Hey guys! Thank you all for your reviews, they mean the world to me! I'm sorry it took so long to update, I was busy worrying about passing all my regents. Luckily, I passed everything with flying colors and am ready to enjoy summer! Please enjoy the tenth chapter of "Titanium"...
No Beta Reader, so ignore mistakes if any (:
WARNING: READ WITH CAUTION, THERE'S A GRUESOME DEATH.
Titanium
ELI
Clare had fallen asleep hours previous, but after that call from Chief Mason, my mind has been racing. It was as if my brain was a hamster, and it was stuck running in the wheel; once you're on, you can't get off.
She hadn't heard anything about this guy Owen because she was already fast asleep in an innocent dream world. I didn't want to bother her, nor send her into anymore panic than she needed right now.
Who was he?
I scattered my mind, trying to think of ways this person could be involved with Luke. My heart raced unevenly at the thought of Clare being there when he broke in. I'm sure he's some ten ton muscle head with bulging eyes that'd most likely scare the shit out of Clare.
I wrapped my arm around Clare's side, and buried my head into her neck. I kissed her cheek lightly, before closing my eyes.
I would find this fucker; if it was the last thing I do...
CLARE
"E-Eli? Eli?" I jerked his body roughly in alarm, as he shot up, eyes wide, "WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED?"
"Mr. Cuddles, I don't know where he is." I held back the lump in my throat, as Eli asked, "Didn't he fall asleep with us last night? He was on the bed."
"Well he wasn't here when I woke up, and he isn't anywhere. I checked everything but um...Eli, the front door latch was open."
He quickly scattered onto his feet, and opened the cabinet closest to the bed. I questioned his actions as he gripped a gun, and ordered, "Put your hands on my shirt, and follow me. Do not let go, no matter what."
My heart raced as I watched Eli go into this mode that was so familiar-it was like the time Luke had me at gunpoint. Although he had just been awoken, Eli was in a protective and alert state.
"I'm scared." I whispered, as we approached the unlocked door.
Eli glanced left and right, and back to left. His head looked as if it was barely moving, but his eyes were glued to every area of the house-if that's even possible. Tears welled in my eyes as I gripped tightly onto his shirt.
My jaw dropped when I looked to my right, but Eli was yet to follow in my direction. I couldn't speak, or think at the sight I was viewing. It felt as though the blood in my body had froze, and I couldn't feel my legs.
My lips went dry, tears leaked through my eyelids as Eli quickly noticed I wasn't moving, and pulled me into a hug. He buried my head in his chest, as I sobbed loudly, sinking to the floor.
The person who trashed my apartment is following me, and he's not only killing me, but also torturing my heart.
ELI
"WHOEVER BROKE INTO CLARE'S APARTMENT ALSO BROKE THROUGH MY SECURITY SYSTEM, AND FUCKING HUNG CLARE'S CAT IN MY HOUSE. I WANT FBI PROTECTION, AND MORE MEMBERS ON THE TEAM FOR FINGERPRINTS, EVERYTHING!" I screamed, my eyes bulging and blood boiling as I paced Chief Mason's office.
"Goldsworthy, I'm doing the-." I laughed, cutting him off, "No no no, do not tell me you're doing the best you can. YOU AREN'T. I have a distraught girlfriend out there, a dead cat, police everywhere who aren't getting ANYTHING done, and now, a fucking killer on the loose!"
"I know-." I quickly interrupted him, "No, because if you really knew what the hell was going on, you wouldn't be sitting on your ass doing nothing. You'd be out there on the field, catching this Owen guy. He's obviously behind it, why the hell can't you find him? HE CAN'T BE THAT HARD TO FIND!"
I could see Clare staring at the carpeted floor of the police department, looking emotionless.
My fingers traced the outline of the gun on my side, as Chief Mason pointed to my side, "Give me that gun. Now."
I laughed, "I'm a police officer, I need my gun."
"I'm your Chief. You're not on duty, Goldsworthy. Leave this to the police. Hand it over, now." He ordered, standing up from his desk and glaring at me. It was bad enough to have witnessed what I had this morning, but I wasn't going to let my only source of protection get taken away.
"How the hell do you expect me to protect her then huh? If someone comes in through the window, and is about to bash my head open-how the fuck do I stop it?" I yelled in his face, and he quickly snatched the gun from my hands, and pointed to the side, "These guys are your new protection. They'll be close by, always watching. Nothing bad will happen to you two. This is for your own safety Eli, please. Please take my advice and take these."
He gave me a keychain, and three keys were hanging from it.
"What the fuck is this?" I asked, anger rising inside me.
"It's the keys to my vacation house. Take it. Go there for as long as you need, get away from all this. The team will drive you there, and keep an extra close eye on the both of you. The beach is private, it'll just be the both of you. It's in the Bahamas. Take her away, and please, no thinking." He forced the keys in my hand, and pointed to each one, telling me which key is for what.
"I can't accept this." I whispered, staring at the keys practically burning a hole in my hand.
"Listen, you've gotten shot, just got through a divorce, your new girlfriend is petrified of everything...the least you can do is get away from it all. Escape. We will take care of Owen and the case. If and when anything comes in, I will notify the team, and they will notify you. My wife loves the vacation house, and I'm sure Ms. Edwards will too." He gestured to Clare who was sitting in the hallway, tears sliding down her cheeks.
I looked at him, and took a deep breath, nodding my head slowly, "Thank you."
"Anything for you Goldsworthy, you're a hero. And I promise you, our men are working night and day on this case."
"Sh...Sh, it's alright Clare, it's alright." I stroked my fingers through her hair, as she cried her eyes out into my jacket. I rubbed her shoulders slowly, kissing her forehead lightly.
"No." She choked out, "Whoever is after me killed my cat Eli. Only a heartless monster would kill a cat. I can't-I can't get that image out of my head. Hours ago he was rubbing against my leg, and now he's hanging from your ceiling with a slit throat."
I held her tightly, as the rain began to fall on the car. We have been sitting in the police department parking lot for hours; crying, whispering, and talking. I haven't told her about the vacation house yet, but I was just waiting the right time to tell her.
"Sweetheart." I smirked slightly, realizing it was okay to call her that, and I was shocked with myself that I had the courage to call her a "sweet nothings".
She glanced up at me, tears clouding up her beautiful blue eyes.
"I'm taking you away from all of this, for a little while. We've both been through a lot the past two months, and we need to escape. Chief Mason gave me the keys to his vacation house, and we would be under constant surveillance of a team. The beach is private, so you could relax, read your favorite books...you deserve it." I whispered, and for a few minutes, it was silent.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, and spoke out, "If you don't want to, I understand. I know the death of your cat is a really hard thing to get through, and with your apartment being ransacked..."
She cut me off, "Let's go."
Clare wiped the tears off her cheeks, and I asked, "You sure? We don't have to."
"My heart may feel like it weighs ten tons, and I can't feel anything but I want to do this. I'm taking a chance, and I'm stepping out of my comfort zone." Clare cleared her throat, and I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
She spent the next hour crying in my arms, but at least we were together, and at least we were there for each other. Although I didn't know Mr. Cuddles so well, I knew he was there for Clare when she was alone. Pets always leave a mark on your heart, and when they pass on, it's never easy. For some, it's just as bad as when a loved (human) passes away.
"You know", Clare whispered with a raspy voice, "Everything in my life may be going wrong right now, but being with you is the only thing that feels right."
END OF CHAPTER 11
10 Reviews=Update ASAP
R.I.P. Mr. Cuddles
Love you guys,
Cliffhanger Girl
3