𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐌𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+ (ON HOLD)

𝙵𝙾𝚄𝚁 |

Hollow Hearts
_______

Hours had passed and still no one had heard anything—nothing from the doctors, nothing from the nurses, we were all on edge. Mom wouldn't stop pacing; my sister wouldn't stop crying. It was all making me anxious; it was making all of us anxious.

1 hour later

The doctor approached us in the waiting area,

"Your husband is stable Mrs. Nolan-James, you're welcomed to stay overnight to keep an eye on him, but a minimum of 2 people is allowed in the room at a time." Doctor Cullen said as he approached us.

We were all relieved that dad was stable now, but we were all still on edge about Madeline's disappearance.

"Mom, you and Hailee can stay with dad. . . I'm going to go home with Eden, it has been a long day for all of us." I said as I looked at her.

"I understand, don't worry, Hunter." Mom said as she looked at me, she stood up from her seat—approaching Eden and I, giving us both a hug.

I did not know whether to break down or keep my composure.

I wanted to keep myself together so I could seem strong for Eden, but the truth was, I was starting to feel like this entire situation was my fault. If I would have never been involved with her father everything would have been fine.

He wanted to make an example out of me, out of us—for putting him behind bars.

I have no regrets even if it meant keeping my family safe, at the time I thought what I was doing was right.

"I have to fix this." I said to Eden as we approached the hospital's entrance.

"He is my father Hunter, we are both going to fix this." Eden said as she looked at me.

"Besides, you can't find him on your own." She said as we walked through the parking garage. "You are going to need me there with you whether you want me to be there or not." She said as she approached the truck.

I opened the truck, getting inside.

She was right, there was no way of me going on my own without Eden—she would find a way to involve herself either way.

"Eden, what are you doing?" I questioned her as I looked at her. "Do not listen to him, trust me." I said as I pleaded with her.

"I am sorry, Hunter, but I have to do it to save her." Eden said as tears rolled down her face, holding a gun pointing directly at me.

"Shoot him Eden, shoot him if you want to save her." Eden's father, Xander—chimed in.

How did we get here?

How did I get myself in this situation?

Here is where it all began.

3 hours before

"Hunter are you sure this is a good idea?" Eden questioned me as she looked at me. "We are going in blind and we both know what my father is capable of." She said as she approached me.

"Eden, we have to do this if we want to get Madeline back, this is the only way." I said as I looked at her. "I'll be there with you the whole time and I will never leave your side no matter what happens." I said as reassured her—placing a kiss on her forehead.

Eden had set up a meeting with her father—of course he agreed to it, but it was on his own territory, on his own accord.

We were meeting him at a warehouse of his. I did not trust it nor did I trust him, but I was willing to do anything if it meant getting Madeleine back to us.

"We have to cooperate with him, we have to do whatever it takes and whatever means necessary." I said as I looked at her. "I love you." I said as I maintained eye contact with her. "I always will." I said as I continued to look at her.

Present time

"He does not deserve you nor does he deserve your love." Xander said as he looked at me. "End his life—come be a family again with your mother and I." He said as he tried to persuade her.

At this moment, my entire body was frozen. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to think. I felt hopeless, I felt useless.

"You don't need need him to have your happy ending Eden." He said as he spoke again.

Maybe this was something that had to happen, maybe this was something that needed to happen.

"Eden look at me." I said as I looked at her, my eyes glued to her. "If you have to do this do it, remember what I told you."

"Do whatever it takes, do whatever you must." I said as I reminded her, reassuring her.

She nodded her head, tears still rolling down her face.

There was a noise, a gunshot.

Bang.

Everything in the room went still—everything seemed like it was moving in slow motion but then, there was another gunshot.

Bang.

The sound of bullets dropping to the ground broke the silence, it was no longer quiet.

Was that it?

Was my life really over?

Sorry I kept you all waiting for so long, I have been dealing with a lot in my personal life lately and I have no time right now when it comes to updating for you all. I'll try my hardest to be consistent, but I can't promise anything at the moment. See you all soon for the next chapter, hopefully.

I also thought leaving this chapter on a cliffhanger was a good idea because I have something planned for the next chapter which explains why this one was so short, I originally wanted to do two parts, but I changed my mind.

We'll see if Hunter is dead or not, you're just going to have to wait and find out soon.