Thank you for all the favorites and alerts! And thank you ActressCeCe and hugabunny12 for the reviews!
Just a heads up, this is kinda a filler chapter. But don't worry, things between Eric and Alex are definitely gonna be picking up in the next couple chapters chapter :P
I hope you guys enjoy it!
I groaned as pain shot through my head. I forgot how shitty hangovers felt. I squinted as I opened my eyes, the light coming in from under the door was like a hammer to the temple. Wait, door? There weren't any doors in the dorms. I shot up right, much to the disdain of my hangover. I was wrapped in black sheets that belonged to a huge bed.
My eyes searched the room for an indicators as to where I was. There was a pile of black clothes in the corner and a pile of books in the other on a chair. There were no pictures on the either nightstand, just an alarm clock that looked like it had taken several beatings. I tried to back track to the last thing that I remembered. I was sitting by the chasm…then Eric showed up. Shit. Eric.
I threw the sheets off me and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I was still in the clothes I had on yesterday. That was a good sign, right? My boots where by the foot of the bed, but I didn't bother putting them on as I cracked open the bedroom door. The light hit me like a brick wall.
As I peered out of the room I was met with the sight of a slightly messy apartment. I took a few steps out of the room, continuing my observational scan. I found Eric sitting at a desk that was located in the corner of the room. He rummaged through paperwork in a black tank-top and sweat pants, a pencil behind his ear.
He must have heard me because he turned around as I took a few more steps into the room. "There's a glass of water on the counter and something to help with hangover," was all he said before he turned back to the files in front of him. His tone had shifted from the one that he had last night. His tone was flat, borderline bored, tired.
I didn't say anything, my mind still trying to sort what was happening. I padded over to the kitchen counter, finding the glass of water and two little white pills, just as he had said. Without hesitation, I took the pills and flushed them down my throat with a gulp of water. "What time is it?" was the first question that came to my mind.
"6:30," he answered simply. I nodded, not that he would have seen. His focus was trained on the papers in front of him. I made my way over to his black couch, taking a seat. I couldn't help but follow the outline of the muscles in his arm as I sat there.
"See something you like? Take a picture, it'll last longer," he sassed. I rolled my eyes and tucked my feet underneath me, my glass of water still in my hands. I placed the water down on the table and fixed my pony-tail.
"Why am I here, Eric?" I asked him what seemed like the golden question.
"You passed out on me last night," Oh yeah, I remember now.
"Why didn't you just bring me back to the dorms?" I brought up another good question. Why bring me here, to his apartment?
For the first time since I had sat down, he looked at me. "I couldn't really do that, could I?" I raised an eyebrow in question. "Do you know how bad that would look? First off, it would imply that there was something going on here," he motioned between the two of us. "Secondly, I'm the one who gave you the drink, I would be incriminated myself," he spoke as if reasoning to his actions were obvious, his tone harsh.
"Whatever," I retorted, rolling my eyes. I got up off the couch and headed back to the bedroom, to his bedroom, and grabbed my boots. It was too early to deal with Eric. I brought myself back to the couch, sitting so I could pull my boots on.
"Where do you think you're going?" he questioned. Once I had pulled on my boots, I stood.
"Anywhere but here," I made my way over to the door as Eric got up from his seat at his desk.
"You don't even know you're way back," he sounded slightly annoyed due to my hasty actions.
"I'll find my way," I shrugged as I reached for the door handle. I had just managed to opened the door slightly when Eric's arm came up next to my head, slaming to door shut. I turned, only to find myself face-to-face with him. His arm remained planted on the door, parallel to my head.
"Eric," I growled. Like I said... Way. Too. Fucking. Early.
"You can't tell anyone you were here," he informed me.
"Why the hell would I tell people? And what am I gonna tell them? How great your hospitality was?" I snarked.
"I'm serious, Alex," he snapped. "This could get us both into some serious shit."
"I'll keep that in mind," I huffed, slipping from between him and the door. I pulled the door opened forcefully, letting myself out.
"Ale-," I didn't give him a chance to even finish saying my name as I slammed the door behind me.
I spent the next several minutes trying to navigate through the apartment complex, trying to find my way back and I failed miserably. I wasn't sure if I was relieved to hear someone call my name from down the hall or terrified.
"Alex!" I whipped around to find my brother walking in my direction. Shit.
"Hey," I smiled, trying to brush my anxiety aside.
"What are you doing here?" Something about the look on his face told me that he didn't need an answer to that question. Something told me he already knew, but how?"
"I uh, I just got lost," I was a shit liar, especially when it came to my brother.
"Coming from Eric's apartment?" he hissed.
"How did you…?" I couldn't imagine how bad this looked.
"I work in the control room, remember? I saw you two last night by the chasm. I went to find you last night, but you weren't in the dorms," I could see the anger line his features.
"It's not what it looks like, I swear!" I didn't know how to dig myself out of this ditch.
"It never is, is it?" He grabbed me by my arm and began to lead me in what I assume was the way back to the dorms.
"I got drunk last night, I passed out…" I confessed. "Eric couldn't bring me back to the dorm because people would make the same assumption you're making right now!" He glance in my direction, but continued to pull me along with him. "I swear, nothing happened."
