Watch Our Worlds Burn

Chapter 3 (Pt 2)

I woke up to people muttering from a distance. I opened my eyes tiredly to the sight of a ceiling. I heard music from outside my door.

Guess we're back in the same place.

Suddenly memories of earlier flashed through my head.

A door...running away with Elise... a sleeping drug...Vincent.

I groaned and shook my head. My stomach clenched painfully around emptiness. It had been about two days since I had last eaten something. I can go multiple hours without eating anything, but by now, it has become uncomfortable and unbearable.

My mind wandered off my pain when I heard the voices get louder outside my door.

"It was an accident... I told someone to watch them..." a voice, probably Ace's, pleaded outside the door. I heard an annoyed sigh that definitely carried the weight of Vincent's voice.

I sat up on my bed and tried to support my weight on the bed with my hands; only to find out they were literally cuffed. This time behind my back instead of in front of me. I groaned in annoyance but the struggle was pointless.

I turned my head and saw Elise asleep on another bed next to me, her expression peaceful and her hands cuffed as well. I sighed and turned back around to face the door.

At the sound of my sigh, the voices outside the door hushed. Quietly, the doorknob turned, and both Vincent and Ace entered. Vincent looked annoyed and Ace had a sheepish expression. I strengthened my posture and glared at them (well not Ace because he didn't deserve it). Vincent at the sight of me, narrowed his eyes and took a long drag of his cigarette. The smoke made its way into my head and I coughed.

"Morning," he greeted nonchalantly, taking another smoke, "You slept throughout yesterday." My eyes widened slightly in surprise but I held my glare

"Slept is one way to put it," I muttered. His lips curved up and he chuckled once.

"Don't take it personally, we were just trying to stop you from escaping," he explained. I suddenly dropped my scowl and rolled my eyes with a smile.

"Oh don't worry about it, that's a very valid reason to knock somebody out," I remarked sarcastically. He chuckled again as if I had said something funny. He took another smoke, watching me with humored eyes. My sarcastic smile fell. I was uncomfortable under his intense gaze and so I turned away with a flushed face. With my gaze on the floor, I caught sight of his shoes as he walked up to me. He bent down to my level, a smirk on his lips.

"I see you still got your wits about you. Let's go get you something to eat to fuel it, hm?" he asked. I finally looked up at him and got lost in his soulless dark eyes. His intense gaze held mine, refusing to let me go.

My green eyes felt like they were getting blackened to a pale gray.

My breath caught at my lips and I nodded. He smiled.

"Good," he praised, gently grabbing my arm as he stood up. I stood off the bed, ashamed when I looked behind me to stare at my friend.

She's going to wake up all alone.

His hand held onto my arm, and where he had touched, went hot, spreading all the way to my fingertips and the nauseous pit in my stomach. He stubbed his cigarette on a plate as we walked past it. The smell of smoke died with it, the last of it radiating from him. Ace walked quietly behind us as we left out the door.

Now in the main room, I got overwhelmed by all the talking, planning, and the smell of drinks and cigarettes. Vincent walked me through, humming comfortably in the presence of his home. He seemed much more laid back than he had been yesterday. A happier expression curved his lips beautifully, like a flower that had just learned to bloom properly. I smiled at the thought.