I've Got Your Back

Chapter 22

Chapter 22:

Numb.

That was all I felt after leaving the storage closet. After finally getting my powers back. After healing my broken bone. Even after telling the guys he was gone, even after seeing David fail to hold back his tears, even after Hanna told me Summer had escaped, even after all of that, I was numb.

They called the pack, told them, made a portal, we said our goodbyes, and sent him through.

When it was my turn all I could manage was, "I'm sorry-I'll miss you," but even as I said that I felt numb.

I didn't even know we were leaving until Hanna gently lead me to the car, the others were all seated already with Trey in the drivers seat. I shivered even though I was anything but cold. Hunter was supposed to drive us. Hunter was supposed to take us.

Hunter was supposed to be alive.

I sat in my seat looking out the window as Trey drove, not letting any thoughts of Hunter or what had happened come into my mind. I felt empty, completely empty, but I wasn't ready to feel fully broken yet. Because once I broke,I didn't know how I would ever become whole again.

It was silent in the car, and after 45 minutes, I couldn't stand it. As I was looking out the window I said,

"I understand if you guys want to leave and let me find Tyler on my own."

"What? Ava, no. No, no,and no again. We are a team, we're a family, and we are not leaving you. Especially now." David said

I laughed bitterly, "Especially now? Especially now you should leave me. I'm the reason we're on this mission,and the reason Hunter's dead. So go, I can find my friend, you don't owe me or him anything."

Trey pulled the car over on the side of the road,turned to me, and said,

"Ava, this has nothing to do with owing anyone anything. The minute Hunter brought you to our safe house, was the minute you joined our pack, or family. And you're stuck with us. You are not the reason, Hunter- Hunter's not here, and I know you're hurting, but you can't blame yourself for something that's not your fault. We will stick with you till the end, whether you like it or not. And we will find Tyler, Hunter died believing that, don't let it be for nothing."

It was a little harsh, but I knew he was right. I swallowed the lump that was forming and said, "I know, I'm sorry."

He continued to drive and this time I welcomed the silence. Towards the end of the sixth hour driving, we pulled over for gas and David and Trey switched seats.

Hanna turned to me and said, "You wanna talk? I can't even imagine how you're dealing with all of this."

I sighed, "I'm not Hanna. I'm not dealing with any of it. I just-" I said my voice getting small "I just really miss him you know? He died on his way bringing me to safety. And I don't care how freaking noble that may be, or how romantic that may sound, I just want him here- with me. My heart feels as if it literally broke into a million teeny tiny pieces and nothing, NOTHING will ever put it back together. So no Hanna, I am not dealing with this." One lone tear rolled down my cheek, sending an avalanche right after. "And after seeing that demon I don't see how Tyler could have survived. I can't lose him too, I can't. You don't understand, I can't lose both of them.'' I started hiccuping, the breath getting caught in my throat, realizing what I had said.

I put my head in my hands and cried into them. I felt a hand on my back and Hanna softly said, "I know you miss him, god we all miss him. Hunter,Hunter was our rock and our glue, he kept us all together." Her voice was shaky with pain and I knew she was hurting too, they all were. It's not like I had a monopoly on Hunter Williams- he just always made me feel as if I did.

"But you can't think like that, Ava." David said looking at me through the mirror "Tyler IS alive, and we're only only a short 3 hours left till we get to him."

"I know that I CAN'T, and I SHOULDN'T think like that, but I honestly can't help it. My stupid brain keeps on telling me all the worst possible things that could've happened, and it won't shut up." I told him

I could have sworn I saw him smile when I said that. "But Ava, I have a secret for you." He said to me

"A secret? For me? What is it?" I whispered jokingly leaning in wiping the tears off my face

"The tracking potion only works if the person is alive."