I barely register Axel yelling in the background, asking for help. But when I look out to the crowd, no one is moving. No one is even batting an eye at us. Smiles cover the faces of our loved ones as they watch the tortured scene in front of them.
My knees buckle beneath me, leaving me with no choice but to sink into the ground. I close my eyes, fighting against the pain surging through my body. When I open them, I am cold, in pain, and alone in the sea of red blood that has pooled around me.
I shoot up out of bed, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. Gosh, these nightmares are becoming so vivid. Pulling the covers off my body, I move to sit on the side of the bed. Spending a few moments focusing on my breathing, I start to relax.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I rub my eyes and look around the dark room. Axel still hasn’t returned.
I look at my phone: 3 a.m. He’s been gone for hours, and I’m starving. In my periphery I notice something new, two pale pink suitcases now sit next to the door.
Yes! Marley dropped off my things.
I rush over and pull them back into the room. One suitcase is on the smaller side and is extremely light, and the other is a moderately sized case with some weight to it. I’m a bit confused as to what might be in the small suitcase, so I open that one first.
Unzipping the side, I start to see small scraps of lace burst out from the seams. Quickly, I realize Marley has shoved my entire lingerie drawer in this suitcase.
I gawk at the ridiculous amount of lace, leather, beads—you name it, it’s there. I catch sight of a lime green post-it note on top of the pile. It reads:
Jenna,
You’re welcome, go get ’em, tiger!
P.S. Who knew one woman could
own this much underwear?!
I can’t help but chuckle. This is my best friend, the woman who finds out I’m staying with a man, so she decides to pack me an entire lingerie store. I smack my palm against my forehead. Let’s hope there is actual clothes in the next suitcase. I mean I love lingerie, obviously, I have so much of it I can barely contain it, but I haven’t exactly had anyone to wear this for. I get a little giddy thinking of Axel walking in to me dresses in one of the outfits.
I run my hand over a royal blue sheer teddy. It’s so gorgeous, and the stitching is to die for. I sigh, close the suitcase, and shove it under the bed.
Maybe I’ll get some pieces out. I wonder if Axel likes lingerie? Who am I kidding—what man doesn’t?
I rummage through the other suitcase and find a cute green bralette and matching underwear set. I slip them on and then look for other clothes. Pulling on a pair of leggings and zipping up a cream-colored hoodie, I’m almost ready to hunt for food.
I slip on a pair of white tennis shoes and run my fingers through my still damp hair. Perfect.
Grabbing my cell phone on the way out the door, I check to see if Axel has checked in. Nope. I continue to head out the door but stop when I remember that Axel always locks the room.
Not having a key, I choose to leave it unlocked. I shrug. I’ll only be gone for a short amount of time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
jenna
Walking down the hallway,I can’t help but notice that there isn’t anyone around. It’s creepy quiet up here tonight. I hurriedly make my way to the stairs and head down to the first floor, remembering that I saw a large kitchen behind the bar the night of the party. Surely, there has to be food in there. The moment my feet hit the landing; I hear a familiar voice.
“Jenna!” Sienna calls to me and waves me over to the table. She’s sitting with Cali, Mia, and Marley.
Marley leaps out of her seat and practically runs into my arms when she sees me.
“Don’t scare me like that again, okay?” She squeezes her small arms around my neck.
“I’ll try, and we’ll talk about the fun little package you left for me later,” I whisper. Marley lets go and starts laughing so hard, I’m pretty sure I hear her snort. I shove her shoulder as I walk towards the other women.
“What’s so funny?” Cali asks as I sit down at the table with them. A pile of nachos sits in the middle of the table, and my stomach growls loudly.
“Oh, nothing. I just left Jenna a little surprise up in her room. And she loved it!” Marley smirks at me.
“Sure. Can I have some of these? I came down here to find food. I’m starving.” I look around the table.
