SEVENTEEN
Will woke up early the next morning to throw Sydney's wet clothes into the dryer. When he came back into the room and climbed back into bed, he wrapped his arms around Sydney. He kissed one of her bare shoulders, slowly working his way to her neck. He reached up a hand to brush her hair back and froze. He ran a finger over her neck and traced a rather large circular bruise.
he whispered into her ear. Wake up.
Sydney mumbled sleepily, her eyes still shut.
Syd, there's a huge bruise on the back of your neck. What happened? Will ran a finger over it again.
Sydney's eyes popped open and she was suddenly afraid—afraid of what to tell Will. Her breath caught in her throat and she rolled over onto her back. She sat up quickly and grasped the sheet to cover herself (had she not been in such a predicament with the bruise, she probably wouldn't have minded sitting up and not having to worry about the covers. But unfortunately, she was already vulnerable enough and her lack of clothes—she thought back to Sloane—didn't provide her with much dignity). she grumbled, touching the back of her head and finding a large bump from where Dixon had twice smacked her with his gun.
Syd, what happened last night? Will asked, taking one of her hands into his and lacing his fingers through hers. I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me things because of how bad they might seem to you. I'm here. Always remember that. He raised her hand up to plant a kiss on it.
Sydney felt her eyes tear up at Will's words. She sucked in a breath. Last night, she choked out, when I was—dealing—with Sloane, Dixon came out from his hiding place somewhere in the room and put a gun to my head.
Wait, wait, Will started, Dixon was there? And he was going to kill you?
Sydney nodded and wiped her eyes. He pressed the barrel up against my neck pretty hard, then hit me in the back of my head twice. Then Sloane ended up killing him. And then I was able to escape.
This might sound a little harsh, Will began, but I think there's more that you're not telling me. He stared into her eyes and she looked away. Tell me.
Sydney swallowed hard. she started, when I first walked into Sloane's room and he woke up, he wasn't wearing any clothes. He asked me to toss him the clothes that were on a chair but I refused, saying that if he was clothed, he'd die with some sort of dignity. Sydney swallowed and looked at Will, who nodded for her to continue. Anyways, he ended up getting up from the bed and coming over to me, and that was when Dixon entered the picture.
And then what? Will asked.
Then everything happened like I said, Sydney said, avoiding Will's gaze.
Will turned Sydney's head so she could look at him and said, I don't think that's it.
How do you do it? Sydney asked with a nervous laugh.
Will raised an eyebrow. Do what?
See right through me, Sydney answered with a sigh.
I'm worried, Syd. I just want to know what happened to you. So I can try my best to help you get through it. That's all. Will's deep blue eyes and the concern etched into them proved his claim.
Sydney swallowed and wiped her eyes. I think he planned on raping me. He said he was going to extend the courtesy' to me with the dignity and the clothes, but I don't think he was going to stop there.
Sydney felt Will's hand squeeze hers hard and she looked over at him. He was staring straight ahead, his teeth clenched and murder in his eyes.
I know what you're thinking, Sydney whispered, placing her other hand under Will's chin and turning his head towards her. We can't, she said slowly, looking deep into his eyes to prove she was serious.
Will narrowed his eyes at her. So you didn't—er—you weren't able to kill him, then?
Sydney admitted. But it's more complicated than that.
But how could it be? You said you escaped, so obviously he let you go. Why didn't you just pop him right then?
We made a deal, Sydney said slowly.
A deal? Will asked dubiously.
Sydney continued, that if we agreed to never see each other again, we would forget the whole incident ever happened.
But he was going to rape you, Syd, Will argued, and I bet he— Will shook his head at the thought of Sloane touching Sydney. And besides, who's to say that he's not going to come after you because he thought you were incredibly stupid to believe him in the first place?
Sydney sighed heavily. I guess I'm just going to have to trust him.