Page 44 of Straightjacket

“I know this place like the back of my hand, why don’t we go and look for him? Leave these animals to whoever is left alive.”

A sense of weariness niggles at the back of my mind. “But what if something happens to you, I can’t lose you both?” She takes my hand in hers to give me a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ve got Polly to protect me, don’t you worry. I’ve been playing this game for a long time.”

There’s a fire in her eyes as she speaks, a determination that matches mine, to find Silas, and it’s strange because the harder I look into her eyes, the more they begin to resemble his but there’s no way that’s real. I’m just overly tired, that’s all and I’m pretty sure my mind is imagining things.

I squeeze her hand back. “Only if, you’re sure? We have to meet back here, yeah?”

“I’ll be right back here.” She says, then skips off. Jumping over the bodies like a child playing hopscotch, her baby pink bob swaying. I watch for a moment as she takes the left side and I take the right, stepping carefully over severed limbs until I find a clear hallway to walk down. There’s a heavy silence as I make my way through and I keep a tight grip on the shiv, ready to stab any cunt who messes with me but there’s no one. No lingering voices or stray bullets, just a dark heavy silence and I don’t like it.

Keeping my steps light, I stop at the end of the hallway before it turns down another and I wait, listening for anyone who could be on the other side of this wall. It’s quiet for a moment, just the sound of my hammering heart as it thumps in my ears but then the silence breaks, the sound of heavy, determined steps coming closer.

I close my eyes for a second to calm my racing nerves and lift the shiv, waiting until whoever is coming towards me to turn the corner and when they do, I’ll be ready.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The steps get heavier, more prominent as they grow closer and as soon as I see the shadow of the person on the floor, I strike. I swing my arm, putting all my weight behind it but my wrist gets caught in an iron grip.

“Fuck, take me out to dinner first before you cut me open.” A deep, rough voice hits me like a train and I look up, finding Silas standing before me, his hand wrapped firmly around my wrist with the shiv that’s inches away from his throat.

“You’re... you’re alive!” I cry out and drop the shiv before jumping into his arms. He catches me instantly, cradling the back of my head as I sob into his shoulder.

“There ain’t no way I’m leaving you that easily, little demon. You’d have to kill me first, which you almost did.” He jokes, a lightness in his tone but I hear the pain that lays beneath, the worry that slips through with ease.

“Oh God, I’m sorry.” I cry even more into his shoulder, clinging onto him like he might disappear. “I thought... you–”

“I know, baby and I’m so fucking proud of you.” He strokes the back of my head tenderly and I pull him closer, he groans slightly and I pull back, looking deeply into his stormy eyes.

“You’re hurt.” I state and he shakes his head, trying to brush it off.

“Just a flesh wound, I’ll be right as rain.”

I slip out of his hold to assess his body, my gaze instantly catching the patch of blood on his stomach. “Silas, what’s that?”

Dropping his head, he looks down at the soaked fabric. “Yeah, that... I might have popped a stitch or two but I’m fine, I promise.”

“And what about that?” I point towards his hand.

“That was self-inflicted, I do apologise.” He says as if it’s just a scratch but it’s far worse than that. His finger is completely bent out of shape and there’s a deep, red ring around his wrist.

I chew on the inside of my lip to hold back the tears, and he must notice it, just like he notices everything and he takes my wrist again, pulling me into his chest. The moment I feel his slow beating heart against my temple, I break– shattering completely in his hold.

“I’m so fucking sorry, for all of this.” He says, wrapping his arms completely around my shoulders. “I never should have let this happen to you.” His voice breaks and I tip my head back to look at him, watching as heavy tears fill his eyes. I lift my hand from his chest to cup his cheek, then pull his face down to meet mine.

Gently he rests his forehead against mine and I breathe him in, inhaling him deeply into my lungs, then I whisper. “I don’t care where we end up. As long as I’m by your side, I know everything will be alright. No matter what happens, if I have you, nothing in this world can touch me.”

“But they–”

I press my finger to his lips. “I’m not wasting this time I have with you, by talking. We’ve got the rest of our lives to do that, instead I want you to put that mouth to good use somewhere else.”

A grin pulls at his lips to reveal his teeth, and he yanks me closer, fisting my jumpsuit. “Are you flirting with me, in a place like this?”

“Is it working?” I say, cocking my head to the side.