BOUND
LANA
EIGHT YEARS AGO
"Wake up."
Someone poked me in the shoulder but I was having such a nice dream. Zach and I were on a date, holding hands, looking at each other about to have a kiss-
"Ms. Gill! You will wake up right now or I'll send you to the principal's!"
"I'm alive!" I yelled out, jolting from the nice dream to only see that my history teacher was fuming with anger. Beside me, I could even hear Samara giggle. Gee...I slept in the class again.
"Do you want a detention, Ms. Gill?" Um, no? She was one crazy scary old woman and I couldn't afford detention in my files. Mom would literally kill me.
"I'm sorry. I won't sleep in your class again." I told her with my head down, pretending to actually care.
Thankfully before I could get more humiliated, the bell rang and students started to rush out of the room. We both ran out, panting with each step we took but I couldn't hold it anymore. No sooner we were near the lockers, I started laughing.
"Daydreaming about our dear Zach again?" She asked with a smirk. There was no denying that the only person I could dream of and not be able to wake up was Zach.
"You know me too well that it's almost scary." She smacked my shoulder, making me laugh even louder.
"You and scared? Psst! Oh shit-" She cursed, looking around. "Everyone's already leaving. We'll be late."
"And miss our spot! Noooo." I shouted, dragging her with me to the field. Today we're playing against Vanhon High and it was always good to see Zach play his heart out. But as fate had it, we didn't get our usual spot, making us stand there like a dumbass.
"What do you think?" I asked, fidgeting with the bag.
"Sit in the corner." She whispered, trying to find a corner like a good friend she was. "Any corner would do."
"Except the corners are filled with the girlfriends and moms of our team members."
I heard a long sigh. "At least Zach wasn't going to look there."
Unlike his other teammates, he had his heart open for only football. He had no girlfriends, no parents, no distraction. Even if he's like the hottest guy in the school, he didn't date. I knew for a fact that he wasn't a player either...Ok, maybe I was a bit of a stalkerish when it came to him but could anyone blame me?
"Let's just sit here." Samara waved at me to follow her but I stood on the ground thinking of the pros and cons. If I sat too close to the game, I'll have a good look at him but if by any chance he found my eyes on him he'd think that I was creepy. But as there was no seat available, I joined Samara to watch the game by sitting right in front of Zach's eye line, hoping it didn't come to bite me in the ass.
***
The game was almost finished and to my not so surprise, we're already winning. We just had to make sure that the other team didn't goal. Easy enough. I was, as usual, putting popcorn in my mouth with my eyes glued to Zach. He was running with the ball now and suddenly the temperature dropped. I could feel the chillness in the air even if no one was noticing that the place was going to freeze.
I could almost feel my teeth starting to shatter. What the hell?
Was I the only weird one here? Why wasn't anyone reacting? Everyone was watching the game with so much intensity that when my eyes found Zach again, I jumped in shock. He was still running but there was someone following him now.
Someone like...me?
I slowly stood up, watching as the thing followed Zach's every move. I wanted to scream at Zach so he could move away from the thing but my mouth was glued shut. I didn't know when the shouting started but I was so scared of what I saw that I missed my best friend's voice as she yelled out, "Watch out!"
By then I was already falling from the high bleacher.
***
The next time my eyes opened, I was sweating through my dress.
Holy hell.
What just happened?
"I am alive," I whispered, trying to find where it hurt. It didn't take me long to find the swelling, shit, mom was going to kill me. "Ouch."
"Yes, ouch."
Hearing the familiar voice, I almost jumped. Almost. But his hands were quickly there to support me. "Careful!"
I was staring at the bluest eyes I ever met. Damn, how could anyone have such beautiful eyes? I must have been staring for more than a minute cause he slowly took the helmet off with a frown on his face.
"Do I need to call the nurse?" He asked, the concern clear in his eyes. Hey! That was good news. Whatever reason I was here now I wanted to thank heaven that he's the one who's sitting beside me, not that I minded Samara.
"What happened?" I asked the first question that came to my mind. I remembered watching the game and then I blanked out.
"You don't remember!?" He asked, shocked. Geez, what I've done now? Did I throw myself at him? That would be embarrassing as hell.
"No?" I replied slowly. I didn't want to seem too curious if I did actually throw myself at him. At least hearing it, I could always run for the door.
"You fell from the bleacher. I'm so sorry, it was my fault. I threw the ball at my mate but as you were standing instead of sitting down, it hit you and you fell. I tried to warn you but you were too frozen to do anything." He started rumbling, his cheeks getting red by the minute. "If you want me to-why are you smiling?"
Huh? "Nothing! It's just that you look cute when you blush."
"See who's talking. You were blushing like hell every time I noticed you looking at me." I could bang my head on the wall right now. He saw me. He literally saw me swooning.
"Seriously? You saw that?"
I cringed, trying to look away but he was right on my face with a grin. "Yup and as I was the reason for your graceful fall so what if I take you out on a date?"
Woah. Did I not wake up yet? Was this another dream?
"Offering pity dates? Not your style."
"You're right. That's why it's a real one, sweetcheeks." He revealed, making my eyes go big. He couldn't possibly mean that but that look on his face...
You're so in trouble, Lana, you're so in trouble.
EIGHT YEARS AGO
"Wake up."
Someone poked me in the shoulder but I was having such a nice dream. Zach and I were on a date, holding hands, looking at each other about to have a kiss-
"Ms. Gill! You will wake up right now or I'll send you to the principal's!"
"I'm alive!" I yelled out, jolting from the nice dream to only see that my history teacher was fuming with anger. Beside me, I could even hear Samara giggle. Gee...I slept in the class again.
"Do you want a detention, Ms. Gill?" Um, no? She was one crazy scary old woman and I couldn't afford detention in my files. Mom would literally kill me.
"I'm sorry. I won't sleep in your class again." I told her with my head down, pretending to actually care.
Thankfully before I could get more humiliated, the bell rang and students started to rush out of the room. We both ran out, panting with each step we took but I couldn't hold it anymore. No sooner we were near the lockers, I started laughing.
"Daydreaming about our dear Zach again?" She asked with a smirk. There was no denying that the only person I could dream of and not be able to wake up was Zach.
"You know me too well that it's almost scary." She smacked my shoulder, making me laugh even louder.
"You and scared? Psst! Oh shit-" She cursed, looking around. "Everyone's already leaving. We'll be late."
"And miss our spot! Noooo." I shouted, dragging her with me to the field. Today we're playing against Vanhon High and it was always good to see Zach play his heart out. But as fate had it, we didn't get our usual spot, making us stand there like a dumbass.
"What do you think?" I asked, fidgeting with the bag.
"Sit in the corner." She whispered, trying to find a corner like a good friend she was. "Any corner would do."
"Except the corners are filled with the girlfriends and moms of our team members."
I heard a long sigh. "At least Zach wasn't going to look there."
Unlike his other teammates, he had his heart open for only football. He had no girlfriends, no parents, no distraction. Even if he's like the hottest guy in the school, he didn't date. I knew for a fact that he wasn't a player either...Ok, maybe I was a bit of a stalkerish when it came to him but could anyone blame me?
"Let's just sit here." Samara waved at me to follow her but I stood on the ground thinking of the pros and cons. If I sat too close to the game, I'll have a good look at him but if by any chance he found my eyes on him he'd think that I was creepy. But as there was no seat available, I joined Samara to watch the game by sitting right in front of Zach's eye line, hoping it didn't come to bite me in the ass.
***
The game was almost finished and to my not so surprise, we're already winning. We just had to make sure that the other team didn't goal. Easy enough. I was, as usual, putting popcorn in my mouth with my eyes glued to Zach. He was running with the ball now and suddenly the temperature dropped. I could feel the chillness in the air even if no one was noticing that the place was going to freeze.
I could almost feel my teeth starting to shatter. What the hell?
Was I the only weird one here? Why wasn't anyone reacting? Everyone was watching the game with so much intensity that when my eyes found Zach again, I jumped in shock. He was still running but there was someone following him now.
