Burning Truths (Consume Me #2)

24. Kenna

Chapter Twenty-Four

KENNA

Rummaging through the first drawer of the tall mahogany dresser I pull out two mixed matched socks. Sniffling through the tears that slip past my lashes I make an effort to swallow down my feelings. Breathe in through my nose and out my mouth. Repeating that in my head I’m able to focus on slipping the socks over my cold feet that also prevents the sound of my steps. Gently shutting the drawer my eyes cast down to take in my outfit. Somewhere along the way I’ve gained a large baggy shirt that I know it’s mine yet the same gym shorts hang on my hips. Squeezing my eyes shut to block out the image of my bones poking out it takes me several seconds to flush out the shame.

Pulling open the bottom drawer a sigh leaves me when I come up empty. Who the fuck has only socks in a dresser? Psycho that’s who. Licking the back of my teeth my nails dig into the paint with my frustration. Angry tears take the place of the ones that fell before it and now adrenaline is coursing through my veins.

“I need to get the fuck out of here.” I whisper to myself.

Turning towards the door my teeth bite into the skin of my bottom lip pulling and picking at the raw meat there. Long tangled blond hair hangs in messy waves down my back and I’m reminded once again of how dirty I am. How dirty I feel. That feeling returns, my skin itching and stretching over my bones. Pulling too tight around my skeleton.

Stop being weak.

The usually snarky bitch in my head actually has a point this time. Where did Kenna Kingston go? Is she dead? Were the Stone brothers able to break me so easily?

Get out of the house and then we can come up with a better plan.

Nodding my head to myself, my slow steady steps carry me to the bedroom door. My hand rises to grasp the knob, twisting it an inch at a time to prevent any noise. Dragging in a large gulp of air I pull the door open, almost shocked that it worked. The hallway expands in two directions and only someone who has never been in the Stone mansion wouldn’t know where to go, but their mistake is bringing me to a place where I grew up. Looking left and then right to make sure the hallway is clear my gaze runs over the subtle grey walls framed by glossy white trim. Large beautiful otherworldly paintings hang every few feet on each side of the walkway.

The Stone family love their art pieces and each one has its own certificate of ownership. Another way for the rich to flaunt their money, yeah I know, I’m rich too. Licking my lips to wet them I take soft steps walking as fast as possible down the hall to the left where it leads into a large conservatory. Passing by empty rooms I take my time, making sure no one is around, and listening for anyone coming to check on me. Memories of myself and the boys playing games through this massive home slam into me like a freight train unable to stop before demolishing the car in the middle of its tracks.

Hide and seek, tag, nerf wars, it was all we could do to keep ourselves busy as kids. Choking down the intrusive thoughts I keep moving forward past the bedrooms, past the stairwell, past the kitchen. Finally, an enormous doorway comes into view up ahead but my feet jerk to a stop when my eyes catch sight of a familiar door to my right. I’m just past the kitchen that looks to be recently repainted and designed with all new solid black appliances to replace the stainless steel ones that used to be in their place. The tall white door seems to grow larger, hovering over me like a distant reminder, a familiar demon that calls my name.

Biting into the tip of my tongue the pinch of pain manages to clear some of the fog caused by the monster from the past. Making my way closer to the door I drag my fingertip over the chipped paint and a memory I’ve suppressed flashes through my thoughts. Pictures play like an old style movie showing me Cole’s face as he climbs down the basement stairs to see me soaking wet and crying. Another of West coming to kneel in front of me to make me smile but the final image makes me jerk away from the door taking the image with it. Burying the sight of him storming towards me calling me to him like a siren into the deep waters. And what tears my heart from my chest is I went willingly into his arms allowing him to carry me away to where I felt safe.

Covering my face with both hands, my chest aches and all I want is to claw out those memories. Those lies. Spinning on my heels my stare falls on the open doors and I run. My feet pound against the tile. I’m in nothing but shorts and a baggy shirt with no shoes on my feet but I run. My muscles scream at me but my fight or flight kicks in and I burst through the final door skidding to a stop when I see the front door. Shaky hands grip the handles and shove once. Swinging open the darkness greets me yet it feels like home. Dropping my head back my eyes fall closed taking in the open air that kisses my cheeks.

“GAHHHHH” I scream until my lungs are out of oxygen.

Ignoring the pain bouncing around my ribs with each shattering breath I run down the driveway not looking back at the house that I used to love. Escaping to the open street it only takes me a short time to find my way to the edge of the neighborhood. Every inch of my body needs rest but I keep walking. My stomach burns from nothing but acid filling it but I keep walking. I walk until holes are worn through the bottom of the socks from the asphalt. I walk until my eyes droop lower and my knees shake. I walk until I reach the dorms. And when my hand finally meets the cold metal of my dorm room my legs give out and my body slides against the wall until my ass hits the floor.

