Chapter 25: Worst Night Ever
"This is why I picked you two as my favorites. The other two didn't last," Chase smiled. The girls' dresses were a little tattered and dirty. Their skin was sweaty with cuts. The Sons' white shirts were stained as well with dirt and blood with rips. They were tired but knew they couldn't give up. They survived this far. "Enough of the battles. As you see I have grown in my abilities. You are no match for me. Elliot or Browen can end this now. Or do more of you have to die to get the point?" Pogue, Reid, and Caleb stood in front of the girls. Elliot trembled, "What are we going to do now?" "I don't know," Browen thought out loud.
"Since everyone is jumped with adrenaline. I don't want them to make any brash decisions. I'll let you sleep on it," Chase stated in a generous matter. With that, he disappeared. Did Chase think he was going to be defeated? Or does he want them to suffer agony over time? They were all bewildered that Chase just disappeared. "Fuckin' coward!" Browen yelled. I can't believe he just vanished. It finally hit Pogue that Alexandra was dead. He slumped by her. Pogue and Alexandra were the first to bond. Elliot, Reid, and Caleb were by Pogue and their fallen friends.
Browen still stood when Chase vanished. She wouldn't look behind at Teresa, Alexandra, and Tyler. This why she hates getting attached, too much to grieve. Her emotion was to go hunt for Chase and beat the crap out of him. Yet, her feet would not comply. Deep down, she knew she won't be able to do it on her own. Her face was blank and her eyes were alarmingly dry. "What do we do?" Elliot again asked. Caleb tried to quickly think of an answer. 'We have to call 9-1-1 and pose this as a car accident." "How many car accidents will Ipswich overlook before getting suspicious, Caleb." Reid snapped. "You got any suggestions, Mr. Smartass?" Caleb retorted. Caleb then lifted his hand and organize the cars like an accident. Reid, Caleb, and Pogue carried the bodies and placed them into the cars.
Caleb made the phone call. The ambulances and police cars arrived. A police officer was taking statements. He went over to Browen. She was still in the blank trance. Elliot went beside Browen and said, "Sorry sir, she's just still in shock." He assumed from the car accident. Browen mumbled some words to the officer. Pogue, Caleb, and Elliot got into Caleb's car and went home. Reid and Browen went into Reid's car. Reid was worried about Browen. She stared out of the windshield.
"Sweets?" No reply. "Browen?" It made Reid nervous to see her as stone. Any emotion would tell if she's okay. "Don't," she stated. She wasn't trying to act tough. She just felt blank shock. He drove to his house. He parked the car. "Take me home," she said. "No." "Don't argue with me Garwin." "Elliot will be at Caleb's. And you think it's better to be alone after what happened?!" "Don't tell me what to do." "I have to right now. Because obviously, you can't think straight if your life depended on it." Browen got out of the car. She got out and closed the door. Reid got out and walked next to her.
"I don't care," she said. They walked to the door. "I know. You are so blank. You're not crying, you're not angry, look at you," he looked at her. She wasn't trembling or like when she was in danger before. She was numb. "Do you want me be hysterical? Or beat my fists into a wall? What will that do? Nothing," she calmly stated. "But at least you know you're human." "We're not human Garwin." "You know what I mean." Reid signaled Browen to follow upstairs. He went into his bedroom and grabbed clothes for Browen. She changed in the bathroom. In th meantime, Reid changed in his room. He walked by the bathroom and no one was in there. He went downstairs and was relieved to see Browen on the couch.
She was in a oversized t-shirt and flannel pants. She sat there looking out the window like she always does in deep thought. Reid said, "Hey." Browen turned her face to him. Her eye makeup was a wreck. Black lines stained her cheeks. She cried. She didn't want to lose it in front of people. It was just easier to cry by herself. Reid instinctively used his thumbs to wipe away the black streaks. "I look that good?" Browen joked. Finally, she cracked. "Yeah, I have a turn on with girls with messy makeup." Her lips tugged into a weak smile. "Thanks for looking out for me." "You'd do the same." "Would I?" "You know you would."
She placed her forehead on his chin. She closed her eyes. "I think that tops the worst night ever list." It sounds like she's downplaying the event, but it's her defense mechanism to keep it together. "I'll say." She can feel his chin move with his words. "Browen?" "Hm?" "I love you." She lifted her head. Did he say what I thought he said? "Shut up," she joked. "Don't believe me?"