Page 36 of Stay Awhile
“You don’t have to thank me. Just live.”
I nodded as he helped me up, and the top of the building opened to reveal a helicopter. I turned to see Makena walking away from the button against the wall.
“Our rides here. Let’s get the hell on before more people show the fuck up.”
The ladder from the helicopter dropped, and Makena leaned down to help Skye up.
“You think you can make it up the ladder without help?” I asked her.
She nodded and Makena took a step back so she could climb up ahead of her in case she got weak along the way. I followed Makena with VC climbing up behind me. Once we were all inside of the plane, Shiloh and Raven still shot out of the side as Red Eye went higher.
“Oh, I have a little surprise for y’all!” Red Eye yelled from the front.
Each of us looked at each other in question. Everyone but Raven and Shiloh, who was smiling big as a big boom as flames rose from what used to be our past. The sounds of the explosions continued all around the building, burning our childhood at the Void to the ground.
Skye slid next to me and wrapped her arms around my waist as we all settled into our own thoughts. Tonight, we all reclaimed our lives and our identities. Fuck the Void.
The tight strapson my wrists and the impending water below made my heart race. Gun shots rang as my body was pulled closer to the water. I tried to hold my breath, but it seemed to do nothing for the pressure that felt as if it was breaking my bones. Soon, water invaded my lungs.
I inhaled deeply as I jerked awake. I looked around my frilly pink childhood bedroom. Since that day, I’d been staying at my parents’ place. Knox had gone completely silent—cutting off all contact. According to him, he had to make sure he didn’t bring anymore danger into my life. I stayed put, wanting to be somewhere he could find me when he was ready, but I couldn’t put my life on hold forever. It was something I told myself regularly, but my heart wasn’t hearing it.
I pulled the covers back and got dressed. I took a seat at the edge of my bed and a knock sounded at the door. I knew it was my parents. Since I had been back, they had been checkingon me every chance they got. Same with Jim and Chyna. They had been calling at least twice a day for the last month. I felt smothered, although I knew it was all out of love and a little frustration that it wasn’t the person or man I wanted it to be calling me.
“Come in,” I yelled as I stood to grab my suitcase and duffle bags.
My parents walked in and stopped at the door.
“Is everything alright? We heard you screaming again,” my mother asked.
I nodded and continued to move from the closet to my bed.
“Honey, why are you packing this early?” my dad asked.
I finally stopped and turned to face them. I knew they could see the heavy bags that had made themselves at home beneath my eyes. “I have to get back to my life and sleeping at my parent’s house will not achieve that. My magazine needs me and so does my house with all the amenities that I adore. I have to go.”
They stood quietly, waiting for any sign that I would back down, but they would be wrong. I needed to get back to myself. The whole point of taking that trip was to find me and not depend on anyone else. Granted, things got a little bumpy at the end with me being kidnapped, then saved, but kidnapped again, only to be saved once more. I was exhausted and thinking maybe Knox had the right idea by leaving me alone.
“We understand and appreciate you staying for as long as you did. Do you need us to send security to your house to watch it?” my dad asked.
I didn’t respond quickly. I wanted to truly think about my decision. “No, I’ll keep my gun handy. Thank you, though.”
My parents didn’t say another word as they turned to leave the room. They allowed me the time I needed to pack my things, and by the time I made it downstairs, they were waiting forme by the door. We hugged and said our goodbyes as I left my parent’s estate for the first time in weeks.
Dawn was barely breaking as I approached my car. After my parents brought me to pick up some belongings and my vehicle from my house, I found myself checking the backseat—a new paranoid habit I’d developed. Only after confirming it was empty did I feel safe enough to drive home.
I pulled into my garage and waited a moment in my car. I didn’t know why it felt so odd to be back here. It wasn’t like anyone had broken into my place.
I exhaled, then grabbed my things from the backseat before heading inside. If I was being honest with myself, I missed being back home. I placed my bags on the side of my island and walked further into my kitchen to grab the bottle of wine I had tucked away. I needed a sip to commemorate the fact that I finally had the courage to come back home.
I walked over to the cabinet to pull down a wineglass, then poured my wine when my phone rang. I quickly placed the bottle on the counter and walked over to my purse to grab it before the call went to my voicemail. Chyna’s name appeared on the screen, so I answered.
“Hey, girl, I’m just calling to do my usual check in.”
I shook my head, and I placed the call on speaker so I could set my phone on the counter.
“Yeah, I figured. You busy today?” I asked.
I could hear her slightly whispering to Ryan, I was sure to make sure he didn’t have any plans for them tonight before responding.
