**Chapter 12: A Lifeline in the Dark**

As the phone rang, Charlie's anxiety grew. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Alex to answer, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that Travis was still watching her, waiting for her to make a wrong move. The room seemed to be closing in on her, and she felt like she was running out of time. Finally, Alex's voice came on the line, and Charlie felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Hey, Charlie, it's Alex. I saw your message and I was worried sick. What's going on?" Charlie took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but her voice still shook as she spoke. "Travis," she said, the word barely above a whisper. "He's been stalking me, watching me. I don't know what to do." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Charlie wondered if Alex had hung up. But then, his voice came back, firm and reassuring. "I'm here for you, Charlie. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Can you tell me more about what's been going on?" Charlie took a deep breath and tried to recount everything that had happened since the incident, from the bruises to the pregnancy test to Travis's constant appearances in her life. As she spoke, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was like she had finally found a lifeline, a way out of the darkness that had been suffocating her. Alex listened attentively, asking questions and making supportive noises as Charlie spoke. When she finished, he was silent for a moment. "Charlie, I think you need to get out of there," he said finally. "I'm going to come pick you up and take you somewhere safe. We'll figure out what to do next, okay?" Charlie felt a surge of gratitude towards Alex, but she was also scared. What if Travis found out? What if he hurt her before Alex could get to her? "I don't know," she said, hesitating. "What if he finds out?" Alex's voice was reassuring. "I'll be careful, Charlie. I'll make sure he doesn't follow me. Just pack a bag and get ready to leave, okay?" Charlie nodded, even though Alex couldn't see her. She quickly grabbed a few essentials - a change of clothes, her phone charger, and some cash - and stuffed them into a bag. As she was about to leave, she noticed the pregnancy test on her nightstand, and her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't taken it yet, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to know the results. But as she looked at the test, she knew she couldn't ignore it forever. She slipped it into her bag, feeling a sense of trepidation about what the future held. As she closed the door behind her, Charlie felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her. She had no idea what lay ahead, but she knew she had to get out of there, and fast. She took a deep breath and made her way downstairs, her heart pounding in her chest. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Alex's car pulling up outside. He was already out of the car, looking around cautiously before spotting Charlie and hurrying over to her. "Come on, Charlie," he said, taking her bag from her. "Let's get out of here." As they drove away from the house, Charlie felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was finally safe, finally free from Travis's grasp. But as she looked out the window, she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched, that Travis was still out there, waiting for his chance to strike.