Seduced Fall ✔️

34. The calls

Clara Carter

My veins beat with adrenaline. My ears—my bones too—vibrate from the blast before. Even from this distance between us, my grip on the steering wheel tightens as I observe Stefan's smug face.

Then I see the burning car. In the air, the flames spit black and burnt particles. If not for the distance between us, the amount of heat flowing through it would sear me.

My gaze draws back to Stefan. The complacent strength in his stance pierces my heart like a knife.

Is he the one who put the car on fire? With a person inside?

Why?

"Are you okay, Clara?" From somewhere near me, a faded voice asks. My focus remains fixed on Stefan. For some reason, he can't see our car; his whole concentration is on the flaming car, or his thoughts, or perhaps something more deadly.

"Clara!" I recognize Tyler's voice, this time more clearer. A hand grabs my shoulder and shakes me. I look away from Stefan to Ray, who is terrified, and Tyler, who is sweating in fear. Watching me.

"Are you okay?" Ray asks, her voice soft and low.

I hold her gaze for a while, notice the unshed tears pooling above those beautiful greys. Then I look back to Stefan. He slides behind the wheel of his car, and before I know it, I'm starting my car, which I hadn't realized was turned off when I slammed on the brakes so hard.

My ears are now filled with the screeching sound of our car turning back in the direction we came from. My foot bashes down hard on the brakes, and I am back on the road in a matter of seconds. Our car is pushed by the wind to no avail. I drive across the dusty and windy road without paying attention to the speed limit.

I hear no word from Ray or Tyler, nor do I look at them. They both saw it. They saw Stefan there too. Otherwise, they would have messed with my mind to figure out why I snapped.

I sweep my fingers through my hair as I rest my elbow on the open window's bar. To relieve the rising anguish inside, I pull my hair by the roots.

Stefan's face invades my thoughts as I blink back tears. He said that he does not torture or harm people like his sister.

Let alone burn them alive.

Within my cage, my heart thumps synced to my rapid and deep breathing. The humid air and grey cloudy sky intensified my pain by reminding me of last night.

The sound of my phone ringing startles me. Ray reluctantly passes my phone toward me. On the screen, the caller ID displays a handsome and stunningly smiling face. Stefan.

I let it ring, deafening my senses till it stops and starts again.

"Are you not going to pick it up?" Tyler wonders aloud.

I turn around to give him a fake smile and put on my sunglasses despite the fact that I don't need them.

"Seems like a bad idea to me."

I fling the door to my house open and walk right in. I hurry upstairs, tossing the car keys on the couch.

"Clara! Wait!" Tyler yells from behind. I hear footsteps after me. I storm into my room and throw myself on my bed, ignoring them. Stefan said those lovely things to me while making love to me in the same bed.

My hands are splayed wide on my sides as I turn to face the ceiling. Tyler and Ray pant their way into my room. 

I swallow the lump in my throat. The nerve-racking scene crystal clear in my mind.

"Do. . ." Tyler is the first to speak. Both of them stand on opposite sides of my bed, their massive shadows shielding me from the dusk light streaming in through the balcony doors. "Do you know anything about what happened back there?"

I violently shake my head, unable to form any words. "Stefan must have told you about—"

"Would you mind if I ask you to leave me alone?" I stutter. I switch my sight from the ceiling to Ray. Then Tyler. They're worried about me and the situation.

"Please?" I plead.

They exchange a glance before nodding at me. Ray forwards my phone in my direction, afraid to trigger any nerve in me. "He's been calling like a crazy."

I keep my phone clutched in my hand and wait for my friends to give me the space I require. I stare at the black screen of my phone once they've gone.

While deciding whether or not to contact him or speak with him, the screen flashes with his name and photo. I keep looking at it. Listen to the piercing sound of the rings until it eventually stops.

Struggling to breathe, I summon the courage to unlock the phone and discover 20 missed calls and 5 messages from Stefan. I open the messages firsts.

Stefan: You are with Tyler and Ray, right?

Stefan: Where are you right now?

Stefan: I need to know you are safe, Clara

Stefan: Pick up the call

Stefan: Pick up the bloody call, Clara, for God's sake!

I re-read the texts several times, getting a glimpse of the scene from a few minutes ago. What is he attempting to achieve with all of these texts and phone calls? Did he see me watching what he did with the burning car and the person inside? Is he willing to give an explanation for everything?

I can't stand the sight of him, as much as I'd like to hear it. For the time being, at least.

I get out of bed and sit on the floor at the foot of my bed. I hug my knees while placing my phone in front of me. When I return my gaze to the digital clock on the nightstand, I notice that we had been on the road for several hours when the time strikes 5:00 p.m. Because it's been raining for the previous few days, it is getting darker outside sooner. I'm grateful for that. I don't want the light and sunshine laughing at me, contrasting with my feelings of betrayal.

My eyes are drawn to the black T-shirt I borrowed from Stefan the night I stayed with him. My lips shape a sad smile.

The sound of my phone ringing vibrates at my feet once more. This time it's Tyler who's on the line. I let it ring till the room is completely silent. My heart knocks against the inside of my chest, and fresh tears fill up in my eyes as I resist the need to phone Stefan.

Someone knocks on my door. "Clara?" Tyler's voice. I mentally slap myself for expecting that my friends would abandon me when I was on the verge of collapsing in front of them.

I clear my throat and reply. "Yes?"

"Stefan called me." He speaks. His is voice calm but concerned for my well-being. When I heard Stefan's name, my hearing became more attentive. Tyler persists despite my lack of response, knowing that I must be listening.

"He wanted to make sure you were safe and sound at home."

"And?" I ask, shaking my head at Stefan's mistaken assumption that I'm in danger.

"He said he loves you."

From the corner of my eye, a tear escapes. Does he really?