Page 161 of Withered

Jake’s smile confirms that it wasn’t just me who heard them.

We reach the shore, and Jake puts me down. I’m instantly hit with the cold sand granules that find their way between my toes and the ocean breeze that greets us. The ocean makes a beautiful sound when it hits the shore back and forth, its waves creating a rhythm at their own pace. The night adds extra charm to its beauty.

Jake removes his jacket, holding it over his shoulder, and takes my hand, entwining our fingers as we stroll along the beach’s edge. I love the feeling of cold sand grains under each step. When I walk on it, they love me back, hugging my bare feet, and when I move, they leave me slowly, and I yearn for more.

We are just starting to forget everything and relax when the boys near his car reappear. I don’t remember their faces, as it was dark, but I can tell them from their physiques. All four of them make their way toward us with a walk as slow as a predator approaching.

Jake’s grip on my hand tightens, his face stone-cold as he glares at them.Does he know them?

They stop when they are five feet apart.

The tallest one speaks. “Hello, Jake.” He is an inch or two shorter than Jake, but the cold, devilish smirk on his face is enough to snap my spine straight.

“What are you doing here?” Jake sneers at him, dropping his jacket on the sand.

Another one, with blonde hair, says, “We just came to say hi.”

Jake scoffs, “Well, now you can get lost.”

“Easy boy,” says a third, with dark black-blue hair. The last one, who is smoking a cigarette, looks the least interested in the conversation.

He’s simply moving his eyes, blowing out the smoke, and taking in the scene unfolding in front of us.

“Who is your friend?” The tallest one speaks again, his gaze landing on me and skimming my body.

I shift out of discomfort, and that’s when Jake shields me for the second time.

“Drop your fucking act, Ace. I saw you near my car. Now that you’re here in front of me, it only confirms my thoughts. You have the fucking nerve to track me down, huh?” Jake shouts at him, his jaw set in a straight line.

I watch as the same guy, whose name is Ace, snickers. “You got that. Wearefollowing you.” He goes serious, his eyes glaring at Jake. “Your friend here looks one of a kind.” His eyes met mine for a second. “It was nice meeting you. We’ll be going now.”

He gives a slight nod to Jake, turns back, and leaves with his pack.

Jake sighs and turns around, his shoulders sulking. “Fuck, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come today.”

“Who were they?” I ask.

He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Rose, listen to me. Just forget what happened right now, and I kid you not, please always stay by my side. If it’s notme, have Tyler as your backup; otherwise, please don’t leave your house.”

Confusion and worry settle in the pit of my stomach. “But why? And, who were they?” I demand answers.

Jake groans, a sign he’s getting irritated. “Those are the ones I fought with. You saw how they tracked me, right? Now that they’ve seenyou, I’m fucking sure they’ll follow you.”

Simply imagining them following me makes me feel sick. I’m already too stunned to digest the information when Jake drops another bomb on me. “You’re their newtarget. They’ll come afteryouto get something out ofme. Please, promise, it’s either me or Tyler or your house.”

I manage a feeble nod. Jake takes a step forward and takes me in his arms, his scent relaxing me and providing instant peace.

“I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” He pecks my lips, then dives in and kisses me hard again.

The kiss is so powerful that my heels slip from my grip, and my hand goes to his neck. I guess it’s his way of letting me know that he meant every word.

We don’t stay after that, as he drives me back home. I know; I got in the car, saw the trees moving backward from the window, and heard the faint music playing and Jake talking to me, but I remember absolutely nothing.

My mind keeps replaying the repeat telecast of the show I saw on the beach.

When we get home, I go into the kitchen and get my litchi juice. I drink it while Jake helps himself with water.

As I sit on a stool, my dress pools on the kitchen floor, and Jake speaks, “I shouldn’t have gone to that event. It’s my fault; I dragged you into my mess.”

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