Twisted Games (Twisted Ties #3)

Final Chapter

Blaine

That which does not kill you, fucks you up mentally.

I’ve been staring down the bottle of Bacardi on my counter for the better part of an hour. I should just do the damn thing.

Drown my emotions and be done with it. I have the bag of weed I’d tucked into a pair of shoes and a baggie of pills I’d hidden away in a half empty Pringles container.

I could have a party for one.

Forget the fact that my best friend doesn’t want to be around me.

Fuck it. I unscrew the cap.

Did I promise her that I’d stay clean? Can’t remember now.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a loud roar. Winding my arm back I launch the bottle at the sink.

Cap off. A spray of alcohol resulting in a puddle that I then almost slip in.

Christ. Almighty.

Then I start laughing about the fact that Saint Caleb would have something to say at the spew of language I just let loose.

I dial my dad on autopilot. “Blaine, to what do I owe the honor of your call?” He’s his usual snide self.

Must be where I got it from.

“Just give me a straight answer. Am I on my own with Belmont this fall?” Not bothering to clean my mess up, I sidestep it making my way towards the bedroom. “I’ve worked out staying in the program as long as I can afford it.”

“I would argue that I pulled the strings necessary to keep you in the program. Wouldn’t you?”

His voice grates on my nerves.

Does he need some type of reward? He gets off on pushing his weight around. He’s spent my whole life reminding everyone I’m a Davenport.

Why would now be any different?

“Well?” He’ll see this as me being an over indulged brat. I just don’t have any patience left for him.

“Someday you’re going to understand that if things come too easily, they’re not properly appreciated. No. I’m going to keep those trust payouts suspended for now. Show me you know what hard work is. Then we’ll talk.”

I flop down on the bed staring at the ceiling where it’s flaking in the corner of the room. I’m going to be destitute.

Well, not entirely. I have my wits (ha) about me, and I’ll find something back at school to scrape by on.

“That’s going to make graduate school easy. Thanks for that. I’ll have to work three jobs to make it.”

I don’t know why I think my complaining will move his position. In his mind, I’m in need of a reality check.

After several more minutes of lectures from the pompous ass, I hang up.

I truly wish that I could prove to him I don’t need him, but between being in limbo with Eden and the fact that I’m losing any of the fucking sense of humor I have; I’m just lost. I just have sarcasm and a general hate for most of the human population.

If I can’t get over that, becoming a psychologist might not be a good move.

Stretching and trying to muster the energy to go for a run before it’s dark out, something keeps nagging at my mind.

Eden was drugged at the Center, during the day, around people.

It had to be someone she’s around all the time.

Right? What am I missing? Too bad I’d rather punch Matt in the face than talk to him. If we could talk this out, it would surely come to one of us.

My legs carry me the three miles to the Center without me thinking much about it. It’s a habit.

But now that I’m here, I might as well check on Eden. I hate how things were left earlier. She wanted two days, but I’m not patient when it comes to her.

Hands on my knees as I’m taking a couple of deep breaths, I proceed to stretch a little. What am I going to say to keep her from slamming the door in my face… or to even get her to open it?

Screw it.

One thing is crystal clear to me- my feelings for her. She can be mad, but I need to make sure she knows. I can’t be pushed away.

We’re adults and if we’re able to put our body parts in each other’s mouths but a chat about feelings is a step too far, then we’re more ridiculous than I ever thought possible.

It’s quiet as I make my way into the building. The sun set on my run. It’s after dinnertime, the food truck normally parked outside is gone. The front desk nurse briefly nods my way.

Since my ejection from the Study, I’m just another person from the public and there aren’t any restraints, it seems, on me seeing Eden.

Pausing outside her door, I take a deep breath. The words I need to fire off when she opens the door are on the tip of my tongue as I knock.

But the door gives way under my fist.

It’s open?

I call out, “Eden? Hey… why is your door open…” I push a little more, something stops the door from moving. My pulse kicks up. Sticking my head in through the crack of the door I see that the impediment is a body.

Laying in a pool of blood.

“Damn it.” I struggle to move the man’s legs to open the door further. That’s when I notice who it is.

“Fuck.” Looking around quickly, the room doesn’t have a trace of Eden in it that I can see.

Straight ahead words in blood are crudely drawn out on the wall. A chill moves through my body. At my feet lies Keir.

I don’t want to check to see if he’s breathing.

On the wall is written, “The Time is Now.”