Running Away

Chapter 7

A few hours had gone by before Sera woke up. Her head felt less foggy and the throbbing sensation had decreased significantly. She felt relieved and grateful to God. It had been years since she got that sick from traveling, she couldn't believe how sick she had felt. She reminisced on how Elias would always fly prepared with different medicine, snacks and drinks to make sure she stayed well.

It made her think of how Bryan was in contrast. But Sera felt as though perhaps she didn't explain her state well enough and maybe that is what led to him pushing her too far.

She looked around the room and noticed it seemed to be night outside. There was the sound of a car rolling up in the long driveway outside. Sera went into the drawers and pulled out a pair of sweatpants that would at least give her a greater modicum of decency. Elias was much taller than Sera, so the pants looked like that of a child with their parents' clothes on.

She pulled her long hair up to redo a ponytail, avoiding the bed head look. Like last time, the dead bolt unlocking was loud, but this time Elias and Preston came in with a third person.

Bryan.

A wide-eyed Bryan took a step towards Sera before looking her up and down, then around the room, and back to her again. "So this is where you have been? I was worried sick about you! I stayed out until 10pm looking for you last night!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry." Sera apologized. She walked up to Bryan and attempted to hold his hand but he pulled it back and moved away from her. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Please don't treat me that way, I'm sorry. I know it kind of looks weird, but it's not anything like that. It's a lot but I do have an explanation."

"Weird? It's crazy! Darling, you expect me to believe that you were just mysteriously found after you got some mysterious sickness and he just happened to be able to take care of you?!" Bryan narrowed his eyes at Sera, he didn't believe a word she was saying. "Did you have sex with him?"

"What?! No! I actually did get sick last night. I promise, nothing like that happened at ALL!"

Bryan turned to Elias and sized him up. Elias was both taller and had more muscle mass, in every way, Elias was the problem that Bryan did not want.

Bryan asked, "You just go around playing Superhero with other men's women?"

Sera drew Bryan's attention back to herself, "It was just a coincidence. He's in town working and saw me. Honestly."

"How do you even know this guy?!"

"He's my...Bryan, he's my ex but–"

"YOUR EX?!" Bryan yelled, his fists balling up. "The Emilia one?!"

Sera's eyes widened, she shook her head no and with her eyes pleaded with Bryan to drop the subject.. The interaction piqued Elias's interest.

"So what, he wants in now? After I've been coughing out my hard earned money for her?!"

"Bryan, STOP. That's not what it is." She desperately begged him to not speak any further about it. She was terrified that Elias would put two and two together.

"Sera if I find out you're lying, don't think I won't lift my hand against you."

"What do you mean by 'lift your hand'?" Elias took a step forward. "Explain it to me."

"I'd like to know too." Preston stated, folding his arms. Though his loyalty went to his friend, Preston had always liked Sera and Elias being together, he saw her as he did his little sisters.

Bryan read the room and could feel the energy shift. "It's–well, I...I didn't say that I would."

Sera was upset as well, "No you definitely just did."

"Sera don't gaslight me, you are taking what I said out of context." Bryan huffed, "You're always so sensitive."

"How am I— you know what, forget it. Let's just go. I want to go home, I don't want to do this any more. I want to go home and be with my baby."

"You probably think money grows on trees, since you refuse to work, but it's not that simple, toots." He sneered. "How do you expect me to buy new tickets after pouring all my money into a five-star hotel?! We are staying for the full week!"

Elias was floored at how insufferable Bryan was behaving. He turned his attention to a clearly distressed Sera and felt pity for her. Elias stated, "I will book one for you, don't worry."

Sera rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. "Thank you."

"Ohhh! And now he is buying stuff for you too, huh? How long were you on your back last night?" Bryan clasped his hands together, "Ooo! I feel like hitting someone right now."

"Nah, I can't do it no more." Elias said under his breath. He had heard everything he needed to. He reached under his shirt to pull out one of the many handguns that he carried on him daily, and cocked it. In one swift motion, he grabbed Bryan by the arm and pushed him towards the front door. "Come on, we are going outside."

"What?! Wait wait!--" Bryan exclaimed, but it was too late. Elias could not take it anymore. It made his blood boil and his skin crawl to see how Bryan was dealing so roughly with Sera. With one hand on the back of Bryan's neck, the other hand holding the gun, he used his shoulder to push open the door.

"Wait! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Wait, wait, wait! I'M SORRY!"

"Why are you apologizing to me? You didn't say anything to me."

"SERA I'M SORRY! SORRY! I WILL DO BETTER! PLEASE TELL HIM TO STOP!"

Elias put his gun back and began walking towards Bryan, who was quickly backing away. "You said you felt like hitting. Now's your chance. Take your shot."

"I–I don't feel like hitting! Please! I said I'm sorry! Sera do something!"

"We all heard you! I want to make your wish come true, hit me and see what happens to you."

"Sir it's a misunderstanding! Why would I use violence against my sweetheart?! Come on, it's all a joke. Don't take it so seriously!" Bryan nervously laughed. His lie was unconvincing and unsure.

Sera rushed beside them. She held on tightly to Elias's forearm in a failed attempt to move him away. When she realized it was a losing battle, she stood in front of Bryan, placing both of her hands on Elias's chest to add distance. "So what, you're going to kill him?! Stop!"

Though he was still angry all it ever took was one look into Sera's pleading eyes to make him melt. He let out a defeated breath and shook his head at Sera, he could not believe that she still had that effect on him. He shot his eyes at Bryan. "Next time I hear you talk crazy to her like that, the devil is gonna' call you home."

Sera breathed a sigh of relief as her gaze returned to Bryan. He was avoiding eye contact, Sera could tell that he was still angry and humiliated. Sera felt horrible for him, her mind racked with possible solutions on how to make him feel better.

The area where the house was sat on the waterside, but seemed rural. There were no houses for far stretches out and it was around a forty minute drive into the city. Sera looked back up to Elias who was still standing a few feet away angry, "Can you give us a ride back to the hotel? We will be out of your hair."

"Yeah, get in the car."