boundaries | e.d

E l e v e n

Riley

I woke up alone in my bed with idle thoughts running through my mind. The more I thought of him, the more distraught I became. How could someone appear to be so innocent yet be so cruel a

Aside from being afraid and embarrassed; I was disappointed. It was so discouraging to know I was alone in the way I felt — and I always will be.

Ryder opened the door quietly as I ran my hands over my face. Without any word, he crawled into my bed and engulfed me into a hug; waking me for the day.

"How are you holding up?" He cautiously asked me. I shrugged and stretched in his arms, closing my eyes for comfort.

"She seems better." Natasha joked from a far.

I opened one eye to see her standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. This felt normal.

"You're off house arrest kiddo! You can go back to your boring life!" Nat joked upon lifting herself off the door; jumping into my brother and I.

We all laughed, genuinely, and it nestled in my chest with great comfort that things are okay.

"But! I still want someone keeping an eye on you," I looked up at her with the assumption she'd say Jake's name, "and I think it should be Ethan."

His bloodied face was imprinted in my mind as I shook my head no with urgency. "No!" I almost yell. All the relief was gone. I was back in my memories of last night from the mention of his name. "Why not Jake? O-or David, or anyone else but-"

My brother looked confused and grabbed my hands to calm me down.

Ethan's POV

I stood outside her bedroom door against the wall, hearing her bug out. The fear laced in her voice was something I was expecting to hear for the longest time — I just never expected it to hurt this bad.

I scared her and I knew I eventually would. The person she was fighting to bring back was far too corrupted to ever be pure again. As much as I hated the person I've become; I can't ever change.

She started yelling at everyone, tarnishing my strength completely. I took a step back into the shadows of the hallway; knowing it's where I belonged. Her light needed to be kept at a distance in order to keep her pure.

"He's a monster!" She cried.

The moment we locked eyes last night proved to me she saw me differently. I never thought she's imagine me in such a way before -- she was always the one to prove me wrong. 

"A murderer, a freak!"

She's right. For once Riles; you're right about me. I'm sorry I ever convinced you otherwise.

Ryder finally silences her cries, "Riley calm down, we're all monsters at times. I mean look at what I do everyday to support you! You have to understand that it's all out of love."

I silently thanked Ryder without the understanding of his likeliness towards me — though it was mutual.

"You didn't see the look in his eyes Ryder. He's different. Worse than any of you."

I understood her fear but for her to completely overlook my motives from last night is childish.

Well, she is younger than me. But, it was obvious I was protecting her. She must be smart enough to understand that. She has to see that I did it for her-