Chapter 15 The Present
THE PRESENT
AMELIA
We were nearly a day into the drive, the miles stretching out behind us like an endless path. Caiden and I had managed to avoid conversing, each of us wrapped in our own thoughts.
Sabrina, ever the social butterfly, had offered a convenient excuse to the others: I was shy and needed time to warm up to strangers. It was a simpler explanation than the reality, which lingered between us.
“I was thinking we could spend the first few days just chilling in the spa. Then, maybe we could all go on some adventures in the wilderness!” Sabrina’s voice danced through the car, a constant stream of chatter that filled the awkward void.
Now, she had drifted back to planning activities.
“That sounds good to me,” I replied absently, my gaze fixed on the back of Caiden’s head. The sight of his dark locks, so familiar yet so distant, stirred a sense of dread within me, a creeping sensation that snaked its way under my skin.
He was engaged in conversation with Shane, their words washing over me like distant waves.
“Have you started looking for places to live yet?” Shane asked, his voice steady and curious.
Caiden shrugged, the movement almost rigid. “Sort of. I haven’t found much yet. Been busier with packing.”
Shane's response was immediate, filled with a brotherly warmth. “You can feel free to crash at our place until you get on your feet.”
Caiden shook his head; a stubbornness etched into his features. “No, I couldn’t do that.”
“Don’t be so stubborn, man. We’re family; that’s what family does. We help each other.”
I sensed a bitterness creeping into Caiden’s tone as he replied, “Yeah, well, you got the better life with my mom. I was stuck with the asshole who made my existence a burden.”
In that moment, the anger I had felt toward him faded, replaced by a delicate sorrow. I had forgotten how deeply damaged Caiden was, how cruel his father had been.
He had not had it easy. Neither had I. Yet a small voice whispered within me, reminding me that he didn’t have to take his anger out on me.
“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve. But you won’t be a burden to us. You’re my half-brother, and I want to help you out,” Shane offered, his tone genuine and concerned.
Caiden sighed, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of resignation. “Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it. Thanks.”
He had always been a man of few words, and I hadn’t expected to witness a heart-to-heart between him and Shane.
I remained in a daze, barely absorbing Sabrina’s excited stream of words. The simmering flames of frustration within me continued to bubble, coursing through my veins like an infection.
“Anybody need to use the bathroom?” Shane's voice cut through the thick atmosphere of the car.
I peered out the window into the unfamiliar territory, noting that the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a canopy of shimmering stars scattered across the black sky. Their silent twinkling brought an odd sense of comfort amidst the chaos.
“Sure,” I replied, seizing the opportunity to escape the suffocating tension.
Caiden and I still hadn’t exchanged a word, and I hoped it would last.
The cold air of the small gas station sliced through the heat of my body as I stepped inside. I searched for a sign leading to the restroom but found nothing.
Wearily, I approached the front counter, where a bearded man stood, his gaze lifting to meet mine with an unsettling grin.
“How can I help ya, young lady?” he asked, his voice dripping with a drawl that made me wish for a jacket.
“I need to use the restroom,” I replied, my voice small and squeaky. His grin widened, a predatory glint in his eyes.
“Sure thing, anything for a lady like you. Bathrooms out back; here’s the key.” He handed me a wooden stick with a key attached, his gaze lingering longer than comfortable.
“Great, thank you!” I said hurriedly, eager to escape his lustful scrutiny.
I glanced outside, spotting Sabrina and Shane engaged in conversation beside the car, their silhouettes barely discernible in the darkness. A solitary light hung by the front door of the gas station, casting feeble illumination over the scene.
I walked around the building to the back and spotted a small shed marked with a bathroom sign. The structure appeared dingy and uninviting, a sketchy cube that made my stomach churn.
The door creaked as I entered, revealing a grimy interior with dirt clinging to the sink and walls.
Once I finished, I hastily washed my hands, eager to return to the clean safety of the car. As I opened the door, I found the man from the front counter waiting for me by the entrance, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Fuck,” I whispered under my breath. Darkness enveloped me, a thick cover that concealed my presence. The building loomed above like an ominous cloak. I opened my mouth to shout, but my voice vanished into the void.
Thump. Thump.
My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage, while my mind froze in terror.
The man’s hands glided over my skin, his toothy grin dangerously close, and an unsettling sensation of invisible bugs crawling across my flesh sent shivers down my spine.
“You’re such a pretty thing,” he grumbled, pressing me against the wall, its rough surface jabbing uncomfortably into my back.
“Please,” I whispered, desperation lining my voice.
“You want more, little girl?” he taunted, his breath hot and foul.
I shook my head vigorously. “No. Please leave me alone.”
I pushed against his chest, but he remained immovable, a grotesque statue.
“Feisty little thing,” he murmured, his hands continuing their sickly exploration. I repeated my plea, but he ignored me.
“I think she wants you to leave her alone.” The voice cut through the darkness, and my eyes snapped open.