Someone like...me?
I slowly stood up, watching as the thing followed Zach's every move. I wanted to scream at Zach so he could move away from the thing but my mouth was glued shut. I didn't know when the shouting started but I was so scared of what I saw that I missed my best friend's voice as she yelled out, "Watch out!"
By then I was already falling from the high bleacher.
***
The next time my eyes opened, I was sweating through my dress.
Holy hell.
What just happened?
"I am alive," I whispered, trying to find where it hurt. It didn't take me long to find the swelling, shit, mom was going to kill me. "Ouch."
"Yes, ouch."
Hearing the familiar voice, I almost jumped. Almost. But his hands were quickly there to support me. "Careful!"
I was staring at the bluest eyes I ever met. Damn, how could anyone have such beautiful eyes? I must have been staring for more than a minute cause he slowly took the helmet off with a frown on his face.
"Do I need to call the nurse?" He asked, the concern clear in his eyes. Hey! That was good news. Whatever reason I was here now I wanted to thank heaven that he's the one who's sitting beside me, not that I minded Samara.
"What happened?" I asked the first question that came to my mind. I remembered watching the game and then I blanked out.
"You don't remember!?" He asked, shocked. Geez, what I've done now? Did I throw myself at him? That would be embarrassing as hell.
"No?" I replied slowly. I didn't want to seem too curious if I did actually throw myself at him. At least hearing it, I could always run for the door.
"You fell from the bleacher. I'm so sorry, it was my fault. I threw the ball at my mate but as you were standing instead of sitting down, it hit you and you fell. I tried to warn you but you were too frozen to do anything." He started rumbling, his cheeks getting red by the minute. "If you want me to-why are you smiling?"
Huh? "Nothing! It's just that you look cute when you blush."
"See who's talking. You were blushing like hell every time I noticed you looking at me." I could bang my head on the wall right now. He saw me. He literally saw me swooning.
"Seriously? You saw that?"
I cringed, trying to look away but he was right on my face with a grin. "Yup and as I was the reason for your graceful fall so what if I take you out on a date?"
Woah. Did I not wake up yet? Was this another dream?
"Offering pity dates? Not your style."
"You're right. That's why it's a real one, sweetcheeks." He revealed, making my eyes go big. He couldn't possibly mean that but that look on his face...
You're so in trouble, Lana, you're so in trouble.
ZACH
FOUR YEARS AGO
"Why are you so distant lately?"
"I love you."
"I hate that you killed her."
"I hate you, Zach, I hate you."
With each hit of my cigarette, the words just kept coming even harder. I was supposed to never bring it up, never hurt her with this. She didn't even expect me to.
But I did.
And now I was going to do something even worse.
"I got what you wanted," I said simply. No threat, no mention of me going to anyone else. "Now give me what I want."
I heard laughter on the other side, making me clutch the phone even tighter. My cigarette was only halfway finished, the papers in my pockets were probably burning my skin and he had the gall to laugh?
"Do you want it or not?" I gritted out.
"I want it." His voice turned hard. That's what I thought, you pussy. "You have the permission to enter the club."
Before I could even cut the call, I found myself looking at missed calls after missed calls. A sigh left from my lips involuntary. Kyle wasn't going to give up until I answered or worse he was going to end up calling Lana. Fuck, I should have thought about it earlier but it was too late.
Taking a deep breath, I looked around for any suspicious figures. Not that I'd know if there were any but it was better than sorry. I had a life once, a better one but one accidental meeting ruined it all. Playing didn't come to me naturally anymore, trusting people became even harder to the point that I wanted to go far away and never return.
But Lana deserved better than that.
I was going to give her more than that.
***
I waited at the bar, taking a long sip of my beer. Only a matter of time before I would find all of my answers...hopefully. The bar was packed with bodies, more than usual. When someone called my name, I turned around to see the bouncer. As usual, the bouncer did the routine checkup on me to see what I was carrying.
"How have you been?" Someone from the group of men dressing in black asked me with an empty look. Come to think about it, they never showed any emotion.
"I've got the papers," I yelled over the loud music and they just pointed at the back door which led to a basement. With a worried frown, I followed them until we reached the basement which made me wonder if it was a great idea. What if this guy was a phony like the others?
"Sit, Mr. Carson."
I obliged, watching them interact with each other in polite words. Between all of them, only one seemed to be important. Was it him that I talked to earlier? I didn't have to wonder for long.
When we all settled down, the older man turned to look at me. "Do you know why we're here today?"
"I told you the reason. I want to know exactly who or what Roth Gill is."
The man's face hardened for a minute before he smiled, shrugging off the weird emotion. "You sure you can handle the truth?"
"Yes, I can," I said sharply. Nodding, the man looked at his people and one of them stood up to deliver me a paper.
"What is this?" I asked the moment it reached my hands. Upon reading it a little, I realized it was an agreement paper. My confusion only grew. Why would they want me to sign a legal paper? Fuck, maybe they were scammers?
"Look, maybe there's something-"
He raised an eyebrow in question. "Sign it. I don't want to tell someone who is...going to spill all things I say to them. So do it. Not that they'll live to tell the tale."
He had a morbid sense of humor and I was running out of time.
Despite wanting to throw the paper in his face, I signed it. For Lana. I was doing it for her.
"Hmm. Give me the paper you brought with you. I want to see them first." I, without a question, let the man analyze everything. After a while, with a winning smile, he shook my hands.
"Well done, Mr. Carson. You've earned my respect. Now for your answers, what do want to know?”
"I-I want to know about Roth Gill," I repeated.
The cunning smile on the man's face seemed to only increase as he kept his gaze on me. "Interesting...I thought you'd ask about Lana first. Not Roth?”
"About her too," I whispered not knowing what the answer was going to be.
"Fine. You're not going to like this but Roth Gill isn't human." He paused to see my expression but I kept it natural. I already suspected something like that but to hear it from someone who believed me? It was way worse than anything. It meant I wasn't going insane or tripping on invisible drugs. It was real, all of it.
"You're good...not fainting yet. Hmm...interesting. So as I was saying, Roth Gill isn't Lana's birth mother, thank God." I relaxed knowing that at least that woman wasn't her birth mother. But why did the man sounded so relieved?
"So, who is her birth mother?" I asked to which with a nod, he gave me back the articles I gave him first. It was from centuries ago and it was found in Lana's house with the name Keisha Deshayes.
"Keisha Deshayes...her birth mother is a witch and a Reaper. And if you don't save Lana on time, she's going to become one too." No. That couldn't be right. I didn't understand what being Reaper meant but the way he said it...
It was something worse than being dead.
"How do I stop it?" I asked, trying to find any tricks in his eyes.
"Just talk to her. Make her believe." I nodded, tapping my knuckles on the desk constantly. This one habit I got from her was the only thing that was now stopping me from running. Something told me that only talking wouldn't make her believe. Hell, who would believe me?
"Now tell me why you had a suspect on Roth."
Hearing the man, I thought back to that day in the locker room. I had just finished a game and Lana was supposed to meet me there but instead of her, I walked in on Roth trying to kill Lana with a knife. I could still feel my bones go cold as I recalled the aftermath.
"I saw Roth trying to kill Lana. I didn't know she wasn't human back then. I thought she was just fucking nuts. I saved her but she won't even talk to me. My calls will go unanswered and things alike. I thought Roth already did something to her so I called 911 but you know the strange thing? Lana said Roth never tried to kill her." I still remembered the humiliation I felt when the cops told me that I better stop pranking or I'll be sent to jail.
The man hummed in return. "Hmm...mind control."
"And this wasn't the strangest thing at all. I accidentally bumped into Lana in the mall and she told me that I was cheating on her. I didn't confess so she got angry. I followed her ass home, I told her things that I shouldn't have said. When I was leaving her house, I saw Roth changing into a hound...in front of my own eyes." I said all those in one breath and relaxed when the man was looking at me like he believed me.
