Second Life (Book Two in the Awakening trilogy)

7: Oridon

ELIZABETH

I left the hospital that night. I've been with Jake ever since. I even met Rachel. I wish I could've talked to Gabe, but he's an ass and said he'd visit me soon. Being back in Jake's arms is all that I could ever wish for, feeling his warmth again. Just being near him helps me heal, I'm already almost back to normal. He still treats me like I'm this fragile porcelain doll. Only if the world were different.

"Are you okay?" Jake asks.

"Yeah. Why?" I reply looking up at him.

"Just wondering. You're colder than normal."

I bring myself closer to him basking in his warmth.

"Wanna go to the room?"

"Sure." I mumble.

He scoops me up and carries me to our room. Jake gently lays me down on the bed and throws the covers over me. I feel him slide in next to me. I roll over and bury myself in his chest. His arm wraps around me as his lips gently touch my forehead. My hand slides under his shirt as my eyes start to close.

"I love you Elizabeth." Jake says.

"I love you Jacob." I whisper before drifting off.

"My name is Elizabeth Gale Rivers, I'm 17. I was born on December 15, 1997 in Seattle, Washington. I have a brother, his name is Gabriel. My parents are dead, and I killed them."
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"My name is Elizabeth Gale Rivers, I'm 17. I was born on December 15, 1997 in Seattle, Washington. I had a brother, his name was Gabriel. My family is dead, and I killed them."
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"My name is Elizabeth Gale Rivers, I'm 17. I was born on December 15, 1997 in Seattle, Washington. I am the Oridon. I killed my family."
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"My name is Elizabeth Gale Rivers, I'm 17. I was born on December 15, 1997 in Seattle Washington. I am the Oridon. I'm Elise Black, I'm a survivor."
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My feet pound against the ground as I dodge low hanging limbs and trees. My hair whipping around behind me. Memory being my guide, I jump over a log and run out to the edge. I find myself staring off looking out at the gorge. The trees surrounded by fog, the river below shallow. Jagged rocks jutting out on the way down. It's all the same. I turn on my heels and start running again. I stop at the edge of the woods and walk to the house. My feet barely moving, step big yet slow. The breeze blowing through my hair. I reach the door and slowly open it. I step inside closing the door as quietly as possible. I suck in a breath and walk over to the couch. I lie down and rest my head on the arm rest, my feet propped on the edge of the coffee table. Tears sting in my eyes trying to break free.

"El, what's wrong?" Jake asks worriedly a hint of anger in his voice.

"Have you ever been so- so bloody frustrated that you just- you just have to break down?"

"Why are you frustrated?" He takes my hand in his sitting by me.

"After I wrote that note and ran off, I was here in the woods, I found this cliff over the gorge. Well earlier I found it again, but it's different."

"Different how?"

"How I reacted."

"How did you react differently?"

"That's just it!" Tears start to brim my eyes. "I- I don't know- it just didn't feel the same- I couldn't recognize it- at all. And-and I hate feeling like that- like no matter how much you remember something, you don't bloody recognize it." A tear or two escape my eyes as I rant.

"It'll be okay Elizabeth." Jake laughs.

"Why are you laughing!?!" I squeak.

"Because you look really beautiful when you get frustrated."