Change of Heart

Chapter 79

**

It's been a week since I even saw or spoke to Jake, let alone anyone for that matter. At times Serine would come knocking on my door, bringing me something to eat, but I would just send her away. Frankly, as hungry as I was, I didn't even have an appetite. All I could keep down without wanting to throw up was water.

I wanted to take Serine out of this place, move away, but there was no place to go. We were on our own now. Mike left us stranded here with nothing. Lucky for us though, before he left, I took most of his cash he had stashed in his mattress. There had been close to half a million dollars there, and he said he was broke. Psh, that bastard probably won't even find it gone for a decade or so.

Finally getting off my butt, I decided it was time I confronted Jake. Quietly leaving my room, I didn't want Serine to hear me, but of course, she was already sitting outside my door waiting for me.

Shooting up she started but I just walked past her. "Caden, wait."

"Serine, please. Not now. I...I have to go somewhere for a little bit." Leaving her behind, I walked out the door. I probably just made her cry, but I couldn't think about that now. I'd make it up to her when I got home. Right now, I just needed to make sure Jake was handling this well.

Some time had passed before I reached Jake's house, and to my surprise, everyone and everything...was gone. I looked through the windows to each room, and not a single thing of theirs was in sight. He moved...he's moving on from this awful past of ours. Sitting on his porch, I thought to myself. Lucky him. Though, I do wish I could've seen him off before he left, but when I think it over again, it may have just been more painful.

**

After hours of sitting in front of Jake's house, I went back home to make up with Serine only to find her locked up in her room just as I was in mine. Knocking twice, I called out. "Hey Serine. I...I'm sorry about earlier...I just-" I stopped when I realized I could hear her cry through the bedroom door, and my heart broke. Dammit...I just keep making things worse.

I sat outside her bedroom door all night, just waiting. Neither of us exchanged a single word. I began to think about what had happened these past few weeks, what I've gone through, what Serine has gone through.

I'm going to put it all behind me. From now on, Serine is going to be my top priority. I'll become a completely different person if I have to, all for her sake.

**

Over the course of the year, I really change my attitude, and actually reached out to others, partaking in different activities and such. As a result though, Serine and I grew apart, sadly. I still try my best to reach out to her as much as I can, but it's been like she shut me out along with the rest of the world. Every once in while, she'll come to me for help, but, it's just not the same as it was before a year ago.

If I had never ran into Zeke that first day, never met Jake, none of what happened would have happened. Though, in a way it's good that it happened. I was able to meet Jake and become best friends with him.

That, demon guy from Serine's images hasn't shown his face since that night...and I just pray that he doesn't show his face again. As for that other guy, I'm still confused about what his deal was. What did he want with Serine? And how did he even get a picture of her? In her images, he didn't portray as a bad guy, but still...it would be best if he didn't show his face again either.