"What did I tell you about staying off the radar when it came to people like him?" he stopped and turned toward me. His voice was hushed, but harsh. "People like him are dangerous to people like us. He can't be trusted, if he ever found out what you are he'd kill you."
"He won't find out," I hissed.
"Why were you drinking with him anyway? Since when have you two been friends?" I almost laughed at the term friends.
"Please, we are so far from friends it isn't even funny," I shook my head. "He was… somewhat drunk and I needed to get drunk. That's it, that's all. I just didn't realize how much of a lightweight I was."
"Out of all people, Alexandra?" His feature turned from angry to disappointed. I preferred the pissed off look to the disappointed look any day. He ran his hand over his face. "You know how I feel about Eric."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking," I admitted. "But I can handle myself. Eric isn't as bad as you think he is."
"Don't," he growled. "Don't defend him."
"Okay, fine. Just lead me back to the dorms, please," and with that the conversation was dropped and we continued our was to the initiate accommodations.
Once we reached our destination we parted ways. I crawled in my bed as Four banged on the metal rail with a steel pipe. I sat back up in bed, acting as if the metal-on-metal alarm had woken me up. I watched as Four left the room, a frown was firmly planted on his face.
"Alex? I didn't see you last night," Kristen yawned as she sat up in bed.
"Yeah, sorry, I was… I needed some time to myself," That was my initial goal last night at least.
"Ah okay," was all she said as she got out of bed. I followed suit and began getting ready for the long day that I knew would be ahead of me.
XXX
To my surprise, I was called first today. Four was all business today, there was no trace of my brother anywhere in his words or actions. He was probably still pissed about this morning. To be honest, I would be too if I was in his position. I just wanted him to understand that it was harmless. Nothing happened. Maybe it was just my association with Eric that upset him.
As I exited the simulation room, I realized that being first wasn't such a great thing. I would have to wait for everyone to get done with their sims before we could do something. For once I wanted to be around my friends, I wanted to take my mind off my thoughts.
Not really knowing what to do, I headed to the tattoo parlor. Nothing says boredom like getting a tattoo for shits and giggles. I made my way into the parlor, the sound of buzzing needles somewhat comforting. I saw Tori in the far corner of the shop cleaning some gear and strolled over to her.
She smiled when she saw me. "Hey, kiddo. Looking for another tat?"
"As a matter of fact, I am," I returned her smile.
"Well you've got perfect timing, I just finished up with someone so I'm free," she placed her newly cleaned equipment down. "Have an idea of what you want?"
"Um…" I looked around the parlor at the variety of tattoos on the wall. My eye was caught on a design that hung not far from me. It was a wolf. I knew what I wanted. "Yeah, claw marks, from my shoulder to elbow."
"Claw marks?" I could tell by the look on her face she knew what I meant, but not the meaning behind it.
"Yeah, someone compared me to a wolf once," I informed her, my thoughts drifted back to visiting day. "I didn't really see where they were coming from. I've always seen myself as more of a wounded animal."
"They say wounded animals are the most dangerous," Tori lead me to an empty chair.
"Exactly."
XXX
I exited the parlor, a smile on my face. Tori did a fantastic job, it looked so realistic to a point that the detail would make you genuinely believe that me and a wolf had come to blows.
I was sure that Jake and the others would have finished their simulations by now so I started to make my way to the dinning hall. It was almost lunch time so that would be my best bet in locating them.
I was about half way to there when a pair of hands shot over my eyes and mouth. I screamed, but it was pointless, it was muffed and barely audible. I tried to rip myself free, but I was pulled against their body and lifted off the ground. I tried to kick my way free, but to no avail.
"I won't come in second to a Stiff," they growled. A chill ran down my spine. It was Seth. It had to be. But there was more than one pair of hands on me. As I tried to figure out who my second assailant was, I felt something sharp pierce my abdomen. My body went limp and my screams silenced due to the pain. They dragged it through my skin. The pain ripped through my body like a wild fire.
"She won't survive that," I heard someone else say. Luke?
"That's the point. Leave her here. We can't get her to the chasm without being seen," with that, I was dropped, my head bouncing off the ground. My hands shot to my stomach, they were met with a warm, thick liquid. I heard their feet pound on the pavement as they raced away from me.
My vision started to fade, but I refused to just lay here and die. I struggled to my knees as I continued to clutch my stomach. The sharp pain traveled through my whole body, making it heavy and slugish. I wasn't going to make it. No, I had to. I made it to my feet and began to stumble forward, hoping, praying that somebody would find me. This isn't how I thought I would die.
"Help!" I tried to call out, but it came out a mere mumble. All of my strength was focused on my footsteps. I barely made it 50 feet before I just couldn't keep my legs under me. I dropped to my knees.
I thought of my brother, what would happen to him if I died. It hurt to know that I was probably going to die with my brother still upset with me. After everything we'd been through and this is how it ends. I thought of my friends, of Jake, Aidan, Kristen, and Olivia. I wondered if they would even miss me.
Then I saw someone off in the distance. I couldn't quite make out who it was. "Help!" I gave it one last shot. It came out louder than the one before, but I wasn't sure if they had heard me or not. I saw them turn, but that was all I saw. I dropped to the floor. I could feel all the strength leave me through the gapping hole in my abdomen.
"Alex!" They called, but I didn't say conscious long enough to discover who it was. The darkness behind my eyelids swallowed me as I slipped into it.
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