Chasing Freedom (Book 2)

Chapter Fifteen: Guilty Blood (Skylar)

Chapter Fifteen: Guilty Blood (SKYLAR)

I sit quietly on the cold ground, my knees tucked underneath me, my head resting gently on the brick wall, the almost empty bottle of alcohol discarded at my side.

I can still hear traces of the thumping music from the party, but they were very faint. I don't know where I am or how long and far I walked, but I'm away from Cole and the suffocating air in that ironically big house, which was good enough for me.

Many people stumble past me in the time that I sit there, not bothering to notice my immobile figure as they scurry along in drunken giggles, tears, and even anger; everyone having one thing in common, they were all at Katherine's extravagant party, and just like me, they'd all escaped from it.

Cole's hurtful words are still running through my head as I take small sips from the bottle beside me; not exactly knowing what kind of alcohol it was, and not really caring.

All that mattered was that it was strong and had a way of dulling my already heightened emotions.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here all by herself?" a male voice says from behind me and I ignore it, figuring whoever it is, isn't talking to me.

"Hey, you," the voice says again and I hear shuffling over my shoulder. I squeeze my eyes shut as I feel a weight resting beside me, "you alright there?"

I sigh loudly and turn my position so I'm facing the person, finding myself staring at a guy maybe only a few years older, his shoulders were slumped, his pupils dilated and his breath reeking of alcohol.

"I'm good," I reply and swiftly shift away from him.

He chuckles to himself and moves closer to me, "why are you all by yourself? Pretty girls like you can get hurt without any protection; it's a damn dark place out there."

My eyes narrow at him as he plops down beside me with a loud thud. "I don't need protecting," I say too defensively, my senses now on high alert.

"Some girls don't," the guy says, agreeing with me as he places his hand on my thigh; the sudden impact causing me to shiver, "but you, Skylar Midnight, you do. You need all the damn protection you can get," he slurs.

I'm on my feet in a flash, not allowing him to finish his sentence before I'm backing away. He follows my suit but takes an extra second to gain his balance and steps over to me in a wide stride, not giving me enough time to react as he grabs my wrist and pins me against the wall.

I fight the urge to huff in annoyance, but it doesn't work. He notices my wariness and grins lopsidedly.

He takes his hand and brushes a few strands of my hair from my face, leaning in really close. "Such a pretty little thing, I never understood why he was so obsessed with you, at least not until right now."

I squint in confusion, my chest rising and falling in uncertainty, "he?"

He traces the birthmarks on my face as I hold the urge to puke. "Axel of course," he says casually, seemingly not noticing the way I stiffen under his touch, "you're very lovely, but I didn't think the younger ones were quite his type."

"No I think that's just you," I say in disgust, leveling my foot and preparing to kick him.

His lips get dangerously close to mine as he lightly grazes them with his teeth, "I don't think you want to do that."

I try my best to lean away from him, keeping my tone steady, "and why would that be?" I ask but drop my foot nevertheless.

The guy shrugs, sliding his hands up my arms and rests them on my shoulders. He drops his head to my neck and inhales deeply, "because I wasn't sent here to do this," he responds, his lips grazing my neck as I try to push him away, "and you don't want to get me angry."