New Roomate

My Name?

POV: ???

The taste of blood spread across my tongue as I heaved the cold air in once more, counting on my next breath to be the last. My head had started to develop a headache from the hard asphalt it was pressed against. My legs felt numb but tingled with adrenaline. I felt as if my fingernails were ripped from their snug beds. Pebbles acted as bandaids to the blood dripping from my wound. My hat fell off and my hair was tossed out looking like mangled dread locks. This is what death feels like. Lately it seems as though I'm less compelled to fight out of this hell hole. The pounding intensifies with a steady beat. It's almost as if I've been dead for years. Yet, here I am alive and wishing those drunken pirates in the woods got to me. My legs buckled in an instant which resulted in every bone in my body slamming to the cold, cold ground. No pain. Just peace.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I got up. My hands felt numb, my back was twitching in pain, and my legs, now stiff. I looked down and saw gravel, I looked up and saw a blue skies, I looked around and noticed I was just outside an abandoned construction site. I felt something under my foot and looked to see what it was. My hat. I sighed and picked it up, trying to shove all my hair back inside. I grabbed my head, hoping to relieve some of the pain. I shuffled inside the building and leaned on an empty hole in the wall where a window would have been placed. 'I'm tired of running' I thought to myself. 'I'm coming clean.'
Right as I picked myself up I heard footsteps.

      "Edan! Where are you!" Someone's distorted voice echoed out. It bounced off the empty walls as if it were playing tag with itself. A figure ran into the room I was in and startled me into falling down. "Edan! Dude! Come on!" Rodrigo's face came into frame. He stopped in front of me and gently grabbed my chin, turning my face side to side as if examining the damage.

      "W-what?" I asked groggy from my sleep. "What time is it?" I asked irritated. "How'd you find me?"

      Rodrigo dropped his hand from my face in a forceful way. "Damn it kid! You're very easy to track, I heard people talking about a ratty kid in a navy baseball cap with a torn and dirty tan shirt. Not many of those walking around in the woods."  I didn't have time to react before I got my collar yanked up. I was face to face with a tan guy with thick dark eyebrows, a slim face, hints of a mustache peeking though, and dark almost black eyes. He stared at me with emotional intensity.

      "WHAT?!" I yelled and pushed him away from me with whatever force I had left. "What is it this time" my voice waivered and cracked.

      Rodrigo's back came in contact with the wall behind him as he slid down to a sitting position. His voice faltered and came out in a whisper. "They've come, Julio and his people. They want an exchange or you die for real this time. None of that faking your death bullshit. He caught us last time remember?" Rodrigo's eyes were swimming in concern and terror.

      Julio is apart of a drug gang so Rodrigo and I would sell him things for money. We've been coming up short lately so what else do we do but cut him off and run. Of course like anyone else who is kicked out of a deal with no warning, we were hunted. I was the last person that was supposed to deliver the load so I was the one in trouble. But oh I remember that day well.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•Flashback•~•~•~•~•~•~

I almost shit myself when they opened my casket and checked my pulse. I had to slow my rhythmic heart beat to pass for a dead person. I guess my guys shoed Julio away explaining that I had to be in pristine condition for something. Julio is a guy of many emotions and took this to heart, he let us off the hook but not with a warning. That is until the dead person sneezed. Yup, that's right, I sneezed right as ties were being cut. Perfect right? Let's just say we high tailed it out if there with the skin on our backs.

•~•~•~•~•~Flashback Over•~•~•~•~•~

As Rodrigo got more and more antsy, he stood up and walked fast over to me. "What's your plan?" He asked concerned. I look at him blankly. My plan? Maybe I should become a circus clown, oh, or a normal teenager.

I think about it for a second. I really just want to go back to my old life. My average, basic life. Back to them. Back to, I start to think but Rodrigo asks again in a hushed quick voice. "Dude?! Hello? They'll be here in about hour if we're lucky!"

I gave a death glare as past memories of my time with him flood my mind. "Listen, you're nothing but bad luck to me, I would love to get the hell away from you but I don't know if that's possible! In these past few days I've been through quite a shit load. Things have come up and I'm sick of the bullshit you put me through. I'm not ready. I want to go back" I say tears boiling in my eyes.

"Back? Back where? To who??!" He questioned not very focused. He backed away as I began to notice how he looked over his shoulder every now and then, he would also squat down and stand up; peering over half finished walls. "What are you saying Edan, talk to me! You can't just get out of this!"

"Back to my family, my real family" was all I said as a tear slipped. Rodrigo stopped his paranoid glances and slowly turned his head to me with furrowed eyebrows. I looked at him with hurt. "Back to the old me, the real me" I stated as another tear dropped.

Rodrigo leaned forward. "What family? You said you were alone. You only have me" his eyes morphed into confusion and anger. "Edan, you're tired and I️-I️" he began to stutter "I️ really think you're-you" but I️ cut him off, "NO" I️ yelled into the thin air.

"Back to my friends" I continued, completely ignoring his previous questions. A long pause broke out before I spoke again. "Back to my boyfriend" I said, smiling a bit at the last part.

"Boyfriend? You're gay bro? I'm so confused, who are you?!" Rodrigo shuffled backwards. "Who are you working for? You gonna kill me? I see how this is!" Rodrigo began to look around for an exit, clenching his fists. It was a nervous habit of his that I️ picked up on pretty quick.

I weakly smiled and breathed slightly out of breathe from working up my emotions. "You've always been so paranoid. Im not working for anyone and no, I'm not gonna kill you. You're my brother."

      "Who are you. Tell me now" he hissed in a guarded tone. There was silence. No birds. No wind. No voices. Dead. Complete. Silence. I️ took a sharp breath in and struggled to find the words. I️ glanced into Rodrigo's eyes, they were leaking with so many emotions I️ couldn't make out what he was feeling. I️ quickly averted my gaze, sighed, and looked anywhere but those greedy eyes that demanded my explanation.

      "My name" I paused. In that moment I️ suddenly realized just how heavy my chest felt. I️ closed my eyes, breathed in deep, and let out four words that changed my life forever.

      "My name is Erin."

    ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Well.....it's been about a trillion years since I've posted! I️ am so sorry to those who got upset new chapters weren't coming out regularly. Life got rather busy and I️ was overwhelmed, but I️ am back and hope to be posting at my usual time. A special thank you goes out to those who kept my book on the back burner in the corner of their library. I️ appreciate everyone for taking time to read my work.

Finally Erin is revealed to be alive! I️ had an alternate path planned to re-introduce Erin into the story but it didn't add up so I️ had to do it a little sooner. What will happen with Colby and Erin? Will their relationship be damaged? Will her family accept that she's alive? How is Sam going to react?

As always:
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the book feel free to express them!

Thanks, and read on lovelies ❤️