Like I just didn't lose it.
"Shifter. I knew that brat will try to kill Lana. Now here's your answer. I told you her birth mother is a Reaper but Roth is way worse than that. She is a hellhound trapped in the earth. She'll do anything to kill Lana so she can go back to hell." He looked straight at me. "You should be the one who stops it."
"What's the catch?" I asked suspiciously.
The man continued. "You just signed the rest of your life for her safety and you want to know the catches?"
What?
"What are you talking about?"
"The contract." He pointed at the paper I just signed. "Your life for her safety."
Fuck.
Holy fuck.
"Why would you do that?" I wasn't really angry like I was, but I was more curious. "I don't understand where your share of interest in Lana's life is. I mean, you don't even know Lana and you just made me sign my life away just to protect her."
He gave me a smile which was anything but friendly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jonathan Bazin but I go by Jonathan Vale Franklin now. I'm the former King of Shadows, the creature of the night and...the father of Lana Deshayes."
***
Gill's cabin was where we always went for winter break. This year though...I did promise Lana that we'll spend our break there even if we were having fights. To my surprise, my hands shook, the bike almost crashing against a road sign. Shit, even the wind was different, was a storm coming too?
I was too busy in my thought that I didn't notice when I reached the woods. And when I finally did, I couldn't stop the horror from showing up in my face among others. Jumping off of the bike, I started looking for her, screaming her name with desperation until I saw her trying to run past me.
"Hey, I was about to call you. You still mad at me?" I apologized, shaking a bit. I didn't know what else to say. Grovel or make her run with me. As if she heard my plea, she turned around only to look at me baffled.
I knew she was about to bolt so I leaned forward, my fingers touching her falling strands. As soon as I did, an alarm went through me. Red, it's like she was drowning in blood. "When did you cut your hair? And Red? You hate red since-since she died."
"G-Get away." She had a glare in her eyes and when she looked at me again it was pitch black. "I don't-"
What the hell?
"What are you doing here? We were supposed to meet at your house."
Unless our fight ended things between us. No, I didn't want to believe that. I wouldn't let Roth come between us. Everything was going to be alright, I had proof. But then I looked at her and knew it was just a wishful dream as she let out a scream, pushing me away.
"Leave me alone! I don't know you."
My heart broke a little hearing her but I still had that hope. So, my grip became even tighter around her hands. "I know you're in shock but I need to tell you something important about Roth. But first, we have to get out of here. The fire has spared into your house. It's not safe to stay here anymore."
As soon as those words were out, I looked behind me to see that I was right. But she wasn't listening. Why wasn't she listening?
"I don't have a house here! You are lying! Last time I'm saying go or you'll regret ever meeting me." Before I could make her look at me, a smile formed on her face.
"Or maybe I could just show you how much regret you're going to have now." Her grin widened. The surety on that promise had me back down a little. I didn't know what was wrong but it was definitely not good. Maybe I was already too late?
Heck, no.
"I don't know what is happening to you but what I do know that I did deserve it for acting like an ass to you but please this is dangerous. The fire will soon be here. I can't see you get hurt." I kept repeating that I had sworn an oath on my life to always protect her. That she meant everything to me but it was like my old Lana was already gone.
"But I don't care if I hurt you. I know what you are! You are a puppet who is doing everything on one person's command; my mother wants to distract me from hunting her. But tell that woman she doesn't know her daughter fully." This time I wasn't even sure if she was talking about Roth or someone else. This time true fear started to kick in. She was gone. Lana was gone...
"W-What...?" Stuttering, I tried to step back again but I was trapped. My whole body was on fire and it looked like someone was ripping every organ from my body. To my horror, I saw my body starting to fade away and with a final scream, eternal darkness welcomed me.
***
Pain.
Everything was so painful.
I tried to blink but my eyes were glued shut. Revenge awaits you. The humming grew the more I tried not to listen to them. Where was I? I couldn't remember anything but a whisper. Kill Lana. Kill Lana. Kill Lana! With great difficulty, my eyes opened, the humming now almost impossible to ignore. I knew where I needed to go. What to do.
Godfrey Sanatorium.
Here I come...
FOUR YEARS AGO
"Why are you so distant lately?"
"I love you."
"I hate that you killed her."
"I hate you, Zach, I hate you."
With each hit of my cigarette, the words just kept coming even harder. I was supposed to never bring it up, never hurt her with this. She didn't even expect me to.
But I did.
And now I was going to do something even worse.
"I got what you wanted," I said simply. No threat, no mention of me going to anyone else. "Now give me what I want."
I heard laughter on the other side, making me clutch the phone even tighter. My cigarette was only halfway finished, the papers in my pockets were probably burning my skin and he had the gall to laugh?
"Do you want it or not?" I gritted out.
"I want it." His voice turned hard. That's what I thought, you pussy. "You have the permission to enter the club."
Before I could even cut the call, I found myself looking at missed calls after missed calls. A sigh left from my lips involuntary. Kyle wasn't going to give up until I answered or worse he was going to end up calling Lana. Fuck, I should have thought about it earlier but it was too late.
Taking a deep breath, I looked around for any suspicious figures. Not that I'd know if there were any but it was better than sorry. I had a life once, a better one but one accidental meeting ruined it all. Playing didn't come to me naturally anymore, trusting people became even harder to the point that I wanted to go far away and never return.
But Lana deserved better than that.
I was going to give her more than that.
***
I waited at the bar, taking a long sip of my beer. Only a matter of time before I would find all of my answers...hopefully. The bar was packed with bodies, more than usual. When someone called my name, I turned around to see the bouncer. As usual, the bouncer did the routine checkup on me to see what I was carrying.
"How have you been?" Someone from the group of men dressing in black asked me with an empty look. Come to think about it, they never showed any emotion.
"I've got the papers," I yelled over the loud music and they just pointed at the back door which led to a basement. With a worried frown, I followed them until we reached the basement which made me wonder if it was a great idea. What if this guy was a phony like the others?
"Sit, Mr. Carson."
I obliged, watching them interact with each other in polite words. Between all of them, only one seemed to be important. Was it him that I talked to earlier? I didn't have to wonder for long.
When we all settled down, the older man turned to look at me. "Do you know why we're here today?"
"I told you the reason. I want to know exactly who or what Roth Gill is."
The man's face hardened for a minute before he smiled, shrugging off the weird emotion. "You sure you can handle the truth?"
"Yes, I can," I said sharply. Nodding, the man looked at his people and one of them stood up to deliver me a paper.
"What is this?" I asked the moment it reached my hands. Upon reading it a little, I realized it was an agreement paper. My confusion only grew. Why would they want me to sign a legal paper? Fuck, maybe they were scammers?
"Look, maybe there's something-"
He raised an eyebrow in question. "Sign it. I don't want to tell someone who is...going to spill all things I say to them. So do it. Not that they'll live to tell the tale."
He had a morbid sense of humor and I was running out of time.
Despite wanting to throw the paper in his face, I signed it. For Lana. I was doing it for her.
"Hmm. Give me the paper you brought with you. I want to see them first." I, without a question, let the man analyze everything. After a while, with a winning smile, he shook my hands.
"Well done, Mr. Carson. You've earned my respect. Now for your answers, what do want to know?”
"I-I want to know about Roth Gill," I repeated.
The cunning smile on the man's face seemed to only increase as he kept his gaze on me. "Interesting...I thought you'd ask about Lana first. Not Roth?”
"About her too," I whispered not knowing what the answer was going to be.
"Fine. You're not going to like this but Roth Gill isn't human." He paused to see my expression but I kept it natural. I already suspected something like that but to hear it from someone who believed me? It was way worse than anything. It meant I wasn't going insane or tripping on invisible drugs. It was real, all of it.
"You're good...not fainting yet. Hmm...interesting. So as I was saying, Roth Gill isn't Lana's birth mother, thank God." I relaxed knowing that at least that woman wasn't her birth mother. But why did the man sounded so relieved?
