His Immortal

20

The next day, Marcus arrived at the school, his eyes scanning the campus as he tried to spot any sign of Mae. The school was bustling with students and faculty, but he was focused on one person and one person only. He stalked through the hallways, his eyes fixed and his mind racing. He knew that he had to find Mae and get her to talk, no matter what it took. He couldn't afford to let her slip away again.

Marcus's eyes widened as he saw Mae trying to slip away, and he immediately started after her. He pushed his way through the crowd of students, his eyes locked onto her and his legs pumping as he tried to catch up. He cursed under his breath as he saw her round the corner, vanishing from sight. He quickened his pace, determined not to let her get away again.

Marcus's heart leapt into his throat as he saw me crash into Mae, sending both of us sprawling to the ground. He quickly made his way over to me, his eyes scanning me for any injuries.

He extended a hand to help me up, his expression concerned. "Are you okay?" he asked his voice tight with worry. I just nodded.

Marcus helped me up off the ground, his hands lingering on my arms for a moment longer than was necessary. He wanted to pull me into his arms and check me over for any injuries, but he forced himself to hold back. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get the best of him, not again.

He turned his attention to Mae, who was slowly picking herself up off the ground. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and fear. Marcus stepped closer to her, his eyes boring into hers. "We need to talk," he said firmly. "And you're not going anywhere until we do."

Mae bristled at his tone, her chin raised stubbornly. But she could see the determination and intensity in his eyes, and she knew that she was caught. She sighed, her shoulders sagging in resignation.

Marcus led her over to a more secluded spot, away from the prying eyes and ears of the other students. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, fixing her with a steely glare. He waited for a moment, letting the silence stretch out between them. He could see the tension in her body, the way she fidgeted and avoided his gaze. But he wouldn't let her off easy. He had questions, and she was going to answer them.

"We need to talk about what's happening," he finally said, his voice firm and steady. "And you're going to be honest with me, no lying or evading the truth. Understood?"

Mae nodded reluctantly, her eyes still avoiding his gaze. She knew that she was backed into a corner, with nowhere left to run. She had no choice but to cooperate, at least for now.

Marcus studied her for a moment, trying to gauge her sincerity. He could see the fear in her eyes, the way her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides. But he also saw something else - a hint of guilt and shame, buried deep beneath the surface. He decided to press her, to see if he could dig those feelings to the forefront.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Why are you involved in all this? You're just a kid, why are you willing to risk everything for this?"

He could see the question hit home, the way her eyes flicked up to meet his for a moment before looking away again. She swallowed hard, her throat working as she struggled to find the words to say.

"I...I don't know," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just...got in too deep, I guess. I didn't mean for it to get this out of control."

Marcus's expression softened slightly as he heard the regret and remorse in Mae's voice. But he couldn't let his guard down completely, not yet. He had to keep focused on the task at hand, on getting the information he needed to solve this case once and for all.

Meanwhile, I was watching from afar, your feelings of jealousy and insecurity rising again. I could see the way Marcus was treating Mae, his expression softer and more understanding than it had been with me.

I felt a pang of bitterness in my chest as I watched them interacting, the way he was so gentle and patient with her. It hurt to see him treating her like that when he had been so distant and cold with me since I had rejected his kiss.

I wanted him to look at me that way, to treat me with the same care and respect that he was showing Mae. But I knew that it wasn't likely to happen. I felt torn, caught between my feelings for Marcus and my jealousy of Mae.

As I walked away, I missed the way Marcus's eyes followed me, his expression laced with guilt and regret. He had spotted me watching from afar, and he felt a pang of remorse for the way he was acting with Mae. He knew that his actions must be hurting me and he felt a knot of guilt settling in his gut.

"She always has been jealous of me," Mae retorted.

Marcus turned his attention back to Mae, but his mind was still on me and her comment only heightened his sense of guilt. He clenched his jaw, trying to push those emotions aside and focus on the task at hand. "Is that so?" he said, his voice tense.

"We were friends before high school then when it was freshman year, she became popular and left me to the dirt. I get it, I was in the wrong for what I have done to her," she said.

Marcus listened to her words, his eyes narrowing slightly. He knew that there was always more to the story than what someone was willing to say. But he also saw the hint of manipulation in her words, the way she was trying to play the victim and paint herself in a more sympathetic light. He kept his expression neutral, hiding his scepticism and focusing on the task at hand.