Finally, my brother jogs back to us, panting.
“Go in now. He’ll probably only be alone for a few minutes.” He points to the side corridor. “This way and then it’s the second door, right next to the bathrooms. We’ll be outside and signal when someone’s coming. Go, Twinkle.Now.”
“Thank you.”
I run and make the left turn at the small corridor. I open and close the door behind me quickly. Victor is standing with his back toward me. Instead of a shirt, he’s wearing a white belt that’s tightly wrapped around his lower chest and his stomach.
“I told you I break everything I touch.”
Victor’s body twists quickly, and when he faces me, he wears a frown. No doubt he felt pain from the movement. But then his eyes soften and his lips part.
His mouth is downturned. He’s physically hurt, and I’m about to hurt him even more with my words. I hate myself for doing this, but it’s better for both of us in the long run.
I walk up to him, but not so close that he could reach me. His body moves an inch forward. Victor focuses and studies my face.
I have to be strong. All I want to do is wrap my arms around him, but I can’t. I need to push him away before it’s too late. He’s already hurt because of me, and there’s no way I’ll let him get hurt again after I face Charlie.
“I’m so sorry, Victor.” I shake my head and blink back the tears. “It’s all my fault.”
Victor exhales. “That’s not true. It’s all my fault because I couldn’t protect you. I don’t deserve you. I should have won the fight for you.”
My eyes fill with tears, but I hold them back. He really believes that. I can see it in his eyes as they fill with moisture. But I fight the urge to run to him.
Stay strong, Tia. For both of us.
“We shouldn’t be together, Victor.” My voice cracks at the end.
“But we belong together.”
“Even if that’s true, sometimes life gets in the way. It’s not your fault.”
A loud knock pounds on the door. That’s my signal.
“Wait. What are you going to do? We need to—”
“Victor, it’s okay. It’s not meant to be.”
I do the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life—I turn and walk away.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alek, Abi, and I flew back the next day. They were constantly around, asking me if I need anything and how they could help. Once I got back to the apartment, I locked myself in my room. From time to time, Abi and Alek took turns knocking on my bedroom door to check on me. My eyes wouldn’t close. Yesterday there were no nightmares and no sleep. Only anticipation of the storm.
Today is doomsday.
My hands tremble as I grip my cell phone, lying in my bed. Is Charlie plotting and preparing or is he celebrating? Waiting for Charlie to strike is like waiting for a storm to hit. You’ve heard the weather prognosis for a storm the next day, but you don’t know exactly when it’ll appear or how destructive it’ll be. Are we getting only rain and wind or is a flood coming?
The quiet before the storm scares me the most.
“Tia, do you want breakfast?” Alek’s voice comes from the other side of my bedroom door.
“No, thanks.”
“We’re in Abi’s room if you need us.” His voice is wobbly.
“Okay.”
But nothing will be okay today.