"So, who is her birth mother?" I asked to which with a nod, he gave me back the articles I gave him first. It was from centuries ago and it was found in Lana's house with the name Keisha Deshayes.
"Keisha Deshayes...her birth mother is a witch and a Reaper. And if you don't save Lana on time, she's going to become one too." No. That couldn't be right. I didn't understand what being Reaper meant but the way he said it...
It was something worse than being dead.
"How do I stop it?" I asked, trying to find any tricks in his eyes.
"Just talk to her. Make her believe." I nodded, tapping my knuckles on the desk constantly. This one habit I got from her was the only thing that was now stopping me from running. Something told me that only talking wouldn't make her believe. Hell, who would believe me?
"Now tell me why you had a suspect on Roth."
Hearing the man, I thought back to that day in the locker room. I had just finished a game and Lana was supposed to meet me there but instead of her, I walked in on Roth trying to kill Lana with a knife. I could still feel my bones go cold as I recalled the aftermath.
"I saw Roth trying to kill Lana. I didn't know she wasn't human back then. I thought she was just fucking nuts. I saved her but she won't even talk to me. My calls will go unanswered and things alike. I thought Roth already did something to her so I called 911 but you know the strange thing? Lana said Roth never tried to kill her." I still remembered the humiliation I felt when the cops told me that I better stop pranking or I'll be sent to jail.
The man hummed in return. "Hmm...mind control."
"And this wasn't the strangest thing at all. I accidentally bumped into Lana in the mall and she told me that I was cheating on her. I didn't confess so she got angry. I followed her ass home, I told her things that I shouldn't have said. When I was leaving her house, I saw Roth changing into a hound...in front of my own eyes." I said all those in one breath and relaxed when the man was looking at me like he believed me.
Like I just didn't lose it.
"Shifter. I knew that brat will try to kill Lana. Now here's your answer. I told you her birth mother is a Reaper but Roth is way worse than that. She is a hellhound trapped in the earth. She'll do anything to kill Lana so she can go back to hell." He looked straight at me. "You should be the one who stops it."
"What's the catch?" I asked suspiciously.
The man continued. "You just signed the rest of your life for her safety and you want to know the catches?"
What?
"What are you talking about?"
"The contract." He pointed at the paper I just signed. "Your life for her safety."
Fuck.
Holy fuck.
"Why would you do that?" I wasn't really angry like I was, but I was more curious. "I don't understand where your share of interest in Lana's life is. I mean, you don't even know Lana and you just made me sign my life away just to protect her."
He gave me a smile which was anything but friendly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jonathan Bazin but I go by Jonathan Vale Franklin now. I'm the former King of Shadows, the creature of the night and...the father of Lana Deshayes."
***
Gill's cabin was where we always went for winter break. This year though...I did promise Lana that we'll spend our break there even if we were having fights. To my surprise, my hands shook, the bike almost crashing against a road sign. Shit, even the wind was different, was a storm coming too?
I was too busy in my thought that I didn't notice when I reached the woods. And when I finally did, I couldn't stop the horror from showing up in my face among others. Jumping off of the bike, I started looking for her, screaming her name with desperation until I saw her trying to run past me.
"Hey, I was about to call you. You still mad at me?" I apologized, shaking a bit. I didn't know what else to say. Grovel or make her run with me. As if she heard my plea, she turned around only to look at me baffled.
I knew she was about to bolt so I leaned forward, my fingers touching her falling strands. As soon as I did, an alarm went through me. Red, it's like she was drowning in blood. "When did you cut your hair? And Red? You hate red since-since she died."
"G-Get away." She had a glare in her eyes and when she looked at me again it was pitch black. "I don't-"
What the hell?
"What are you doing here? We were supposed to meet at your house."
Unless our fight ended things between us. No, I didn't want to believe that. I wouldn't let Roth come between us. Everything was going to be alright, I had proof. But then I looked at her and knew it was just a wishful dream as she let out a scream, pushing me away.
"Leave me alone! I don't know you."
My heart broke a little hearing her but I still had that hope. So, my grip became even tighter around her hands. "I know you're in shock but I need to tell you something important about Roth. But first, we have to get out of here. The fire has spared into your house. It's not safe to stay here anymore."
As soon as those words were out, I looked behind me to see that I was right. But she wasn't listening. Why wasn't she listening?
"I don't have a house here! You are lying! Last time I'm saying go or you'll regret ever meeting me." Before I could make her look at me, a smile formed on her face.
"Or maybe I could just show you how much regret you're going to have now." Her grin widened. The surety on that promise had me back down a little. I didn't know what was wrong but it was definitely not good. Maybe I was already too late?
Heck, no.
"I don't know what is happening to you but what I do know that I did deserve it for acting like an ass to you but please this is dangerous. The fire will soon be here. I can't see you get hurt." I kept repeating that I had sworn an oath on my life to always protect her. That she meant everything to me but it was like my old Lana was already gone.
"But I don't care if I hurt you. I know what you are! You are a puppet who is doing everything on one person's command; my mother wants to distract me from hunting her. But tell that woman she doesn't know her daughter fully." This time I wasn't even sure if she was talking about Roth or someone else. This time true fear started to kick in. She was gone. Lana was gone...
"W-What...?" Stuttering, I tried to step back again but I was trapped. My whole body was on fire and it looked like someone was ripping every organ from my body. To my horror, I saw my body starting to fade away and with a final scream, eternal darkness welcomed me.
***
Pain.
Everything was so painful.
I tried to blink but my eyes were glued shut. Revenge awaits you. The humming grew the more I tried not to listen to them. Where was I? I couldn't remember anything but a whisper. Kill Lana. Kill Lana. Kill Lana! With great difficulty, my eyes opened, the humming now almost impossible to ignore. I knew where I needed to go. What to do.
Godfrey Sanatorium.
Here I come...
