Sleeping With The Devil

Chapter Nine

Farrah stood at the window of her apartment, staring out at the city below as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The sky was a mix of greys and pale oranges, a muted reflection of the chaos that had erupted the night before. She had barely slept, her mind too consumed with thoughts of Archer and the violence that had torn through Boyle Heights.
The memory of her father's words lingered in her mind, a strange comfort amidst the fear that still gnawed at her. Archer was alive. He was hurt, but he was alive. That was all that mattered, or at least what she kept telling herself. But the relief she had felt after hearing her father's reassurance had slowly given way to something else—so more determined.She couldn't just sit here, waiting for the next call, the next wave of fear to crash over her. The world outside her apartment was on fire, and for the first time in a long time, Farrah felt the urge to step into the flames.She turned away from the window, her resolve hardening with each step she took. She moved to her bedroom, pulling open the closet door and rummaging through the clothes that hung there. Her fingers brushed against the familiar fabric of an old leather jacket, one that she hadn't worn in years. It had been a gift from Archer, back when they were still just kids, back when the world was a simpler place, even if it had never been truly safe.Farrah hesitated for a moment before pulling the jacket off the hanger and slipping it on. The leather was worn and soft, fitting her like a second skin. It smelled faintly of old memories, of the days when she and Archer would race through the streets on his bike, laughing as if they had no cares in the world.But those days were gone, and the laughter had long since faded into silence. Now, there was only the reality of the world they lived in—a world where violence was a constant companion, and where the only way to survive was to face it head-on.She grabbed her phone and keys, taking one last look around the apartment before heading out the door. The air outside was cool, the streets quiet in the early morning light. But there was an undercurrent of tension in the air, a sense of anticipation that set her on edge.Farrah knew where she needed to go, even if the thought of it made her stomach twist with anxiety. She had avoided the Nameless MC clubhouse for years, ever since she had decided to distance herself from that life. But now, it was the only place she could go, the only place where she might find the answers she was looking for.The drive to the clubhouse was a blur, the streets passing by in a haze of grey and orange. Farrah's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her mind racing with thoughts of what she might find when she got there. Would Archer be there, waiting for her? Or would she be met with more violence, more bloodshed, more of the darkness that she had tried so hard to escape?When she finally pulled up in front of the clubhouse, her heart was pounding in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins like a drug. The building loomed before her, a fortress of concrete and steel, its walls covered in graffiti and the scars of past battles. The sight of it sent a shiver down her spine, but she didn't let herself hesitate.Farrah stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching beneath her boots as she made her way to the entrance. The door was slightly ajar, and she could hear the low murmur of voices inside. She pushed it open, her breath catching in her throat as she stepped into the dimly lit hallway.The clubhouse was just as she remembered it—dark, cluttered, and filled with the scent of smoke and whiskey. The walls were lined with old photographs, the faces of men she had known all her life staring back at her with a mix of defiance and pride. This was their home, their sanctuary, and she had once been a part of it, too.As she moved deeper into the building, the voices grew louder, and she recognized one of them instantly—Viper. He was talking to someone, his tone low and serious, but she couldn't make out the words. Farrah followed the sound, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned the corner and stepped into the main room.Viper was standing at the bar, his back to her, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he spoke to one of the other members. The man he was talking to was bruised and bandaged, his face a mess of cuts and bruises, but he was alive, and that was more than could be said for some of the others.Farrah took a step forward, her voice trembling as she called out, "Viper."He turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes narrowing in surprise as he took in the sight of her standing in the doorway. "Farrah," he said, his tone a mix of surprise and caution. "What are you doing here?""I need to see Archer," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt.Viper's expression softened slightly, but there was still a hint of wariness in his eyes. "He's in the back. But Farrah... he's not in great shape."The words sent a chill down her spine, but she nodded, steeling herself for whatever she might find. "I need to see him," she repeated, more firmly this time.Viper studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. Follow me."He led her down another hallway, the familiar sights and sounds of the clubhouse surrounding her as they walked. The further they went, the more her anxiety grew, but she forced herself to keep moving, to keep putting one foot in front of the other.Finally, they reached a door at the end of the hallway, and Viper paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He turned to Farrah, his expression serious. "Just... be prepared, okay?"Farrah swallowed hard, nodding as she braced herself. Viper pushed the door open, and she stepped inside.The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a small lamp on the bedside table. Archer was lying on the bed, his body covered in bandages and bruises, his face pale and drawn. