20 Questions

Chapter 130

Griffin lifts me into his arms and carries me up the steps. Shock has set in and my legs wobble so badly, I can barely stand on my own two feet. The adrenaline has let down and I'm left feeling like I just ran a marathon after a week of starving myself. All I want to do is wash the blood off, put on clean clothes and get the hell out of here. Griffin's face is still bloody and he has a deep gash above his right eye.

The thunderstorms are rolling outside and if I weren't already a trembling mess from, oh I don't know, murdering two people, I am now. The wind isn't as strong as last night and there are no tornado warnings, but the rain, thunder and lightning rage on with no sign of letting up. If God is testing me to see how much I can handle, He should know I'm at my breaking point. I try to wrap my arms around Griffin's neck as he carries me, but they fall repeatedly from heavy exhaustion. I have to get this blood off me though, no matter how impossible the task seems.

He walks into the bedroom and sets me on the bed while he grabs a duffel bag out of my closet. I'm barely able to hold myself up in a sitting position while he moves swiftly around the room, grabbing clothing from my chest of drawers. At this point, I don't care what he packs for me, I just want to leave. I'm not even bothered when he opens the drawer and pulls out several pairs of my underwear, eyeing them intently before shoving them in the bag. He pulls out a pair of black yoga pants, a blue fitted T-shirt, my matching pink lace bra and panties set, and my socks and shoes. He carries the pile to the bathroom and sets them on the sink. His duffel bag is already in the room and ready to go.

"Jenna, I am going to be in there while you shower. Hunter told me not to let you out of my sight, but I promise to give you as much privacy as I can."

"Ok," I surrender.

"Ok? That's it?" he asks and I just shrug.

"Griffin, I don't have the energy to fight you. I'm not even sure I'm strong enough to hold myself up. If you can just hand me the sprayer when we get in there, I'll sit on the bench and do what I can."

His face falls. This is not a Jenna he's used to seeing. I stand my ground, fight him every step of the way and I torment him without trying to. My energy level sits somewhere between a slug and a sloth and I am completely incapable of bickering with him. He picks me up from the bed, cradling me against his chest and walks me into the bathroom where he sets me on the sink. I put my hands on the counter and attempt to brace myself, afraid if I lift my arms to take my shirt off, I may fall over. My body is so weak, I feel like I am on day sixteen of the flu.

"Do you need help undressing?" he asks timidly. "I can close my eyes if it would make you feel better."

"Griffin, I really don't care. You can strip me naked and I don't have the energy to stop you. I just want to get this over with and get on the road. I'm exhausted, mentally and physically."

His eyes dance momentarily when I say "naked", but he looks down before he gives anything else away. He removes my shoes first, gently tugging so I don't slide off the counter. Standing back up, he gathers the hem of my shirt and lifts it up, revealing my bare stomach and half-exposed breasts. Standing between my open legs, he wraps his arm around my waist to hold me steady, encouraging me to raise my arms up over my head to remove my shirt. When he tugs it off and drops it to the ground, I catch him staring down at my black lace bra. His head falls as he blows out a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Griffin. If this is too much, we can just go and I'll have Hunter wash me when we get there."

"It's ok, little girl. I'll manage. I don't want you riding down there covered in blood. I'm gonna keep my arm around your waist and we are going to stand you up so I can remove your pants. Is that ok?"