Wishing I Could Save Myself from a Life I Despise: My Shadowed Life Series

Chapter 18: It's Time to Talk Truth

I'm not sure how much I like this chap but... here it is :)

Please ENJOY!  ~ Crissy

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Chapter 18: It’s Time to Talk Truth

A few days had passed and I honestly felt a lot better. I regained some strength and my body ached less. The cuts and bruised were almost healed and I was even able to talk Gabe into taking my bandages off. Maxim and Gabe gave me space and time to think. They left me alone for most of my days, one or the other brought my meals to me. Gabe’s meals were much better, as I expected, but Max was no chef and I couldn’t fault him for that. I had strict orders to stay in bed. I was only allowed to go to and from the bathroom.

I spent days wandering around in my own head, thinking about what I would do next, how I could find the strength to leave the endless kindness of the brothers, and return to the torturous hell that awaited me. I knew I had to go back, there was no choice. I needed a plan, some way to sneak something lethal home so that I could end my torment at the first opportunity.

I was regretful that my death would hurt Max and Gabe, there were never anything but kind to me. The thought of leaving Max behind, was almost painful. I had no comprehension of why I felt this way, but I was determined to keep him out of the chaos that was my life. He‘d been dragged in far enough. The only thing I wanted or needed from the two of them was for them to let me go and give me some answers before I left.

I was still puzzled by the strange attraction I had to Max, it was almost magnetic. I also wondered how they seemed to know so much about my life, and why the stone affected me. If they gave me these answers, I could die happy. I could finally leave this hell on earth and rejoin my mom and Tristan. I loved and missed them both so much that at times, I felt I would die from the pain. Only I wasn’t lucky enough.

I was bored being cooped up in this overly lush room. It wasn’t my style and I definitely didn’t deserve it.  I wasn’t some princess or some civilized lady, this kind of treatment was over the top for someone like me.

After I dressed in real clothes, jeans and a simple tee shirt, I decided to venture out of my room, taking my chances that I may get caught. But I never really had the chance to explore before, since Max and Gabe watched me like predators stalking their prey. Every time I attempted to open the door, I was effectively forced back into bed. I wasn’t willing to back down as easily today. I was uncertain of how much time I had left here, let alone on earth, so I opted to go investigating.

I opened the door cautiously, scouring the hall for the boys, before stepping out and immediately turning to the left. I followed the hall to the end, finding only a few bedrooms. Next, I went right and again found only bedrooms. This exploration was turning out to be boring. I knew the kitchen was downstairs and to the left, next to the dining room. I snuck downstairs and quickly went right. I followed the hall, passing a living room and bathroom. This level was equally boring, or so I thought until I reached the last door.

I pushed it open hoping for something that the least bit interesting. I was surprised by what I found on the other side of the door. The room was dimly lit, but filled with books and what looked like scrolls. Weird. They must be some sort of antique book collectors. I searched the bookcases and shelves, pulling out a few books. Some were blank, which was odd because they looked very old and weathered. Others were in some foreign language I couldn’t read, let alone decipher.

This was the craziest library I had ever seen. I discovered a desk that held a stack of papers. Upon closer inspection of the blank pages, the color and weight seemed oddly familiar, like I had seen them or perhaps handled them before. Strange. Next I happened upon a window that was nestled in between two tall bookshelves. I peered outside, pushing back the heavy red curtains, and surveyed the area.