-HIATUS- ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ - ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴡᴛʜᴏʀɴᴇ ʟᴇɢᴀᴄʏ (ꜱᴇQᴜᴇʟ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴀᴍʙꜱ?) -HIATUS-

Chapter 18

"One thing to do before I go" I manage to say before leaving my hotel room.

"That being."

"Going... to the bathroom."

"We will be waiting here, kid." Nash turns to Oren and they start talking. 

I run into the bathroom and lock it. My back. Was there something on my back? I remove my cardigan to reveal my shirt. I let out a deep breath before pulling my shirt. What if there was nothing on my back? But there could be something. I threw my shirt to the floor. With my bra still on, I turn away from the mirror and crane my head slap bang in the middle of my back. A scar. The scar? A star, but no ordinary star. A star with a dollar sign on it. No. A star with an S and a T on top of it. The Sheriff. 

I freeze for a moment but I realize that Nash and Oren were waiting for me. I grab my shirt and slip it on. I would have rather not known that was on my back than know. The cult. It was called the Sherrif. I flush the toilet for no reason and turn on the tap for no reason. I just needed the sounds. I put my cardigan on and try and forget about my back. But I can't. Light and thin scar. They cut me. They branded me. I turn the tap off.

I walk out of the door pretending I had never seen it. It didn't matter. At least I had never worn a bikini or something that showed my back.

"All ready!" I say cheerfully. I am not feeling it on the inside though. I skip to the door Nash and Oren were waiting at and walk out of the room. We climbed into the SUV. Nash sitting shotgun. Oren is driving and his team is in the back. That left me in the middle row. 

"Where to start?" Oren asks me.

"My old home. Not Libby's, my mother's."

"Where is it?"

"I don't know the address. It is the only yellow apartment." Oren started thinking.

"Got it" How did he know from the little information that I gave him?

He started the car and drove to the exact apartment. The memories washed over me. I didn't know what I was feeling. I removed my seatbelt and opened the car door. Nash did the same. I carefully walked out the boot slowing all my movements down. Oren didn't come out of the SUV. He was going to be trailing me in it. His team wearing civilian clothing got out and started walking in different places. I looked at the apartment. I close my eyes.

"Baby?" My mum says. "Yes, Mummy?" I say sweetly. "I love you," She says softly. "Me too. What happened?" I ask. "Can I not tell you that I love you?" She smiles her eyes showing a different emotion, almost sad. "You're hiding something" I giggle. "I am. Baby, I'm sick" She says. "You are? We have medication in the cabinet" I say. "Not that kind of sick Baby." She says. "Then what kind?" I don't know yet what my mother is going to say. It would break me. "Hospital kind of sick," She says, she sounds like she might cry. "You're going to be okay right? You're not going to die right? They can make you better right?" I start. "Shhh. It is okay. I don't know Baby. The doctors are doing what they can, alright?" She sounds like she is going to cry. "When did it start?" I ask. "A few months ago." My eyes widen, and my jaw clenches. "And you never thought about telling me?!" I shout. "Amy-"I cut her line of speech. "How could you?!" I scream and run out the door. "AMY!!" I hear my mum scream behind me as I run down the stairs and exit the building. "Come here at once. Amy" I run down the street and make a turn. I continue and make another turn. Another turn and another and another. A turn into a small space in between two shops. I open my eyes. I am in a back alley.

"Kid?" Nash calls out. I open my eyes. I am not at the apartment anymore. I was in the back alley. It looked different. 

"How did I get here?" I ask him. I didn't remember running.

"You ran here. Eyes closed. Decided not to disturb you."

"I am here. This is it."

"Where? I was told to come without knowing why"

"I used to be part of a cult, I barely made it out. They contacted me twice recently. When Avery had a cow heart in her room? I had a note in mine. It said Regret Leaving. I also got a text saying the same thing. So I decided to come back. Catch them but..."

"But?"

"This place is the same. But it looks different. The walls are painted. It looks... cleaner?"

"Where is the entrance?"

"Over there. Or was over there? If I don't get out in three hours call for help" I make the hand signal. He nods and walks out of the alley to the corner. He could still see me.

I approached the door. The door. I knock. Once. Twice. Three times. There is no noise. I get shivers. I feel someone watching me. There was a sound on the other side of the door. It opened.

"Want to escape do you?" The voice says.

"I do" I nod. They couldn't recognize me, could they? "Where is The Sheriff? He told me he would brand me himself."

"The Sheriff is out right now, he is coming back in a few days."

"A few days? Did I get the day wrong?"

"Maybe you did. You are welcome in though."

"Of course" I look at Nash who doesn't take his eyes off me. I mouth Call your brother. Nash understands and nods. Does he know which one I meant? He probably doesn't. I meant Xander. Shoot. I walk in and the man closes the door. "A few of my friends are coming here as well. They will be joining us soon. I am always too early."

"I understand... Name?"

"My name? It is Rosie"

"Nice to meet you, Rosie. Do tell us. Why join?"

"I was told I could escape."

"How can we trust you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look... strangely familiar."

"I guess I just have one of those faces," I say giving a fake smile. I look at everyone in the warehouse. I recognize the woman that helped me out. She was still here.

"You look like... Amber."

"Amber? As in the Hawthorne heiress?"

"Yes, she left us. Take off your beanie, little girl" Another man says.

"Why?"

"Have something to hide do you?"

"No-"

"Then take it off" I nod and remove my beanie, my glasses fall off as well. I was recognizable now.

"Amber!" The woman says. "You came back. Why?"

"Because... I wanted to see The Sheriff. But he isn't here."

"Well then. You know what we have to do with you?"

"No-I"

"Don't worry. It's not for long." 

I quickly reach for my earring but my hand is slammed down by someone behind me.

(1170 words)