Chapter 15

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The night Trey was lost to the forest, I was stupid to rule out the possibility of my life being stolen too. I've always been indebted to these woods, and it was naive to believe I was of my own choices. No matter what Trey wished for my future, I'd never escape its grasp.

Carlee

Outside my bedroom window, it rained harder than I've heard in a while. Like a tropical rainstorm out of place in such a cold season. Thunder crackled down from dark clouds in short, electrified bursts and rain pellets launched themselves against my house in a booming noise of comfort. Outside, the dark purple in the sky relayed as a backdrop for the trees that stood jagged and menacing as they shook in a violent dance of the rainstorm.

Tonight, would've been an ideal night for me if it weren't for the fact that I was in the most unideal position I could be in at the moment.

It was all I could do to not think of Andre. Fearing that if I did, I'd give in and succumb to him.

The boy that managed to do what no one else has done for me before in years. The one who pulled me out of my comfortable prison and showed me another possible route I could take. The one I hurt in order to protect. Part of me wishes that I hadn't even bothered to look at my photos yesterday. That I had just turned everything in without a second glance. Maybe if I had, then we wouldn't be so far apart right now. Who was I kidding though? It was going to come down to this. We were never going to get much further if I didn't even have myself to give to him. I was tied to that... thing. It was a mere dream to believe that I was meant to be happy and feel normal.

A dream that was shared with Andre and crushed by the boot of a sacrifice.

His face flashed through my mind then. I just really wanted to tell you that I like you... a lot.

I shut my eyes in attempt to block out the painful memory. I wish he knew how badly I wanted to tell him I liked him too. More than that, I wish he knew why I had to tell him to leave me alone. How much the sacrifice hurt to make. I couldn't have another person I cared for get killed. Andre saw it hiding in my photo and that was enough to warrant a barricade around myself in order to keep him safe from the dangers we lived so very close to. It was standing nearly right in front of me... I was blessed with a miracle to still be alive after taking those pictures. But miracles weren't so graciously given, and I wasn't willing to bet on Andre's life next.

So, it was out of protection that I told him to stay away. He'd never know what happened to me but hopefully somehow; he'll understand why I had to disappear. And if he never did, as long as he lived, I could deal with his hatred.

My phone pinged, the screen lit up the ceiling of my room where it laid on my bed, discarded. Andre again... I've been receiving nonstop texts from Andre since 6 pm yesterday and it still has yet to cease. When I left the bus yesterday evening, I told myself I wasn't going to selfishly involve Andre with me anymore in order to keep him safe from an unknown danger. So, while I've been building a plan to help me carry that out, I've also been AWOL. He still hasn't given up... Thinking of his determination to find an answer warmed my insides in a bittersweet way as I remained by myself in my bedroom. ..If only I could say yes to you.

I wiped the ongoing tears from off my face and retrieved my phone out of curiosity. Even if there was no chance of responding I still owed it to him to look. I scrolled to the very first message he sent yesterday.

Andre: Carlee I don't know what's going on but I'm trying here

Andre: Please just talk to me

Andre: I'm worried about you

Andre: Carlee

Andre: I'm not going away until you answer

Andre: If you could just tell me what's going on then maybe I could help

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