The Dark (DEVON) // ✔️ // [NEWADULT]

|| Chapter Twenty-Three - Defense ||

I didn't want to drive Devon away. Actually, that's the last thing I needed right now. But, he has saved me in more ways than one, it's only fair that I return the favour.

You see, when the pillow was finally removed from my face, I was virtually starved of all my oxygen. I couldn't see straight and I was driving in and out of consciousness, they were good at concealing themselves. Even the voice was virtually undetectable, it was muffled to my ears.

   One thing I did hear though, was the blatant threat to Devon's life, to Jodi's life, to my mothers life, to everyone I care for...

   ... "If you so much as look lovingly in that fuckers direction again, I will take them all away from you. Everyone. Devon won't even see it coming. Imagine how distraught he'll be when he dies branded a rapist? Hmm..."

   The rest is fuzzy. It was just by chance that Devon was the one trying to seek me out. But, I can't let him in. I can't lose them all, I can't leave Devon alone. It'll be my fault. They made it explicitly clear in their threat that if I do it, if I fall for him... everyone is dead.

   Daylight streamed through the window. I dried my sore eyes and changed into some new clothes. The halls were fairly quiet, likely out on patrol after last night. I still can't understand how they hid out under my bed for so long, especially without me detecting them. The concept was actually terrifying.

   They were either incredibly well trained in the art of hiding or they are already in the building. But the thought of them living amongst everyone unsettled me down to my bones. 

   I slowly walked along the corridors, embarrassingly, I hadn't acquainted myself with the home, so it was a new adventure every time I tried to find a room.

   The halls were actually quite elegant for a house occupied by gang members. There were pictures strewn on every wall. One of which caught my attention.

   A boy and a girl. Undoubtably the boy was Devon, his roguish look gave that away, but the girl next to him... she was unfamiliar.

   Devon's arm was lazily thrown over her thin shoulders, a bright smile capturing his lips. The girl however, she wasn't smiling, she didn't look comfortable at all and the glasses covering her eyes concealed her face from me. I frowned and walked away from the picture.

   Occasionally people would pass me by but nobody lingered. After a while, I was truly lost. Instead of venturing towards the kitchen - which was where my stomach was yearning for me to go - I ended up in the bathroom dorm. The steam rising from under the doors was a dead giveaway.

I heard the squeak of a door-handle and my attention was snagged by a towel-clad Parker, slipping out the doorway-

Not only towel-clad, but with a shower cap embellished with unicorns secured around his head. He froze, eyes widening like saucers when he noticed me. Despite everything, I laughed. Parker frowned, removing the cap from his hair and revealing the frothy locks that lay underneath.

"I'm conditioning." He deadpanned.

I shook my head, "Of course you are." My eyes, traitors, slid down his muscles torso and landed on the angry bruising around his ribs. I frowned, my hand instinctively reaching out as I moved closer.

Parker sucked in a breath and shrank back slightly before covering the bruising over with his large hand, "It looks way worse than it feels." He breathed, scanning my face.

I didn't need a mirror to know how bad I probably looked. The sleep I managed to get last night lasted probably an hour at most, the fear still gripped me tightly, my muscles were sore from the quivering, hands still unsteady.

"Have you seen anyone about it?" I managed to get out, trying to swallow down the fear.

Parker sighed, motioning for me to walk with him, his right hand firmly hanging onto the top of the towel, "I've had plenty of broken ribs in my time Aria. It'll heal quickly enough. How are you feeling?"

My mouth went dry, Parker clearly knew about the alleged "spy" in the house and like Devon didn't seem to fall for the whole "it was just a bad dream" excuse. The worst part was, I was aching to tell someone, anyone, about what really happened... but risking their lives for my sake? Never.

"I'm alright. I think it was just the stress of the attack, my brain didn't really shut off... plus I'm still scared for my mom, nobody has really mentioned her since the whole-" I stopped myself before too much could come out.

Parker grunted his acknowledgment and wrapped his free arm around me, squeezing tightly before pausing in front of a door, "I'm going to get some clothes on and we will get some breakfast, ok?" He said. I nodded.

As he walked into the room, I noticed him limping, his weight was relying heavily on his left leg. I hadn't noticed it initially, but looking now it appeared as though he'd taken a massive beating during the attack.

My heart ached. I could only feel like it was my fault.
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Parker took his time leading me to the kitchens, making sure I made a mental note of the way there. Apparently, straying into the men's bathroom dorm isn't within my best interests. Strange huh?

I could only describe the kitchen as a tin. Literally. Tin everywhere. You know the kitchen scene in Jurassic Park? With the raptors? Yeah. That.

Instead of raptors however, we just had one very moody looking Devon leaning against the counter with a water bottle in his hand. He was sweaty and panting, his dark hair sticking to his damp forehead.

My breathing hitched when his emerald eyes met mine, then slowly drifted to Parker, "Did you get lost?" Devon mumbled, looking away and examining the water in the bottle.

Parker chuckled, it sounded forced and humourless - took me by surprise, and filled the kettle up, "Aria ended up in the men's wetroom."

"Correction-" I butted in, after glimpsing Devon's sour face, "just the hallway, I didn't go into any of the rooms." I tried to save it, but Devon's face didn't change.

Suddenly it felt awkward. Parker didn't seem interested in engaging in conversation with Devon, something I'd never seen before, and Devon was watching me with narrowed eyes - as if he was trying to figure something out.

I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze and slowly took a seat by one of the counters, looking away and down at my hands.

Don't feel anything. Stop it.

But I could still feel something. His eyes, burning holes into my back. Mercilessly.

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I'm BACK. Yes this chapter isn't as good as my usual (even though I did admit it wasn't going to be a good story) but I'm finally understanding where I wanted this to go initially. Sooooo that means we are BACK IN BUSINESS WITH DEVON! Woooooo.

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