Kill Me Now (Book 1)(Editing)

Chapter 24: Sleepless Nights

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(Recap)

        "I don't want your help," I hiss as I stand up on my crutches. Mitch nods sadly and pinches the bridge of his nose. I struggle across the ground as Mitch follows at a distance making sure that I won't fall or hurt myself. As I move along I can't but feel my heart splitting in two. I like Mitch, yes I admitted it. But know that I know this Mitch is acting strange, as if he's some poison that will spoil me. I don't understand, maybe I am a little innocent, but that doesn't stop my heart from hurting. I pause to compose myself but a small tear trickles down my cheeks. I sit down against a tree and bury my head in my arms as the tears run freely.

            "Tiger," someone whispers as they kneel down in front of me.

            "Go-o a-way," I say in between sobs.

            "I'll give you some time," Mitch murmurs and begins to walk off, "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

            "Don't come back," I yell at his disappearing figure.

§§§§§§§§§§

            "Sir we've searched the area and found no sign of any land where they could be," the man explains as he enters my office.

            "You didn't look hard enough," I purse my lips and narrow my eyes.

            "Sir...we scoured the area for twenty-four hours," the man says evenly, "I think we need to widen our land are-."

            "And who are you giving orders," I snap and slam my fist down, "I should have your puny little head blown off for this insubordination." The man coughs when this is said and shakes his head wildly.

            "No sir," he sputters, "My intention was not to give orders, but to point out that if we broadened our search area we might find them more easily..."

            "Much better," I smack my lips together, "Widen the area then," I wave my hand. The man nods eagerly and backs out the room. But before he can exit completely I hold up my hand.

            "If you don't find them," I say in a low, chilling tone, "I wouldn't bother coming back...because your death will be awaiting. I've allowed for you to carry on with your charade, but I've finally tired of it. If nothing is produced when you finish your search I shall have your corpse...understood." The man's face turns ashen white as he mumbles a 'yes sir' and hurriedly exits the room.

 

§§§§§§§§§§

            As Mitch disappears in the distance I feel myself breathing deeply and clutching the ground beneath me. He's going to know how this feels, I think as I struggle up onto my crutches and head deeper into the foliage. I have no idea what I'm doing or where I'm going but I just...want to move, do something.

            I've been struggling along for five minutes when I find a small tree hole that I could fit in. Mitch would never look there, because I can't climb trees. But when there's a will, there's a way. I place my crutches away from the tree, hidden in a bush, and hop on one leg back to the tree. I then grab a branch and using my good leg and heave myself up. I repeat this process until I've reached the tree hole. Upon reaching it, I slip into the little nook and settle against one of the walls. I scoot far away from the entrance to avoid Mitch finding me as fresh tears flow. I make sure to quiet my sobs so they can't be heard and bury my face in my hands.