My head thuds against the wall when I realize that I have no way to open the door because my keys are gone. Leaning back I let my eyes drift closed allowing myself to rest until the dorm’s open and I can get a spare key. Promising myself that I’ll only rest for an hour, I drift off into a deep sleep right there in the hallway of the Hawthorne dorms.

Something digs into my ribs pulling me from a dreamless sleep. The pain fades when the pressure is removed and my eyes start to drift again when it returns. That’s when I hear a voice above me.

“Kenna?” It says.

My brain tries to catch up but I’m too weak to move from my spot. My hand stretches out rubbing something rough and scratchy.

“What?” I murmur.

Blinking, my palms rub at my eyes until the sight in front of me changes from blurry to clear. Brown eyes and thick brown hair frame a face I haven’t seen in months.

“Romero?” I rasp.

Leaning back on his heels he looks me over and I can see the moment he pieces it together. The way my cheekbones stand out against the pale color of my skin. Horror flashes across his face before a mask slams down and a smile takes its place. Dropping down to balance on his heels his milky chocolate eyes roam over my face taking me in. His baby face has small changes that I’d point out but I can’t find it in me to give a fuck. A laugh slips from my lips startling the man in front of me.

“Where have you been?” He questions.

Reaching over his large hand clasps my elbow pulling me from the floor and I don’t fight the help he gives me. When I’m eye level with him he finally sees me fully and his eyes widen. Looking away to avoid the pity behind his eyes.

“I lost the key to my dorm. Can you help me get one from the desk?” I question. It falls from my tongue like a plea and somehow he knows it’s what I need.

Nodding he motions for me to stay here, turning, he takes off down the hall. Returning a few minutes later he steps around me to unlock the door and open it for me. The lights are already on lighting up the empty living room and a sigh leaves me. I didn’t know if Ally would be here or not but fuck am I happy she isn’t. Stepping inside I turn to close the door but Romero follows me inside. Leading me to the couch he sits me down and starts to pace.

“Kenna, you look like hell. You’ve been missing for over two months and you show up on campus looking like a fucking hostage victim. The Stone family has been searching for you day and night yet when you’re found they’re nowhere to be found?” His hands comb through his hair.

Sinking into the soft couch I pull my knees up to my chest to give me that shield I need to keep myself safe.

“Are you asking me a question?” I say, my voice raw.

Stopping in his tracks he drops forward bringing himself eye to eye with me. His hands rest on his knees.

“They found you.” He breathes,

Shaking my head frantically my heart starts to pound.

“No. No, they did this.”

His brows pinch in surprise. “Kenna you don’t.” He pauses, pulling in a deep breath. “I don’t know where you’ve been and by the look of you I’d say it’s been a fucking nightmare so I’m behind you no matter what but, Kenna.” He stops again, “They’ve been looking for you nonstop. People are dead. Some people are missing. Ry-”

My hands fly to my ears at the name that drips from his mouth like venom.

“Stop.” I cry out.

Standing he holds his hands out in surrender. “I’m sorry, Kens.” He breathes out.

My eyes burn from the lack of tears due to dehydration.

“Tell me what you need.” Romero says.

Looking around the room my gaze lands on the kitchen.

“I need a shower and food.” I nod to myself in agreement.

“Ok.” Is all he says before leaving me to head into the kitchen.

While he starts pulling stuff from the cabinets and fridge I force myself to go take a shower. An hour later my stomach is far too full and sleep threatens to take over again. Romero stands from the chair across from the couch I’m laying on to grab a blanket from the blanket ladder in the corner of the room. Opening the large grey quilt, he tosses it over me, and drops to his knee.

“If you need a place to hide, you know where to find me. I don’t know what’s going on at Hawthorne, but things are shifting, and people can feel it. It started with Cole’s death, but when you went missing Ry.” He stops and clears his throat. “His eyes went dark and nothing, but death and anger followed in his path. If you think they did this then I believe you, but you need to know that he forced Allie to kill her father because he was connected to your disappearance.”

Romero must see the confusion painted across my expression because he nods.

“It’s all people have been talking about.” He blows out a deep breath, “Listen, Kenna. I know we had our thing at the beginning of the year and I blew you off out of fear. I’m sorry for that and I would be bullshitting if I claimed I wasn’t still worried about what they might do to me but I’m betting they’d want you to have someone on your side.”

Pushing off the edge of the couch he stands over me with a soft smile. “I’ll keep this to myself, but you can’t hide here forever.” Walking away he leaves me alone to my thoughts.

With food in my stomach and fresh clothes on my body I let myself slide into a deep sleep.