Tainted Blood [3]

Chapter 27

"Ready ?" I asked as I finished tying one of my shirt sleeves around my bicep, the shirt was a lost cause so I cut it up and used it to bind my knife wounds, I had the knife in my hand holding the door handle, waiting to run out the door.

"Ready," Archer grabbed my hand as we opened the door and ran, there was a long corridor, there were doors all along the walls, I held onto Archer's hand as we slowed down and moved sneakily past the doors, I held my breath when I heard Casey's voice.

"I mean she is pathetic, I admit I didn't think she'd let Lizze die but she was just a means to an end," I felt Archer squeeze my hand for reassurance, we slowly tip toed passed the door.

"She'll be dead by tomorrow anyhow, so let's just enjoy it while we can," I didn't recognize the voice but kept walking, when we reached stairs we ran down till we reached what looked like a basement, there were a few windows around the room at the top, Archer opened one before picking me up and pushing me through, I grabbed his hand then pulled him up.

"Let's go," I nodded as we turned to see where we were, only to find we were surrounded by a forest, without thinking twice we ran into the trees, minutes later we heard shouts and screams.

"They figured out we escaped!" I ran faster, looking for something familiar, something to find our way home.

"Where are we ?" Archer asked, pushing branches out the way.

"I don't know but we need to hide!" The sound of rustling trees alerted me to the fact they were in the woods, I turned to my left and tugged Archer along, almost making him fall over. "This way," I ran, hoping they'd keep going straight.

"There they are!" My hopes were pointless, I ran faster and heard a noise that sounded like water crashing.

"Waterfall!" I turned right and ran towards the noise, we had to stop when we got to the edge of the waterfall.

"Snow!" Archer grabbed my waist, pulling me back before I fell over the edge.

"Isn't this lovely ?" Casey's voice sounded from behind me, we turned to see Casey and ten other leeches. "How stupid can you get ? Did you honestly think you'd get away ?"

"Worth a shot," I answered back, stepping closer to the edge, entwining Archer and I's hands.

"Now, step away from the edge and let's go back," Casey smiled, reaching out her hand, I looked at it for a minute before speaking.

"Archer ?"

"Yeah ?" I tightened my hold on his hand.

"Do you trust me ?" I stepped forward to Casey, and she her smile widened.

"Yes," he followed my lead with a tiny step forward.

"Good," I held onto his hand as I spun around and jumped over the edge.

"NO!" Casey ran to the edge, watching us fall, I still didn't let go of Archer until we hit the water and it filled my lungs. Casey and her leeches faded from my vision as the water swallowed me up, I twisted and turned, trying to get out until I finally reached the surface.

I gasped, trying to get as much air as I could, I spotted a cavern behind the waterfall and swam towards it. I climbed up the slippery rocks and climbed into the cosy cave, I crawled onto my hands and knees, coughing up have the waterfall, I was soon joined by Archer.

"We're safe," he breathed out half coughing the water out of his lungs, we had just about gotten away.

"For now," I used the wall for support to sit up. "You okay ?" He looked over at me, as if I had grown three heads.

"You just got stabbed twice, molested and jumped over a waterfall and you're asking am I okay ?" I nodded slowly.

"You got beaten up, and I didn't need you to see any of that," I shook my head.

"Snow-" I cut him off.

"Look, it's dark out, and they are probably still looking for us, why don't we stay here tonight, then in the morning look to find out where we are, sound good ?" He nodded. "Okay, I think we should probably get some sleep, goodnight Arch," I laid down and put my head on the arm that wasn't stabbed. We stayed quiet for a while, the only thing to be heard was our breathing, well until Archer spoke up.

"Snow, you still up ?" I considered just pretending to be asleep but answered anyway.

"Yeah, I'm awake," I sat up and leaned against the wall to talk to him. "What's up ?"

"Back at the warehouse, when Casey stabbed you with the knife-" I interrupted him.

"It wasn't that bad, I've felt worse," I looked away from him and watched he waterfall next to us.

"You didn't even flinch," he gave me a hard look.

"Like I said, I've felt worse," I was starting to get uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Snow, with that guy aswell-"

"As I said, I've felt worse," I glared at him, I didn't want to have this conversation.

"Who are you ?" I froze, confused by the question.

"I'm Avalon, who else would I be ?" I shrugged.

"When I first met you, you would have cried or at least screamed out as that knife went into you, and when that guy touched you would have screamed bloody murder," I looked back at him.

"I've grown," simple enough, I hoped he'd drop it.

"That's not good enough," no such luck.

"What do you want me to say ? Sorry for not acting weak while I was being attack ? I'll try that next time," my cold voice echoed around the walls.

"It's not just that Avalon," My eyes widened, he rarely ever called me Avalon, only if it was serious. "Since you came back, you've changed, and I'm not sure it's for the better."

"What are you saying ?" my voice, thick with emotion.

"The Avalon I first met, the girl I fell in love with originally with, when I look at you, I can't see her anymore, she's been taken over by-" I stopped him before he said the words that broke my heart.

"This cold hard bitch who kills without remorse, the broken, dirty, heartless girl who doesn't feel a thing," I let out a bitter laugh. "Sorry to break it to you, but the girl you loved ? That Avalon died, and she isn't coming back," I laid back down, facing away from him.

"Avalon-"

"Goodnight Archer," he stayed silent after that, so I let myself fall