Destiny ~ Book Two Of The "Meant to Be" Series

Chapter 23

Suddenly, something inside me switches. I feel the same, but different. More daring and brave now that I know Olivia's life might be in danger. Nothing matters anymore, except me seeing her beautiful smile again, even if it gets me killed for trying. I wipe the last tears off my cheekbones with the sleeve of my hoodie, pushing back from Tobias' embrace. I sniffle and grab my which is now at the ground. I walk inside the office again, taking some colored tape I noticed on the woman's desk, and tape the camera of my phone, and cover the speaker with it as well. Im very harsh, and Tobias joins me in the room, watching me ripping pieces of tape off and sticking them on my phone.
     "What are you doing?" asks Tobias. He sounds exhausted from crying earlier. I don't reply. Tears continue building up in my eyes, and I don't try to stop them, but this time I don't go running for Tobias' shoulder to cry on. There is nothing he can do about this, and I must do it on my own. "Tris." He tries to get my attention. Even Tobias, the person I love the most, the person I've waited a whole year to see again, the person I would give my life for, in this moment, makes me want to kill him. Im not sure what makes me want to kill everybody around me, but I know that if I stay here for much longer I'll probably murder the whole camp. "Tris—"
      "Shut up, Tobias." I say annoyed, wiping my tears and walking out of the office. Out of these woods is where Im headed for. Out where phone service is better. I sigh as I hear footsteps behind me, trying to catch up.
      "Tris! Wait!" Tobias calls, making me stop as he grabs my wrist loosely.
      "What?" I ask as if he's losing my precious time, and he is.
      "Where are you going? We need to find Olivia." He says. I roll my eyes. What do you think Im doing dumbass? You really think Im having a little trip to Starbucks so I can have a coffee to calm me down? Fuck you.
       "Leave me alone." Im being very rude, but I can't stop myself and there is nothing making me want to. Though I should calm down a bit. Olivia is his sister after all.
     "Is this because I didn't stop the call in the beginning? Look; all I want is—"
     "Not everything is about you Tobias! You're not the victim, okay? Olivia is! Now just back off and let me do what I have to!" I blurt out yelling. He just furrows his eyebrows, staring at me as if Im insane, and Im starting to think I am. His eyes are bloodshot. I've never seen him like this, and Im making all of this harder for him. I should be the one comforting him, and explaining everything he needs to know. If I don't, who will? Olivia and I are the only things keeping him happy. Olivia is now gone, and Im treating him like most people treat street dogs.
       His eyes pool. I never knew he was this emotional. "Tris. Olivia is the only thing that reminds me of home. I made a promise, and I must keep it. All Im trying to do is find my little sister, and everything to be normal again." His voice breaks so many times, making me shiver at every word. "Why won't you just tell me where she is?!" He purses his lips together, and tears slip out of his eyes.
      "I don't know, Tobias. That's what Im trying to find out." I say a bit more softly, but still a bit harshly. "I made this problem and Im gonna fix it! And if you follow me, I will never speak to you again! Got it?!" Saying these words kills me, but its the best threat I can find to keep him away from me right now.
      "Don't you get it?! Its not about us, Tris! It's about Olivia!" He just repeated what I said earlier, but he's right though.
      "Why won't you understand that if you follow me, Olivia will die?! Just let me handle this!" I yell at him and run as fast as I can out of the woods. I've never ran faster in my life, and Im proud because Tobias couldn't catch up, and he lost track of me.
    Im breathless, and my legs will give out any second, but I don't stop until I make sure Tobias isn't behind me, and until I find phone service. I stop at a corner of a coffee shop. There are no people around, just me. Its quiet, and the place is covered by building walls, so it feels as if Im in a maze.
     It takes me a while to calm down from the running. Deep breaths, in-out, in-out, in-out. It feels like Im in a box with no oxygen, and that there is no air for me to consume, but that's not stopping me from calling Eric.
    I call the Unknown number where I've been receiving the texts from. I know it's kind of impossible to call a number that has its number hidden while they send you messages, or call you, but it works. There are a few beeps until someone picks up.
     "Missed me?" Eric's voice makes me want to vomit.
     "Where is she?!" I yell, my voice breaking. He just laughs in response. Hysterical laugh, scaring me, and making me hate him even more than I hate him right now. I hate him so much, that Im not sure if this kind of hate towards lives inside an innocent person like me. "Where is she?!" I scream, letting out a sob. He continues laughing like an idiot. Im pathetic. My existence is pathetic. He makes me feel useless, and stupid, which I am honestly. "What did she ever do to you, huh?! Why does she have to be tortured because of your stupid wanting of revenge?! You already broke us, Eric! Do you think we'll ever be the same happy teenagers we used to be?! Do you think we'll ever be able to feel pure happiness again?! What else do you want?" I yell through the phone as I continue crying. "We'll never be the same because of you! You monster! the least you could do is—" Im not able to finish my sentence because of the painful scream coming out of my mouth as I fall to the ground. I notice blood all over my fingertips, as I panic a bit. My eyes feel heavier, and I barely see anything. The blood. It's my blood. I've been shot. I bite my lower lip, throwing my head back and screaming on the top of my lungs as I shut my eyes closed tightly. "Do whatever you want to me, just don't hurt her!" I yell to the sky, meaning it for Eric.
      I've lost too much blood already. Im losing the ability to feel pain. I try to keep my eyes open, and somehow Im succeeding. My mouth is open, but no screams or words get out, as I try to keep control of my breaths. I take off the jacket Im wearing, ripping and tying it tightly around my shoulder. The bullet is still inside my body, and that's not safe at all. I need to take it out as fast as possible, but I don't want to waste any time at the hospital.
    I somehow manage to push myself up, my eyes feeling heavier than they should as I try to stay awake, and not faint. "So you want to hurt me physically too now?!" I yell, "You coward!". He is here somewhere. I can feel it. He's listening to everything aim saying, watching every inch Im moving, counting every breath Im taking. I can't take it anymore. I call the ambulance. I'd call Tobias instead, but he's still not over Olivia being kidnapped, and me yelling at him for no reasonable reason. I've made a mess of things, and I can't trust anyone with these killing secrets. Who ever knows about this, is most likely to get killed first. That's why I have to deal with this on my own, and protect the people I love.