you,” Jaxton replied. “Do you see anything?” Time was of the essence and Blaine was not helping.
“Yeah, I see one here from Gabe Flores. Here, let me click on it.”
Jaxton’s lungs filled with air and he held his breath, anxiously awaiting. “Read it to me,” Jaxton instructed.
“Which one?”
“The latest one,” Jaxton sighed. For a best friend Blaine could sure be a jerk sometimes. But he didn’t do well under pressure. Jaxton knew this.
“‘Hi Sylvia,’” Blaine read, “’Gabe Flores here. Thank you for your interest in participating in The Real Fitness Gurus of FanGram, the new upcoming reality show. We think your participation will be great asset. Please bring as many of your fans as possible to the audition so they can support you and cheer you on. We are meeting at 21375 Bristol Lane, Netherton Beach, California at 12 noon on Saturday, August 17th. Please RSVP at this number.’ And then he gives his number.”
“Okay, perfect.” Jaxton gave a sigh of relief, though his work was not finished yet. “Can you repeat that address? And give me his phone number, too. I need as much information as possible.”
Chapter 27
Sylvia rubbed her sweaty palms on her skinny jeans. She was waiting outside of the warehouse, waiting for someone to unlock it so she could go inside. She was twenty-five minutes early – unnecessarily, as it turned out.
She’d expected some sort of line, weaving along the sidewalk and down the street. But no matter. She’d just wait, and busy herself by scrolling through her FanGram feed on her phone. That’s what she was here for, after all – to meet her colleagues in person and talk about all things FanGram and fitness. It wouldn’t hurt to be up on the latest posts and gossip.
Quickly growing bored and restless, she glanced at her surroundings. There were a few cars driving on the lonely street, but not many. Traffic here was light, unlike most parts of Orange County. The weather was warm, and growing warmer by the minute, with the bright sun shining down on her. She should have worn a hat of some sort, she thought now. And brought a water bottle. How could she have forgotten to bring water?
But she’d been so excited and anxious to get out the door and see just what this reality show hype was all about.
Her fans should be arriving later, since she’d told them to show up at 12:30. No need for them to come earlier. She’d wanted to be the first to experience what Gabe Flores had for her, and then she’d fill in her fans if necessary. How fun that was going to be, to meet the people who had spurred her on, encouraged her, and helped her get where she was today – a fitness influencer with over half a million followers.
Was that the number, still, or had it increased? She’d take a moment a check. Not like she didn’t have time….
“Oof!”
The air was pushed out of her lungs when she was tackled from behind and pushed up against a wall. She barely had time to scream. It wasn’t possible anyway, since a gloved hand was clamped down, squeezing at her cheeks and lips, pushing against her nose, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Struggling to turn around, attempting to fight her assailant off using all her strength, she was able to see the man for just a moment – saw his dark, cold eyes and a blue knit cap pulled down over his forehead. Bushy dark eyebrows sticking out from underneath the beanie – and then she was out cold.
Chapter 28
Jaxton couldn’t stop the dreaded feeling that he was too late. But it was only 11:45 in the morning. If his calculations were correct, he may still have time. Taking a deep breath and sending up a desperate plea for help, he put his Porsche into gear and sped towards Netherton Beach – a small, dingy town just south of the Port of Long Beach. What was his gorgeous girlfriend doing in a scummy town like that?
“Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” From the passenger’s seat, Blaine threw a less-than-confident glance in Jaxton’s direction.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Jaxton said darkly. No need to berate Blaine further for not helping out when he needed it. Blaine may have taken a while to come around and see Jaxton’s point of view, to see the danger his sister was getting herself into, but at least he’d been able to provide the address and the time that she was supposed to be there.
Traffic was a bear and it was another grueling ten minutes before they pulled up to the address of the abandoned-looking warehouse with its dark gray walls. Jaxton tried not to curse fate, tried to focus on the hopeful possibility that Sylvia was safe and sound somewhere.
Maybe she hadn’t come here at all.
Maybe she’d come to her senses and simply gone to the gym to workout instead, and gave up all her dreams and ambitions of becoming a star.
A greater star.
She was already semi-famous.
But it never was enough.
Jaxton slammed his car door after circling the building and ending up parking a block away. It seemed the prudent thing to do, to not draw any more attention than ne
ed be. A Porsche in this area of Orange County would certainly not be safe for long.
“Come on,” Jaxton said in hushed tones as he clicked the lock on his key fob, and motioned for Blaine to follow.
They approached the warehouse from the back side, where one lone door was placed as an exit. Jaxton almost didn’t reach out and try the door handle, certain it would be locked.
He cast a wry look at Blaine before he tried it, and his mouth dropped open in awe when the door opened smoothly at the touch of his hand.
Blaine gave a little smile, which emboldened Jaxton to hope beyond hope.
It was dark inside, with sounds of voices echoing down the hallways.
But wait?
Shouldn’t there be no hallways?
Eyes straining through the darkness, Jaxton looked up towards the ceiling and found there was another level, one above the large expanse which was the main warehouse itself. He could make out steel railings; and a mezzanine of dark, open-grated walkways; and the sound of boots stepping hard above him. A door slammed shut with a solid clank. He heard voices escalating now, rising and falling – some quiet, some louder. Both male and female. Someone shushing another, commanding silence.
They were listening for him. He could feel that they were. His heart pounded wildly in his chest and his breath came in puffs as his eyes grew used to the darkness. Finally, he could focus, could make out the figure of a man standing above him, mere feet away. Jaxton stepped backwards, slowly, planted himself up against a wall, and motioned for Blaine to do the same. He was hidden only by the steel floor which wound its way above him, and by the steel beams which held the second floor up. Was Blaine out of view? There was no way to tell.
They’d brought no weapon, which was foolish of them, he realized now. What good would they be without a weapon? And why hadn’t Blaine thought of it, either? They were inexperienced at this crime-fighting gig, woefully ignorant and totally incapable. They might as well just leave, and alert the authorities.