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Chapter 10

Addie

“There’s no one there, Shawn. Leave it alone,” a cold voice, not belligerent but not necessarily kind, said briskly.

“You heard it, right?” the man I assumed was Shawn exclaimed. I held my breath, pressing my body even further into Tamson’s. If it was physically possible, I would have merged with him right then and there until we became one person. One body. One heartbeat. I could feel his own heart pounding though his expression remained calm. For my benefit, I imagined.

“I hear the rain dumbass,” a different voice sneered. There was what sounded like flesh connecting with flesh followed immediately by a howl of pain.

“Grab what you can.”

Tamson very gently squeezed my upper arm. Once he garnered my attention, he nodded towards a set of double doors that led to a separate hallway. A neon sign hanging from above announced it as the bathrooms. Nodding to show him I understood, I pulled my arm away from his. He reluctantly released me and began to stealthily move towards the desired destination. I was not as subtle as him nor as sneaky, but I made it to the long stretch of hallway without any incident.

Tamson grabbed my arm once again, pulling me inside the nearest bathroom. The female’s, I realized vaguely.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, once we were shoved inside the largest stall. He checked over my body, touch as light as a feather, for any injuries. I captured his wrist and held it gently between my two hands.

“I’m fine. They didn’t see me.” He let out a relieved exhale.

I couldn’t bring myself to feel the same relief. All I felt was bitterness and something akin to self-loathing. Because of my clumsy fingers, they had heard us and at least suspected that we were there.

Stupid.

Idiotic.

“Hey.” Tam captured my face with both of his palms, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles into my cheekbones. “It’s not your fault.”

I didn’t know how he had been able to read me so easily. Was my face really the opened book he made it out to be? Or did he just know me better than I thought?

“I know,” I said softly. I didn’t want to talk about my mistake anymore. My mind and body felt heavy, the combination turning my legs into jelly. A leaden, miserable feeling settled heavily in my gut. I pressed my forehead against Tam’s chest, and his arms, after a moment of hesitation, came to wrap around my waist. I pulled back as a sudden thought occured to me. Tamson must’ve seen the panic on my face, for his hands came up to tentatively rub at my shoulders in an attempt to alleviate the pressure there.

“Please don’t tell me we’re going to split up,” I pleaded in a harsh whisper. “I see movies. I know what happens. And the shy guyalwaysdies. Always. I know I’m Final Girl material and everything, but I really don’t want you to die. So we aren’t going to split up. Promise me?”

I was aware that I was babbling, my fear manifesting itself into verbal vomit, but I couldn’t make myself stop. My body trembled in his hands. All I could think about was Tamson’s body lying in the parking lot, his skin melting from his face in red, blotchy streaks. Bloody tears cascaded down his eyes. Teeth falling from his mouth, clattering against the asphalt. I closed my eyes to rid myself of such horrid images.

No. Tamson was okay. He was here, with me, and safe.

Everyone was safe.

I had to believe that.

I didn’t know if he picked up on my own mental anguish or if he just knew I needed the comfort. Either way, he held me a little tighter, a little closer, a little longer. I could feel each shuddering breath reverberating through his ribcage.

It occured to me that he was scared. Not only scared, but terrified. How could he not be? We were trapped in an unknown location with at least four hostiles only feet away from us. Guilt once again threatened to consume me.

If only I hadn’t dropped that stupid ball…

If only I hadn’t insisted on coming in the first place…

If only…

If only…

Those thoughts, too, were swept away in a tidal wave of anger. I couldn’t focus on them. Not now. No, what I could focus on was waiting out the storm in Tamson’s warm and comforting embrace.

Together.

We would face the storm together.