THE TRINITY

35.

STORMI

I've been hiding out in this motel for days. Elijah comes by every now and then but he hasn't completely stayed with me. He's been going to work like everything is normal so no one will suspect that he's helping me.

He says he doesn't know how or what happened but my dad somehow made it to the hospital and he survived but after I told him about Landon, Noah and Myles he said he has no idea where the boys are or if they are still alive.

I decide to turn on the tv and see if anything is coming up on the news about what's going on. I hate being in the dark about the whole situation. All I have is the new phone Elijah gave me and some clothes he picked up from the store. The only number I have in the phone though is his and 911. He told me not to download social media and to not try to contact anyone so I listen.

I need a fresh start. He says.

I find the news channel and watch as my father is standing on stage with his arm wrapped up from his surgery.

"You all have been an incredible community over the years and with recent events I have decided that I will be resigning as your Mayor" he says and the crowd gasps dramatically.

"As all of you know the loss of our Daughter Stormi is tragic and we will remember her in our hearts forever."

Loss!?

I stare at the screen in complete shock.

"I want to thank everyone for the kindness you've shown my family over the last few days. My wife and I will be moving to our home state and trying to regain some normalcy. We ask that no further questions be asked at this time and for you to respect our privacy as we grieve."

The door to the hotel opens and Elijah walks in. "I brought you some tenders and chips."

"My parents are saying I died?" I look at him with tear filled eyes. Elijah's face falls.

"They decided that's the story they decided to spin this morning. They don't know where you are and your father just assumes that Damon and Lucien completed their task." he sets the food down. "I'm sorry love"

I start to cry. After being numb for days I'm finally crying. It's not like I wanted my family to find me or for my parents to look for me but the fact that they gave up so easily hurts. They just accepted that I was gone and are ready to move on.

Now they're going back to their hometown? What does that even mean?

Elijah sits down on the bed next to me and wraps me in a hug. "Everything is going to be okay."

"I lost everything" I breathe into his neck.

"That just means it'll be easier to start over." Elijah reasons trying to make me feel better but it isn't working.

"I got your documents today" he gives me a reassuring smile. He stands up walking to the table and grabs a folder out of his bag. He walks back over handing it to me and I stare at it for a moment before pulling out the paperwork.

A new birth certificate,  a new ID card, a new social security card, a new passport, and an ILR residence permit for London, England. All under the name Stephanie Norman.

I decided to keep it close to home and name my new persona after my grandmothers Stephanie and Norma. I feel like it's only right since I was originally named after them anyway.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" I look at Elijah.

"I'm positive," he reassures.

"Has anyone heard anything about the boys yet?" I tried one last time. I ask everyday.

"Nope, nothing." I already know what Elijah's thinking. I'm starting to believe it too. They didn't make it out alive.

LANDON

I stare down at Stormi's phone that we found in the woods the day after we escaped. I refuse to believe she's dead. That's what they are saying on the TV. 'Suffering the tragic loss.' 'Grieving' he says.

Roman Daye doesn't give a fuck about anyone but himself. He declared that the day he put Stormi at risk of all of this happening. Yeah he hired us to protect her but he didn't know how safe she would truly be. If he wanted to protect her he would've taken her far away from this shit and never chanced it.

I scroll through the pictures on the phone that I had Noah break into because I couldn't figure out the damn passcode.

There's so many pictures of a white fluffy cat on here. I didn't even know she had a cat. Millions of pictures of her and Mel. A few selfies and even some off guard pictures of me that I didn't even know she took.

One of me at the house sitting on the couch. One of my hand on her thigh in the car. One of me ordering something at a food stand at the fair. One of me on our hike. And one of her making a duck face with me standing shirtless in the background after we had sex for the first time.

A tear slides down my face. She didn't deserve any of this. She's fucking perfect. She's an angel. This fucked up world didn't deserve her. This is all my fault. I should've told her the truth from the beginning. I shouldn't have let this happen. I could've warned her and got her out of this a long time ago.

I'm so fucking stupid.

I feel this void in my chest like something is missing. Like a whole piece of me is missing.

When I first met Stormi I didn't believe in love. I thought it was made up by people who spend too much time fantasizing. Once I felt I could open up to her I realized how wrong I actually was and how easy it would be to love her.

Why did you do it Sunshine? Why did you fall in love with me? Why did you make me love you?

I start breathing heavily. My thoughts won't stop. She's gone because of me. Stormi is dead because of me.

I stand up and grab the closest thing to me and throw it across the room. The cup bounces off the wall and pens go everywhere.

"Fuck!" I scream. "FUCK!" I yell again.

I chug the rest of the whiskey that's in the glass on the desk. It's not helping. I need something stronger.

I tried to be good for you. I sobered up. But now you're gone. Forever.

I ruined it. Ruined everything. Ruined us. Ruined you.

I wipe the tears streaming down my face and look out the window to make sure the boys are still gone. I walk over to Myles' bag and start digging through it. I know that he's got some in here somewhere. We made a stop on our way out of town and I'm pretty sure he picked some up.

I dig through all the pockets. Where the fuck is it?

I can't stop seeing the look on her face when everything came out. She was terrified. She said she hated me for making her love me. She said she loved me. And I never got- I'll never get to say it back.

I pull out a pair of socks remembering I've seen him fold a baggie into them before. I undo the socks and a bag of cocaine falls out. Jackpot.

I walk back over to the desk and spread some out before creating some lines with a card and taking them in one line at a time until I don't hurt anymore.