when night comes ━━ mike schmidt

𝟬𝟭𝟯 bodies

WHEN NIGHT COMES / Chapter Thirteen

Mike: Hey are you free to call?
Mike: Nevermind I can text if that's okay.
Mike: Zion? Hello?
Mike: Did I do something wrong?
Mike: Why aren't you answering?
Mike: My aunt's here and she's trying to take Abby off of me again, I can't do this.
Mike: Hello?
Mike: I'm sorry if I did something wrong.
Mike: Are you at least coming into work?
Zion: Leave me alone
Zion: And no Im not

Then, Zion muted his contact. No calls, no texts, nothing to bother her. Abby was still at school, then would be picked up by Mike — or maybe his aunt this time — and that would give Zion some time to think of what to say to him.

She wondered if she should even say anything. Surely, he should've known. Surely, he should've realised that what he said hurt her. The words wouldn't stop relaying in Zion's head: finding the guy that did this is the only thing that matters to me.

Only thing.

All Mike cared about was getting revenge or closure or whatever it was he thought he would get out of it. His own sister didn't matter to him — sweet, kind Abby whose brother was the centre of her world. Mía didn't matter to him despite the girl's adoration for him.

Zion didn't matter to Mike.

Even though almost every motive of Zion's was linked to Mike. She wanted to please him, protect him, make him happy. She ached to see his cocky grin, hear his scoff of amusement. Zion's life had become so intertwined with this that she felt she couldn't exist without him...but she didn't matter to him at all.

Zion had come to the conclusion that she wasn't disappointed in Mike, not really. Maybe there was a part of her that still wanted to help him and that's why she was denying it. But she wasn't disappointed in him, she was disappointed in herself. He didn't love her, he didn't even care for her—oh well, that was how he felt and she couldn't change it. She'd better get over it.

But Zion was disappointed in herself because she let herself get hurt. What had she said to her mom when she first got the job? I'm focusing on work. And look how she was now: heartbroken. Couldn't even follow the own promise she set for herself.

Zion was still unsure of what she'd say to Mike that night. Should she confess? Or keep her feelings deep inside? Did she act like everything was normal, or did she shout at him?

It was late afternoon. She knew she had to figure it out quickly, she had to pick Mía up soon, which meant she'd see Mike. Zion didn't want to talk to him without a plan because she knew that if she opened her mouth, she'd just start sobbing.

She was considering writing a letter instead when there was a sudden knock on the front door.

Puzzled, Zion waited to see if someone had the wrong house. She didn't order anything — she didn't have the money to — and she wasn't expecting anyone. But again, a knock. And then more, insistent, almost begging.

She grumbled to herself and hurried to the door, flinging it open, ready to yell at whatever annoyance was standing there...

A bloody, dishevelled figure.

There was a deep gash on his arm, pooling blood and soaking his rippled clothes. Another gash was on his side, not as deep as the other one, but still oozing out a steady amount of the scarlet liquid. A bruise was forming on his forehead.

"I'm sorry," Mike's voice cracked, tears in his eyes, fist still frozen in the air from his knocking, "I'm sorry, I know you hate me but I didn't know where else to go, please—"