Bleeding Out { Rafe Adler }

Part 5 - Closer

The closer we got to the cathedral, the clearer the explosions got. Rafe must be there. If I meet him with these two, I'll be as good as dead.

"Mel? Are you okay? We almost lost you." Sam said and walked back to me. I looked down, then I looked at Sam.

"I'll just go check over there." I said, pointing at another, smaller cave.

"Why?" He asked and looked suspicious.

"I just want to. I'll catch up with you in a minute, okay?"

"Okay. You have 5 minutes." He grazed my arm before turning around to head back to Nathan.

I watched him as he left. When he disappeared into the bigger cave, I climbed the rocks to get a better sight at the cathedral.

"This is the worst plan ever." I told myself before I started to walk towards the cathedral.

***

After some time of walking, I felt how my breath got sucked out of me and my lungs was left empty. I gasped for air but was left choking. I kept walking though. I didn't see the huge downfall I was facing.

I slipped, fell and everything went dark.

***

I woke up inside a room. Everything was built of stone.

My sight was blurry. I tried to blink a couple of times and it worked. Everything got clearer.

I heard a male and a female speaking to each other further into the room. They talked about something that I didn't catch, but I recognized the female voice.

Later, another male entered the room. The female sent the first one out. I tried to focus on their voices and I remember them very well.

"Have you seen it?" The male said.

"No. Why?" The female responded.

"Because there wasn't much left, after they were done 'finding them."

It was hard keeping my focus up, so I lost a lot of what they said.

"But they've made more progress in two days than we've made in months."

I blacked out again, and when I woke up again. They voices was arguing about the cross. I guess I just blacked out for a few seconds then.

"But instead of going with my gut, I listened to you and now we have competition." the female said, probably trying to calm herself down.

"I didn't think he'd show up." A moment of silence appeared. Who was he talking about?

"Or maybe you wanted to draw him out."

"Why the hell would I do that?" The male laughed.

"Because you think you need him." Silence. I could hear my own breathing. "And maybe you do. The point is, I'm done trying to do things the clean way. If the treasure is here, we'll find it. And if not.. then maybe it's time to move on, eh?"

The male didn't say anything.

"It's not personal." the female continued.

"of course." The male finally said.

"I'll tell you if anything turns up."

The female was about to leave the room when the male stopped her.

"What about the girl? Where is she?" He asked.

"She's in the corner, behind the boxes. I think she's still asleep." and then the female left.

I froze. What am I going to do? Maybe he kills me. Just now, I realized I was tied down to the chair I was sitting on.

I saw a shadow coming around the boxes before I saw the person. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Welcome back to the living!" He said and laughed.

"Rafe?" I said, focusing on his face.

"Melanie?" He said back and looked as surprised as me. He untied me from the chair and helped me up.

"That was unnecessary." I chuckled.

"They didn't know. I'm sorry." He apologized. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I, uh, have family in Scotland. I was visiting them and decided to take a trip out here but got lost and fell down in a ditch I didn't see." I lied and he nodded.

"We thought you were with the Drake brothers." He said, leading me to a stone table with maps and pictures on it.

"Drake? They're here?" I tried to sound surprised.

"Yes. You left with Sully from the auction so I just.. Never mind." He chuckled. We stopped at the table and I leaned back on it as Rafe got a little bit too close. He put his hands down on each side of my hips and I got a little nervous.

"Well.." I said quietly and looked away.

"You're blushing." He said and smiled. This can't be more awkward right now.

"I'm just.. I just.. I don't have an explanation." We both laughed quickly, then it was quiet for at least 5 minutes. Rafe was just gazing at me and I had my eyes a little all over the room, including on Rafe.

"Now what am I going to do with you?" He said to break the silence, but he was still gazing.

"I don't know. You tell me." I said, making eye contact with him and he smiled afterwards. Then he looked down, perhaps on my body or his own. I couldn't tell, but I decided to play along.

I put one finger under his chin and made him rise his head up again. I know what he had in mind but I wouldn't do it here. Maybe not even now in a while. I barely know this guy.

We didn't say much, he just leaned closer to me but I didn't really care. I enjoyed his company, even though I've been told he's a psychopath.

Now he was close enough that I could feel his breath against my lips, and I didn't hesitate. I smashed my lips quickly, but gently against his and he accepted the kiss. Actually, he put his hand around my neck so I wouldn't stop. Was it bad? Hell no, I loved it. It feels like his lips was made to meet mine. The feeling was amazing and I think my heart skipped a beat or two. And there were not only a few butterflies going crazy inside of my stomach, I think the whole damn zoo decided to go nuts.

I loved this moment, every single second of it. It just felt so right.

____

I decided to stop this chapter here.

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