“Elijah!” Gwen’s voice calls out, snapping me out of my internal panic.
Running down the steps as fast as I can, I follow her voice to the kitchen.
“What’s w-wrong!?” My shoe skids on something slippery, and I catch myself on the wall before I fall. “Shit, I almost—” I stop short, taking in the mess spread across the floor.
“The stove was left on.” Gwen’s voice trembles as she points to the broth that’s spilled over and pooled on the tiles.
I feel my hands shake as I take in the scene. Something’s wrong. Very very wrong.
Tobias isn’t forgetful or messy. He would never leave the stove on.
Suddenly, Gwen gasps and recoils, one hand flying to her mouth as fear flickers across her face.
I press down the burning sensation in my throat and follow her train of sight.
Amidst all the spilt soup, there’s something out of place. Once I realize the difference, it’s hard to miss. My eyes follow a string of dark blood, dripping through the kitchen, and out the back door.
My knees crash to the floor as the reality of the situation hits me at once.
“No…” I breathe out.
Derrick was undoubtedly in the house.
Tobias was here.
And now he’s gone.
And I don’t know if he’s okay.
Ijustgot him back and now, he’sgone.
“No, no, no.” I tug at my hair, trying to find another source for the pain.Anypain would feel better than this.
“Elijah!” Gwen cries out, hugging me from behind.
I struggle to get out of her hold. I can’t breathe. I can’t see anything. I feel everything all at once and it’s too much.
He’s gone.
Finally, a violent sob escapes my chest. “Tobias,” I cry out. “He has him. He fucking has him.”
Gwen presses against my back as my whole body shakes. I can’t calm down. Not until I feel him in my arms again.
“We’re going to get him back. He’s going to be okay.” Her soft whimpers putter against my back as she rocks me back and forth.
“We need to find him.” My throat feels dry and scratchy as I gasp for air.
Now the fury is taking over. I feel the ice cold fear in my veins turn to molten lava as the need to find and see Derrick Voss dead takes over.
“We will.” She repeats, rubbing my arms. “We will.”
36
Tobias
He’s shouting my name as loud as he can. His voice draws me in like a siren as I kick with all my might.
Focus on his voice.
