Page 2

Elliott

The bike finally starts to slow and my arms and legs ache for reasons I don't want to think about. I'm not crying anymore, but the rawness in my throat is evidence enough. The drive felt like no time had passed, we didn’t make any stops on the way to…wherever it is we are now. I’m thankful for that as I didn't want to talk to Marcus or answer questions about Everton or Samuel.

I just wanted to keep going and never stop.

Kameron.

I blink hard, attempting to swallow down the knot that’s beginning to form in my throat as the burn erupts in my esophagus.

Everything is dark except for a box with a small red light that we stop and pull up next to, Marcus taps his wrist to the top of it.

I hear a faint sound of movement somewhere nearby.

He waits before driving towards the sound, I look forward as dim lights come into view and an outline of a building grows clearer as we get closer.

A house and a nice one at that. The paint looked almost black, if you didn't focus on it well enough, as if it blended into the night sky.

The only reason I could see it was because the porch was illuminated by a light fixture.

Marcus revs his bike loudly and the front door opens.

A tall man with a wide frame walks through the doorway, pausing when he reaches the end of the porch.

His hands slide into his dress pant pockets, his expression blank and his dark brown hair imperfectly perfect, a messy comb over that let some pieces fall out of place.

The bike stops right in front of him and Marcus turns off the engine leaning to the side and letting the bike balance before sliding off of the seat in front of me.

I fall forward, not being able to keep myself up on my own.

I didn't know how tired my body was until I felt the absence of Marcus's support.

Marcus's body leans in beside me, just enough so I don’t fall off of the bike completely.

He takes off his helmet as the man reaches us.

Marcus looks down at me as he places the helmet on the seat, pausing as he sees my body tremble and helps me remove my own.

I don't know if it’s from the drive through the rain in the cold air or because the adrenaline was starting to leave my system.

Either way, my body begins to shake more and more.

Marcus looks away, pulling off his hoodie and immediately pushing it over my head before I can protest. The fabric instantly warms me from his heat and my muscles welcome the change .

"Ahem—" The man clears his throat and Marcus moves to the side, exposing me to the stranger’s gaze. As much as I didn't want to be this close to Marcus, I wished he was still in front of me to shield me.

"Elliott, it’s nice to finally meet you. Not a fan of the circumstances, but nonetheless." He runs his hands through his hair and rubs the back of his neck. "I’m Hunter. Please come inside." He gestures to the front door and I flinch back, unsure if I want to.

Marcus turns to me, putting his hands underneath my arms as he lifts me off the bike.

"He said to go inside, so go." My feet hit the ground as he releases me, the weight of my body making my legs tremble but he pushes me to walk regardless. I scrunch up my face at his harsh tone. But my shaky legs aren’t able to catch myself in time, as my body tumbles forward with ease from the small shove.

"I said it nicely ." Hunter says with a firm tone that wasn't meant for me, but a shiver still runs up my spine. I glare at Marcus before taking a few wobbly steps. He rolls his eyes and follows slowly behind me.

Each step has my knees quaking. My body is so exhausted. I am mentally and physically drained. I stumble again as I take another step into the house. My vision tilts and the walls seem to start closing in around me. A blurry Hunter swings around to catch me and my hand grasps his large arms .

"You okay there?" His words sound muffled as he looks at me and then over my shoulder. "Does she need medical attention?" He asks Marcus, not me thank goodness because I don't think I could answer.

"I don't know, she hasn't told me what happened."

"Did you ask?" Hunter snaps at him.

"No, wasn't much time with the change of plans we made to get her out of there."

"It's common sense to ask, Marcus. Fucking hell, man."

Their words are becoming distorted as my ears begin to ring at the reminder.

My body starts to shake again but Hunter's arms slide around my back and under my knees, scooping me off of my unsteady limbs.

My head is heavy and I try to keep it upright but fail as it sways before landing on his shoulder.

I try to move, I don't know him well enough to be comforted or to allow him to hold me like this.

But he doesn't seem annoyed and to be honest, I don’t know if I even have the strength to try.

"Open Kameron's door." Hunter's voice sounds distant even though I’m right here in his arms. The haze is taking over as my eyelids start to droop.

I feel my body start to sink into the soft fabric, a smell of rosewood overtakes my senses and my mind spins even more.

My gut churns with the reminder of Kameron.

My thoughts start to bleed together and the sounds of the room begin to fade away as the ringing in my ears amplifies.

I'm going to cleanse you, Eden. From the inside out. Samuel's voice echoes in my head .

"She looks like…"

I try to hear what they’re saying but the voices start to blend together and buzz throughout the room before the sound cuts off and darkness takes over.