The Cost for Freedom

Chapter 26

Well this is it! I'm bittersweet about this ending, since I think I may be continuing on with a sequel.

I hope you guys like it!!

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Tyler was staring me down with something I'd never seen in his eyes before, pure hatred. His hands were fists on either hips as his lips twitched, pulling down on the sides in a frown. Both eyebrows were furrowed so deeply, his eyes seemed to be hallowed, each in their own depths of hate.

"Tyler," I barely whisper.

His entire façade faltered at my voice, his eyes darting to mine; the source of the sound. I felt so small behind Derek's shoulder. But Tyler's eyes bore into mine as whole new myriad of emotions marred his features.

"Alexis?" his voice cracked.

I bite my lip and step around Derek, only I'm stopped when Derek's right arm holds me back defensively. He shifted his stance as he held me by the waist, pushing me back behind him again. "Derek," I try to tell him it was ok, but am stopped when I hear it.

Tyler's growl audibly echoes in the small hallway we were in. I close my eyes, silently praying they wouldn't begin attacking one another.

"You think I would hurt her?" His voice was strained, he was attempting to hold himself back.

Derek's hold on me loosens, until his arm finally returns to his side, forming a fist. I step around him, watching him carefully. He seemed as angry as Tyler had before, or maybe I just hadn't seen him then. My eyes darts to Tyler's, whose gaze was fleeting back and forth between Derek and I. I place my hand on Derek's forearm, squeezing it to reassure him. But Tyler reacts automatically, pushing Derek against the door we had just left out of.

"Tyler!" I can't help the short scream that escapes my lips in defense as I grab Tyler by the shoulders. "Let him go!"

"What is this, Alexis?" he demands, retracting his hold on Derek before pushing him back up, more forcefully on the door. It creaks under the renewed pressure as Derek swings a fist that connects with Tyler's face.

Stepping back to get out of the way, I watch as the two start a fight before I begin shouting at them to stop. "Both of you! Stop!" I throw myself onto one of them and grab the pair of hands in front of me as I feel another pair slide onto my waist. I'm hoisted up, this time next to Tyler as Derek jumps up across from us. I act on impulse upon seeing Derek's murderous look, holding each of my hands out to their chests.

"Stop," I say not with more volume, but with more conviction. Taking a deep breath, I look at each of them, "Both of you, calm down. Please."

"But he's-"

"He can't be-"

They start shouting over each other. "Omg! Just. Stop." I face Tyler, "I have to explain, I know. But Derek wouldn't hurt me." Then I turn to Derek, "Tyler wouldn't hurt me either, Derek." I let out a sigh. "Now will you please both let me talk? There's not a lot of time-"

"Time? Time for what?" Tyler yells at me, confused.

"I-I'm getting out of here tonight, Tyler." I turn to face him, leading him further away from Derek. Then I look up at his devilishly blue eyes and the dark hair that had grown and now hung over his eyes. "I can't be held here any longer. As happy as I have become with you, I've known an even happier life. With my family. That I need to get back to."

He seemed to take in my words slowly, still processing them several moments after I had finished. "So... He is helping you out?"

I bite my lip again, hating how this would be the last time I would see him. "Yes," I finally answer him.