Fair Trade

Chapter 18 - Die Trying

I woke up to see Adam and John's faces inches away from mine. 

"Seriously guys?" I groaned. My head was pounding. I lifted my hand to my head and felt a wrap around my head. 

"Don't touch it, Mariah! I just finished changing it." Adam said, gently removing my hands from my head. I felt a tear run down my cheek, and Adam quickly rubbed his hand across it. 

"It hurts." I barley managed to get out. John smiled a bit. 

"I would figure. You took quite a fall back there." He said, pushing a pain killer into my hand and handing me a glass of water.

"What happened back there anyways?" I questioned, taking the pain killer and gulping down the water. John and Adam both came over to my bed. 

"You don't remember what happened, do you?" Adam questioned. I shook my head and quickly regretted it as pain fired throughout my entire body. I heard a knock from the door and Logan came in. 

"Hey, you're awake." It wasn't a question, but I nodded my head softly. 

"You guys think I can have a moment with her?" He asked my brothers. They nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind them. My eyes met Logan's and my dream came back. The kiss. If it wasn't for my head injury, I think I'd have attacked him. 

He slowly walked over to my bed, never breaking eye contact. When he finally reached my bed, he sat down. I moved over but he reached his hand stopping me. 

"No, I meant I want you to... never mind." I quickly stopped. He lifted an eyebrow. 

"Wanted me to what, Mariah?" I shook my head and he smirked, causing me to blush. 

"Tell me, Mariah." I looked down at my in twined fingers. 

"I wanted you to lay down beside me." He smiled and got up, cuddling next to me. He placed his arm around me. At first, I wanted to say that this was all just a mistake, but after a couple of seconds, I snuggled up to him. 

"So how are you holding up?" He muttered. 

"Well before you came I was bawling over the pain so I wouldn't say I'm holding up pretty good." I looked up at him and he was smiling. 

"You're really something, Mariah, you know that?" I blushed and quickly tried to hide it. 

"Did Mariah Collins just blush?" He smirked. 

"Mariah Collins does not blush. You're just seeing things." I hid my face into his chest. I heard him snicker. 

"Alright, I'll act like I believe it." I shook my head and rolled my eyes, smiling like an idiot. 

"You've been through a lot of shit, Mariah, I can't help feel like it's my fault." He wasn't smiling anymore. 

"You didn't do this to me."

"Yeah, but I'm the one who discovered you." This was new to me. 

"I told the group and for a long time, you were safe. That is, until Nicole and Calvin left us and word got out. It's my fault." I looked up at him and cupped his face in my hands. 

"You didn't do this to me! And even if you did, I'm glad it all happened. Because of this, I met the most amazing people in my life. And I wouldn't trade that in the world. I'll even take this headache if it means that I get to spend more time with you guys." He smiled, placing his hands over mine and pulled them to his mouth, kissing my palms. 

"You're amazing, Mariah. Don't forget that." I smiled. You're amazing too, Logan. And I love you. I wanted to say that so badly, but he changed the subject.  

"Now down to what I really came here for. I know you don't remember stuff, but I need to know anything you know." 

"I remember I was talking to Serena about...I don't know anymore. Then everything after that, I forgot. Next thing I know, I was walking with Calvin. He's not the bad guy, Logan. He's good. After that, I was with Stephanie and Nicole and Calvin, but I can't remember where Serena was. Something about Mariah and a flashback, and next thing I know I wake up here." He looked down. 

"Damn," was all he said. 

"Wha's wrong?" He looked back up at me. 

"We have to kill Serena." 

"Wait what? Why?" I gasped. No way. Over my dead body. 

"She turned you into them, Mariah." I shook my head, causing my head to hurt but I didn't care at this point. 

"No, that's one thing I know for sure! It wasn't her. I know who it is, it's at the tip of my tong but it was not Serena. Don't kill her, please Logan. Please." He looked at me, questioning to listen or ignore my outburst.

"Fine, she's alive for as long as it takes for you to remember and realize it was her fault. Until then, she remains in the dungeon with Calvin."

"Clavin's here too?" I asked. He nodded. 

"He help jack save your life. We had to keep him alive and find out what you knew." 

"What about Stephanie and Nicole?" 

"Nicole's dead and Stephanie's out on the run, hiding from us." Was I glad that Nicole was dead? No, but I was sorry about it either. She deserved it. But Serena does not deserve to die. I can't remember what happened exactly but I know she is innocent. And I'll prove it. Or die trying.