Page 95 of Darkness

“You can’t be thinking straight.”

One after the other they all talk and again I turn to Lincoln, who glances towards me for one second, then walks over to the bar to refill his glass too.

I say nothing, because I have no idea what to say, I mean what do I say?

“I won’t be back until after the fight,” Cain stops for a moment and takes a deep breath. “I will not lie and say I’m going to walk out, I might not.” He cracks his neck, still not looking at me, he continues. “All I-” He stops again, and brings his right hand up, pressing his thumb and finger into his eyes. “Protect Autumn, make sure no-”

“Stop!” I shout at him. I can not listen to this, I can not listen to him thinking he won’t walk out of hell. He did it once, he can do it again. He has to do it again.

David and the boys all stare between Cain and me, yet no one is talking. I wipe the tears which have left my eyes, and I look at Lincoln once more, hoping he will talk and tell us all he tried to change Cain’s mind, or talk some sense into him.

“You won once, you can do it again.” I finally speak because the silence is killing me, and I don’t think I will be able to stop crying if I start.

“And I’m going to do everything in my power to fight, but-”

“No, no buts. Just leave it with you will win,” I quickly cut him off, because I can’t listen to what the ‘but’ can be.

“If Rowan was telling the truth and Yang is training him,” Cain clears his throat, and looks at David. “I need to go live in The Pit, I need to close off the world, and I need to become the man I locked away, and I can’t do that here.” Cain’s voice becomes almost too heavy for him to get the words out. “I need to…” He locks eyes with David. “I don’t need my family to look after me, in this fight they can’t help, but I need my family to take care of my heart. Look after her.” Cain glances over to me, then back to his family. “It’s the only thing I ask of you.”

David doesn’t answer, and neither do the boys. No one knows what to say, but I’m starting to feel sick. “Lincoln, do you want to take Autumn out to the car?” And there it is, the moment I was waiting for, for him to talk to his family without me, this conversation is going to worry me more.

“Sure.” I turn to Lincoln as he walks closer to me.

“Come on, our sweet English Rose.” Lincoln wraps his arm over my shoulder and pulls me in closer to him.

“What’s he doing with them?” I ask, because I know Lincoln has always liked me, and has a small soft spot for me. If I’m lucky, he might tell me something.

I hear Lincoln take a deep breath, then we stop by the car. “If something goes wrong, then he’s just making sure everything is in place.”

God, the pit of my stomach is doing more twists and turns than it needs to, and the water builds in my eyes.

“You’ve seen Yang fight, honestly is Cain overreacting?” Leaning on the car, I look over at the house waiting for Cain toget out. I’m praying, hoping Lincoln says yes, anything to give me some hope Cain will be with me in two weeks’ time, and he will be alive.

“No, it’s going to be a hard fucked up fight. But him going down to The Pit is the right move.” Lincoln hands me the car keys as Cain walks over to me, before Lincoln leaves he kisses my cheek, and tells me I will see him tomorrow.

Cain smiles at me, hoping it will make me feel some sort of peace, but it doesn't. He leans on the car looking out at his uncle’s house.

“I don’t know what will happen in two weeks' time.” I feel him take my hand in his. “I don’t know if I can give you the wedding, or the family you want. But then again I don’t know what will happen in five years’ time.” He stops when I lean close to him, wrapping my arms over his stomach wanting him as close as I can.

“As long as you’re with me, I don’t care,” I whisper.

“That is my dad’s house. Well, my house. No one has lived there since he died, and I’ve not set foot in there since I came out of The Pit. I’m not sure if I will move into it tomorrow, or next year, but I want this to be our house.”

“What?”

“This is our house, you knock out walls, paint whatever you want. Make it ours.” Cain places his hand on my arm, which is over his stomach. “I want to be around the family, I want to have you with me all the time, I want a life with you.”

Cain’s words make me pull away from him and wipe the tears away. “I’m scared, that you’re giving us this house, but I might have to life in it alone, because-”

“I love you, and I’m going to fight until the very end. The only thing that’s going to pull me through it is you. Knowing you’re there, have faith in me, it will push me to fight even when I have nothing left. You are going to be my savior in this fight.” He cupsmy face and gives me a kiss. “Autumn-Rose, you are my life, my air, and I promise you I will fight.”

“I always have faith in you.” I wrap my arms around his waist and he pulls me in closer to him.

“That’s all I ask.”

I hesitate when the door opens, I have no idea why I've been excited about this since Cain told me about it. It took me so long to get ready for tonight, I kept asking Cain what I should wear, and his answer was. ‘It doesn’t matter, you'll be naked, anyway.’ It didn’t help me decide on what to wear, but one thing it helped me with was less clothes. I’m going to be turned on by whatever is behind the door, and I want Cain to make me scream repeatedly.

Any doubt I do have in my head is gone when Cain takes a step in, and I follow him.

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