Book 2 of 2, sequel to Alaska's Illicit.
In which Mikaere returns to Alaska, but upon arriving realizes that she has a new problem: Vaughn, Darren, or should she just stick with Jared?
Vaughn's past and life are revealed, and also a serial killer mi...
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CHAPTER 16: AVEBURG
In a dark alley that smells of mold, a man stumbles back in confusion before falling down. His mind is everywhere, and he cannot control his thoughts that are racing too fast too fast too fast. He cannot focus on anything but the flashbacks. The black and blue. The wire. The-
What was that? A noise, he hears - but he's still in shock. He's still in constant panic, and the constant pumping of adrenaline is too much. He's so scared. So afraid he'll be found again. So extremely angry.
He moves in the sound's direction without thinking. Without considering if he'll be adding another blood type to his hands by doing so. If his scarred hands will be painted with the same shade of red again, he does not stop to wonder. He cannot. He can only fear and try to find.
It's not his fault. He was made into this. He was forced into this. Or was he? He's not as strong in his conviction as he was in the beginning. He only remembers a blurry face or two and the sirens. And the running and the headlights and the pain. The stairs and the darkness and the fear. Maybe with some help, he could remember. He could stop.
The killer's knees are scraped, the self-inflicted nail marks that have marred his skin are still nothing compared to the deep scars that already litter his body.
He feels the chilly air, but it does not register. His sense of balance is off, but he continues on toward the voice.
"Wire," he whispers.
...
Across town two days later, Mikaere listens as Siara tells of how Vaughn used to braid her hair for school at her request, and she's thinking, 'Wait...he knows how to braid hair? Why did I cut mine again?' And then she's fiddling awkwardly with the split ends she needs to trim as she stares at the simple design on his soft pink sweater.
The month of September swiftly passed by with sentiments and secrets slowly building between them all, and now it is mid-October. Before this particular outing, Mikaere and Vaughn have only seen each other three times since summer ended, and they have not dared to try to further or pursue anything.
Vaughn would say it's because he's unsure of Mikaere's feelings towards him, especially in light of Darren's blatant flirting with her. Mikaere would say it's because she's unsure of Vaughn's feelings towards her, and also she, as he does himself, doubts herself too much to take any such risk. So now they're pretending that their feelings towards each other do not exist.
Though he actually does, Vaughn does not yet think that he loves her. Instead, he just understands that he cares for her deeply, and holds hidden hopes within his heart. Mikaere, however, does not yet understand anything about what she thinks and feels in regard to Vaughn.
She's been spending more time with Malee and Darren or Malee and Jasmine more than anyone else. When she's with her roommate and Darren, they're mostly talking while stargazing and having movie-watching sleepovers. When she's with Malee and Jasmine, they're going to restaurants and ordering dessert first and appetizers last, and they're doing pottery together.
