Page 24 of Broken Bonds

By the time I’m done, I’m exhausted and panting for breath. My eyes clench shut as I try to take deep breaths in. I keep my eyes down when I open them, not wanting to look at Jillian after my outburst.

I don’t have it in me to feel embarrassed, but I also can’t handle the pitying look I know I’ll find reflected in her golden-brown eyes.

“Rams—” she starts but is interrupted by the doorbell.

My brows draw together.

“Who the hell could that be?” Jilly mutters as she glances behind her in the direction of the front door.

She looks at me one more time before the doorbell rings again and she sighs, walking out of the room.

Now that she’s gone, I try to bring my heart rate back to normal. Once I feel calmer, I put my legs over the side of the bed and get up for the first time in gods know how long. I’m a little shaky, my body feeling weak from lack of use.

My ears strain to identify who’s at the door, but no sound can be heard. Not a single murmur.

My brows furrow again. Something doesn’t feel quite right. Something… big is waiting for me and I don’t know whether to hide or follow my instincts to see what’s going on.

In the end, I can’t stop my curious nature. Besides, this is the most reaction I’ve had to anything in days. Something is pushing me to go see who is at the door. A niggle in my brain. A slight push against my back.

I take shaky steps as I move towards the front door, leaving the bedroom. I hear muffled speaking, telling me Jilly didn’t let whoever it is in, instead shutting herself off outside with whoever it is. My curiosity is piqued as I reach for the door, slowly turning the knob. As the door swings open, I can finally make out Jilly’s voice, quickly noting that it’s quivering.

“—you can’t be here right now—” She stops speaking as the man in front of her clears his throat, his gaze clashing with mine.

Familiar eyes that I would know any-fucking-where. A clear and beautiful blue like the sea, piercing into my very soul.

I inhale sharply as I hear Jilly make a muffled, pained sound.

“Ramsey.”

That face.

I know that face. It’s a face I’ve looked at for ten years. A face I’ve kissed a million and one times, scent marked,adored.It’s also a face I saw less than a week ago, mottled and bruised, laying on a cold metal bed covered with a sheet.

My upper lip quivers and my vision blurs with tears.

“Lake,” I whimper, my fingers clenching at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

What the fuck is going on?

Have I officially lost it? Is that it?

This must be a trick of the mind, making me see what’s not there while continuing to torment me.

Feeling overwhelmed, I bring my hands up to cup my head and I press them against my temples, squeezing my eyes shut.

“You’re not there. You’re not there,” I whisper to myself with a trembling voice.

He can’t be there. I saw his body. All of their bodies. I felt the bonds snap as they took their last breaths.

How is he standing in front of me right now?

My eyes snap open, settling on Jillian.

“Jilly! I think I’ve finally cracked,” I cry, my eyes wide and wild, my nails digging into my hair as I tug on it.

Her eyes grow large, and she moves closer to me, pulling my hands free and stroking my arms.

“You haven’t lost it, Rams. Um. That’s not Lake,” she murmurs, her voice trailing off.

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