With his voice firm and unnerving, he cautioned, “When allthiscomes to a head, don’t say I didn’t warn you...”
I grabbed his hoodie that was covered in her blood off the table, tossing it at him, but he let it fall to the floor by his feet. He left it there, slamming the door behind him, and took off. It was what he did best.
Except this was where the lines were drawn.
This was where it all started.
This was only the beginning of us battling over her.
CHAPTER
FIVE
ISLA
My eyes fluttered open,only to be met with nothing but darkness. I tried to get my arms and body to move, but it was no use. I was too weak. My lips were dry, my throat raw and burning, making it hard to swallow, let alone scream out for help. I tried to process what was going on, what had happened, and how long I had been out, but I couldn’t push through the haze.
I was so tired, so dizzy, so out of it that panic couldn’t even set in. My head pounded heavily as if it weighed a thousand pounds. All I could hear were my own thoughts. My warm body lay on something soft, but I still felt numb until everything went black again, and I took comfort in the darkness.
The next time, I was startled awake from the hard, jagged footsteps heading down the hall. Boots pounded onto the floors, vibrating through the space between us, getting louder and louder with each passing second.
I opened my eyes, peering around the room that was now pitch black. I couldn’t even see an inch in front of me. Nightfall had taken over. It took me a moment to remember where I was and what hadhappened.
My mind was still groggy and filled with unanswered questions that never seemed to stop.
All irrational thought vanished, and my flight instincts kicked in…
I need a weapon.
It was my last thought before I heard familiar voices coming from the other side of that door.
Kraven announced, “Julius, she’s been passed out forever.”
I waited, steadying my quivering breath and praying they didn’t hear my heart because it was beating out of my chest. I felt it ringing in my ears, hammering into my clammy skin. I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard the doorknob click over. It was about to open.
But Julius intercepted. “Kraven.” It sounded like he pulled him away from the door. “Leave her alone.”
I wanted to flee.
To run.
Except my body decided to pass out again, whether I wanted it to or not.
I didn’t know how much time had flown by when I jolted awake, gasping for air. Desperately trying to find my bearings as dizziness washed over me like a bucket of cold water.
Where was I?
It was only then that I realized there was an IV in my arm, and I wasn’t experiencing any pain.
How much time had gone by?
This wasn’t the first time I’d woken up with one in my arm, but I was in a hospital, not someone’s bedroom. My mind worked in overdrive, though at least I still remembered who I was with. After steadying my breathing a bit, I took in my surroundings for a few minutes, thinking I’d find the answers written on the walls or something.
A black nightstand sat on each side of the bed, with a lamp placed on top. A long dresser in the corner, and a chair strategically placed by my bed as if someone had been sitting there, waiting for me to wake up.
I swallowed hard, continuing to let my eyes wander. The blackcurtains were closed, keeping the light from shining through, making the room have a soft glow. It was easier for my eyes to get accustomed to the brightness, and for some reason, I knew someone had done that intentionally.
Nothing hung on the white walls. The room was of average size, comfortable, and pleasant. It felt familiar too, with the scent and the emotions still lingering in the air. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have loved it in here. The privacy alone was nice.
