Page 114 of Hiding Secrets

I should run.

I should be getting to my feet and sprinting as far away from him as possible, but I can’t seem to move.

I’m frozen.

I can’t leave Marcus’s side. I need to get help.

“Marcus! Marcus wake up,please!” My words are strained with the tightness in my throat, tears blurring my vision as I pathim on his cheek and shake his shoulder frantically. Joshua stops next to us, “What did you do?!” I scream as I look up at him.

He offers me his hand, “Let’s go, Eden.” Not bothering to respond to my question.

Ignoring him, I slump onto Marcus’s body, fisting his jacket into my hands as I let out a gut wrenching sob, “Marcus,please!” I cry into his already blood-soaked shirt, “Wake up! I need you to be okay!”

“Alright, you're done Eden. Let’s go.” He grabs my arm yanking me off Marcus.

“Don’t call me that! Let me go!” I swing my fist at him, hitting him right in the jaw. Pain radiates from my knuckles down to my elbow, but it takes Joshua by surprise long enough for me to get his hold off of me and my ass meets the ground with great force.

Fucking hell, that hurts! My ass and my hand. Punching someone for real was way different then sparring in the gym with Marcus.

I shake off the pain and get to my feet just as Joshua begins advancing on me. I get ready to use every skill Marcus taught me in our short amount of time, when I hear a cough at my side.

I look down to see Marcus trying to roll over, “Marcus!” I yell as I reach for him, but Joshua grabs a fist of my hair.

Forcing me to look at him as he speaks, “Samuel is going to be pissed when he sees this shit.” He pulls a piece of my long hair between his other fingertips. “Stop making everything so difficult and come with me, you ungrateful little bitch.”

Glaring into his eyes I spit right in his face, “Fuck you.” I bellow.

His arm raises and I close my eyes ready for impact, but I drop to the floor instead. Another wave of pain shoots through my spine, this time even more intense.

If I land on my ass one more time, I swear my tailbone is going to break.

“Don’tfuckingtouch my girl!” Marcus groans next to us on the ground. I whip my head to him to see his eyes are barely open, but his hand is gripping Joshua’s ankle with a vice.

My hair is still wrapped in his hold as Joshua takes his free leg, bringing it down on his chest repeatedly. My heart aches as I watch Marcus’s face contort with pain, grinding his teeth together, but Marcus doesn’t give up his hold. Joshua lets go of my hair before reaching over my head. My confusion quickly dissipates as I watch him aim the gun at Marcus again.

“No!” I scream, jumping on top of Marcus now to block him from Joshua’s view, “I’ll go! Okay!?”

Joshua grins at me, “All that fuss and I just needed to point my gun at this guy again for you to fucking listen?”

“You arenotgoing with him, Elliott.” Marcus roars.

“Her name is Eden.” Joshua says blankly.

“Likefuckit is!” Marcus hisses over my shoulder.

“I can’t lose you, Marcus.” My voice cracks as I keep my stare on Joshua and his gun. “I won’t let you die because of me.” I twist to face him and see just how much blood he’s already lostbefore I face Joshua again. “You have to let him live. Let him contact someone to come help him after you take me back to Everton.”

“And why would I do that?” Joshua laughs.

“Because it’s the only way I’ll go with you.”

He rolls his eyes at me, “Fine. Now get up.”

I listen to his words and rise to my feet, taking a step toward him. Joshua yanks me into his hold, turning me to face Marcus again

“You can’t leave, Elliott. I won’t let you!” Marcus is on his feet faster than I can blink and charging for us but before I can protest I see the gun out of the corner of my eye just as Joshua pulls the trigger.

“Nooooooooo!” My throat feels as if it is tearing open as a devastating scream erupts from inside me. The world tilts and my ears begin to roar as I try my best to get out of Joshua’s arm. Marcus’s eyes flutter for a second before he drops to his knees. I kick and scratch at Joshua, trying anything and everything to be able to get to Marcus’s side.

---