Bent (Merome)

Chapter 24

I froze in place.

“Di-Did- Did you say Lesa?” I clarified. Rose whipped around to face me.

“Mitch! You have to run. Run away. We're in her subconscious now. She can do anything she wants to you!” She urged. I shook my head.

“No way! I'm staying right here. I need to talk to her. No way I'm leaving.”

Rose stared into my eyes, begging me to go with her look, but I stood my ground. She covered her face with her hands and sighed.

“Okay. June, you're leaving, then. You're both in danger.”

June laughed.

“That's funny. I'm not moving an inch and you can't make me.”

“June, please! Trust me, you can't-”

“Oh, can't I?”

“Listen to me, both of you! It's too dangerous for you to be here! You don't understand! Please!”

I shrugged at her.

“Sorry, but no. I can't leave, Rose. Don't you see? This is my chance to change everything- to fix my life. I can't handle Cat anymore,” I said solemnly.

“June?” Rose begged. June raised an eyebrow and crossed her hands across her chest stubbornly.

“I'm not leaving,” she said simply. “No way in hell.”

Rose ran her hands through her hair and down her face.

“Why won't you two just listen to me?” She pleaded. “I don't even know what will happen if we-” She stopped, capturing my gaze again.

“If we what?” I asked softly. Tears began to well in her eyes.

“You might die here,” she responded quietly. “And I don't know what happens if you do.”

I stared at the ground.

“Well... That's a risk I'm willing to take. This is my chance to get rid of Cat go back to the way my life was in the beginning.”

Rose wiped a stray tear from her cheek. June put her hand on Rose's shoulder.

“It's okay. Everything will be alright,” she soothed. Rose nodded, sniffing.

“Fine. If you guys really won't leave for anything, do I really have another choice than to help you on your way?” She whispered. I pulled her to my chest, hugging her.

“Nope.”

I felt her chuckle dryly. Stepping back, she took a deep breath.

“Okay. Let's go, then. Th-This way,” she said, puffing out her chest. She turned to the forest and began to make her way into it. I looked over at June and we shared a look. I shook my head and started after her, June close behind me.

“Okay,” Rose said, panting. “This is a good place to stop, I think.”

We'd been walking for about five hours. Somehow, the moon hadn't changed its place from right above our heads, bathing the ground in cold blue light.

“Stop? For how long?” June asked, looking around. We were still deep in the forest, nothing in sight besides trees and grass.

“For the night. It's going to be a while before we make it to where we need to be. Now come on, we need to make a fire.”

I looked off distractedly. Something didn't feel right.

“I'm gonna... I'm just gonna go over there,” I said, pointing in no general direction. Rose chuckled.