𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 | Tyler Hernandez x Reader

| Ep 86.5 |

A continutation of Episode 86...
(Did not proofread)

Present...

We all squeeze into an empty room to avoid a group of guards roaming down the hall. Tyler and Ben shove a metal cabinet up against the door to block out any intruders.

We huddle around in an uneven circle and take a moment of silence to process everything. I stand off to the side and rummage through the numerous drawers for some spare clothes.

Now that we were alone, I had an opportunity to check myself out. And that was a horrible idea.

Blood was splattered all over my outfit, from the neck down. It was a vibrant reminder of what was left of the man that had once earned the privilege of being called Dad.

Faint murmurs of the group fade into the background as I anxiously open every drawer in sight. There are only stacks of useless records and files.

I begin to panic, wanting out of the clothes immediately. I fan myself with my t-shirt, pinching the front and pulling it in and out to create some airway for me to breathe easier.

As if the walls are closing in on me, I find it hard to breathe right. Images of his lifeless eyes flash in my memory, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

Like an anchor weighing me back down to solid ground, a warm pair of arms wrapping around me brings me back to the present.

I turn my head to see Ashlyn engulfing me in a hug. The action is extremely uncharacteristic for her, yet her embrace felt as natural as that of a sister's. It was comforting and full of silent words I desperately needed to hear.

"Ash..." My voice cracks, "The blood will get on your—"

"Shut up. I could care less." She mumbles against my shoulder.

I only allow a couple of tears to spill, deciding that grieving over him was not worth the time or energy.

"Alright, hall's clear." Tyler announces from where he was looking through a window.

Ashlyn pulls away and swipes her finger over my cheek to capture the last of my tears, "You did the right thing, and I can tell that you know it. But don't think that you need to pretend that what you did didn't affect you. We're your friends, so be honest with us. It took me a while to learn, and I don't want you to forget that."

We file out of the room and rush for the elevators. Tyler extends his arm out to avoid the automatic doors closing in on us. He counts heads, ensuring everyone made it in safely before slipping through the crack of the closing doors to join us.

Silence falls over our heads as we all take advantage of the elevator ride to gather our thoughts and recollect ourselves. That is until Logan's uncertain voice replaces the quiet.

"...I'm sorry...I should've taken her out before Ryn got shot..." He clenches the grips of his handguns securely, shamefully staring down at the ground.

The coldness he displayed back there was nowhere in sight, leaving kind, sensitive boy we know and love to express his vulnerability before our very eyes.

Taylor wraps her arms over his shoulders from behind, resting her chin on one of them, "It's okay to no want to kill anyone. We've been through a lot. But we're still just kids."

Logan is in tears seconds after Taylor's words sink in. He slumps his shoulders, letting the last of his guard down. I reach over to run my hand up his arm comfortingly, even though I did not have the strength to be there for anyone at the moment.

And it seemed Tyler had caught onto that. He lightly tugs on my short sleeve so he could get my attention, "Hey..."

I tilt my head up to meet his worrisome gaze, "Hm?"

"I know you," He leans close to my ear to keep this talk private, "And I know you don't want to be coddled. If space is what you need to process, say the word and you can have it. Me entiendes?"

I nod.

I wish space wasn't what was best for me at the moment. All I wanted to do was let Tyler hold me, kiss me, whisper reassurances to me. But none of that would wipe away the blood that I now carry in the palm of my hands. I will forever remember my dad's final moments, and that is not a memory I wish to cherish.

The automatic doors grind open, revealing the vast car garage. Thick, stone pillars hold the whole place up and there are cars scattered across the lot. This'll make it a bit harder to spot any wandering guards.

But, my first true thought is that we've made it out. At least, out of the gloomy halls of this wicked facility.