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, and for a moment, Farrah felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her.She moved to the side of the bed, her heart breaking at the sight of him lying there, so vulnerable, so unlike the man she had always known. The man who had always been so strong, so unyielding, now looked fragile, as if he could break apart at any moment."Archer," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she reached out to touch his hand. His skin was warm, but there was a chill beneath it, a reminder of just how close he had come to death.His eyes fluttered open at the sound of her voice, and for a moment, he just stared at her, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Then, slowly, he smiled—a small, weak smile, but it was enough to bring tears to Farrah's eyes."Farrah," he rasped, his voice rough and strained. "What are you doing here?""I had to see you," she replied, her voice trembling as she squeezed his hand. "I saw the news, I... I was so scared."Archer's smile faded slightly, his eyes darkening with something she couldn't quite place—guilt, maybe, or regret. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I didn't want you to get involved in this.""But I am involved," Farrah said, her voice stronger now, the tears threatening to spill over. "I've always been involved, whether I wanted to be or not. You can't keep me out of this, Archer. Not anymore."He looked away, his jaw clenching as he struggled with the words. "I didn't want you to see this," he admitted. "I didn't want you to see what I've become."Farrah's heart ached at the pain in his voice, at the way he seemed so defeated, so lost. She had always known there was a darkness in Archer, a part of him that thrived on the violence and chaos of their world. But she also knew there was more to him than that—there was still the boy who had read her stories, who had protected her when she was too scared to face the world alone."You're still you," she said softly, reaching up to gently touch his cheek. "No matter what's happened, no matter what you've done, you're still the same person I've always known."Archer's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the mask he always wore slipped away, revealing the vulnerability beneath. "I don't know if that's true anymore," he murmured, his voice filled with a sadness that cut through her like a knife."It is," Farrah insisted, her voice firm. "You're still the same Archer I've always known. And I'm not going to let you do this alone."He closed his eyes, a pained expression crossing his face as he took a deep breath. "I don't want you to get hurt, Farrah. I can't lose you, too.""You won't," she promised, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll figure this out together, just like we always have."Archer opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that took her breath away. "I don't deserve you," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper."Yes, you do," Farrah replied, her voice filled with conviction. "You deserve to be happy, to be loved, to have a life outside of all of this."Archer didn't respond, his eyes searching hers as if he was trying to find something—something that could make him believe her words. But whatever it was, he didn't seem to find it, because he looked away, his expression hardening once more."We should get you out of here," he said, his voice suddenly businesslike as if he was trying to put a wall back up between them. "It's not safe."Farrah's heart sank at the change in his tone, but she didn't argue. She knew that Archer was trying to protect her in the only way he knew how—by pushing her away, by keeping her at arm's length so she wouldn't get pulled into the darkness that surrounded him.But she wasn't going to let him do that. Not this time."We'll go together," she said, her voice steady. "But I'm not leaving you. I'm not going to just sit back and watch while you destroy yourself."Archer's eyes met hers again, and for a moment, she thought he might argue. But then he nodded, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Alright," he said quietly. "We'll go together."Farrah squeezed his hand, relief flooding through her at his words. It wasn't much, but it was a start—a step in the right direction. And for now, that was enough.They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of everything that had happened hanging between them like a heavy curtain. Farrah didn't know what the future held, didn't know what dangers lay ahead. But she did know one thing—she wasn't going to let Archer face them alone.As she sat there, holding his hand, she made a silent promise to herself and him. She would stand by him, no matter what. She would face the darkness with him, fight alongside him, and do whatever it took to keep him from losing himself to the violence and chaos that threatened to consume him.Because Archer wasn't just a part of her past—he was a part of her future, too. And she wasn't going to let that future slip away.As the first rays of sunlight began to filter through the windows, Farrah felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was a new day, a new beginning. And whatever came next, she knew that she and Archer would face it together.For the first time in a long time, Farrah felt a glimmer of hope. The world outside might be on fire, but they were still standing. And as long as they were together, they could face anything.