DAMAGED
CHAPTER 1
ACE Death doesn’t consume me at once. No, it comes in bits and pieces of memories. All of them too real to be ignored. Or, perhaps even death learned to toy with me? “Where are you taking him? He’s bleeding!” “Miss, calm down. We got you.” “Answer me!” “He is no longer your concern, Ms. Taylor. Your family is here, you are free.” I'm startled awake, too tired of chasing hypothetical monsters. Five years. It's been five years but still, irritation creeps in like none when I remember death didn't show me mercy that day. That I was better being dead than withering away in a cell. Granted, my cell is decorated in fancy furniture. If I try not to breathe too hard, I can ignore the burn in my ribs. I can even forget that I have been betrayed by my own blood. And I should have focused on that anger rather than finding salvation in nightmares. Except, time changes people. The old King of La Eme would raise hell right now, let alone bow down to the feds for freedom. But I’d like to think that I’m a new version of Ace Martinez. The man who’s willing to be patient. And such patience I’ve inherited that even the feds are suspicious. Not that they’ll ever find out what's in my head. No matter how much they probed and pushed, my thoughts are my own, my promises are mine to bear. And my demons? They are kept buried for a certain someone. “Hey, you!” I hear sharp raps on the door and my smile widens. It’s almost time. “I’m opening the door right now. Move and I'll tase you." When I don’t answer, the door opens slowly as if to avoid any surprise attack. And, I want to, mierda, I just want to wrap my fingers around his neck until he remembers who I really am. But my body stays on the bed by sheer determination. "Give me your hands." I do. And I watch the entire time he cuffs my wrists without bragging about his free life. Not even when he drags me out to the visitation room. Interesting. On any days, he’d whine more. But today, for some reason, he’s silent. Before I am tempted to ask, the door opens, revealing a bulky figure. A figure I am having a hard time remembering. A new officer? His wary eyes follow my disheveled self until he sits down, the table between us is the only thing stopping me from going after him. “Martinez.” He clears his throat. “I heard you pled for parole?” I pled to be released, puto! To him, I give an easy-going smile. “Something like that. Am I eligible yet? If not...” I trail off once I realize that he didn't come empty-handed. He has a big stash of papers with him. My documents, perhaps? He doesn't notice my curiosity though, too damn busy to read one of many pages. His eyes narrow a few times, I’m sure he is reading about the first two years of me being here. I gave them hell and I’m not a fucking bit sorry about that. But the smile drops when I remember how I was sentenced to twenty-five years of prison without a trial. No, a court case would be too much for Padre. In his eyes, I have tarnished his reputation by letting the enemy live. So, the first chance he got, he tried to get rid of me. As if I was nothing... By the time I can think of hiding my anger, the man pushes the papers away with a sigh. One would think he’d be jumping to talk now, but this man is somehow different than my past officer. He takes his time, letting me sweat is what I think his plan was but I meet his stare with the same smile I’ve been practicing for years. “You’ve been denied four times already and you are one dangerous man to deal with...so why would you think that we’ll let you go before your time?” Interesting question. I don’t take a second to answer. “Because I earned it? Why would you think I’m not eligible for parole?” He leans in like it’s some secret he’s going to share. “Honestly? Between the two of us, I think you know you’re never going to be eligible.” Mierda! My wrist burns but he’s not done. “Yet circumstances are forcing us to let you go.” I can’t help the chuckle that tickles between my lips. Forced to? That’s new. “Laugh all you want but it’s true.” He lets out another sad as fuck sigh. “Wondered where your officer is? And why isn’t he sitting where I am right now?” What my officer does is really not my business. So, I only shrug in answer. But my new officer must have been hoping for a different reaction and when he doesn't get it, his jaw clenches in anger. “Dead. Someone set his jeep on fire, in the broad daylight nonetheless.” My thoughts come to a stop. Dead. That bastardo was dead. Gone even before I could make him pay... I am not stupid enough to realize that he worked for La Eme, namely Dante. I don’t know whether I look disappointed or interested as I lean in, fishing for more information. “And? What does that have to do with me? You think I killed him?” “No.” He sways in his seat, a nervous habit I suppose. “But it has your men all over it. Or a few you know.” That’s true. After I woke up in a hospital surrounded by the feds, I tried everything in me to get out but Padre...He knows his time is near so who he turns to? Fucking Dante. That asshole made sure I was inside this cage while he took over my Kingdom. Ares tried, fuck, he really did but Padre always had a certain power over us. We hated him, point-blank. But we couldn't hate him enough to wish he was dead. And, now I was given an opportunity to take it all back. Even if the federal has other ideas for me. So like a hungry animal, I latch onto anything that'll help me. “Know any name? I might help. I was the King of La Eme after all.” “Dante Alviso. Ever heard of him?” He starts while I hum. “Valentine De Vale. Stefan Orlov. Or Dario Escoto? These are the prime suspects for that murder.” Dario? My eyes immediately lock with his. Though this time I’m anything but calm. The cuff rattles when I drop my hands a little too hard. “Heard some of them.” He nods, opening another file. “Thought so, which is why we are considering to release you on parole. Your hearing is next week. Here’s the file, read it carefully, sign it and you’ll be a free man in no time.” I take his words for what it is. Sign in a paper and be free. My knuckles crack to just know what the fuck is Dario doing, playing with Dante so freely that even the feds got a trace of him. One might think he slipped but I know what it really is. They got a new playground after my demise and they are not afraid to show it. But what they don’t know is what’s coming for them. Five years ago, I was a monster with no conscience. Five years later, I’m just as bloodthirsty if not more. And this time, nothing is stopping me from wreaking havoc on the people who betrayed me. Not even my Thorn... |
THORNED
CHAPTER 1
RAINE
Look after your brother.
That was the last thing I heard when our father walked out of our life. Now at twenty-three, I think I've failed to understand just how much looking after I needed to do in order for my brother to be actually present in my life.
Jokes on me though.
Nick didn't look for a better future like our mama. He didn't marry some posh rich chick to get more money. No, absolutely not. Instead, he turned to run errands for people who didn't have a moral bone in their body.
But I can't whine about him not being present in my life either. He doesn't give me a full chance to be angry with him. Not yet anyway. He stays home for four days a week. He cooks, does laundries, and asks me how my job hunting is going.
And every time he has a smile on his face. That damned smile that scares me more than anything nowadays. Shuddering, I try to force him out of my head. But it’s like he’s a parasite, always toying with my mind.
I am with you after all. How much more can you need, Raine?
Even now if I close my eyes, I can imagine how he’d look at me if he knew the length I’m willing to go to find him. My cold, calculative, brother who’s a walking reminder of our father. And just like that, I’m in our dollhouse, hoping all of this is just a nightmare.
"How are things going, Raine?" His lips twitched but not in amusement. I have been with him for too long to not notice the signs. Lately, he’s gotten bored of everything.
Of my concerns.
And, me.
My hold on the fork tightened at the alarming thought. But today, it’s not about him. I have had better things to worry about, like dodging our landlady. So, even if I knew the undecided rules we have made up in years, I didn't entertain whatever game he was thinking of playing next. I just stared at his unfocused eyes and blurted out. "I need money to pay the rent, Nick. Mrs. Julian is going to kick-"
His smile widened. For people outside, it's a beautiful sight. God-given beauty, I think mama would say. But I couldn't find anything more terrible.
"Just answer my question, Raine." He gritted out. Maybe for my sake, he was not raising his hands yet. I could certainly see his clenched fist even if he was trying too hard to hide it.
"It’s going fine." The words came out as a squeak. It’s not like he genuinely wanted to know. Words had less value in our life, we showed our love in strained smiles and devious games.
"Hey chica, look where you are going!"
It's too hard to focus on who I just stumbled into. These are the same people who changed my brother, leaving a stranger into his place. How can I ever dare to look at them in the eyes?
So, I just apologize and move between the dancing bodies with only one thought. He might not have been much of a brother lately, but he’s the only one I’m left with. Papa himself trusted me with Nick. That one little thought becomes my weapon as I look at the poker tables, the bar, and finally the dreadful shed. The one place he warned me not to go without him, even if it was important. I was hoping that day would never come, but then again, shouldn't by now I shoulda learned that hope is not for people like us?
I'm startled out of my mind when another presence graces me the moment I enter the shed. Only then I realize that I was hoping for it to be empty. To go back home and mourn my brother’s disappearance. But here I am, staring at a man who is too busy doing drugs. Though the man in front of me isn’t like the men in the club. He is too rugged, his eyes evoke everything he is feeling, unlike the people my brother works with or works for. Some days it's hard to differ.
I don’t know how I sound when his shocked eyes meet mine. "I know I’m not supposed to be here. But I need to…I’m looking for someone. Have you heard of Nick? Nick Taylor? He works at the club. He’s a regular, I think."
"N-Nicki?"
His voice is heavy with an accent. It means he is not local. What’s up with my brother always working for the people not from here? I don't know if he recognizes my brother or not but his huge figure steps back in alarm.
"I know no Nick. You should leave." The tone of his voice says one thing, like he’s bored but his eyes say otherwise.
I should do something. Like, go home and wait for Nick to come back. Or maybe just leave him here to rot. If Mrs. Julian doesn’t get her rent, she will throw me out on the streets anyway. So I start to walk. Only that I don't walk toward the door. I walk closer to the man, his eyes bulging out the more steps I take.
"What the fuck are you doing, Chika!? I told you to leave. Me know no Nick!"
"You know him." I don't intend to be so harsh but I can't. Five nights of no sleep can do that to anyone. "Where is he? Is he ok?"
"I said I don't-" He's awfully cut off. By a bullet between his eyes.
"You Nicki's sister?" Someone whispers next to me. My eyes find him as he lazily pulls out a pack of cigarettes, lightening one. I don’t want to look away but there are bits and pieces of flesh on me. Red, everywhere…
Someone screams. The sound deafening even to my ears. Black dots dance around me. Something tickles down my chin. Tears? Blood? Stupidity?
"Your brother pissed off a wrong man, chika. We had to do it." The man sounds remorseful almost as if...
