Lost || Jace Herondale

FOUR

"No, I don't want this. I don't want this." I repeated, shaking my head. Tears brimmed my eyes as my mind exploded from this new information. "I tried so hard to keep out of trouble. I can't be involved in any now." 

"We're going to help you get through this mess.  But you have to let us." Jace said,  "This is a two way team, and at the moment that necklace is the most wanted thing in New York." 

I nodded, accepting that things could not go back to the way they were while I had the necklace. 

Izzy reaches to the bed opposite me, holding a pile of neatly folded clothes. "I picked out some bits for you, figured you'd want to change into something less . . . blood splattered."

It was only then that I took in my appearance. Izzy was right, blood from the circle members had stained my long sleeved white shirt  - turning it a burgundy brown. "Thank you." I smiled gratefully at the Shadowhunter.  

"Really Izzy? Freya will be frozen in those clothes." Jace shook his head.  

"This is the only outfit that is clean. Because somebody broke the washing machine when they forgot they left arrowheads in their pocket." Izzy raised her eyebrows at her brother. 

Alec put his hands up, acting as though he wasn't to blame. 

Jace rolled his eyes, pulling off his grey sweater and handing it to me. "You can borrow this." 

"You should keep it, I'm fine. Really." I comforted. Not wanting to put them out any more than I already had. 

"No. You're shivering. Take the jumper." Jace said sternly. He was right, I was shaking like a leaf. But I couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from the anxiety. 

"Thank you." I said, admitting defeat. 

The trio of shadowhunters left the room, giving me the privacy to change. My muscles ached as I put on Izzy's clothes. They fit perfectly; a low cut top that hugged my ribs and black high waisted jeans. I almost moaned at the warmth that Jace's jumper gave me - realizing my fingers were icy cold. 

I reached for my phone, holding my breath as I checked the messages. Multiple missed calls and texts from Elijah made dread seep into my stomach. But I knew what I had to do, the consequences of leaving here were less severe than avoiding Elijah. 

I reluctantly took my necklace off, rubbing my thumb over the wing pendant one last time. It needed to stay. It wasn't my responsibility to look after it and the shadowhunters knew more about it than me. But even though I knew it was going to be in safe hands, I couldn't help my gut feeling telling me I was making a mistake. I set it on the side table and tore my eyes to the window. 

When I tentatively looked out, my eyes squinted as the evening sun reflected on the glass panes. We were luckily on the ground floor, the infirmary window latch unlocked. For once things were working in my favour as it was too easy to climb out and abandon the institute. I breathed a sigh of relief as my boots landed on the grass.   

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I figured out my route home once I passed the New York public library. I made myself believe I was being paranoid when an uneasy feeling of being followed crept up on me. I subtly glanced around, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. It was the evening of course, the sun was beginning to disappear and the night life of New York was waking up. 

But it happened so quick it felt like a delirious dream. A hand had pulled me into an alleyway, covering my mouth to muffle my sudden scream. My first thought was that one of the shadowhunters had caught up with me and were planning on dragging me back to institute. But the iciness of the hand around my mouth told me otherwise.