Page 22 of Into The Darkness

Chapter eight

Not a single person in that fraternity dared to look in my direction. I felt like some sort of street rodent as I stood there, in utter silence, seething. While I’d come here with a newfound determination with anger coursing through my veins, I felt absolutely no resolve. Nobody said shit, and I got no answers, so this just added even more shame and embarrassment to what happened.

As I opened the front door, Ash interrupted my thoughts when he asked, “You’re walking alone?”

“Yeah. My car’s got a shit tire.” Walking down the steps, his footsteps bounded behind me.

“Fuck,” he murmured. “Ember. Fucking stop walking. I will take you home.” He pointed toward his familiar Jeep parked in the driveway. I paused.

“Why should I let you?” I snapped, my words coming out bitchier than I intended them to, but this fucker deserved it.

“Because it’s getting late.”

“I am a big girl, Ash.” I rolled my eyes as I tried to open the gate but was locked in. “I jumped it earlier, don’t think I won't get out,” I said as he narrowed his green eyes in my direction.

“I don’t doubt it. I am just watching the show, mi sol.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nah. It’s for another day.” He crossed his arms over his thick chest, waiting to see if I would start my climb up the wrought iron fence.

I looked back at him and then the fence again. Climbing it again would suck; I was tired, mentally mostly, and felt like I was losing sight of myself. The girl who came to Isles just one week ago was vanishing so fast. I was drowning in the depths of the darkness, and no one was saving me.

“Into the darkness I’ll go, and into the light I’ll be,”I whispered to myself while staring at my feet, wishing I could tap my heels together and be whisked away.

I turned back around to Ash standing there; he always seemed to be there, and he was here, which meant he must be a member, which meant he had more answers than he was letting on. At the very least, maybe he had a security camera to tell me what happened when I left the party.

Why the fuck did Blue Eyes call me Ash’s girl? I took one deep centering breath before doing another thing that would have scared the old me.

“Give me a ride, then.” I walked toward his car staring at the ground, knowing damn well he had a smug look plastered on his face. My back pressed against the passenger door, waiting for him, when I heard him come around the hood of the car and stood in front of me. He leaned over me, unlocking the door. My eyes continued to drink him in.

“Now you’re playing the role of gentleman?” I huffed, uncomfortable in his imposing presence.

“Don’t take my patience for kindness.”

I rolled my eyes.

I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes. It smelled like him. It felt like him. The warmth surrounding me almost melted into the leather seats. It was . . . Ash.

He jumped into the driver’s side, shaking the car, and peeled down the driveway, and the gate magically opened.

“Where’s your car?” he asked as he drove me toward my apartment.

“By the library.”

“Were you studying?” Him trying to make small talk felt . . . weird.

“Uh, yeah. That’s what most people do when they go to the library.”

“Don’t start with me, Ember. I am trying here.” I rolled my eyes and turned to stare at the posts passing by us.

“Are you tired?”

“Can’t be, because I was fucking drugged last night, and no one will tell me anything about it.” I snapped my head around and glared at him, but besides the small tic in his jaw, his face remained collected. He wasn’t going to break anytime soon. “I just haven’t eaten much today. I’ve been at the library since this morning.”

I decided honesty was better with Ash because regardless of if I found him attractive or not, I would have to see him every week.

“What?” He whipped his head in my direction.

---