Even in the dim light from the bathroom door, I recognized Caiden’s tall figure. His voice was calm, but I longed to read his expression, to know what he thought of this nightmare.
A wave of déjà vu washed over me, recalling years ago when I had found myself in a similar position with Caiden. His hands had once touched me too, leaving a coldness that cascaded through my body.
“Mind your own business, boy!” The man’s weight shifted as he turned toward Caiden, the threat momentarily lifted.
“It’s late. The lady and I need to get moving, so how about you crawl back into the hole you came from?” Before the sleazy gas station clerk could respond, Caiden seized my arm and dragged me around the corner of the building.
“I didn’t ask for your help,” I protested, pulling back and glaring at him. He had no right to swoop in and play the hero.
I should have felt grateful, but I didn’t.
“Well, you got it anyway,” he replied, determined to keep pulling me along. I resisted, digging in my heels.
“What’s the matter with you? Huh? You pop back into my life, say nothing, and now you’re saving me from the molester?”
I hoped he would fuel my fire. I craved a fight, needed to scream, needed something to release the tension coiling within me.
“Stop being so childish. Maybe you should thank me, or perhaps I should’ve let him feel you up.” His eyes, dark and intense, met mine.
“Yeah, you would’ve liked that, wouldn’t you? Watching me helpless and hurting, just like old times.” I knew it was pretty and immature of me to say, but I couldn’t help it. I felt as if I were that edgy, teenage girl again.
Caiden shook his head, the moonlight illuminating his face and revealing a clenched jaw, irritation etched into his features. Good.
“I don’t have time for this shit,” he grumbled before striding toward the car, leaving me standing in the shadows.
The creepy guy lingered nearby, and a shiver of unease coursed through me. I groaned and hurried after Caiden, who walked with a purpose.
“Oh good! You found her. We can get back on the road now,” Sabrina exclaimed, her energy seemingly boundless as she hopped back into the car.
We followed her, and soon the engine hummed back to life, pulling us onto the road once more.
Tension hung heavily in the air between Caiden and me, thick enough that I could almost sense his anger radiating from the back of his head. Neither Shane nor Sabrina seemed to notice a thing.
Hours slipped away. My eyelids drooped, fatigue creeping in as silence enveloped the car, broken only by the low volume of music. Sabrina was nearly asleep in the seat beside me. Finally.
The landscape blurred past, clouds swallowing the starlight, and my gaze became lost in the darkness beyond the window.
It resonated with the swirling emptiness inside me, a void that deepened painfully with each passing day. Caiden’s presence only intensified it.
“There’s an exit coming up with a motel. I’m going to call it a night,” Shane announced, his voice breaking through my thoughts. Sabrina mumbled an incoherent response, barely roused from her slumber.
The car slowed, veering down a narrow road. Up ahead, I spotted a sign for the motel, a solitary beacon in the night. The area was sparsely populated, save for the motel and a few other scattered buildings.
The car came to a halt, and I glanced at the structure before me. It was a long, one-story building, with rooms lined up side by side. A separate building stood nearby, presumably the check-in area. Trees surrounded the property, standing like silent sentinels.
I grabbed my backpack, containing some clothes, essentials, and a few books, and followed the others to the office.
I hoped there were enough rooms to accommodate us. A handful of cars dotted the parking lot, and with each vehicle I counted, my hope dwindled.
“Hey, I was wondering if there’s any room for us tonight?” Shane inquired, stepping to the desk.
The man behind the counter squinted, raising an eyebrow. “Depends. How many rooms do you need?”
“I’d like my own,” I interjected before Shane could speak for me. He nodded in my direction, a silent show of support.
The clerk laughed, a sound laced with mockery. “Well, I have two rooms available. Both single beds.”
“Seriously? Jeez, why are so many people needing a room tonight?” My own grumpiness seeped through, irritation coloring my tone, prompting another chuckle from the clerk.
“Well, young lady, we’re a small town. Lots of folks need a getaway place quite often. Most of the rooms booked belong to locals.”
“I need to share a bed with my man. Sorry, Amelia. But maybe you and Caiden can use this night to bond,” Sabrina chimed in, her voice teasing.
To her, Caiden was just an attractive guy I could fall for, settle down with. She had no idea of our history. I couldn’t blame her.
“Actually—” I started but was cut off by another voice.
“That’s going to have to work. Sorry, I’m too tired to go back and forth on this.” Shane’s gaze flicked to me, an awareness of my discomfort lingering in his eyes.
I stood there, helpless, as Shane paid and collected the keys. I remained frozen even as they turned to leave the office.
“Amelia! Are you coming?” Sabrina called back to me; concern tinged with impatience.
I blinked. I could sleep in the car, but I craved the comfort of a bed. With a sigh, I slumped my shoulders in defeat. “Sure.” I followed them into the enveloping darkness.
Shane handed Caiden the key to our room, and I watched as they disappeared inside, leaving me alone with the beast.