The Broken Partizan - 3

Choose - Part 10

Finale

"Is there a chance you have any food?" You ask, you're starving and in the rush you forgot to pack anything.

"There's some granola bars in the side pocket, have as many as you like." The chauffeur prompts kindly, Vampy meows.

You rummage in the side pocket and produce a very berry granola bar, basically inhaling it and giving Vampy little crumbs as you do so.

You're distracted, and surprised when the car comes to a steady stop, your heart tightening inside your chest.

"We're here?" You whisper, too scared to do anything.

The chauffeur looks back, even more concerned than before. "Yes, we're here, be careful. I'll be waiting with the door open, and help from a call any second, take your cat too."

You place your hand on the cool metal of the door handle, slowly opening the door and stepping out.

It's cold, very cold. Tall fern trees line the road, stretching out into a deep forest that seems to go on forever. You pat your leg, and Vampy hops out of the car, following as you force your feet to move towards the dull glow in the distance between the trees.

You hold your arms to your body, ignoring the shivers that tickle your spine despite having Jamie's big soft jumper. Your feet tread quietly over the forest floor, tentative and fearful.

Eventually you reach a cabin, a warm glow is visible from inside it, a large lake sits opposite, and two figures stand beside it.

You glance at your phone and open Snapchat, still hidden by the trees, and know you're in the right place.

You build up enough willpower to walk towards the figures, but unfortunately Haru sees you first.

His eyes widen dramatically in the scarce light, and for once he looks truly shocked, he is actually surprised to see you, because he couldn't predict this move. Not like the others.

"Hello. Haru."

Jamie's head whips round at the sound of your voice, his expression so flooded with different emotions you can't describe it. But then it fades, as if he doesn't know what to think.

Haru steps forward. "I suggest you leave y/n. There are some very dangerous people in that cabin, and they don't care how close you are to the royal family."

He takes another step, but Jamie is suddenly there, stopping him from getting any closer with a simple hand gesture.

"Y/n," he murmurs, as if you're some kind of magical creature that has suddenly appeared, "why are you here?"

You laugh, but you feel so awful inside it sounds strained. "Is that a joke Jamie? What the hell are you doing here?"

"I thought you- I thought you hated me."

You shake your head, dropping your eyes to the grass. "I could never, I just needed some space, and I have no idea what Haru said to you, but whatever it was it was probably a lie."

Jamie abruptly takes a step back. "You're wrong. Haru only told me the truth that the Maravish royal family kept from me for years, and I will save you and Lottie from them, no matter how brainwashed you are."

You desperately clutch his arm with your hand, so emotional tears pluck your eyes. "Jamie, I know you're hurting, I know who you are, the lie you've had to live. But these people, they're- they're evil. Don't you remember what they did to me? You jumped off of a roof because of them, then they kidnapped me, but you're on their side? The people that caused you torment for years, the people who threatened to kill you, the people who poisoned me?"

Haru notices the confusion on Jamie's face, and tries to cut in before he changes his mind. "Jamie, come inside, she's trying to manipulate you."

It's as if a fire is finally fed oxygen in your heart, the anger crashing through. "You know what Haru?! F*ck off, slither back to your special cabin with your psychotic, insane friends!"

They both stare at you with wide eyes, astounded.

Haru clenches his jaw. "Oh what a-"

"Haru," Jamie cuts him off, his eyes not leaving yours, "Just five minutes."

Haru storms back into the cabin and slams the door.

Jamie's eyes linger on you, and you stare back at him with tears in your own.

He steps forward and lightly tugs your sleeve. "My jumper." 

You basically collapse into him, wrapping your arms around the back of his neck and holding him as tightly as you can, laying your head on his chest.

He tentatively holds you in turn, gently rubbing your back and resting his head on your shoulder, his coal coloured fluffy hair tickles your neck, and you let the tears fall.

You've only cried in front of Jamie once before, and you're almost embarrassed to do so, but can't help it as you tremble in his arms.

"Y/n." He whispers, you can hear the pain in his voice.

"Join us."

You recoil from him in shock, instinctively holding your arms around yourself and taking a step back. "What?"

He looks torn, but at the same time certain. "The royal family have tortured both of us, including Lottie, defy them, join us."

You shake your head, jaw quivering. "No Jamie I-"

"You must, I don't want to leave you, and this way I can have you, and fight back."

"I can't. Jamie, you love Ellie, you've grown up with her, she never wanted to hurt you she didn't know...she..."

"She's ruined my life and now I'm taking it back."

"Jamie-"

His expression hardens. "Choose."

"Choose?! Choose what?!"

"Choose Ellie, or choose me."

You release a sob. "But Jamie I can't. Because I care about you so much, and you're involved with these people that murder and harm, these people that twist your mind and-and manipulate your actions and emotions. It isn't your fault that you're here, it isn't your fault that you've had this life, it isn't your fault that you've been through what you've been through. But it is my fault that I let you go, that I pushed you away, now it's my responsibility to get you back because the truth is," you hesitate, hastily wiping your eyes with your sleeve, then look up at him, expressing all your feelings through a glance, "I love you Jamie Volk."

He stares at you, unable to say anything, and his cold mask, his emotionless, broken mask, falls.

"I love you," you repeat, "and I have since we were trapped in that stupid manor by Ingrid and Julius, I love you so much and it only grows every day, every moment we spend together."

There's a long pause, and a lot of thoughts and emotions race across the partizan's face, his eyes cloud over. "If you love me, you will join us."

You don't know how to respond, watching as he blinks back tears. "If you love me, you, will leave."

He steps towards you, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "Don't worry y/n."

You feel hope for the first time, flooding into you like a tidal wave.

But then he continues, "I will save you." Jamie drops his hand.

His gaze lingers for a while, until he can't bear to look any longer and he walks away, back to the cabin, back to Haru, back to his Father.

I lost him. And this time, for good.

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A/n: The end of book 3 readers, sorry about the depressing end PAH. My final Partizan book 'The True Partizan' is on my profile if you're interested, thanks for reading! <3