Ultraviolet

Chapter Fifty-Two: Ava

Two days had passed since that night.

Ty promised that I could stay as long as I like, but I knew deep down he was starting to get worried I'd be here forever.

I used his laptop to look for a job, but its nearly impossible to pretend to be passionate about meaningless shit like coffee and organic groceries when you don't know what address your adding to your resume.

All while I had been wallowing on his couch, Ty had been working practically everyday. He works for his dad's company, but every time he talks about his job I get more confused about what his actual job is.

I know I could call Deputy O'Connor. I know I could move back to Sunshine. The Sherif and the Wilkes' were gone, but Quinton was still there. The Deputy could keep me safe, but I'd be too afraid to leave the house.

And what if Quinton wasn't there. I'm the girl who ran away and was charged with a bunch of bullshit offences. Not to mention that the news report heavily mentioned that I was abused. I don't want people to stare at me and know about my past. I want to forget about it all together.

I closed the laptop after submitting another job application and went into the kitchen. Ty didn't exactly eat balanced meals, so he had a lot of sugary cereals, a giant tub of ice cream in the freezer, and all you can eat chips, crisps and cookies.

I grabbed a bag of chicken crisps and sat down on the cool kitchen floor, spreading my legs out in front of me.

Going back to the bar was out of the question. Seeing Hadeon ever again was out of the question. So, I had not only invaded Ty's home but his closet as well. I was currently in a large t-shirt and tracksuit pants, looking like a complete mess.

Keys jangled outside the front door to the apartment and the lock twisted. I jumped up and dusted the crisp crumbs off my shirt. Ty walked in, eyes staring at me cautiously.

"Violet," He mumbled. "Theres someone here to see you."

My stomach dropped. The last thing I needed was Hadeon walking into the only place I felt free of him.

I wanted to move, but my feet felt glued to this spot in the kitchen.

The door widened and in walked a woman in all red: red dress, red coat, red heels, and gold encrusted rubies sat on her fingers, her wrist, and her ears.

"Adrianna?" I gulped.

She continued into the room, looking around the entire space with disgust, then turned to me. Her eyes met mine, then strayed down to take in my outfit, then up to observe my hair, before falling back to make eye-contact.

"Violet."

Ty stood awkwardly, trying his best to read my reaction.

"Can I have a moment with her?" Adrianna asked, not bothering to acknowledge Ty.

"Uh, sure."

"Ty, don't leave." I ordered.

"This is a private conversation." She warned.

"We can go into the hall and speak." I suggested.

Adrianna glared at me, a silent contest between the two of us. I made my opinion clear; we were speaking outside. She realised this and lead the way into the hallway.

Ty's apartment was on the top floor alongside one other apartment, that was currently for sale and empty. No one could here us, the conversation was private. But it was very clear that Adrianna wasn't happy about this.

"I'm not going back."

"I do not care." Adrianna laughed. "I am here to remind you that I helped you when no one else could."

Straight to the point.

"Is that a threat?" I shot back. Adrianna made the orders. She called the shots. She was as complicit as Hadeon.

"My god, child." She mocked. "So dramatic. You and Hadeon both, melodramatic to a fault."

Just hearing her say his name was a punch to the gut.

"Are you threatening me or not?" I demanded. "You helped me so that I would owe you, so that I'd feel obligated to do your bidding. Right?"

"My bidding?" She cackled. "Violet, you are not special."

I straightened my back defensively. Her humour in all this stinging like a slap across the face.

"I put the Sherif and those hillbillies in jail because they did the wrong thing. I did not help you because I favour you, or I thought you might be of use to me. I did it because it was the right thing to do."

"The right thing?!" I fumed. "Everything you've done, everything you've made your little army do, that was all for the greater good? Hadeon beating that man until he was half-dead, that was an act of heroism?!"

"Don't yell at me." Adrianna cautioned.

She put her hand into her coat and I felt my heart speed up in my chest, awaiting what she would pull out. My breath fell out from my mouth when I caught sight of a newspaper. She held it out to me, a scowl on her flawless face.

I took the paper and unfolded it, staring at the front page.

The man Hadeon was beating, still wearing his blood-soaked clothes from that night, was photographed being escorted by police officers into a station. Thick bold letters read, "Brooklyn man pleads guilty to multiple charges of..."

I read on, horrified by each word. Engrossed I continued the article. Every horrible, disgusting, terrible and misogynistic crime detailed. The number of girls he's hurt burning into my brain.

"I feel sick." I mumbled.

"Lets go get a coffee. I know a place nearby."