WhiteScratch

Mistakes Will Haunt You

The cut starts to burn under the direct sunlight but before I have time to react to what Grayson just did, Jake pushes me back and punches Grayson in the face with such a force that it makes him fall to the ground. 
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Jake shouts. He shouts with an anger that is unlike him. Filled with rage and hatred like I've never seen before from anyone. Grayson gets up with a bloody lip but Jake punches him again, sending him back to the ground. 
"First, it was how you were and are treating her. Oh yes, I know what you're doing. All your touching and kisses to her cheek. Second, it was all those looks you have on your face, like you know more than you're letting on. Third, it was back there in that hell on earth. You didn't help me when I was in trouble, only Rachel and even then, you hurt her more than you even helped her! You seemed like you knew where you were going but you didn't tell us. You kept her away from me and just now, you cut her face on purpose! I've had enough with you! I told you that you didn't want to know what would happen to you if you kept treating Rachel the way you have been. Do you really want to continue?" Jake makes a fist with both hands as he waits for him to answer. Grayson stands up and pauses like he's frozen in time and speaks in a snarky tone. 
"What if I do? What if I like seeing you angered? What if I like doing everything I do to her and how it makes you feel?"
"I would be very careful about what you're saying right now." Jake says as his fists get tighter. I know that I need to intervene so I stand between them. 
"Guys, cut it out! This is the last thing we need right now. We have possible human bodies in that butcher house over there and we don't know why or where they came from. We have no cure for WhiteScratch still and my dad is still out there looking for me! Stop fighting!" I look over at Jake sincerely and I see his fists start to relax before I feel a sharp, painful blow into my side. I gasp at the pain and clutch my side as I turn to look at Grayson.
"Did you just-?" He grins as I feel Jake wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me backwards. 
"Are you okay?!" He asks, worried. 
"I'll be fine..." He nods and turns away but I grab his arm before he can move.
"Please don't hurt him. That's not right." He pulls his arm away.
"Are you serious? I told you that if he kept treating you the way he has that it wouldn't end well for him. I've told you sense the beginning that he was bad news and I was keeping my eye on him. Please try to understand the situation I'm in Rache! I don't want to hurt him and I promise I won't fatally injure him but I've had enough and you know this!" I sigh and look at the ground. 
"I understand. I just.." Before I can finish, Grayson comes up behind Jake. 
"JAKE, WATCH OUT!" I warn him, but Grayson comes up too quickly for Jake to react. He grabs him around his neck, trying to choke him out but Jake rolls backwards, crushing Grayson against the ground resulting in him letting his grip loose. Jake stands up, trying to catch his breathe with fists raised as Grayson gets back up. He looks back at me and then at Jake as he speaks to me. 
"You know, you're much better off without him Rachel..." He rushes at Jake and plants a hard punch on his jaw which causes Jake to stumble. 
"You'd be way more protected with me and you know that. Not to mention way more loved..." He tries to lay another one on Jake but Jake dodges and uppercuts to his chin and lays another one on Grayson's cheek. 
"Really? Cause it seems to me that all you want to do is hurt me." I respond back to him. Grayson sends a high kick to Jake's chest as he grins.
"Yes I do but not in the way you're thinking of." I think about what he just said and all of a sudden, I'm hoping Jake beats the snot out him. I look at Jake for his reaction and you can tell a switch has just flipped. I can see the rage behind his eyes flare as he gets his groundings and runs at Grayson throwing every punch he can and every one is accurate. He punches him jaw, stomach, side over and over again before he sweeps Grayson's legs out from under him, making him fall on the ground with a harsh thud. Jake stands over him as he raises a fist high into the air. I look into his eyes and I don't see Jake; I see an animal. Tears start to drop out of my eyes.
"JAKE NO!" I scream at him. He looks at me and then analyzes the situation. His chest starts to heave in and out as he takes a couple steps back. 
"Jake-" I whisper as the tears start dropping like rain. He starts crying as well and runs toward me. He drops to his knees, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just-" he starts sulking before he can finish. I pull him into a tight hug and kiss his head. I can see Grayson laying on the ground, unconscious.
"I know." I whisper into his ear through the tears. 
"What have I done?... How did I even?... I can't forgive myself." He chokes out after several minutes.
"This is why I wanted you to be careful of what you were doing, Jake. I knew you were going to regret it but at least you didn't kill him."
"That's hardly a bright side, Rachel. How could YOU ever forgive me? What I did...that wasn't me. That is not forgivable."
"But the thing is, I know why you did it. Sure, it was horrible and not you but you did it to protect me. I knew it was coming and that it was just a matter of time. You warned me; you warned him but he was and is too persistent. Maybe this will teach him." I squeeze him before he pulls away and gently touches the cut on my cheek with his finger. 
"I can't believe he actually had the nerve to do that." Another couple of tears drop from his eyes and I wipe them away with my thumb. 
"I'm okay. Jut be ready and careful when he wakes up."