The Lonely Hearts Club

Chapter 13: Deflection (Bree)

I'm going to pass out.

I finish bandaging Hades' arm and all the nausea I've been suppressing rises to the surface.

I don't do well with blood, it makes me lightheaded.

I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did.

"I'll be back," I promise.

"Stay." Hades begs.

"I need to get the stuff out of your car."

"Do it fast." He drops his head back on the armrest and I go check on Acorn.

I almost forgot about him.

He's still sleeping in the basket, little chest rising and falling, oblivious to the nightmare that just occurred.

I stumble out of my apartment with Hades' car keys, using the walls to stabilize myself.

I don't feel so good.

"Oh my goodness!" Silvia gasps.

She's coming back home, arms filled with library textbooks on psychology. "What happened to you?"

I look down to see my clothes are drenched in blood.

"Someone was injured, I had to help them."

"How are you feeling about it?" She asks. "That sounds traumatic for both parties."

"I'm fine." I lie.

"Well, drop by if you need a chat or some food."

"Thank you," I say.

I will not be dropping by for a chat or food.

When I make it outside, I dry heave in the bushes.

I've been too anxious to eat so all I expel is bile and it burns my throat.

So much has happened today, and I'm struggling to wrap my head around it.

Being sent...Acorn feels like a lifetime ago, not a few hours.

And this is only the second time I've seen Hades.

It's mind-baffling.

I place an overwhelming amount of flowers on Acorn's mom's grave, but it feels wrong without Hades next to me.

Hades himself is slipping in and out of sleep.

I get him some water and help him drink it.

"Let me get changed, and then I'll deal with the blood," I promise, motioning to his body.

"Okay, baby."

Baby?

Since when was baby on the list of names he called me?

I run another scalding shower, practically scratching the blood off my skin.

It's in here that I let myself cry.

And cry and cry.

The water muffles my sobs.

I feel like the shock has worn off and the emotional current is going to drown me.

Once I pull myself together I get changed into a tank top and cotton shorts, pretty much the only clothes I own.

When you live in your apartment 24/7, you prioritize comfort over style.

I brush and put my hair in a pony tail. I wish I had the memories of my mom doing it for me.

I don't because she never did.