No.
No!
"I-Is he-" Please tell me he's alive. He's just pretending. Playing games again.
Heat rushes through my vein when a hand forces my chin upward. "He's what? Dead?"
I flinch back, he laughs. "Dead or alive, he had to pay. Sadly he wouldn't give us the money he stole so we went after something more...vulnerable to him."
Me.
Even before I can understand what's happening, someone holds a cold metal against my head. There's also a hiss near my ears. The man with the cigarette? "No one messes with the boss, chika. We will make Nicki wish that he never made that mistake."
Boss?
I don't have time to panic. Someone has already covered my nose with a napkin. I want to fight back but then again I'd do anything for my brother. So instead of digging my nails hard over the arm, my hands drop beside me. I inhale. I exhale. And when my eyes close, I see Nick waiting for me with that damned smile.
And I smile back.
Welcome home, brother...
RAINE
Look after your brother.
That was the last thing I heard when our father walked out of our life. Now at twenty-three, I think I've failed to understand just how much looking after I needed to do in order for my brother to be actually present in my life.
Jokes on me though.
Nick didn't look for a better future like our mama. He didn't marry some posh rich chick to get more money. No, absolutely not. Instead, he turned to run errands for people who didn't have a moral bone in their body.
But I can't whine about him not being present in my life either. He doesn't give me a full chance to be angry with him. Not yet anyway. He stays home for four days a week. He cooks, does laundries, and asks me how my job hunting is going.
And every time he has a smile on his face. That damned smile that scares me more than anything nowadays. Shuddering, I try to force him out of my head. But it’s like he’s a parasite, always toying with my mind.
I am with you after all. How much more can you need, Raine?
Even now if I close my eyes, I can imagine how he’d look at me if he knew the length I’m willing to go to find him. My cold, calculative, brother who’s a walking reminder of our father. And just like that, I’m in our dollhouse, hoping all of this is just a nightmare.
"How are things going, Raine?" His lips twitched but not in amusement. I have been with him for too long to not notice the signs. Lately, he’s gotten bored of everything.
Of my concerns.
And, me.
My hold on the fork tightened at the alarming thought. But today, it’s not about him. I have had better things to worry about, like dodging our landlady. So, even if I knew the undecided rules we have made up in years, I didn't entertain whatever game he was thinking of playing next. I just stared at his unfocused eyes and blurted out. "I need money to pay the rent, Nick. Mrs. Julian is going to kick-"
His smile widened. For people outside, it's a beautiful sight. God-given beauty, I think mama would say. But I couldn't find anything more terrible.
"Just answer my question, Raine." He gritted out. Maybe for my sake, he was not raising his hands yet. I could certainly see his clenched fist even if he was trying too hard to hide it.
"It’s going fine." The words came out as a squeak. It’s not like he genuinely wanted to know. Words had less value in our life, we showed our love in strained smiles and devious games.
"Hey chica, look where you are going!"
It's too hard to focus on who I just stumbled into. These are the same people who changed my brother, leaving a stranger into his place. How can I ever dare to look at them in the eyes?
So, I just apologize and move between the dancing bodies with only one thought. He might not have been much of a brother lately, but he’s the only one I’m left with. Papa himself trusted me with Nick. That one little thought becomes my weapon as I look at the poker tables, the bar, and finally the dreadful shed. The one place he warned me not to go without him, even if it was important. I was hoping that day would never come, but then again, shouldn't by now I shoulda learned that hope is not for people like us?
I'm startled out of my mind when another presence graces me the moment I enter the shed. Only then I realize that I was hoping for it to be empty. To go back home and mourn my brother’s disappearance. But here I am, staring at a man who is too busy doing drugs. Though the man in front of me isn’t like the men in the club. He is too rugged, his eyes evoke everything he is feeling, unlike the people my brother works with or works for. Some days it's hard to differ.
I don’t know how I sound when his shocked eyes meet mine. "I know I’m not supposed to be here. But I need to…I’m looking for someone. Have you heard of Nick? Nick Taylor? He works at the club. He’s a regular, I think."
"N-Nicki?"
His voice is heavy with an accent. It means he is not local. What’s up with my brother always working for the people not from here? I don't know if he recognizes my brother or not but his huge figure steps back in alarm.
"I know no Nick. You should leave." The tone of his voice says one thing, like he’s bored but his eyes say otherwise.
I should do something. Like, go home and wait for Nick to come back. Or maybe just leave him here to rot. If Mrs. Julian doesn’t get her rent, she will throw me out on the streets anyway. So I start to walk. Only that I don't walk toward the door. I walk closer to the man, his eyes bulging out the more steps I take.
"What the fuck are you doing, Chika!? I told you to leave. Me know no Nick!"
"You know him." I don't intend to be so harsh but I can't. Five nights of no sleep can do that to anyone. "Where is he? Is he ok?"
"I said I don't-" He's awfully cut off. By a bullet between his eyes.
"You Nicki's sister?" Someone whispers next to me. My eyes find him as he lazily pulls out a pack of cigarettes, lightening one. I don’t want to look away but there are bits and pieces of flesh on me. Red, everywhere…
Someone screams. The sound deafening even to my ears. Black dots dance around me. Something tickles down my chin. Tears? Blood? Stupidity?
"Your brother pissed off a wrong man, chika. We had to do it." The man sounds remorseful almost as if...
No.
No!
"I-Is he-" Please tell me he's alive. He's just pretending. Playing games again.
Heat rushes through my vein when a hand forces my chin upward. "He's what? Dead?"
I flinch back, he laughs. "Dead or alive, he had to pay. Sadly he wouldn't give us the money he stole so we went after something more...vulnerable to him."
Me.
Even before I can understand what's happening, someone holds a cold metal against my head. There's also a hiss near my ears. The man with the cigarette? "No one messes with the boss, chika. We will make Nicki wish that he never made that mistake."
Boss?
I don't have time to panic. Someone has already covered my nose with a napkin. I want to fight back but then again I'd do anything for my brother. So instead of digging my nails hard over the arm, my hands drop beside me. I inhale. I exhale. And when my eyes close, I see Nick waiting for me with that damned smile.
And I smile back.
Welcome home, brother...
SNIPER
CHAPTER 2
SNIPER
Whoever said that pain can't be beautiful, has to be a Goddamn idiot. It's all bullshit. It's a lie. Cause I've seen it. I've seen it in her. I've recognized the beauty of pain in those dark as night eyes.
Though I would never tell her that. Just like I will never tell her about how I feel. Cause for me, my brothers will always come first. So no matter how it pains me to see her watch Lethal with that look...she will never know.
"Excuse me?" I'm stopped from thinking more, when another life joins me in the night. She's short and cute with a worn smile on her face. Two months ago she could have been my type. Now...not so much.
"Did you do what I asked you to do?" I ask her, lightening a match. The smoke catches her unguarded but she knows not to argue about my choice of poison.
"Yes, I did." She pauses, glancing at the closed door once. "Ms. Evans will be ready for a new nurse. But are you sure that is what’s best for her?"
What I say next makes her gasp but I'm not a saint. Being a Devil has its perks. So I don't hesitate when I throw her the file I've had with me.
"Accused of two murders. Sold his little girl for gambling and is still runnin’ from town to town because someone is after him. Your father isn't exactly the perfect example of parenthood, that's for sure. And, with all that gambling, and money going away…Ms. Evans should be the last thing you should worry about." I finish giving her a grin.
"I know that, Sniper." She is still on edge, even before meeting me. Fidgeting in her spot, she speaks in a low tone. "But he's still my father. And the only reason I agreed with your crazy idea to refer to a Devil as a nurse is because you are willing to clear his name."
