Valor

Chapter 48

There's an eerie feeling that rolls in in time with storm clouds. I've felt it forever, and no matter how crazy my mom or dad told me I was, I could always feel it in the air.

If I tried hard enough I thought I could almost snatch it with my fingers. It smells like a wet dish cloth left out to dry. The lightning strikes, the thunder rumbles, and the eerie feeling creeps into your veins like a poison, infiltrating ever cell within your body until a singular touch would light you up like the fourth of july.

That's what it feels like today. I woke up to the rain and the eerieness that comes with it. I felt it deep in my bones.

So when Mav notioned me to meet him at the garage, I should've fought harder.

Do you know those stories you hear about that woman that barely survived a kidnapping from an insane serial killer? They talk about it all the time!

"I had a date with Ted Bundy! He asked me out again, but I had just gotten back together with your father. To think—I could've been his next victim!"

They flaunt that shit. They had a 'close encounter to death' when in reality they were just living their lives, unsuspecting of a monster in their midst.

I've gotten good as finding the monsters that lurk within the crowds. They are easy to spot once you know what to look for.

The thing about monsters though is that they learn. Just as soon as you think you've got them pegged, they change. Suddenly you have no idea who the real monster is.

I should've fought harder.

I should've known some shit was off.

"Mav, you don't have to do this." I say weakly as he opens the passenger seat and hauls me into his arms. My body is limp from the sedative he gave me, and I'm pretty sure the only reason I haven't passed out yet is from the adrenaline of knowing the man I thought I could trust, betrayed me.

The monster bore his claws and sunk them so far into my flesh that I'm at risk of bleeding out.

He doens't say anyting, doesn't even acknowledge that he heard me.

Did I even say the words or have the drugs taken my voice away form me too?

The rain hails down on us as Mav takes slow sinister steps towards the front of the abandoned church he drove up to. Almost as if the lord himself wants me to know what stands in store, a flash of lightning illuminates the fallen angel statues, their wings clipped from their bodies.

The droplets of rain cascade down their faces as they weep for little old me.

Mav jostles my body as he takes the three steps up towards the entrance where two armed men are waiting.

They don't look at me, but I didn't expect them too. They wear the same expression as the men that beat and broke me.

They don't care.

The rain stops pelting my face as we finally enter the building, but the sound of the storm outside doesn't get drained out; in fact, the repetitive sound of dripping water comes from multiple points in the church.

From my view in Maverick's arms, it's clear the ceiling is in disrepair as the rest of the building is. It's barely holding itself up.

You and me both.

I can hear the steps of shoes approaching, but don't even bother to turn my head towards the new person. I've already lost haven't I?

"Good to see you Maverick." The man says, his voice a sweet melody that somehow doesn't match the cool intention I can feel from his probing stare.