THEM

Chapter 13

Just a heads up, this chapter may contain some content that may be triggering. So, please read at your own risk.

Trying to erase what I had just seen on our way back to the store was easier said than done.

The image of the man reaching out to me, his eyes pleading for help, kept replaying like some horrible movie on repeat.

My mind was so occupied with coming to terms with
what had just happened that I didn't even realize when we arrived at the store front again.

Cory pulled out a key and quickly unlocked the door before standing back and ushering me inside. Once inside he quickly closed the door and bolted it bathing us in darkness.

We stood there in silence for a moment, neither of us moving.

Although I couldn't see him, I felt Cory move and then felt both of his hands on my shoulders. It took me a minute, but as my eyes slowly started to adjust to the darkness I could make out his features as he stood in front of me.

"What happened back there, that wasn't your fault." He began, his voice low and serious. "There was nothing we could've done for him."

I don't know how he knew that was what was bothering me, but it only made the lump in my throat seem to grow larger.

"You didn't see it. The way he looked at me." I whispered.

I felt his grip on my shoulders tighten slightly. By now my eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness and I could see Cory's face clearly. His eyes were boring into mine with enough intensity to take my breath away.

"That's not on you."

"I don't-"

"Allona." I felt his fingers slide up from my shoulders to the base of my neck and just under my jaw so I was forced to look nowhere else but at him.

"Listen to me. He was already strung out on drugs. It was only a matter of time before it happened. If you would've tried to help him it would've gotten you killed."

His eyes never left mine.

"That's why I don't know why you came back for me. You should've just kept going."

"I told you, I-"

"Yeah, you needed me for the medicine." A small smirk lifted the corners of his mouth. "Whatever you say."

Cory pulled away, his fingers lingering on my skin for just a second before he turned and started toward the stairs.

Wait, what?!

I quickly stumbled after him and hurried down the steps.

As I rounded the corner I found him already leaning over my dad, pulling the medicine out of his bag.

I knelt next to him and silently watched as he injected the medicine into my dad's blood stream.

Once he had pulled the needle from his skin and placed the cap back on he sat back on his knees and turned to look at me.

"Now, we wait."

***

The waiting game was the worst.