A Taste of Darkness

Chapter 16: Stay with Me

Scarlett

"What do you mean I'm not going? It's my best friend you're saving!" I shout angrily, showing my resentment that he refuses to allow me to take part in saving my own friend. I already knew he wouldn't, but actually experiencing it is so much more provoking.

"And we will bring her back to you, you don't have to be here when it happens," he insists, crossing his arms to show his reluctance.

"Yes I do! I can't just sit around here doing nothing while everyone else is out there and I have no idea what's going on!" I argue, failing to hide the desperation in my tone. But I wouldn't stop arguing until he gave in.

"I can't allow you to go."

"But you allow everyone else"

"Yes," he admits, agreeing to my statement. I can't believe he's fighting against me going with them like his life depends on it. It's like he's trying to punish me. I hate this controlling asshole.

"So why not me?" I question, trying to force his reasoning behind this absurdity out of him.

"Because I just can't," he states dryly with the most blank, emotionless expression on his face. God, why can't he just give me a fucking answer?! This is so fucking agrivating.

"Yes but why?!" I scream, all my frustration suddenly coming out in full force.

"It's too dangerous, Scarlett!" I shout, finally snapping him out of his emotionless facade. His chest starts heaving up and down, his jaw clenching with it, showing his anger. The room turns from full of shouts to full of silence while we have the most intense staring contest of our lives, our eyes burning with a fire of fury.

"Don't question my decisions," he commands in a tone that is way more calm than how he actually looks, but I can still see him gritting his teeth, trying to conceal and bite back his rage.

"Put yourself in her shoes Julio. Imagine if your best friend, somone you've known and cared for your entire life was kidnapped and in danger and you weren't allowed to help," Zina prompts peacefully before sighing, one that sounds like she's read Julio like an open book and discovered and understands something about him, "Nothing will happen to her, she'll be safe because she'll be surrounded by everyone else and you. I know you'll ensure her protection while she's there," she then assures him while looking into his eyes, giving him a knowing look that I don't understand.

Damn, I completely forgot she was here.

"I actually think she'll be even safer there than she would be if she stayed here, both physically and mentally. It could be a trap and someone could break in here while she's here and you're not, you'd never know," she adds to further ensure his persuasion.

Julio is silent for a few minutes, probably contemplating Zina's words. I can tell that he is most likely having the most violent mental battle that I have seen yet since I've meet him from the constant changes of his expression. The jaw clenching, the frustrated lip biting, the angry sighs. It seems like I have waited forever before he finally makes a conclusion. "Fine," he agrees abruptly, "But you have to stay with me at all times," he insists.

Oh well. While I'd rather not be forced to have any type of proximity with him whatsoever, at least I'm allowed to go. This is my only option.

"Fine," I agree in the same abrupt tone that he showed me. We stare at each other's eyes for an extra few seconds after I say those words, completely frozen, before he turns and opens the door, exiting the room, and I am finally allowed to take what seems like the longest breath of my life.

I turn to Zina, "Thank you," I breathe. I didn't think I'd ever be thanking one of these people but I guess life has a funny way of turning tables.

"No problem," she smiles, "You just have to use his emotions against him to convince to do something sometimes."