Afterlight ✔️

chapter thirty-four

— Jay Bieber

It was a rather lengthy drive to May Reynolds' house, Nick's girlfriend of two years whom he loved and cherished her with everything he had. He did everything for her just as I wanted to do for Chloe, myself. Like Chloe, May had been a runaway, a target of Venom three years ago. However, May ended up earning Damien's respect which I knew would never happen with Chloe, and I was actually grateful for that– I didn't want my brother anywhere near Chloe. Whatsoever, Nick ended up falling in love with her and they have been happy ever since.

May's house was just around the block from mine. According to Nick, it would be a good idea to sleep there for the night to keep from having any further conflict with the members of Venom. In the back seat, Chloe was still unconscious. I felt so helpless, but furious at the same time. I had no idea what happened back at that warehouse, and it was driving me insane. Anger boiled deep in my system as hot as lava every time I looked at her deep cuts and her bruises, but I tried to remain as calm as possible for her sake.

Nick parked in May's driveway when the sun was starting to set. I got out of the passenger seat, opening the backseat to pick up Chloe, scooping her in my arms. She remained motionless as I took her up to the front door of the house. Behind me was Nick and May opened the door. With Chloe in my arms, I stood in May's living room.

"I'm sorry about Chloe." May said over Nick's shoulder as he hugged her from behind.

To be frank, seeing Nick and May happy and carefree together made me jealous. I clutched Chloe ever so tightly, clenching my jaw. What did Chloe do to go through hell every single day, wasn't it already enough?

"She'll be fine." I said, knowing that she was stronger than this.

"Just take her into one of my guest rooms and lay her in bed so she can rest." May pointed towards the first room down the hallway on the left.

Not wasting any time, I took Chloe into the room, hearing Nick and May whispering remarks to each other back and forth and giggling. I closed the door shut after myself before I walked Chloe gently over to the large bed, laying her down in the center of it. Raking my fingers through her hair, I shook my head, wondering what was going to happen between the two of us when she finally woke up. I still haven't forgotten what she told me over the phone and the scared look in her eyes when she saw me. I needed to know what was going on.

Sighing, I took off her shoes and placed them on the ground. Usually, I would have changed her clothes so she would be more comfortable, but I wasn't so sure if she wanted me to, right now. I wasn't even sure if she wanted to see me, at all. Instead, I tucked her in and kissed her forehead, wishing her a good rest sleep. She didn't say anything or moved, so I walked into the bathroom, straight across the room from the bed, leaving the door open in case Chloe woke up. I headed over to the sink to splash cold water onto my face, releasing a sigh.

I never thought I'd actually, honestly, fall in love with someone. I've watched how my father treated my mother like utter shit, only to watch them both get killed, and after I thought I've seen it all, my brother lost his fiancée. It seemed to me that love made you weak, vulnerable, and it could break you into million of tiny pieces. I wasn't wrong, after all. But at the same time, it was fulfilling and it made my life worth living.

I've never felt any kind of love towards anyone, especially the way I grew up, but then I met Chloe, and everything changed. She changed my life. I got to know what it felt like to be in love, something I didn't want to experience in my life, but thankfully did, after all. Just being near her lights me up inside and gave me a serenity I could have never know without her being close to me.