Page 13 of What's Left of Me

It took a few seconds, but Rose obviously realized this was done and stood, gathered his things, and left the study. Aziza sat where he’d been and spoke softly to Hazel and Phoenix.

“I bet you’re quite tired after that.”

Phoenix nodded. Hazel was trying to compose herself.

Aziza smiled softly. “Is it okay, Phoenix, if I walk you to your room? No talking, I promise. I just think some rest will do you good, and I want to give you my number in case you need me.”

She was very good at what she did. Phoenix easily agreed, and I watched as they both left the study. JJ had made sure the agent was gone, leaving me with Hazel.

I sat in Phoenix’s vacated seat. “You okay?”

“No. He’s none of those things that monster said, Noel.”

I squeezed her hand. “I just met him, and I already know that.”

A soft sob escaped her, and I handed her a tissue. She took it and blew her nose. When her desperate eyes met mine she asked, “What do I do?”

“We find out exactly how we undo everything that asshole put into his head.”

“I’m scared.” Her voice shook.

“We won’t let anything happen, and we’re going to fix this. Fix him.”

She grabbed me and hugged me tighter than I’d ever been hugged. “Thank you.”

I hoped I wasn’t making broken promises, but one thing I knew was that if I ever came face-to-face with this Marionette Maker, I was going to enjoy showing him what pathetic really looked like.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Phoenix

True to Aziza’sword she walked me to my room, dropped her card on the nightstand in case I needed her, and left. I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, replaying the conversation with Agent Rose.

I hadn’t told him everything I knew, and I wasn’t positive why. Maybe I’d had enough talking; perhaps I’d tell him later. I wasn’t certain that what I’d kept from him was important. He had a name, one I was fairly certain he wasn’t born with, but it was what he’d demanded I call him.

“You will not refer to me as Sir, Master, Mister, or anything else twirling around that stupid brain of yours. You will only call me Adonis. Do you think your tiny IQ can remember that?”

I’d never forget it—that was for sure.

I was exhausted but afraid to sleep. I could feel him in the back of my mind. His words, his critiques. My once-full heart and soul full of hope was depleted, wrecked, gone. He’d shown me the sadness of my existence.…Maybe the others who’d been taken out of the shack, they were killed because they’d wanted tobe. Maybe they couldn’t live with their failures. That would make sense.

A soft knock echoed in the room, but I ignored it. Then the door opened, and light footsteps made it over to my bed.

Hazel hovered beside me, her eyes filled with grief…perhaps seeing me for who I was, mourning the loss of my delusional self.

“Nix?”

“What?”

“Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“Well, there’s lunch downstairs. If you want, I can bring something up once I’m done.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew she was only being nice…There’s that pity again. I turned onto my side. “I’m going to take a nap. I’ll eat later.”

“Okay, Nixy.” She went to touch me but pulled her hand back. “I love you.”

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