Page 53 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“It’s the connection.” I look up to see Milo standing near the foot of the bed. His eyes are on Ollie, but he doesn’t look angry, if anything I’d say he looks a little lost from the slight frown marring his face and his slumped postured.
Realization hits me, I bet that’s exactly how I looked when I understood my mom was gone. “I won’t take him from you,” I blurt out. Milo’s eyes find mine, he has a slight bit of scruff growing on his chin, the whiskers are a few shades darker than the caramel brown of his hair. “I know what that’s like, and I would never take him from you.” I focus on Milo, letting him see the truth of my words. I’ve been lost for the last few days, trying to understand why my mom left, where she could be. I don’t want him to experience that same feeling of abandonment.
“It’s all changing.” Milo’s voice is thick. I nod, understanding maybe for the first time that he’s not really upset at me. I lift my arm and beckon him forward. Milo bites the corner of his lip but rounds the bed. His eyes never leaving mine. I scoot over again, sliding a leg out from under the blanket to give him room to lie down next to Ollie, but Milo places his hand on the other side of me, stopping me from moving all the way to the wall. He climbs over Ollie, and over my legs, kicking his shoes off as he does. Milo settles lying with his back against the wall, his hand reached out, over the pillows to land on Ollie’s shoulder. His eyes close as he takes a deep breath. I’m caught in the middle with them on either side, and Dante down by my feet. I look around, surprised he accepted my offer so easily.
“We aren’t going to be able to fight the connection,” Dante announces.
“I never planned on it. The sooner the better,” Ares replies, he hasn’t moved from his place on the wall. I squint, wondering if my eyes are playing tricks on me, or if the shadows are clinging to him more than they were a few moments ago.
Ares should be over here with us. With that thought my heart rate picks up, which isn’t normal. I look down at my lap, feeling guilty. I don’t think the connection is the only reason I want them close to me. I’m going to have to get damn good at smothering the attraction I feel for all of them.
My thoughts scatter when I feel fingers graze down my forearm and onto my hand. I look over to find Milo’s palm on top of mine. “This okay?” he mumbles, not really looking at me. Swallowing, I nod.
“So…” I clear my throat. “So why does the connection make Ollie so sleepy?”
“Think of it like his body’s way of adjusting to the changes that are happening to him,” Dante offers.
“Will all of you suddenly start falling asleep all the time?” I look over at Milo who seems to be growing more comfortable by the moment.
“Not necessarily. It could be different for each of us.” Ares crosses his arms over his chest.
“There isn’t like a standard or something? Just so I know what to expect?”
“No.” Dante looks down running his fingers over the quilt. “It’s different for us, we have so many in our grouping, and we can’t really talk to anyone about it.”
“Why?”
Ares steps forward, leaving the shadows to scatter against the wall like they were never really there. “We haven’t announced that we’ve found you to the Collective.” His steps are slow, measured, as he nears the bed.
My back stiffens; they’re ashamed of me. I thought that might be the case, but the confirmation stings. “Because I didn’t grow up like you guys did?” I shift, tucking my leg back under the covers.
“There’s a lot about our situation we don’t fully understand. I’d like to know what we’re getting into before we announce ourselves as an Infinity.” He doesn’t think I’m good enough for them. I look away feeling small in so many ways. The doubt that I’m even what they claim settles on my shoulders. They keep telling me I belong with them, but in what capacity? When will I ever really understand what it is they say I am?
“It’s all just circles.” I pull my hand out from under Milo’s and scoot forward kicking the quilt from my legs. I don’t want them here right now, I don’t even want to be here right now, I’d rather just be a home. “You guys keep promising to give me answers, but you never really do. You just keep talking in circles. I think this is all some crazy load of shit.” I narrow my eyes. It isn’t a coincidence that we came here, and my mom goes missing right after some crazy boys start following me around. I make it to the edge of the bed, holding the long t-shirt down over my legs.
Crossing the room, I snatch my clothes from over the chair, clutching them to my chest before spinning around to face them. “Did you do something to my mom?” I seethe, angry that I keep letting myself believe their shit.
“Laura, what are you talking about? What could we have done to your mom?” Dante is looking at me like I have two heads, Ares tilts his head not saying a word.
“She’s always said people were out to get us. You guys barge your way into my life and she turns up missing days later?”
Dante stands. “Wait, your mom is missing? I thought you said she was sick?”
“She is sick… well I thought she was sick.” I point to my head. “But now I’m not so sure, maybe she knew exactly what she was talking about.” I back toward the bathroom door, intending to lock myself inside to get dressed.
“How long has she been gone?” Ares questions, his fingers tapping against the side of his leg. “And who did she think was after you?”
Narrowing my eyes at him I counter, “I’m not telling you shit. See how much you like being left in the dark.”
The top of Ares’s lip barely curls. “Cara, I’m very much at home in the dark.” His voice is light, but his eyes are intense. He’s staring at me like I’m the answer to a riddle he needs to solve. “The man from the campsite mentioned seeing her mother when she checked in, when did Laura start school?”
“Uh… three weeks ago, a few days after school started,” Dante answers quickly.
Ares takes a few steps in my direction, his eyes running from my damp tangled hair down to my bare legs. “You said yesterday you wanted proof you’re our match. I showed you my marking.” Ares eyebrows go up and I flush remembering.
“Where are you going with this?” I feel a tightness in my chest.
“Do you still want me to prove it?” The room seems to fall away as he gets closer. All I see is him. My breathing is choppy.
