Autumn Leaves Fall (On Hold)

Chapter Six - Pain

Together we walked in silence for hours. The sun began to sink below the horizon and until that moment neither of us had said a word.

“Thank you.” These two words sent Max into a frenzy. He spun around putting a hand over my mouth and pinning me to the inside of a nearby tree so as to take cover. It took him a moment to realise that I was the one to speak and when he did he released the hand on my mouth and took a small step back, allowing me to have a little space.

“Anytime. Are you okay?” There was a look in his eyes that said that he had so much more that he wanted to say to me, but not one of those words came out.

“I’ll be okay.” He pulled me into a tight hug, softly brushing his lips against my forehead in a small kiss. This moment may have only lasted half a minute but my stomach did backflips and my head rested on his chest before he pulled away and, holding my hand, continued walking.

An hour later we reached a small town where we found a motel to crash in. Max went out to get supplies and tried to make contact with my parents. I locked the door and went to lie down. I didn’t even know what day it was, how long I had been missing, and where I was or what I was going to do next.

I still hadn’t fallen asleep when Max got back. He put everything he collected down in the kitchen while I pretended to be asleep. I heard him enter the bedroom and sigh. His hand swept the loose hair from my face and his lips caressed my forehead once more.

“Stay” I said, grabbing his arm before he got up to leave the room. I opened my eyes to see him a little startled but moving back to the bedside.

I moved over so as to let him into the bed and we faced each other just millimeters apart. He was trying to get into my mind so that he knew what I was thinking. Just the thought of him kept those walls up nice and tight.

“They were your friends weren’t they?” It was a simple question but it hurt to remember the betrayal. My eyes filled with tears and he pulled me in close.

I don’t know when I fell asleep. I had cried most of the night and woke up to find myself in Max’s arms, just as I last remembered.

“Good morning.” He said, pulling back just enough to be able to see my face. His hand cupped my cheek; thumb gently tracing my cheekbone.

The fifth knock at the door was the only thing that separated us. With a kiss on the head, Max left the room and opened the door. My parents stormed into the room both with worried looks on their faces. “Where is she?” Dad asked Max before he had even realised who he was. “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”

“It’s okay. Scarlet is safe. My name is Maxwell Guardigli. My parents have sent me to watch over Scarlet.” Dad was ready to beat Max to a pulp until he heard the last name.

“Your a Guardigli? But your family line has been missing for the past 50 years. How is this possible?” Dad looked as stunned as mum sounded. It was at that moment when another knock at the door signaled the arrival of more people.

I was getting dressed when I heard more voices that I didn’t recognise enter the house. “Is everything okay? What happened?”

“Nicholas? Katarina? Could it really be you?” Dad blinked a few times at the sight of an old friend. I walked into the room just in time to see my parents embrace Max’s.

“We are sorry that we haven’t stayed in contact but we have never been too far away. We have kept an eye on you and your family as we had promised.” This came from Nicholas, Max’s father, as he returned the hug of my father. “You have a beautiful daughter but she isn’t safe anymore, just as Max was no longer safe. You now understand why we ran? May we be forgiven?”

As I listened to them speak I realised that a mere 50 years would hardly change your physical appearance. I didn’t realise I had said it till the words were out of my mouth. “How old are you?” Both parents turned to me as Max looked at me shyly, as though he had been caught out on a secret he didn’t intend to share.

“I’ll be 51 in a few months.” He replied sheepishly. “I didn’t tell you because I know that you are still getting your head around who we are. I thought that I would freak you out if you knew.” From his response I figured my face was in complete disbelief and possibly a bit of shock.

“He isn’t that old sweetheart. I am 543 and your mother is 489. That age gap is quite normal.” Dad winked and smiled, making an assumption as to what happened last night.

“Look can we just get out of here? I want a nice hot shower and my own bed to sleep in.” Dad nodded and the awkwardness disappeared.

“You shouldn’t go back home. We have a safe house not far from here where you will both be protected.” Mum looked to Katarina and mouthed a few words that I couldn’t distinguish but a small shake of Katarina’s head calmed her.

“Lets go then.” Was all mum said as we piled ourselves into the two cars and traveled along a road.

I was told the date and that I had been missing for about 2 months. I couldn’t speak about anything else and after about 10 minutes in the car I had to get them all to stop because all I wanted was for Max to put his arms around me and hold me close.

We stayed in that position for the rest of the 4-hour drive. We came to a stop a fair distance from the entrance and had to walk to rest of the way. Two hours later I was in the shower washing away as much of the pain and memories as I could. The doctor came in and gave me a check up before allowing me some privacy.

I got dressed and headed down stairs where the others had been for the last hour and a half. The tears that had flowed down my checks were gone and the pain in my chest had eased so that it was slightly bearable.

I was almost at the bottom of the steps when I heard dad’s voice. “No Nicholas. She can’t know. It would kill her if she found out. She will go to find her and that just -” He was cut off from his rant and just before I could escape back up the stairs mum came out of the room.

“How are you feeling sweetheart? Why don’t you come and have something to eat. We made you your favorite. Strawberry pancakes with ice-cream and French toast.” Placing a protective arm around me she guided me to the table where I made sure that my walls were up.

Looking at the plate in front of me, I couldn’t eat. All I could see was the pain of the betrayal. They had been my friends. I didn’t realise the streams of tears until Max wrapped me up in his arms.

“No I’m fine. I think I’ll just go to bed.” I said pushing him away. It hurt more then the betrayal of Samantha and Jeremy but I had to. He was hiding something from me, they all were. I was going to find out what it was if it was the last thing I did.

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So final edit on all chapters are done. Hope you're loving it. I will update soon but it may be a while has I have schoolwork to focus on as well. Vote, comment and follow!! E. <3

(6/5/14) - Update