Page 101 of Temptation
The scene unfoldingin front of me was disturbing, to say the least. Indigo had his hands wrapped around the neck of that girl that tried reaching me earlier, when Ash stopped her. Ophelia, was it?
Ash looked uncomfortable just like I did, but this wasn’t our battle. This wasn’t something we should get in the middle of, but I couldn’t stop feeling sorry for her, especially since she kept looking at Storm, who did absolutely nothing to stop Indigo from choking her to death.
As soon as Atlas approached them, Indigo let go, glaring at the blond man. You could cut the tension in the air with a butter knife, and I felt Dylan’s hands on my shoulders before he spoke.
“Don’t get involved, Little One.”
“I won’t.” But I lied.
As soon as Atlas and Ophelia started walking toward the exit, I ran after them, leaving Dylan behind. I heard footsteps behind me and when I turned around, I saw Sebastian running after me.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, slowing down. “Go back inside.”
“Not a chance. I’m not leaving you alone. Ash would murder me if something happened to you.”
“Sebastian,” I groaned and completely stopped. “I don’t need a bodyguard to protect me. They won’t hurt me.”
“I don’t care. Either keep walking or come back inside.”
For a second I stood there, glaring at him, but I couldn’t deny that he had a point. These people were unfamiliar to me, and I had no idea if all of them had the best intentions toward us. I trusted Ash, and I trusted he knew what he was doing, but did he really know them?
Earlier when they walked in, my eyes immediately fixated on Ophelia, on the strength she carried with her. But I saw right through the mask she wore. I saw everything she tried to hide.
Eyes never lied, and hers told a story few could understand.
I could.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Just keep quiet, okay?”
I didn’t wait for a response from him, and instead, I started walking again, exiting the hallway in no time.
As soon as I stepped outside, I could see that it was raining. Since we left Winworth, I assumed it would, but I prayed it would miss Emercroft Lake. My phone pinged with the incoming message in my back pocket, but I didn’t want to read it now.
The covered porch was mostly empty, and when I turned to my right, I saw Atlas and Ophelia standing next to each other, staring at nothing in particular. Atlas had a cigarette between his lips, while Ophelia stood with her head resting on his shoulder.
One of her hands was wrapped around her throat, rubbing at what was no doubt sore skin right now. Her eyes closed as Atlas wrapped his arm around her shoulders. His lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what he said.
“Maybe we should go inside?” Sebastian asked, but even if I didn’t know her, I had to see if she was okay.
“If you’d like to go, go. I want to talk to her.” And I would seriously kill for a cigarette right now. I left mine in the car, and I was too lazy to ask Ash for his car keys.
My feet ate the distance between us, and just before I reached them, Atlas fully turned toward me, blocking the view of Ophelia.
“What do you want?” he asked, that friendliness from before completely gone from his voice.
“Is she okay?” I asked, looking toward Ophelia. “Does she need anything?”
“Why do you care?”
“I know what it feels like getting choked like that.” I smiled, remembering Judah and his filthy hands around my throat. I remembered the lack of air, the feeling like I was going to die, while my lungs fought inside of me, trying to get something inside. “I could get her some water.”
“No,” Atlas barked, but Ophelia stepped around him, squeezing his bicep.
“It’s okay,” she murmured and looked at me. “Thank you for asking, but I’m fine.”
“Ophelia,” Atlas groaned.
“Shut up, Atlas. I didn’t get your name?” she asked me.
