Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

(Part 2) Let It Rain

A/N: Things pick right up where the left off from the last chapter. As always feedback by way of review or votes or comments are appreciated.

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                                                             Chapter 28: "Let It Rain"

When it rained it poured.

Nothing was left untouched. Their legs ran as far as it could take them, sloshing against the puddles. Weighted by the rain, their clothes clung to their skin slowing them to a halt. Exhaustion and desperation was setting in. But they were almost home. They could see it.

"I hope Julian finds Troy?" Julia muttered. Water drizzled down the soggy strands that fell over her face as she spoke. She paused to scoop the long locks behind her ears. A rumble of thunder sent both of them scampering into the alley. Tiberius raced past Julia as he darted underneath the building's awning. He paused to catch his breath—

Boom.

A deafening thud followed. He swung around to find Julia crumpled against the sidewalk, her hair splayed all over her face.

"Julia!" he shouted through the rain. He scrambled to her side.

He knelt beside her in the crimson stained puddle. "Julia. Tell me what happened?" he demanded. He scooped her dark locks away from her face only to find her eyes squeezed shut. A moan escaped her quivering lips.

He hovered over her, cradling her bobbling head in his hands. "I just slipped in the puddle," she mumbled. She cupped her hands where the garment ripped. The water washed away the blood that oozed from her knee onto the roadway.

"Julian is coming back for us. I am certain he will find Troy. He probably found his way home," Tiberius said with a tight-lipped smile.

She shook her head. "They would not leave us out in the cold. Not Troy." Tiberius sighed as he clutched onto Julia's hand firmly as he helped her up. It was just the two of them as Julia hobbled over to the awning with Tiberius.

"You're right. Although he is probably getting lucky and sucking lips with a beautiful girl from the streets." Julia scowled at him.

"Sorry. I meant Clitus," he said, staring her in the eyes. Julia dropped her gaze while the rain continued pelting her reddened cheeks.

She shivered. "What do you know?" she asked.

"I know you kissed him. Did you really think nobody would find out?"

Julia shifted her stare from his intense brown eyes.

"Sorry."

"Do not apologize to me. Save that for your parents," he said. Her shoulders shrank.

"I did not plan for any of this to happen. I told him to stop but he wanted to continue—"

"Wait...He tried to violate you?" Tiberius blurted. Just then an old beggar stopped to peek inside the alley. Her face reddened.

"I didn't let him," she whispered.

He lowered his voice. "But he tried to rape you?"

"No, it did not get that far. Can we not talk about this, please?" she sighed.

"Your brother should know about this!"

"You and I both know he likes to overreact. Only the gods know what he will do to Clitus! Please do not tell anyone about this. Please!" she begged.