crave | 16+

XXVI

JOSIE

I STEP INTO MY apartment, the cold embracing me. Three days later Elijah had kept his promise. He'd let me stay in his bed, and hadn't bothered spending time with me. He'd kept his distance, sleeping in another room, or not sleeping in the penthouse at all. The thought of Elijah going out, and finding someone else, this close to our breakup has me swallowing bile. Behind me, Aaron stands. He waits patiently as I look around in my apartment.

It all looks the same – the mess, the clear signs of me trying to run away from Zakaria. A shiver runs down my spine, but I shake it off, and walk deeper into my apartment, refusing to let ghosts of the past haunt me. Zakaria was gone. Malik was gone. Elijah was gone. I'd never have to hear the whisper of the Christ family ever again. I don't know what I'll do now, to be honest. I'd need to find a new job, because I'm sure Elijah's break up includes me having to find a new job.

I stop at my bedroom door, that's closed. I raise my shaking hand to the doorknob, and push past my fear as I open the door. The bed is a mess. Trails of a kidnapping is clear, signs of my fear sit on the four walls that make my bedroom. Tears dare to brim my eyes, but I swallow them, refusing to let Aaron see me like this. I'd wait until he was gone. I sigh, and shrug my coat off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a heavy thud. I walk toward my unmade bed, and start ripping the bedsheets off.

Rage bubbles to the surface, when I remember the feeling of Zakaria snuggling up behind me, the nerve he had. I try and swallow it down, but it only seems to fuel it more, as I remember the fear that was going through me, when I'd thought he'd rape me. When I wished he'd kill me, so I wouldn't have to suffer under the hand of that kind of man. The kind of man that sneaks up on women in the dark, and steals their choice away from them.

I gasp when a hand grabs my arm. In the time I've been pulling my bedsheets off, letting memories resurface, I've managed to forget the second party that's been watching me. I raise my hand to dry off the trail of wetness on my cheek. I hadn't even noticed I'd started crying. Aaron's eyes are soft, as they assess me. "Why don't I do this? You go take a shower in the meantime."

I open my mouth to protest, not wanting his pity. "I'm fine. You can leave, Aaron. This isn't some pity-party." I manage to surprise myself at the harshness from my voice, but Aaron doesn't seem to mind, and if he does, he doesn't say it.

"Everyone needs help in a while, love. I'm a man who lost his ability to pity others, a long time ago, believe me. Go shower. I'll handle this," he repeats, this time his words an order, not a question. I drop the bed linen, and walk toward my bathroom. I get undressed, and step into the shower-cabin, turning the hot water on.

I hiss when the scorching water hits my back, but I wouldn't like it any other way. A bittersweet feeling fills my body, as I let the bathroom fill with fog. A soft knock on the bathroom door breaks me out of my trance and I make a "hm?" sound.

"Are you okay? You've been in there for quite a while," I hear Aaron say, his voice raised. I sigh, and turn the water off, before wrapping myself in a towel, not bothering drying my hair. I couldn't muster up the energy to care about my wet hair against my clean bed sheets. I walk toward my dresser and grab some clean clothes, and on cue, Aaron steps out of my room, softly closing the door behind him.

I get dressed, and look around my now clean room. He must've cleaned the whole thing. Another knock sounds on my door, and I strut toward it, opening it for Aaron. He has a medical kit in his hand, and motions for me to lie down on the bed. I do as he says, no further protest. This must be Elijah's doing. One last command, before he truly lets go of me. I can't cage you to this life. I'm letting you go. A joyless laugh leaves my throat, as I let his voice intrude my mind. Fucking coward, I think.

Aaron ignores it, as he takes my blood pressure, my temperature, and leaves a bottle of unprescribed pills on my desk. Shock washes over me. He also did the blood transfusion earlier. "Where did you learn all this?" I question.

"I was in the army for a while."

"Medical wing?"

He shakes his head. "I was out on the field, but when our medical people got killed, someone had to make sure the rest of us didn't die.

I nod, and eye my laptop that's set on my vanity. As if Aaron can read my mind, he brings it over to me, and I give my a graceful smile.

"I'll come check on you throughout the week. Your body really took a toll from all the drugs. Try not to move so much, unless it's necessary. Stay hydrated, and eat, but not until you get sick," he enumerates and I nod at all the things.

We share a look, and he turns but my voice stops him; "He killed Ares," I say in a whisper.

Without turning, Aaron says. "I know."

My breath hitches in questions, but Aaron beats me to it. "Ares and I grew up side by side. His family took me in, when they found me hunched up on their porch, having withdrawals from drugs a child my age shouldn't be having." My heart swoons for him. "Matilda is his sister. He was all she had. Now she only has me," he whispers.

Tears blur my eyes, as guilt washes over me like a grey cloud. "Zakaria said blood would be spilled." I shake my head. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry," I say in a low voice to hide my trembling voice.

"Rest, Josie."

Without another word, I watch as Aaron leaves and closes the door behind him. Suddenly I'm left alone once again, with my voices the only thing accompanying me with. 

. . . 
just a shortie so u guys arent left of a cliffhanger xx
this chapter is not proofread fyi