Rhenna

NINETY

Memory spark: Elin got a phone call during the last chapter.

I wasn't sure why I was at the hospital. If anything, I never wanted to come back here. But here I was: going up, while my stomach went down. It was all wrong.

Deep down, beneath everything, I knew that I should be somewhere else; maybe with Conn or even Johny. But no. I was on my way to see the man I hated most. Why?

That damn phone call.

He had promised–he told me that the files on Nick and Johny and the others would be forgotten if I did just one more thing: come see him.

So yeah.

Nothing else mattered at the moment. Not Betsy, not the man posing as my father, and defiantly not Jae Ventis.

I hope you enjoy it bitch.

After this, he would never "ever" be seeing me again.

I'll be free!

The thought made my feet move faster, and before I knew it I was standing infront of his door.

Taking in a deep breath, and steeling myself for the moments to come, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside.

Jae was sitting up on the bed, but he didn't look all that better. Most of the tubes were gone, exert the IV and nose duct. His face was thinner, highlighting his sharp cheek bones; his eyes were red rimmed and puffy; as if he'd been crying.

This made me anxious. Jae acting as a normal, feeling, person didn't mingle well with my image of him.

"You made it."

I blinked, shaking myself from the doorway. "I-ugh...yeah."

He held out a hand and motioned me closer with a bend of his finger. "I know your only here because of the files."

"Yeah." There was no point in hiding it.

He ran a hand through his greasy hair and chuckled dryly, which morphed into a cough. "You and that blonde...I take it your close."

The last time I saw Jae, before the hospital and his getting shot, was on Christmas eve–when Johny kissed me. Obviously, Jae was still upset about that. It wasn't showing on his face, but the voice gave it away.

Not wanting to talk about Johny I changed the subject. "When did you wake up?"

"This morning."

"How did you get my number?"

"Your full of questions tonight, aren't you?"

I was only asking these things because they had been gnawing at me since he called earlier.

When he realized I wasn't going to answer he spoke up. "So what's with the blanket?"

I shuffled my shoes over the tile floor and avoided his gaze. "Couldn't find a jacket."

This earned me another chuckle. And than, like a snap of the finger, the atmosphere shifted to something more serious. "I'm checking myself out tonight."

Tonight?

Wasn't that a bit soon?

He had only been in here for four–five days.

Not that I really cared. If he wanted to go and kill himself than so be it. As long as I got those files.

"We can head over to the company building and I'll give you the files." He went on.

"Just like that?" I asked.

His lips twitched. "Just like that."

My forehead creased. I was about to question him further, but he spoke up before I had a chance.

"Some of my guys are coming to pick me up," he glanced at the clock, "In about half an hour."

Guys?

Half hour?

I never even agreed to go with him. Than again, I couldn't very well pass up my one chance at ending this. For good.

"Thoughts?" He asked.

For a man just shot, Jae Ventis seemed like he was in a hurry. Actually, he was acting a bit–

"Elinis?"

I lifted my gaze. "Huh?"

"Something wrong?"

There were alot of things wrong.

I took in a deep breath and shook my head. 

------------

Jae was like a brand new person after he put on his usual slacks and dress shirt. He even managed to make his hair look nice–with all that grease it couldn't have been that hard slicking it back.

The only indication that his condition was poor was the way he moved: slow and jerky. He looked like some rich ass Zombie stumbling down the hospital hallways. It might have been funny; if it were anyone else. But frankly, Jae Ventis, no matter how absurd he looked, could never strike me as funny.

"You need a wheelchair or what?" I snapped over my shoulder.

At this rate we were never going to make it to the check out desk.

"No." Was his wheezy response.

I was screaming on the inside, but kept calm on the outside. "Are you sure?"

"Do you see any wheelchairs around?"

"No."

"I'm fine with walking."

"More like stumbling." I murmered.

Thanks to Mr. Slow poke it took us about fifteen minutes to reach the check out level. And that whole process took about ten minutes. By the time Jae turned my way and mumbled a "let's go" I was really really tempted to hit him.

"The cars over here."

Walking, as slow as a snail, I trailed behind him; across the entire lot! Apparently some idiot thought it would be a good idea to park the car as far as possible.

"After you."

I was pulled from my angry rants when Jae spoke up. He gestured to the back seat of the waiting black sedan. How chivalrous. Making sure to bump his shoulder, I climbed inside, and slid to the opposite door.

Jae called out directions to the driver–who was not in fact paper guy–just a shady looking man who'd I'd never seen before.

"New Schauffuer?" I asked.

"Protection."

Ri–ght.

The car was silent as it pulled out of the lot. I wasn't even sure if I was breathing. It didn't feel like it. Hell, for I all I knew, my heart wasn't pumping either.

"So..." Jae spoke up. "I suspect things are going to be different after this."

That was probably the truest thing I had ever heard Jae Ventis say.

-------

Sorry if the chapters not that good. I was really rushing through it, and my brain didn't want to think smart. 😂 but anyway, here ya go. Enjoy🖤