Page 25 of Lost Paradise

Well, I can’t bloody go there.

So I slump my shoulders, run my hands through my face towards my temples, and sigh loudly in frustration.

“This is a flipping pig's mess,” I say raggedly.

“It is,” Eve agrees, her tone softening. “I almost died. But I’m here, and you are too. And so are they.”

“Not everyone is here,” I admit with a pang of guilt.

“No, he’s not. Astro’s just missing,” she reassures. “The arrogant dipshit is probably off on some daring adventure challenging Posideon for his throne or something. I bet they’re still dueling it out.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips at her optimism. She's right; dwelling on guilt won't help us survive.

She reaches out and grabs my hand, which takes me aback by her sudden, unexpected comfort.

“You can’t feel guilty about it. Maybe put that feeling away for now because we have an unknown battle of survival in front of us, and you need to step up to the challenge and be their leader. You challenged Jack earlier. I suggest you challenge your guilty conscience because four other lives depend on you not going off into dark depression mode. Save that shit for later.”

"You're right," I acknowledge, squeezing her hand in gratitude. "We need to focus on the present. We'll deal with the rest later."

Eve’s words resonate with a depth that catches me off guard. There's a sincerity in her gaze, a rawness to her honesty that sets her apart from the privileged students I'm accustomed to at the college. At this moment, I see her not as just another student but as someone with resilience and insight beyond her years.

A flicker of attraction stirs within me, but I quickly push it aside. I know better than to entertain such thoughts, especially given our circumstances. Besides, crossing that line would be a breach of trust, a betrayal of the professional boundaries I'm obligated to uphold.

With a shake of my head, I pull my hand away from her and rise to my feet, determination coursing through my veins. There's work to be done, and dwelling on distractions won't help us survive. I stride over to where Zane is.

“We need to get going,” I say, and he nods to join me.

As we set off into the unknown, Eve's words linger in the back of my mind, a reminder of the strength and resilience that binds us together in this fight for survival. And though the temptation may linger, I know that my focus must remain on the task at hand—to lead our group through the challenges ahead, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Chapter 8

That last discussion withMr. Coldwell was pretty heavy. But as I sat here observing him, I realized he was in no better position than us. He feels as if he has to hold us all on his shoulders, but he doesn’t have to.

He’s just as scared as we are. And it’s ok.

My thoughts are interrupted as I catch Jack just standing against a tree trunk, staring directly at me. His cold blue eyes are trying to pierce straight through me. A shiver passes through me, and as much as I find him disturbing, I can’t help but think he is one seriously attractive guy.

“Why do you keep staring at me like that? All the damn time?” I call out to him.

As if my question warrants him to approach me, he strolls over, and I watch him remove his leather jacket, and his black t-shirt does nothing to hide the fit body hiding under all that dark fabric covering him.

Fucking hell, he’s looking as if he wants to devour me.

He crouches down to where I’m resting.

“I could stop if that’s what you prefer,” his deep, profound voice is begging me to spread my legs for him and have his babies.

What the heck?

It has to be my near death experience that’s making me delirious.

Yet, I can’t provide him with any witty reply.

I watch a glint of a smirk work its way up his face because he knows I secretly like him staring at me as if he wants to do all kinds of things to me. He’s creepy as fuck, and for some godforsaken reason, I’m lusting after this gothic weirdo.

My silence is his cue to get up, but he does it in such a way that he locks in my stare and silently promises me that he’ll act out all that I desire one day.

No! Never going to happen.

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