Page 47 of Diluted Truths
“I don’t know, Sunshine. But I can’t seem to stop,” I responded, sounding out of breath.
“What if I don’t want you to?” she asked. We both stood there for a moment, soaking in each other's presence. I couldn’t keep myself awayfrom her. Her smile, her laugh, her eyes, they were all completely intoxicating.
As I leaned in to finally get that kiss that I had been dreaming about for so long now, we heard a knock on the door.
“Your car’s here!” Bec yelled from the hallway.
Begrudgingly, I pulled away from Jackie and headed towards the door. “Are you ready?” I asked.
Jackie took a moment to respond. She looked at me for a moment, observing me. It was as if she was weighing her options. What those options were, I wasn’t sure.
Finally she answered, but I’m not sure she was answering my exact question. “Yeah, I think I am.”
Chapter 15Who do you want? By. Ex Habit
Jackie
When Will and l had arrived at Amherst Hospital, we were immediately escorted back to speak with Griffin. I was anxious for what the meeting ahead would entail but hopeful that Griffin could shed light into the evolving story surrounding the Cult of Creatio.
I was hyper aware of the looks we had been receiving since first entering. First from the receptionist as we checked in, as well as the guards escorting us back to Griffin and even the other patients of the asylum.
The legend behind Griffin Whitley was notorious but only time would reveal if the legend was founded in reality and facts. What I couldn’t figure out was how the asylum staff knew we were going to see him.
I was also hyper aware of how similar I was to Griffin’s victims. Our eyes, our ages, our hair, everything was the same. I knew I had to be extremely careful but I thought that I could maybe use it to my advantage as well. Hopefully he would be more willing to open up to Will and I because of these similarities.
“Just through these doors.,” the young guard who had been escorting us through the asylum, stated as we were buzzed through another locked door. “We had to separate him from the general population yesterday. He was acting… erratic since we told him he had visitors coming.”
“Erratic?” Will asked, concern marring his face.
The guard looked at Will, seeming perplexed. “Yes, he was excited to meet Ophelia James.”
Before the statement had even left the guards mouth Will was positioning himself in front of me blocking me from the guards view.
“I really think I should meet with him alone.”
“Will, it’s okay. He can’t do anything here. He’s probably just excited about having a visitor, not me specifically,” I replied as I urged him to continue walking.
I didn’t fully believe it myself, but fake it ‘til you make it, right?
Will sighed as he fell in step next to me. “You have to promise me that we will leave if he gets too personal or forward with you. This man murdered six women, Jackie, all of whom looked very similar to you. You can’t get hurt, not on my watch. I won’t allow it.”
I huffed a laugh at the alpha male that was showing from Will. This man was an enigma. He could switch from being so kind and sweet to those around him, to fiercely protective and unmoving at a drop of a hat. The simple act of his hand at my lower back as we continued down the hall towards Griffin’s room set my skin aflame.
I had never been so affected in someone’s presence as I was with Will, and it was becoming more and more difficult to hide my feelings for him. Especially if he kept pulling the stunts he did earlier when trapping me in the bathroom. If it wasn’t for Bec’s interruption, things would have turned out much differently.
Slowly the guard came to a stop and turned to us. “He’s right in there.” The guard pointed to the nondescript door to our side, “I will remain outside the door, which will remain open while you are speaking. If he begins to grow agitated, I will end the interview immediately. Understand?”
“Yes,” Will stated.
“Understood,” I responded at the same time.
Slowly, the guard opened the door.
Within was the young man I had only heard stories of. He was tall, around Will’s height, but extremely lean. His black hair was stringy as it laid against his forehead. He seemed nonthreatening initially, but a closer look at his face proved otherwise. He held a ghastly smile along his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and seemed to be whispering to himself as we entered the room.
“Ophelia Jacqueline, I am so glad you finally made it. I have been expecting you for quite some time,” Griffin greeted as he sat along the edge of his bed, which sat on the far wall from the door. “Please come in, I am excited to discuss the matter at hand.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Griffin,” I stated as Will and I entered the room. It was then that Griffin seemed to finally notice Will’s presence as a scowl crossed his face as he looked at the man.
