Page 39 of Ink

I sigh, looking up at the ceiling.

What the fuck is she doing?

If she’s not here, where would she be? Someone with no car and no money wouldn’t be doing a lot of fun shit on the side. She hasn’t mentioned any friends or people she hangs out with in passing.

I stare at the door handle as I contemplate whether to knock again or just leave it alone and see if she comes in tomorrow. Maybe she just forgot she had to work today.

Nah, that doesn’t sound like her.

Fuck it.

I reach around into my back pocket for my lock picking kit. I unlock the door in record time because I refuse to go back up to the front desk and get a key from that piece of shit. Stepping inside, the door closes softly behind me.

“Oh, fuck.” I slap my hand over my nose.

What the fuck is that smell?

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The only light comes from the sun, slipping through the cracks around the old, dust-covered drapes.

A soft whimper draws my attention to the corner of the room near the bathroom door.

“Sutton?” I ask, trying to keep the alarm out of my voice.

She’s on the floor, curled up in the fetal position, surrounded by vomit. Her hair is matted in the spots vomit landed. Silent tears are falling down her face in waves, taking the last remnants of the eye makeup with it. Her eyes are open, but they look like vacant orbs as she stares off into the distance.

I don’t think she knows I’m here.

“Oh, bunny,” I whisper as I rush to crouch down next to her. My heart breaks at seeing her body trembling to the point where if you saw the trembling on its own you would think she’s just cold.

“Tell me what happened,” I demand gruffly, trying my best to contain my emotion from seeing her like this.

Sutton lets out another low, soul-crushing whimper, but says nothing.

Did she get sick and couldn’t make it to the bathroom? I know I always get shaky as fuck when I throw up.

That doesn’t explain why she’s lying on the floor, though.

Slowly reaching my hand out, making sure not to startle her because I’m still not entirely sure if she knows I’m here, I brush the puke covered hair out of her face so it’s resting on her shirt instead of her skin.

I sharply inhale as I take in the bruising that’s shining right at me. Bruises in the shape of fingerprints.

“Oh, bunny,” I whisper again, not knowing what else to say that won’t make me lose it. The rage is almost too much to take.

The only thing that’s stopping me from losing it right now is me losing my shit is not what she needs. I refuse to be a reason she’s in this state. “Who did this to you?”

Whoever did this is fucking dead.

Another wave of tears come as she squeezes her eyes shut, whimpering as her body racks with another round of full body shakes.

“Shhh,” I roughly whisper through a clenched jaw. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”

Sutton whimpers louder as I move to stand up.

“I’ll be right over here. I just need to make a phone call real quick. I’m not leavin’ you, bunny.” I slowly take a few steps back, careful not to move too quickly and startle her. “See? I’ll be right here.”

Her eyes don’t open, but my voice must sound close enough for comfort, settling her slightly. Pulling out my phone, I scroll until I find Hash’s name and hit call.

“Yeah?” he greets.