Jake

Chapter 22 - Redemption

I had gotten rid of Hudson in my own head. I silently smiled to myself and sat up against the arm of the sofa.

I tried to calm my breathing, I tried to hide what had just happened the moment Jake walked into the room towards me, sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of me without making any eye contact.

I held my breath, attempting to slow it down so he didn't notice, but it was proving to be futile.

Jake's eyes lifted towards me, a certain sorrow involved before they turned curious

"What's wrong?" Was his first sentence, his tone telling me I was indeed caught as I let my breathe out, only realising it had made it worse

"Nothing" I smiled attempting to hide it despite the track record of how good a liar I was

"Tell me" He begged as his eyes returned to a soft gaze, pinning me down

"The ring doesn't work anymore" I mumbled as I toyed with the silver around my neck

"What happened?"

"Hudson got inside my head again" I truthfully admitted

Jake sighed and closed his eyes, almost defeated like he had been expecting it

"I should have done something earlier, I knew this would happen" He trailed off, mumbling to himself as his eyebrows crossed

"I pushed him out" I proudly told him, surprised at his sudden calmness

Maybe what I had said, had worked, maybe he now realised how much of an idiot he was being

"What do you mean?" Jake asked, his eyes darting back up to meet mine

"I just concentrated on getting him out, I closed my eyes and things got blurry, his voice started to fade and then it was gone, all of it" I shrugged, still amazed I'd managed it

"What did he say to you?" Jake questioned, his gaze intent on mine

"He was mad at me for not recognising his voice, he was threatening me, said he was out for my blood" I trailed off, still in shock over his cold words "He said he could see me, but I couldn't see him and that's how he wanted it" I added, remembering the information

"How are you feeling?" He changed the subject as his eyes returned to me, soft and even

"I'm fine" I slowly spoke, confused

"Look..." He sighed as he moved his eyes away from mine "I'm sorry about how I've been treating you, I've overstepped while I've obsessed over keeping you safe" He slowly confessed

"I'm in this now whether you like it or not, Aldrek and Markus did what you're doing, that didn't work for them, it won't work for you" I told him, taking the chance to tell him exactly how I felt as I sat up

"I don't want to be someone you run from, but someone you run to" He continued to disclose as he averted his eyes

"You know how I feel, remember?" I decided to confess in return "when I feel scared and anxious, you're where I feel safest"

He nodded before lifting his gaze to my own "I don't want that to change"

"Then let's move forward" I advised "So from now on, you won't leave me in the dark?" I added, aimed at restarting

"Okay" He agreed back with a nod, his eyes growing softer as they met mine, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly

"It's okay to smile you know?" I told him, the air around us growing lighter as I smiled towards him.