Page 43 of Ruined
If I found her, she’d learn hiding from me was pointless.
If Greyson got to her first, she’d learn that I was always the safer option.
I decided to head to the club first. When I did find her, I would need supplies, and I could get everything from there. Making a mental list, I thought of everything I would potentially need, including a few different masks.
Ultimately, I understood why she would do this. I wasn’t angry with her for choosing this road. I actually felt the opposite.Thiswas the exact thing about her that made me feel alive, that gave me the rush I craved. I looked out the car window as I pulled back onto the street. “Hide all you want, Ember,” I murmured under my breath. “You’re still mine.”
I kept that same mentality as I ran into the club, packed a bag, and then jumped back on the road. For the next thirty minutes, I repeated that same thing in my head, over and over. Then for the next hour, I said it louder as I searched every park, coffee shop, and bookstore. Anywhere she might go, any place she might stop.
At the two-hour mark, Greyson hadn’t had any luck either. We decided to join forces and follow behind each other, taking turns securing the perimeter of different blocks. The three-hour mark passed, and I finally got a ping on my phone to her location. The alert was from Ember's front security camera at her house, and the footage showed her sneaking back in. Fromthe video, it was clear she was spooked and uncomfortable.
I turned the wheel, peeling down a side street. I smiled at the rearview mirror when Greyson followed, apparently aware that I had a lead.
22
Ember
My knee wouldn’t stop bouncing now that I was back at home. Three hours was all it took me to decide that I’d rather be home with the others than freak out by myself. I’d wandered around for a while, thinking I was hearing things, thinking he would show up around any corner—I just couldn’t function like that.
Being here didn’t take the fear away completely, especially because I knew he could see me, but at least it was a little bit better. My plan was to stay away from my room, and my phone, which meant right now, I was sitting at my kitchen counter staring at nothing. The silence was uncomfortable, but I knew it would take one simple thing for him to find me. The only thing stopping me from freaking out completely was knowing that right now, Kinsley and Bodhi were here with me. When I came back, I found them secluded in their bedroom, where they were watching a movie with the volume maxed out like their own personal movie theatre. It was a typical occurrence, a method I assumed was used to cover upothersounds they were making.
I’d decided to soothe myself by pulling out some ice cream from the freezer, when the movie paused and their door openedfrom down the hall. I set the tub of cookies and cream on the counter and shuffled across the kitchen, making as much noise as I could to alert them that they were not alone.The last thing I needed right now was to see either of them naked.The sound of footsteps continued, and then someone entered the kitchen. Peering around the door, I smiled at the sight of Bodhi, who was holding up his hand to block the light.
“Em?” he asked, his hair going in every direction. “You good?”
“Yup,” I replied, closing the door with a spoon already in my mouth. “Just couldn’t sleep.” Turning my body, I pulled a small bowl down from the cupboard.
Yawning, he scratched his head and stretched out his back. When his shoulders settled, he let out a short sigh. “Yeah, okay. Want some chai to help?”
I smiled at him with a mouthful of ice cream as Kinsley stepped in, a light blanket the only thing wrapped around her body. “Hey Bo—” She laughed when she saw me, tightening the sheet. “Sorry girl, I just needed some water.”
I waved the spoon at her and took another bite. “S’all good,” I managed to get out with a mouthful of ice cream.
She moved next to me and wrapped one arm around me, giving me a side hug. “Love you, Em.” Then she walked over to Bodhi who was standing at the fridge and kissed his bicep before smacking his butt. “You have five minutes to recharge.”Bodhi laughed as he glanced down, watching her as she stocked her arms with water bottles. After another moment, he shook hishead and pulled the jug from a shelf.
Once Kinsley was back in the room, there was no more talking. There was only the sound of shuffled feet, and then liquid being poured. The cabinet doors opened as he grabbed some extra ingredients and pretty soon the smell surrounded us.
Within minutes, he set the mug near my hands and gave a small nudge to my shoulder. “You know,” he said, leaning back against the counter, “you’ve got all of us. Always.”
I finished my last bite of the frozen treat and looked at him. “I know,” I said quietly.
He tapped my back in comfort and turned toward his bedroom. “If you need us, we’ll be here.” After a slight pause he added, “But I would highly suggest knocking first.”
My fingers curled around the mug, and a smile tugged at my lips as the heat seeped into my skin. “Got it. Thank you.”
I wasn't one to ask for help butI did knowthey were here for me. During my walk, I had already decided I was going to handle this on my own. I didn’t need them to step in, I didn’t even think I needed to call the police at this point.
Knowing I no longer had the ability to sleep in my own bed, I took my chai to the living room and dropped down on the couch. Turning the TV on for noise more than anything, I found some late-night rerun I didn’t even register. The light flickered across the walls behind me in soft colors as I pulled a blanket over myself sipping slowly.
The drink's warmth settled me and my knee finally stoppedbouncing. I felt the shift as my body sank fully into the cushions and my eyes grew heavy. Pretty soon after that, I fell asleep to the sound of laughter and end credits.
It wasn’t long before I was woken up by a strange feeling. Blinking into the darkness, it took a second to remember exactly where I was. A metal rod underneath me confirmed that I was still on the living room couch, and I turned to reposition myself. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the TV was still on, but now it was some jewelry auction with low music in the background. The screen flickered once as a commercial came on, casting a pale glow around me. In the light, I noticed the front door was open.
Wide open.
My stomach dropped so fast I thought I was hallucinating. I knew I’d locked both doors, but even the screen door was swung open.
I sat up, suddenly very awake. As I focused in, I realized a figure was standing just past the porch. A slight movement in the yard activated the motion sensor, and I was hit with a sudden burst of light. When it disappeared, no one was standing there. My body locked instantly, and I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. My limbs felt like they’d been poured full of concrete.
