Page 23 of Red Obsession

“No.” I don’t know what I am feeling towards Zion. I can’t have actual feelings for him, that would be crazy. Plus, it should be the last thing on my mind, but from the moment he pulled me out of that cage, he’s burrowed his way inside and hasn’t left. He’s wild, and a murderer. Also, he wears a creepy mask, and I have no idea who he even is. Or why he came down to that basement. Not that I’m not thankful, because I am. I don’t think I could have gotten out of that cage myself, and that collar was a pain and a half to get off. So, I’m highly thankful that he was able to get me out.

I should have been scared when he killed that guy in the bus station. But I couldn’t find myself to care. Zion killing had no effect on me. It’s not the worst I’ve seen, or that I’ve done. Which is the sad reality of living with a motorcycle gang. They murder people for a living.

“Are we going to talk about you being locked in that psycho’s basement?” Gabriel breaks the silence once more.

“Gabby, there's nothing to talk about. I got out, and now we’re going to find a new place to start our new lives. We should come up with new names.” I lean into him, trying my best to change the subject. I need to get my mind off Zion. He is gone, and I am never going to see him again.

“Yeah? Hmmm, what will my name be? Tyler? Sam?” Gabriel chuckles as he thinks of names. “Oh lord, could you imagine if your new name was Sally? Oh, yes, you’re Sally and I’ll be Jack.”

“You do realize Sally marries Jack right, that would be so…”

“Totally gross, you’re my sister for fucks sake.” Gabriel fake gags. “Plus you don’t have the right equipment.”

When Gabriel was ten I found him crying in his closet covered in all his stuffed animals. When I tried asking him what was wrong, he refused for two hours until I made some joke that we should get out of the closet because it was becoming stuffy. Only Gabriel didn’t laugh and told me he was scared that if he came out of the closet Dan, my father, his uncle, would kill him.

I hate to admit it took me longer to understand what he was trying to tell me without using so many words.

Gabriel is gay.

Then we cried for another hour while I reassured him I didn’t think of him differently and he was still my brother/cousin and him being gay didn’t change that. I wouldn’t tell Dan because I knew my father would do something to Gabriel. Maybe not kill him, but he would set Gabriel out to be an example.

“We’ll think of names, okay? We don’t need to stress about it. Right now, that is,” I mutter.

“I still think your name should be Sally.” Gabriel smiles at me before resting his head against my shoulder once more. It isn’t long before he drifts off into sleep.

I, on the other hand, can’t sleep. My mind keeps drifting off to Zion, and as much as I don’t want to think of that hunk of a man, I can’t stop. For someone his size, I should be scared, but I’m not. He made me feel safe and protected, even in the short amount of time. It probably isn’t normal that I just let the man carry me out and the fact I went home with him.

Just something about him speaks to me. Like I know deep down he won’t hurt me. He is shy, awkward at times, and it doesn’t hurt that his arms are the size of my damn thighs. And something about that mask makes me want to burn my clothes off and throw my naked body on top of his. Preferably on top of his face.

It doesn’t take long to finally fall asleep dreaming of Zion holding me.

8

Zion

Ishouldn’tbedoingthis, but I can’t help myself.

I was doomed from the moment I laid my eyes on her; she might have been released by one monster. But she was caught by another, me.I’m powerless to her; anything she wants I’ll give it to her. The addiction she gives me, the obsession. I want her to be consumed by me, not able to breathe without me. I want her thoughts to be filled of me, no one else.

I don’t know why I thought I could just walk away from her. It was a silly thought, so fucking stupid.

I need her.

I crave her.

So as much as I tell myself I’m following the bus just to make sure she’s safe, It’s the sick obsession of mine.

My truck sits behind one of the buses. Izel and Gabriel are the last to get on. Her eyes scan the area, pushing Gabriel to walk ahead of her, and she skims over my truck. I hold my breath, waiting to see if she notices me. When she finally steps onto the bus, I let go, unsure of how to feel that she hasn’t noticed me.

It’s not long before the bus pulls away and I’m a few cars behind them. I tell myself I’m just following her to see where their destination is. It’s the least I can do.

But when two motorcycles zoom past me, raising their guns at the bus, my gut tightens. My foot presses the gas pedals, gaining on the bus and motorcycle. The murderous rage comes out at the thought of them there for Izel.

The fear that they’re there to hurt her.

Izel

When Gabriel shakes me awake, my brain is foggy, but I don’t have time to get my bearings before the sound of gunshots ring out. I probably would’ve screamed if I wasn’t so used to the sound. Gabriel’s hands tighten around mine, his body shaking.

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