Breaking the Chains

Chapter Twenty Six

That night felt like the longest night ever. Nona had made the guest bed for Riley in one of the girl's rooms. There were two other girls that were in that room but they were quiet when Riley came after saying a quick goodnight to Eli and to Nona. She was wearing a white long sleeved shirt Nona had given her and a pair of baggy sweats that Riley was grateful for since her legs looked horrible.

She carefully plopped herself on the bed and wrapped herself under the comforter with a fuzzy blanket Eli had gave her to use. Riley turned her back to the wall so if someone were to come after her, she'd see them before anything happened. She tried her best not to close her eyes right away so she could make sure the other girls fell asleep before her, and when they did, she let herself fall asleep.

Eli was staring at the ceiling with a clenched jaw. He had slept too long the previous night, he assumed. Whatever he did, he couldn't fall asleep. Eli thought that it might've been because of Riley and the fact that he was worried about her but he wasn't completely sure. It could have been because he wasn't used to his room anymore or the smells, or being home in general. After what he had went through, he wasn't sure which was which. Eli looked at his arms and gulped at how dirty they looked because of all of the bruises and cuts. He knew it wasn't as bad as Riley's arms, which covers her arms like a long sleeved shirt would, and he felt as if there were piles of bruises on top of one another. He quickly shook his head to dismiss all of the thoughts but whenever he'd try to close his eyes, he'd be taken back to Alison's metal shack with her sinister face right in front of his.

He eventually gulped it all down and closed his eyes, ignoring all of the images that showed up behind his eyes. His bedroom door opened swiftly and two boys entered.

"I can't believe Lola broke up with me. It's not my fault that she cheated on me," one of them said. Eli clenched his jaw, trying to be as still and quiet as possible. He wanted to surprise his roommates.

"I wonder if it's because she just couldn't deal with it anymore," the other one said. Eli nearly said out loud that he agreed but he stayed silent.

"I don't know, man. Lola was amazing. She made me see the world in a better way but I now all I want to do is tear it apart." The first spoke as he plopped himself down on his bed. "Remember that one time when she convinced me to not kill that gang leader? I couldn't stop talking about it but she told me that it wasn't the right thing to do." The boy scoffed and let out some air slowly. "I miss her already."

"You were just pissed off with her," the second boy said. "You have to make up your mind, dude. Either sulk about it or be angry. Either cry or punch a wall." The first one let out a laugh before he grunted. "Come on. Punch that wall."

"Nona will be so pissed though, dude," the first one said with a light laugh. He shrugged before he punched the wall, making Eli jump just slightly.

"Well, it was worth it," the second one muttered before he looked toward Eli. "Eli?" He asked curiously before he jumped onto Eli's bed. Eli snapped his eyes open before grunting in pain. "Oh dude, sorry," the boy said before shuffling beside Eli. "Where the heck have you been?"

"I've been everywhere," Eli breathed out slowly.

"Dude, your face is full of bruises and cuts. And look at your arms. Who did all this to you?" The second boy said. Eli looked toward him and let out a breath.

"I was tortured," Eli said quietly as he looked down.

"Tortured?" The first one said with a loud whisper. "Who did that? Was it that gang?" Eli shook his head at all the guesses.

"It was this girl, and then once we got free, we got kidnapped again by her dad or whoever." Eli took a breath. 

"Who's we?" The second one asked skeptically.

Eli looked up and clenched his jaw. "I met someone, guys," he said quietly and took turns at looking at each of them. "She was kidnapped too and she was hurting but she helped me and," Eli closed his eyes after a moment and let himself grin in the slightest.

"You fell for a girl was kidnapped? Isn't that like, a little weird?" Eli clenched his jaw and shook his head to defend himself.

"You know what kind of girls we live with. They care about how they look and what they eat and everything. But Riley," Eli took a breath and looked dead in the eye with the first guy, "she's not like them."

"What makes her so different?" Billy nearly spat. Eli looked at the first guy with gentle eyes before they turned intense. 

"She's someone who tries to see hope in the worst. And, she is protective of people who she never even got to know. She has a smile that lights up a room and she saw hope in me when I saw none in myself." Eli let out a breath. 

"You sound like a guy from a chickflic or something," Hunter muttered. Eli flicked his head quickly toward the second boy and let out a breath. 

"I'm just saying the truth, guys." Eli clenched his jaw as he pressed his back against the wall. "Sorry," he muttered as he closed his eyes tiredly. 

"Where is she?" Hunter asked as he tilted his head. "I wanna meet this mystery girl."

"I-" a scream interupted Eli. He jumped up immediately and bolted out of the room to see if Riley was okay. His feet took him down the hall to the guest room and instantly he opened the door without warning. Riley was in the corner moving like crazy and when Eli looked around the room, he saw no one else there. Figured, since they always ran off to some midnight movie. "Riley," he said quietly as he sat down beside the fidgeting girl. He placed his hand on her back and felt just how badly she was shaking. "Wake up."

"No," she said quietly before she sat up with a jolt. Her breathing was heavy and when she noticed Eli, she jumped and closed her eyes tightly. "You scared me," she breathed out. Tears pooled down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly as he brought her against his chest.

"He's dead, Eli," she cried out against his chest, making her sobs dulled down.

"Who's dead?" Eli asked in a concerned voice as he stroked her back with the hand that wasn't holding the back of her head carefully.

She was silent until she managed to whisper, "Matt."

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Eeek...that cliffhanger though...

I know I know, I'm sorry!! But...you will forgive me...

At some point...

I really hope...

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Peace out Secrets and God bless you all!

-S