Absolution | +18

Chapter 28

Val

I knocked on Maddie's door, my heart thudding so loudly in my chest it felt like it would burst through my ribcage. The cool autumn air wrapped around me, doing nothing to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach. As soon as the door swung open, Maddie's eyes lit up in surprise, her signature grin spreading across her face.

"Val?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of shock and delight. Before I could say anything, she had already pulled me into one of her tight, bone-crushing hugs. Her perfume—sweet and floral—flooded my senses, grounding me for a moment.

I hugged her back, feeling both comforted and terrified by the storm that was about to unfold. "Hey, Mads. I, uh, have something to show you, but you can't freak out," I said, my voice quieter than I intended as I pulled back, trying to gauge her reaction. Her smile faltered just a touch as she caught the seriousness in my tone.

Maddie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Me? Freak out? When do I ever freak out?" She gave me a playful nudge before turning serious, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Come on, spill it."

I led her to the couch, my palms sweaty, my nerves on edge. The walls of her apartment felt suffocating in that moment, the colorful cushions on the couch suddenly out of place against the weight of what I was about to reveal. Maddie sat down, her legs crossed, leaning forward with a look that said she was ready for whatever I had to throw at her. I wished I could say the same about myself.

I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat tightening. My fingers trembled as I reached up to tug on the scarf I had hastily thrown on before coming here. Slowly, carefully, I unwound it from around my neck, feeling Maddie's sharp gaze on me the whole time. My heart raced faster with every second that passed, the air between us growing heavy.

The moment my neck was exposed, Maddie's face dropped. Her playful demeanor shattered in an instant.

"Oh my God," she gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the bruises that marked my skin. "Val, what the hell? Who did this to you?" Her voice quivered with concern, but within seconds, that concern shifted to something else entirely. "My poor, innocent Val—wait. I didn't know you got down like that!" Her shock gave way to excitement, her eyes glittering as her questions came pouring out. "Tell me everything! No, seriously, who did this? Oh my God, you have to give me every detail! Why would I freak out? This is great news!"

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Maddie's sudden shift from worry to excitement made me hesitate. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts, biting my lip as I tried to steady myself.

"Mads... I didn't tell you the part you'll freak out about yet."

She blinked, her excitement faltering as her eyes narrowed. "What part?" Her voice was slower now, more cautious.

I hesitated for a moment longer before blurting out, "I may or may not have... been with Silas."

Maddie's face went blank, the words clearly not processing right away. "Been with him? Where?"

I groaned, slapping my palm against my forehead, feeling the flush in my cheeks deepen. I pointed to my neck. "You know... been with him."

Her mouth dropped open. The realization hit her like a freight train, and she shot up from the couch, eyes wide with a mix of horror and rage.

"No way! Silas? That asshole?" Her voice was rising, her movements frantic. "Val, did he take advantage of you? Oh my God, we need to call the police—no, forget that, I'll kill him myself!"

"Mads, stop!" I grabbed her arms, trying to calm her down as she paced like a caged lion. Her eyes were practically on fire, the fury behind them almost terrifying. "You said you wouldn't freak out, remember?"