Finding ( Safe and Sound Trilogy: Book 2 )

Chapter 16: Violet - Butcher Knives

I couldn't believe Kris almost left for that stupid girl. I don't know what they were like when they were alone, but I didn't like Bry. She annoyed me. I don't know, maybe I was just being an over-protective older sister, but Kris doesn't need a distraction when he's trying to save the world, because obviously it's not going to be me. I kicked my feet to the side of the bed and got up to go see where Duke and everyone else was. I really wanted to talk to Duke, though, which was a rare occasion. 

I stomped down the stairs, dust kicking up under my feet, and raced into the kitchen only to find Kris holding a butcher knife, twirling it in his fingers. His other hand was under the table, thankfully, when he suddenly grasped it and stabbed the table. His expression was blank when he did it, like he felt nothing, and even though I screamed at the noise, he did nothing. I didn't want him to become numb. He picked up the knife again.

"Kris, put it down." I commanded, and when he didn't do it, striding into the kitchen, light shimmering through the windows. I put my hand on the table where it had many indents and glared at him. "Put the knife down."

"Move." He snapped at me. He didn't even blink or move his eyes in any way, the knife still raised. He lowered the knife really fast, and I knew he would stab me, but for some reason I kept my hand there. Kris stopped right before he hit my hand. We just stared at each other, tears jabbing at my eyes, pain demanding to be felt. I bowed my head and let tears run down my cheeks. Kris gasped, threw the knife on the floor, and examined my hand. "Did I actually hit you?"

I grinned. "No."

"Then... Why are you crying?" He asked ever so innocently. I just smiled and wrapped my arms around him. I enjoyed every second of that moment I experienced with Kris. We just stood there and hugged each other in silence for a few minutes before Anne and Duke walked in on us.

"Hey, now, no lovey-dovey shit," Duke announced, and from behind me I heard a loud, echoing smack!  "Ouch!" He exclaimed.

Kris and I let go of each other and I whipped around only to see Duke holding his cheek and Anne with her arms crossed, a scowl on her face. "Don't swear in front of the children!"

"Anyway," Duke grumbled, rubbing his cheek. "Kris, we need to talk about Violet."

I didn't expect what happened next: Kris first yanked on his hair, which he has never done, and he yelled, then he picked up the butcher knife and threw it at the wall so hard that it stayed lodged there until Anne screamed and pulled it out. "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ME!" He erupted in rage.

"Kris, what-?" I tried to ask, but he wouldn't even hear of it.

"SHUT UP VIOLET!" I could see tears welling up in his eyes. "WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT YOU! I NEVER SAID HOW I FELT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE ANYMORE TROUBLE BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT WORKING!"

I started crying, tears falling fast and rapid. I tried to stop really hard but I couldn't contain my emotions. "I never knew you felt that way." I explained, my voice cracking. I shook my head and ran out of the room and upstairs and slammed the door behind me.

All I wanted to do was be alone but I felt like there was someone else there, watching me, like I could feel their presence but I couldn't actually see them. I cried for about five minutes before I picked myself up off of the floor. Did I really talk about myself that much?

No, darling, they do it, not you. A voice explained. I looked around for something for my brain to connect to the voice, but there was nothing. You will never find me, she mocked. I will always be in the best shelter possible. Was I going insane? No, baby, you just need a little sleep. The voice was right. But why would I listen to a stranger? I sighed and dragged myself to the bed, and fell asleep. 

                                                              * * * * *

When I awoke, Hayden was laying next to me. He smiled the second I said, "Hello," and he moved my hair out of my face and behind my ear. He was laying closer to me than he usually did. He kissed my forehead and smirked. 

"I'm really sorry." That's when I remembered what he did. I didn't want to be angry any more, and I knew I wasn't supposed to be too emotional, so I controlled myself a bit.

"It's not okay." I finally mustered the words from my mouth.

"I know." He mustered words back. We laid there, staring into each other's eyes. Sometimes I wondered if I could get lost in the chocolate that were his irises. Sometimes I wondered if he thought he could drown in the sea of mine.

I sighed, and closed my eyes. "Hayden, what are you doing here?"

It took him a minute to respond. "We don't have a lot of time left."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean one of you is going to die," my eyes slowly opened, curiosity resent in every inch of blue. "I like you, okay? I like you a lot."

I leaned up, sitting straight, and he did too. His eyes became sad and angry. "It's not fair. Most guys can meet a special, pretty girl like you and can be certain he'll see her wake up the next morning." He shook his head angrily. "I don't even know how many times I'll get to talk to you before someone tries to kill you or kidnaps you or-"

I stopped his words with a kiss, his lips touching mine. It took him a second to snap out of his daze, and when I backed up and smiled, he just stared at me, eyes glistening. "I like you too," I said.

"Violet," Hayden sighed. "I didn't want you to say that."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're absolutely stunning in every way, I wanted you to know that. I wanted you to know that I lov-" he stopped himself. "I wanted you to know I really liked you before you died, but I didn't want to know you were wasting your time on me."

"Hayden-" I stopped myself. There was so much I wanted to say but I didn't know how and I didn't have enough time before he stood up to leave and shut the door behind him. It was the first time I truly realized what was going on. I have to save the world, and I'll lose my life doing it. One thing I wasn't going to lose was Hayden.

I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs and into Hayden's arms. He didn't expect it and he stumbled backwards but I didn't care. This time I didn't hold back the tears. "Hayden," I said. "not a second of my time with you or thinking about you or anything with you is wasted, okay?"

"Violet-"

"I really like you too and I want you to know that before I go okay?"

"Violet-"

"Wouldn't you rather me be happy for my last days?"

"VIOLET." He yelled. "I'm sorry I lead you on, but I can't do it. I can't love a girl who's going to be taken away from me any second. I'm sorry."

"You son of a bitch." Kris's voice came from the kitchen. I just hoped he wasn't still holding the butcher knife before I looked over to see him standing in the kitchen doorway.