Looking for the Light Through the Darkness

Chapter 22: Spicy Suspicions

Point of View: Sang 

I can feel my heart pounding hard in my chest as I grip hard onto Silas's shoulders. I can feel the air moving and I know Silas is walking around but my head is spinning so much I am unable to determine where I am. I feel dizzy and I quickly hide my head in the crook of Silas's neck trying to calm down. He places a warm and comforting hand on my back sensing my discomfort. "I have you." He whispers very softly into my ear and letting out a slow breath I manage a slow nod as I begin to pull myself together but my hold on his muscular shoulders don't relax. Feeling Silas tense a bit as he moves at a swift pace, I begin to feel him slow down before he sits settling me easily on his lap. 

Feeling the male shift a little under me, I flinch and his arm tightens around me pulling me right back against his chest as I pull away. "Its my phone. I need to tell Gabriel I found you." He whispers and I manage a small nod focusing on his voice and I hear the soft ringing of a phone above me. "Gabe, I have her." Silas instantly states as soon as the phone picks up. There is a pause and Silas's fingers slowly slip to my side rubbing in soft circles. "Right outside Macy's. We are sitting on a bench." Hearing the click of the phone hanging up, I let out another held breath and feel Silas's hand caress my cheek. "He is on his way right now." He whispered and I manage a small nod before resting my head against his shoulder. 

As I slowly begin to relax the scent of apples does not return and instead the soft scent of spice washes into my nose. Tensing, I instantly look toward the smell and I hear a sharp breath before the soft whisper of "Silas?" Instantly, Silas's arms slip around my hips and I hide my back from view feeling a little vulnerable since I don't know where I am. 

"Kota... Hey..." I can feel Silas hesitating and I bit my lip nervously unsure of how to react before I feel the male shifting in front of me. 

"Hello Miss." The male named Kota states and I smile nervously as Silas pulls me closer to his chest. 

"Sang he is a good friend. He won't hurt you." Silas whispers right into my ear but I don't calm down. Taking a shaky breath I don't allow myself to look away from the male standing in front of me and suddenly I feel movement in front of me making me flinch hard and pull away knocking back into Silas's chest that instantly cradles me. 

"Miss Sang... will you count with me?" Kota asks and I freeze confused as to what the male is stating. Count? Count what? I can't see... I don't know where I am... I don't know who Kota is... I don't understand what is going on... How am I supposed to- suddenly I feel a single finger on my hands and that higher tenner voice is slow and comforting even tone. "One." He pauses allowing me the chance to pull away but I stay still. "Two." He touches my next finger. "Three." I take a calming breath. "Four." I focus on Kota's voice. "Five." I focus on Kota's touch on my finger as he no longer pulls away. "Six." I focus on the soft chatter of people around me. "Seven." I can now hear Silas's breathing and feel his chest moving against my back. "Eight." I can smell the faint scent of apples appearing. "Nine." I can feel my pounding heart calm down. "Ten." I whisper having calmed down and manage to clear my head of the dizziness. 

"Good job Sang." Kota whispers and I nod slowly leaning back against Silas's chest and give the male a smile. 

"Thank you Kota." I whisper and look in the direction of the apple scent that is slowly getting stronger. "Gabriel..." I whisper and I can feel the other's attention shift as I hear the heavy breath of Gabriel. 

"Fucking hell... Sang" Gabriel's hand is instantly cupping my cheek and I can tell he is kneeling down because of how close his voice is. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where the fuck did you go? Did that fucking bitch hurt you? How did you find Silas?" The questions continued on and on until I lightly reached out and place my hand over Gabriel's hand that is still resting on my cheek which causes him to go quiet. 

"I am okay now." I state easily and look toward Kota giving him a smile. "Kota helped me calm down and Silas found me wondering around." I whisper softly. "I did get scared when I realized you weren't there... and it didn't help that I have no idea where I am in the building." Speaking my concerns out loud I can feel my hear starting to pound again with anxiety when suddenly I feel Silas's hand wrapping around and placing it on my stomach. 

"Miss. Sang..." I look toward Kota's soft voice. "You are on the first floor of the mall. The mall is set up in two floors both running in a long oval shape." He states explaining to me where we are. "Currently we are next to Macy's which is a two layer store so there is an elevator in side of it. I just came from the CVS located next to Macy's. Does this help you feel a little more grounded?" 

Nodding quickly, I manage a small polite smile to the other. "Yes. Thank you Kota." I whisper and slowly curl up a little into Silas's chest causing him to relax. 

Gabriel's hand squeezes mine and he leans forward placing a soft kiss on my cheek. "Let's get something for lunch and we will head back to the car." I nod and slowly begin to stand, Gabriel's hand still in mine and I suddenly feel Kota besides me. 

"May I?" He asks quietly and I freeze in place. May he what? Biting my lip nervously I hesitantly offer a hand, surprised he wanted to come, but without hesitation Kota slips his hands right into mine and steps closer allowing me to hold his soft hand comfortably as though it was an effortless thought. At first I am tense as we walk down the halls of the mall, hand in hand, but as we continue Kota starts to explain where we are headed and more about the mall which makes me more and more comfortable. Soon I feel as though I am able to easily walk about without getting to disoriented but I don't remove my hand from Kota's and Gabriel's allowing me to get an idea as to what Kota is look like. 

From what I could get when his arm brushes against mine, I can tell he is about four or five inches taller than I am. His finger tips are soft and have no indents and although he has calluses they aren't as many as there are with Silas or North's. But his mannerisms are calmer and he is very polite. Feeling a little more comfortable, I relax as I am guided to sit down in a booth as Silas and Gabriel move from the table to get some lunch. Kota sits down to my right and I play with the bottom of Silas's sweatshirt once more before looking toward him. 

"So how long have you known Silas and Gabriel?" I ask quietly a little nervous at being left with someone I barely know. 

"We have known each other for a while now. About ten years. I became friends with them in middle school. They would always come over." I smile nodding as Kota describes their meeting a little but I can feel the butterflies in my stomach as I realize that he is going to ask me personal questions in return. "They are pretty much family. What about you, Miss. Sang? What is your family up to?" 

Letting out a slow breath as the questions begin I duck my head down a little avoiding the male a bit as I continue to play with the sweatshirt. "My family is doing good. My father recently remarried and had three boys. My sister is living with them as well and she has been sending letters about visiting recently." I smile to myself thinking of her last letter and I mentally remind myself to write her back. "How about you Kota?" I ask quietly. 

There is a second of silence and Kota speaks. "I used to live with my mother, sister, and my dog. My sister is currently in High School and doing well and my mom is working a lot but I talk to them a lot." I smile and nod thinking about my sister and slowly relax as I catch the scent of Silas and Gabriel stepping over and our conversation is casually lost but in the back of my mind I know that Kota asked me about my family intentionally.