Chapter 14 Free #2
That sensation creeps over me now as the wind blows, uncovering layers of leaking wounds and raised, smooth, and fleshy scars. Sparing Bunny the embarrassment, I shield her with my body, holding her close with the tips of my fingers. “We need a room. Just for tonight.”
When she stays silent, eyes still running over our exposed features, I begin to feel my energy spike. Suddenly, my patience begins to dissolve, and Bunny can sense it, tugging on me gently so I don’t lose my cool.
“It’s fine,” she whispers, her hot, sweet breath blowing in my ear. “We can find something else.”
But what? And where?
We’ve already been out here for so long. Surely, they, whoever the fuck is coming after us, can’t be too far behind.
“Cade.”
There’s nothing else I want to hiss. It’s this, or we’re fucking dead.
I lift my foot to take a step forward, ready to take a room one way or another, when the blue-haired woman looks away, nodding toward the inn. “Come in. I’ll see what I have for you.”
It’s the longest few feet, but finally, after another moment, we’re allowed in somewhere dry.
Entering the building swiftly after her, Bunny curls beneath my arm, shivering ferociously in an attempt to stay warm.
I don’t think I’m much help since I’m barely defrosting myself, but I keep her close, wrapped up in me.
“We don’t have any money,” I reveal, but she shoos me off with a flick of her hand.
“We can worry about that later.”
Thankful, I keep my stare split, one eye on her as she types something into the computer and one out the window in case anyone walks by.
“So,” I hear, redirecting my focus, “were you guys in an accident or something? Need me to call someone for you?”
Before I can quietly oppose, Bunny snaps, “No,” a little too loud and aggressive.
I shoot her a look of concern. The last thing we need is her kicking us out or, worse, calling the fucking cops.
I met too many of those underground. I know what they’ll do to us if they catch us.
Bunny catches my stare and corrects herself.
“No. Umm, just a room, please. We’ll be out of your hair by tomorrow. ”
But I don’t think this woman gets the hint.
“Was it a car accident? Or—”
“A room,” I finally bark, fucking exhausted with no patience left. It’s my turn to get a look, and Bunny, as sweet as her pretty little face is, gives a mean fucking glare. Shit. “I’m sorry,” I apologize, squeezing Bunny just a tad. “We’re so tired, and all we need right now is to sleep.”
Taking us in again, the woman behind the desk nods, but again, she asks, “And you’re sure you don’t want me to call the police? You two look pretty banged up. They might be able to help you.”
“No,” Bunny responds, both of us calm this time. “Thank you, though.”
Still appearing unconvinced, she quietly agrees, ending all her questions. Grabbing a set of keys from the hooks hanging behind her, she steps into the hallway. “This way.”
Following not too far behind, Bunny and I take in the yellow-tinged walls.
I don’t know how she feels, but being surrounded by nothing but the sounds of our feet patting on the soft carpet is…
unnerving. It was never this quiet underground.
I was never encased in silence when everyone had a reason to be screaming.
As we’re being led to our room, words are spoken, but they go unheard. The only thing I can process right now is that I’m out. I’m free… and I don’t deserve it.
The twins did.
Max did.
Axel did.
… Clara did.
They should all be here. Bunny deserves to be here. But me? I’m covered in scars that prove I shouldn’t.
Somehow, without me even noticing, we end up in the room, being told to call on her if there’s anything we need. My tongue feels too heavy to respond to. I nod, hating how soft everything is beneath my feet. I want to peel my skin off when Bunny says, “What’s your name?”
Right. Fuck.
I never even bothered to ask.
“Susie,” she lets us know, and Bunny, this good, sweet, deserving girl, smiles. “Thank you, Susie,” before closing the door.
Pressing her head against the solid surface, I watch Bunny breathe, her shoulders rising and falling four times before she turns to face me. In the clear light, her injuries look worse than before, and her exhaustion has reached another level, leaving her eyes red and black.
“You should clean that blood off you. I’ll make sure no one comes inside.” I’ll barricade the door if I need to.
“Yeah,” she agrees, no fight left in her. “Thanks.” Weak and slow in her movements, Bunny heads for the bathroom.
Before she can cross that threshold and close the door on me, I utter, “I got out because of you, Bun.” I don’t continue until she faces me, tears and despair in her eyes.
“I didn’t—"
Rushing to the bathroom, I cage her in, forcing a smile. “You lit a fire under my ass.” And fuck… God knows I’m fucking unworthy. “I got out because of you, and I’m going to make sure I thank you for that every day I’m free.”
A little bit of color enters her skin with my words, but I want to see that life glow, so I take Bunny by the chin, rubbing her softly before capturing her lips with my own.
You don’t deserve this either, my thoughts roar, but this girl, man. She silences all of that with the slip of her tongue, and it tangles with mine while I dig my fingers into her hips.
I could fuck her now, I think, exhausted and covered in blood, and I just might when she starts pulling on the ends of my hair, doing her best to mold into me.
Just as the blood rushes to the tip of my cock, my fingers brush against crusted patches of blood stuck to her thigh, and our moment fades away.
Releasing her, I give her a gentle nudge toward the bathroom. “You’ll be safe. I promise.”
I watch her until the bathroom door begins to close, and then I twist, eyeing everyday comforts that are so foreign to me.
The room is made up like any other—a bed, side tables, an entertainment center, and two floor lamps in the opposite corners.
It’s normal, something you’d see at your friend’s house or your grandparents’.
It's normal.
So why the fuck are my muscles locking? Flexing my hands, I round the bed, breathing with an open mouth to get more air in my lungs. It’s just a bed, I tell myself, with regular sheets, a mattress, and a couple of sets of pillows.
You’ve had these things before, back home, with mom.
You’ve had everyday stuff like this. So why…
why does it look so scary to me now? Flexing my fingers, I keep my palms wide and lower myself until the softness of the fabric cushions against my skin.
The contact immediately sends me flying back, revolted by something so… comfortable.
“Please,” I beg quietly, tears beading in my eyes, “just be normal.” But it’s not, and I don’t think anything will ever be again.