Revive (Book Two)

Chapter Nine: Sacrifice

It was cold. And damp.

I had lost. When I was forced to be helplessly dependent on my drunken father, I had lost. When it was time to say goodbye to my mother and she had taken her last breath while I held onto her cold, thin hand, I had lost. When I turned away my best and only friend in order to selfishly run away, I had lost. To think turning to drugs and alcohol in a sickening gang was a win, I had inevitably had lost. Accepting defeat although being forced in a psych ward for the mentally ill, substance addicted slums, I had lost. Saying goodbye to my only family, I had lost. And when I crushed the best thing to ever happen in my almost twenty-five years on this earth, the one person that brought a light to my heart and peace to my mind, I had lost. I had lost big.

But now, I had to face the consequences of my selfish actions, and lose. To him.

Considering the circumstances, I was oddly okay with it.

"Would you like to take a break from your father, Eli?" Howl peered into my eyes.

"I'd like to take a break from this hellhole too, can we arrange that as well?" I had enough for today, it was growing evident.

She smiled and set down her glasses. "I don't want you to dissociate. Your subconscious is trying to protect you, but in order to heal, you have to face what's happened." She eyed me cautiously, then glanced behind me.

"Bodyguards aren't around anymore to protect you from me, Howl," I muttered, and leaned back in my chair with my hands clasped together.

She raised an amused eyebrow. "You're coming so close, Elias."

I trained my eyes on hers, something she despised me doing. It made her nervous.

"Your mother-"

The warehouse was not hard to navigate through because I had been here many times prior whether it was to get away, or to take out anger. It was cold inside, and it was damp. The concrete absorbed the weather, but the air was stale and brought a shiver to my spine. Perhaps it was because I knew what was coming.

I adjusted my black jacket, and drew a long breath of air that smelled like an unfinished basement. I looked down at my hands, which were stained in dirt and dried up blood by the knuckles from various amounts of mischief. I flicked my lighter on and off, occasionally twirling it in between my fingers.

"Where did I go all wrong?" I mumbled while flicking the light.

Light footsteps perked my ears from a little ways away, down near what was the entrance of this part of the warehouse. I shot my eyes upward, scanning the room and clutched my jacket pocket where my weapon resided.

Aria's doe eyes were widened, eyes such a bright blue, it could've cascaded a light on the whole room.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a hidden panic that came out much more angry.

She walked toward me and I dropped my hands back into the task of holding my lighter. "Don't worry," She softly spoke. "He won't be here for another couple of hours."

I breathed in relief. "You should go, pretty girl," I murmured softly. "It's not safe." I had a chance to really take in her features, and it was a painful bliss to be reminded of what she looked like, and who she was to me.

Her caramel hair grew, hitting just past her hip bones, framing her face beautifully. Her nose had a perfect curve carved out while her lips were plump, a natural shade of pink that complimented her fair complexion perfectly.

"I just..." She started but stopped short. Her kind eyes became glossy as she stepped right in front of me, only a few feet away. "I just needed to see you," She struggled to get out.