"And I will," I promise her. "When you leave this town tomorrow, your old man will get his freedom. But after that, if he does anythin’ to prove the accusations to be truth-"
"He wasn't lying, Sniper. He never had a hand in anything he was accused of. Lorenzo made it up. All of it to take my family down and the bastard won." I can clearly see the hatred in her eyes even before she sighs dejectedly. "Look, I will leave with my father and never come back to your club. The only reason I went to beg at that clubhouse was because someone said you guys could help me. Now that we can run freely, Lethal doesn’t need to worry about us. And I don't know what business you have with her, but please make sure that Ms. Evans is ok. She has gone through a lot."
She has no clue that I already know what I'm here for. She peeks the door open to see the unknown woman's face before leaving me with a nod. Jade's words flash through my brain alongside Lethal's warning.
Make sure nothing can harm her, brother.
I'm giving my trust in you, Seth. I hope you know what it means.
Of course, I know what it means. So I light another match and finally feel like seeing the woman. Entering the relatively small room, I've to squint for a moment to see a figure of someone's back through the dim light coming from the window. My job is sleeping in the bed but I can clearly see the stiffness of her shoulder.
Instantly, I feel something...like pity for the woman. She doesn't even fucking realize that someone is looking at her while she is sleeping in her room. No wonder she will need help.
So I watch over her in the darkness.
I inhale her fearful breaths.
Until the figure turns around and opens her eyes. I know her breath freezes but I also know that she can't see me through the haze of the dark. She couldn't even if I was standing right in front of her, cause pain is all she's seeing, all she’s feeling. I watch her hate the pain and after a minute embrace it like a warrior.
And right then, I feel just how beautiful pain can truly be.
SNIPER
Whoever said that pain can't be beautiful, has to be a Goddamn idiot. It's all bullshit. It's a lie. Cause I've seen it. I've seen it in her. I've recognized the beauty of pain in those dark as night eyes.
Though I would never tell her that. Just like I will never tell her about how I feel. Cause for me, my brothers will always come first. So no matter how it pains me to see her watch Lethal with that look...she will never know.
"Excuse me?" I'm stopped from thinking more, when another life joins me in the night. She's short and cute with a worn smile on her face. Two months ago she could have been my type. Now...not so much.
"Did you do what I asked you to do?" I ask her, lightening a match. The smoke catches her unguarded but she knows not to argue about my choice of poison.
"Yes, I did." She pauses, glancing at the closed door once. "Ms. Evans will be ready for a new nurse. But are you sure that is what’s best for her?"
What I say next makes her gasp but I'm not a saint. Being a Devil has its perks. So I don't hesitate when I throw her the file I've had with me.
"Accused of two murders. Sold his little girl for gambling and is still runnin’ from town to town because someone is after him. Your father isn't exactly the perfect example of parenthood, that's for sure. And, with all that gambling, and money going away…Ms. Evans should be the last thing you should worry about." I finish giving her a grin.
"I know that, Sniper." She is still on edge, even before meeting me. Fidgeting in her spot, she speaks in a low tone. "But he's still my father. And the only reason I agreed with your crazy idea to refer to a Devil as a nurse is because you are willing to clear his name."
"And I will," I promise her. "When you leave this town tomorrow, your old man will get his freedom. But after that, if he does anythin’ to prove the accusations to be truth-"
"He wasn't lying, Sniper. He never had a hand in anything he was accused of. Lorenzo made it up. All of it to take my family down and the bastard won." I can clearly see the hatred in her eyes even before she sighs dejectedly. "Look, I will leave with my father and never come back to your club. The only reason I went to beg at that clubhouse was because someone said you guys could help me. Now that we can run freely, Lethal doesn’t need to worry about us. And I don't know what business you have with her, but please make sure that Ms. Evans is ok. She has gone through a lot."
She has no clue that I already know what I'm here for. She peeks the door open to see the unknown woman's face before leaving me with a nod. Jade's words flash through my brain alongside Lethal's warning.
Make sure nothing can harm her, brother.
I'm giving my trust in you, Seth. I hope you know what it means.
Of course, I know what it means. So I light another match and finally feel like seeing the woman. Entering the relatively small room, I've to squint for a moment to see a figure of someone's back through the dim light coming from the window. My job is sleeping in the bed but I can clearly see the stiffness of her shoulder.
Instantly, I feel something...like pity for the woman. She doesn't even fucking realize that someone is looking at her while she is sleeping in her room. No wonder she will need help.
So I watch over her in the darkness.
I inhale her fearful breaths.
Until the figure turns around and opens her eyes. I know her breath freezes but I also know that she can't see me through the haze of the dark. She couldn't even if I was standing right in front of her, cause pain is all she's seeing, all she’s feeling. I watch her hate the pain and after a minute embrace it like a warrior.
And right then, I feel just how beautiful pain can truly be.
LETHAL BONUS SCENE
THIS OCCURS TWO YEARS BEFORE THE STARTING OF THE BOOK.
GRACE
I don't know how long I just stare at the hospital walls.
It's white like they are supposed to give you some kind of comfort in need. But I only notice the marks behind the soft tint. The stench of blood they tried so hard to hide. Like it has no place in here yet it can't help but shows itself like a volcano.
Like my mind.
Blood, tears, fire.
Everything blends together until I register someone shoving me from the nightmare I've gone through the last 24 hours. Hell, even now if I close my eyes a little, I hear mom cry out my name. I still feel that man's revolting hands on me and Gwen...my poor little sister's whimpers mixed with classical music running through my head.
"Knight!"
"I'm here." Lies. I'm not here. My mind is still on our torn apartment, still on Gwen, still on...I'm forced to stop thinking just as another shove follows with a distant yell.
"Grace, hold on. Fuck, I c-can't imagine-"
"She didn't look at me once, Josh." My voice comes out strained. Only then I realize that I've screamed for hours before. I've screamed for help once a neighbor finally came to look at what happened, I've screamed all the way to the hospital for Gwen and I've screamed when bones looking back to me screamed that she's gone. My mom was dead. Though Josh doesn't even look surprised at the rare form of emotion I'm showing. I'm Grace Knight.
I don't scream, I don't cry.
I only dance until nothing matters. But today...I'm breaking way too many rules and I don't know what to do with the fact.
Should I cry more? Scream even harder? Or just silently watch Josh break down in front of me?
"How's Gwen? D-Did she say-" Josh can't even finish his sentence before he collapses beside me with a sigh. I know how Josh feels about Gwen. How they both felt until our life shattered before our own eyes like a deck of cards.
I blink twice but the blurriness doesn't go away when I answer his question. "She isn't responding to anything they are asking. I've heard the nurses whisper when they thought I wasn't here. Something is wrong but they won't say a word. It's been hours already."
It's been hours I took my bloodied sister to the hospital. And there's still no news.
"Fuck!" He curses, running his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time. "I should've been there. If only I took your advice and told Gwen-" His throat catches on a dangerous sound. One might even call it a plea for not crying. "If only I'd ask her out that day...I could've prevented this. Fuck! I could've."
Could he really?
I wonder what would've happened if he would have asked Gwen out that day. They both would have been on their first date yesterday as I suggested, mom would have been out to teach the kids per Gwen's plan and me?
I'd be still home at that time. But was it really worth saving my soul compared to them? I would've suffered alone instead of my family but...in the end, I'd still have them. Now I'm not sure if I still have someone to hold on.
Then again, I may have lost mom but Gwen is still alive. We're still in danger, she is still fighting for her life and if my gut is telling me right then those people will come back. Sure enough, if I blink too hard I will see the black shadows around the hospital. Even here every soul looks like a shred of those corrupted ones. No matter where I go, they are there. Watching, planning, laughing.
"...and you're sure they took your sister to a room? I mean you could be in shock and see anything-" I can still hear the laughter in that cop's voice as he asked me numerous questions. Every time I tried to talk, he just jerked his chin toward the chair and told me to wait. Wait for what? For my sister to bleed out?
For them to find us again?
What was I waiting for?
In the end, he just told me to come back later. His excuse? There was a terrific accident in Downtown and it couldn't be avoided. I screamed then too. For being so helpless that even a single report couldn't be written for Gwen's sake.
