Dear Journal,
I'm getting closer and closer by the minute. I can feel it. It snowed last night so the sidewalks are covered in snow. That still doesn't stop me. Apparently I'm in Saint Cloud. The cafe I'm sitting in is warm enough to heat up my freezing hands. Sympathetic smiles and worrying eyes follow me everywhere I go. I'm starting to get sick of-

"H-hello." A voice interrupts my writing. I shot my head up to meet a guy. Most likely older than me. He hadblonde hair that was put in a quiff with sparkly blue eyes. If I describe him, he sounds like he looks like Luke but he doesn't look like him much. I wait for the stranger to say something but he just stands there for a while.

"Oh! Uh... I couldn't help but notice you're sitting all by yourself and I just thought you would like some company." He clearly was Irish by the way he talked. Either that or he's got a funny Canadian accent. I raise an eyebrow at him but don't say anything.

"I-I-I mean only if you want. I came alone and I'm a little bored and you seem interesting." His eyes widen at the words that escaped his mouth.

"No! I mean you seem cool. Not that you look different. I mean you do because usually girls would be on their phones and you're writing in your journal. You know what? I'm just going to go before I scare you." The strangers spins around but I speak up before he leaves.

"Um... So what's your name?" I was going to regret this soon but the poor guys is extremely unsocial and obviously lonely. Might as well talk to him.

"My-My name? Oh! I'm N-Niall." He stuttered. I force a smile and scoot over on the booth. Niall hesitantly took a seat beside me. I close my journal quickly and slip it into my backpack. We sat in silence for s bit. I guess I have to start the conversation

"My name is Chelsea." Why didn't I tell him my real name? But what if he knows who Ariel Cotten is? He'd surely send me back home. And what if he doesn't? I guess it's too late now.

"That's a pretty name." I smile and look at my lap with a small blush. More silence. This boy sure is shy.

"Where are you from?" He finally asked. I shift slightly so I could look at him.

"Dillon."

"Dillon? Wow. You've come some ways from there. May I ask why?"

"I'm looking for someone. I've got to go farther." I explain. He nods slowly, losing himself in his thoughts.

"How about you?"

"Oh! I'm from Ireland but I moved here a few years ago." Another while of silence. I feel him look at me so I turn my head.

"If you want, Chelsea, I could help you with finding this person." It felt weird to have other people call me Chelsea but I guess if I was going by that now I'd have to get used to it.

"Y-You've got goosebumps. Was it something I said?" I look down at my arms to see the small hairs standing up and bumps scurrying across them. I quickly roll my sleeves down.

"No... I-I'm just a little cold. It's snowing." I force a laugh. He chuckled, obviously not convinced. I let the subject slip and start talking about something else.

"So-"

"You-" We both talk at the same time. We laugh. Niall's laugh was something special. I've never heard something like it. Wow.

"You go first." I insist.

"Okay. You look really familiar... Where have I seen you before?" My heart skips a beat and my breath hitches in my throat. I look everywhere but at him. No. He can't know.

"I-I'm kinda low level. No one really knows me."

"Yeah but I've seen your face before. Have you been on the television before?" Niall thinks hard. Oh how I hated to lie. I just look away from him instead.

"Wait! You're Ariel Cotten! The girl that was kidnapped!" I grab my bag and ran as fast as I could out the cafe. The dry and freezing cold weather hit me, making shivers travel down my body.

"Ari- Chelsea! Wait!" Niall comes running out. I ignore him and run as fast as I can away from him. I knew he'd find out somehow. That's all I am, isn't it? Ariel Cotten. The girl who was kidnapped. Wait till the media finds out I'm a Stockholm syndrome.

"Chelsea, please!" I pick up my pace and break out into a marathon run. I could feel him catching up on me. Then the one thing I didn't need stopped me. A dead freaking end. I turn around to see Niall still running for me. I search for an escape route but there was nothing.

"Chelsea. J-Just hear me out." He said out of breath. I try running around him but he stops me quickly.

"Stop. Just stop. You don't... You don't understand." He looks me in the eyes.I feel my heart pound against my chest. Niall seemed serious about this, though.

"Now if I let go of you I want you to stay right here. No running. Please." I don't answer. What could he have to say that's so important? I decided to just nod. Niall let go of my arm slowly.

"I know." Was all he said. What? I was ready to run but I really shouldn't.

"I mean, I know what they did to you." Perfect. A male version of Alyx, I suppose. I roll my eyes and start to walk away but Niall grabbed my arm again.

"Chelsea. I have so much proof. I know the boys that kidnapped you. Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood. They live at 4398 Oakwood Road in a beige house. They all wore masks the day they kidnapped you. Luke in an Anonymous mask, Calum in a Purge mask, Ashton in a Gene mask, and Michael in a hockey mask." Niall listed everything he could. My eyes widen at his knowledge on them. I stand straight.

"H-How..."

"I told you... I know." I was so confused. Was Niall the person who put this all together? Was he there at the park when Luke said he saw me? Was he there on the night? So many thought jumbled in my mind it started to hurt.

"Who are you trying to find, Chelsea?" He whispered. I look him in his sparkling blue eyes, looking for safety. It was there. I could see that kind of stuff in people.

"Ashton."

"He went back." I groan and look down at my feet. All this walking and torture for nothing? Fantastic. I look back at Niall.

"I have to go now. It was nice to meet you but Ashton and I need to talk about Luke." I explain. Niall's eyebrows raise in shock.

"Chelsea. In the state of Minnesota, if Luke gets proven guilty, he could spend a good 20 years in jail or a fine of thirty-five thousand dollars. Or both." I gasped. 20 years?! 38 year old Luke, walking out of jail, searching for me. I can already imagine it.

"This is why I need to see him now. Goodbye, Niall." Just as I was about to turn the corner, Niall shouts for me.

"Chelsea! Let me take you to them."

Notes