Previously in JAD:

Finally reaching the source the was a young man who looked scared out of his wits. In his leg was a dagger and blood was smearing the floor as he thrashed in agony and terror. The headache before throbbed its worse. I felt like someone was taking a hammer against the back of my head.

"Ah! Help!" Ashley's parents came moments later amidst the pandemonium and Raife covered Christine's eyes.

"Oh god, Aiden, stay with me soldier," Raife looked around desperately, "Someone call the doctor!" Ashley gasped and looked to me with a pleading look in her eyes, her trembling hands grasped my hands. "Please Spencer, save my brother." And then my body went calm. The thudding in my head... silent.

6: The Makeshift Operation

"Ashley, please say something." She had been silently sobbing now, and I've taken her in my arms to try and comfort her. Ashley's wracking whimpers shook my body also and she pressed her face against the crook of my neck.

"How could that have happened, Spencer?" Her heartbroken voiced cracked. It sounded so vulnerable and quiet it broke my heart to even hear it. I hugged her even tighter. I was sitting against the headboard of my guest room, with Ashley between my legs.

"I'm more in the dark than you."

"Oh my god!" Blood was smeared everywhere on the once polished ballroom floor. I quickly kneeled towards Aiden although he kept thrashing out in fear. The knife on his leg had twisted due to his erratic movements and was incredibly deep in the flesh.

"Someone get me a suture kit, gauze, and antiseptic!"

Raife and Christine looked at me as if I were the one that was stabbed, with bewildered and confused eyes.

I was confused too, "Do you guys not have first aid?!"

I turned to a panicked Ashley by my ear, "Spencer, those don't exist yet."

Oh. Shit. Uh. Wait, I can solve this! Jesus, this really fucking sucks, "Okay get me a needle with wire thread, towels, and alcohol! Now!"

Kyla, who had found us in the commotion heard my call and began running to get the things. I felt a grip on my dress, which I really can't afford to give a damn about right now. Aiden was growing weaker by the second, so much blood was seeping through the gash on his leg, and not even my hands and bundled dress could stop the flow. His came out in a hoarse whisper of defeat, and I leaned down to listen to him.

"I-I need... to t-talk to you...Spencer Carlin..." How did he know my name?

"We can talk later. Right now closing that wound is my priority."

"It's too late... just listen," Aiden hacked and wheezed, "...you n-need to protect...Ashley at all costs. Don't trust anyone... watch out for t-the-"

"Miss Spencer, I got them!"

"Talk later Aiden. Kyla, hand me the alcohol and muffle his mouth with a towel."

I wiped down the needle and wire with alcohol and as Kyla stuffed Aiden's mouth with a towel, I poured alcohol all over the gash. His blood curling scream shook Raife and Christine, who had been watching. Raife ran to help me hold Aiden down. The knife was in very deep, but I had no other choice but to pull it out by hand. Blood gushed everywhere as I got towels to stop it.

I quickly threaded the needle and sutured his wound, spraying on more alcohol. Aiden had passed out long ago, and the smell of blood and flesh was fresh in the air. I sighed in relief as the immediate danger had passed. Everyone in the room looked disturbed - and rightly so. What a way to send off soldiers.

"I need a bed sheet to transport him onto a proper bed."

"Kyla and I will attend to Master Davies, Miss Carlin. Please everyone, retire to your rooms for now while the staff and I mind the guests and... clean the ballroom." Dean's calm demeanor masked his tense fists.

"Call me right away when he wakes up or if something happens."

What was Aiden talking about before? Why would I need to protect Ashley... and to watch out for what? I had so many questions on my mind, but I was more concerned about Ashley. Besides, Aiden would not be waking up anytime soon.

Ashley had been incredibly quiet, and the Davies parents gave her silent embraces before retiring to their rooms to absorb the night's events for now. I stood up from the floor we were both kneeling on. She looked up at me with defeat.

I hesitated. Wanting to take her hand and hug her, I remembered that I was covered in her brother's blood. She stood up, not meeting my eyes but looking at my bloody hands.

"...I'm going to go wash up. Let's go."

Her brunette locks nodded dejectedly. She followed me back to the guest room, where I took a shower to clean myself of all the blood. Drying myself off and wearing some lose clothing from the bathroom, I didn't bother to dry my hair and headed out. Ashley must've gone back and bathed also. Her back was against the headboard of my bed as she curled in the fetal position.

I approached her, "...Ashley?"

She launched herself into my arms and began to cry.

This is where we are now. She was only sniffling and whimpering by now, whispering "Oh god" and "Spencer" against my neck. Her trembling voice felt amazing against my throat, and I began to feel warm. I've only known this woman for nearly a day and the things she could already do to me.

"Ashley, you should get some rest."

She lifted her head from the crook of my neck and we locked eyes.

"Can I sleep with you?"

"I don't know if that's a good idea."

She pushed closer against me, straddling me and bring our bodies together. I gasped at the contact.

"Please." She whispered quietly in my ear.

"...Okay."