After running out of the room, I waited near the door for the world to stop moving. To make sense of just what I was going to do next. Minutes passed before I realized that I had been played like a fool. There was no accident, no emergency for that man to run into. He was just another wolf in the ship's clothes. Another man who ruined what was left of me.
Who I was going to see every time I closed my eyes.
"...girl thought that she can write a report against an MC President? No way in hell I'm going to write it. I have a family too. I don't want to be in the middle of it and risk my kid's life."
I didn't want to believe his words then. He was just...just playing me. Maybe he did know that I never left the station. Maybe he was trying to make me more afraid than I already was. But every shred of doubt turned to dust as the moment I heard his next words.
"Biker business like this in Southside is common. And they always come back to finish what they started. It's only a matter of time before another body will turn up." Maybe there was a heavy sigh at the end. Maybe he really did regret his actions. There was nothing he was going to do to help after all.
But if he was so sure that-
They always come back.
"I need a favor, Josh. Can you stay here for a while? I need to do something-" I hear myself spurting out the things I have to do. Chores that just added themselves without any questions but I'm stopped by a hand on my shoulder. It's reassuring, it's familiar and I can't help but take the given comfort like a selfish creature without giving any back.
"You plan to go alone?" He asks me in disbelief. At any days even I'd laugh. Who's so fucking stupid to go alone in the city where danger's lurking at every corner after what happened? Me. I'm stupid. I'm reckless enough to bring justice to my family.
"I'll go with you." He answers for me. "She is safe here. No one unwanted can enter or leave. Trust me on this."
Trust?
And just like that, the word brings a loud giggle to erupt from my lips. Trust, trust, trust. I stumble to make a decision. Can you trust someone after that? Can I? Should I? Once again, good little Josh is here to save the day.
"I promise you, Grace. Whatever the hell you want to do, no matter how crazy it sounds...I'm in. Just tell me what to do?"
What to do?
I wreak my mind for what to do next. Where to run. I have Gwen to worry about. Nightmares of mine to chase away. I can't muster up one thought at once when the words crawling at my head are suddenly spoken out loud. And I don't even have the energy to take them back.
"The moment she's discharged, we have to take Gwen somewhere far away from New York. Somewhere far but close enough that I can visit. And then-" I pause to think. To shake off the feeling of that man's hands on me or Gwen again. But all it does is make the next promise more fierce than ever.
"And then we burn every MC in Southside down to ashes."
GRACE
I don't know how long I just stare at the hospital walls.
It's white like they are supposed to give you some kind of comfort in need. But I only notice the marks behind the soft tint. The stench of blood they tried so hard to hide. Like it has no place in here yet it can't help but shows itself like a volcano.
Like my mind.
Blood, tears, fire.
Everything blends together until I register someone shoving me from the nightmare I've gone through the last 24 hours. Hell, even now if I close my eyes a little, I hear mom cry out my name. I still feel that man's revolting hands on me and Gwen...my poor little sister's whimpers mixed with classical music running through my head.
"Knight!"
"I'm here." Lies. I'm not here. My mind is still on our torn apartment, still on Gwen, still on...I'm forced to stop thinking just as another shove follows with a distant yell.
"Grace, hold on. Fuck, I c-can't imagine-"
"She didn't look at me once, Josh." My voice comes out strained. Only then I realize that I've screamed for hours before. I've screamed for help once a neighbor finally came to look at what happened, I've screamed all the way to the hospital for Gwen and I've screamed when bones looking back to me screamed that she's gone. My mom was dead. Though Josh doesn't even look surprised at the rare form of emotion I'm showing. I'm Grace Knight.
I don't scream, I don't cry.
I only dance until nothing matters. But today...I'm breaking way too many rules and I don't know what to do with the fact.
Should I cry more? Scream even harder? Or just silently watch Josh break down in front of me?
"How's Gwen? D-Did she say-" Josh can't even finish his sentence before he collapses beside me with a sigh. I know how Josh feels about Gwen. How they both felt until our life shattered before our own eyes like a deck of cards.
I blink twice but the blurriness doesn't go away when I answer his question. "She isn't responding to anything they are asking. I've heard the nurses whisper when they thought I wasn't here. Something is wrong but they won't say a word. It's been hours already."
It's been hours I took my bloodied sister to the hospital. And there's still no news.
"Fuck!" He curses, running his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time. "I should've been there. If only I took your advice and told Gwen-" His throat catches on a dangerous sound. One might even call it a plea for not crying. "If only I'd ask her out that day...I could've prevented this. Fuck! I could've."
Could he really?
I wonder what would've happened if he would have asked Gwen out that day. They both would have been on their first date yesterday as I suggested, mom would have been out to teach the kids per Gwen's plan and me?
I'd be still home at that time. But was it really worth saving my soul compared to them? I would've suffered alone instead of my family but...in the end, I'd still have them. Now I'm not sure if I still have someone to hold on.
Then again, I may have lost mom but Gwen is still alive. We're still in danger, she is still fighting for her life and if my gut is telling me right then those people will come back. Sure enough, if I blink too hard I will see the black shadows around the hospital. Even here every soul looks like a shred of those corrupted ones. No matter where I go, they are there. Watching, planning, laughing.
"...and you're sure they took your sister to a room? I mean you could be in shock and see anything-" I can still hear the laughter in that cop's voice as he asked me numerous questions. Every time I tried to talk, he just jerked his chin toward the chair and told me to wait. Wait for what? For my sister to bleed out?
For them to find us again?
What was I waiting for?
In the end, he just told me to come back later. His excuse? There was a terrific accident in Downtown and it couldn't be avoided. I screamed then too. For being so helpless that even a single report couldn't be written for Gwen's sake.
After running out of the room, I waited near the door for the world to stop moving. To make sense of just what I was going to do next. Minutes passed before I realized that I had been played like a fool. There was no accident, no emergency for that man to run into. He was just another wolf in the ship's clothes. Another man who ruined what was left of me.
Who I was going to see every time I closed my eyes.
"...girl thought that she can write a report against an MC President? No way in hell I'm going to write it. I have a family too. I don't want to be in the middle of it and risk my kid's life."
I didn't want to believe his words then. He was just...just playing me. Maybe he did know that I never left the station. Maybe he was trying to make me more afraid than I already was. But every shred of doubt turned to dust as the moment I heard his next words.
"Biker business like this in Southside is common. And they always come back to finish what they started. It's only a matter of time before another body will turn up." Maybe there was a heavy sigh at the end. Maybe he really did regret his actions. There was nothing he was going to do to help after all.
But if he was so sure that-
They always come back.
"I need a favor, Josh. Can you stay here for a while? I need to do something-" I hear myself spurting out the things I have to do. Chores that just added themselves without any questions but I'm stopped by a hand on my shoulder. It's reassuring, it's familiar and I can't help but take the given comfort like a selfish creature without giving any back.
"You plan to go alone?" He asks me in disbelief. At any days even I'd laugh. Who's so fucking stupid to go alone in the city where danger's lurking at every corner after what happened? Me. I'm stupid. I'm reckless enough to bring justice to my family.
"I'll go with you." He answers for me. "She is safe here. No one unwanted can enter or leave. Trust me on this."
Trust?
And just like that, the word brings a loud giggle to erupt from my lips. Trust, trust, trust. I stumble to make a decision. Can you trust someone after that? Can I? Should I? Once again, good little Josh is here to save the day.
"I promise you, Grace. Whatever the hell you want to do, no matter how crazy it sounds...I'm in. Just tell me what to do?"
What to do?
I wreak my mind for what to do next. Where to run. I have Gwen to worry about. Nightmares of mine to chase away. I can't muster up one thought at once when the words crawling at my head are suddenly spoken out loud. And I don't even have the energy to take them back.
"The moment she's discharged, we have to take Gwen somewhere far away from New York. Somewhere far but close enough that I can visit. And then-" I pause to think. To shake off the feeling of that man's hands on me or Gwen again. But all it does is make the next promise more fierce than ever.
"And then we burn every MC in Southside down to ashes."