DUSK

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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It was too quiet for me; the darkness I was floating in made me almost feel comforted. It was a short chance I had since I found out the truth about myself.

To be honest, this has been the longest and most tiresome week I've had in my entire life and I was just glad that today I could sleep in and I wouldn't have to worry about school or Emma being mad that I was late—wait, Emma was missing and the last image I remember is Ash holding up a bloodied hand; Oh my God!! He was hurt!! And here I was thinking that today was trouble-free and I didn't think about my friends.

I willed myself to open my eyes and I immediately groaned when I was met by blinding lights and had to momentarily close my eyes again. I felt my bed dip a bit and I pried my eyes open to see who dared to sit on my bed. My sight trailed towards the white walls and I realized that I wasn't in my bed and it definitely wasn't my room. My eyes landed on a relieved Dad with a joyous looking mom and a guilt-filled Ashton. Talk about mixed emotions in the same room.

"What—"I tried but my voice was too hoarse and my throat burned. Dad handed me a glass of water and I sent him a grateful smile before taking a big gulp before I attempted to sit up. Hands shot up and stopped me from sitting up and I looked up at dad; confused

"What happened, where's Emma; did you find her?" I asked curiosity combined with fear threatening to eat me up.

"You were shot darling so don't try to move or it will hurt like hell." Mom tried to explain and my eyes widened in shock; how did that happen? I turned to Ash and silently asked him to explain hoping he would get the memo which obviously he did.

"Sapph set you and Emma up but you escaped. Emma is missing but we'll find her, I promise." He tried to assure me and I believed him.

I sat quietly trying to remember what really happened but all I could remember were brief flashes of me telling her to run and sneering a woman whom I suppose was Ilana and fighting three guys before I remembered something.

"Mom, dad, could you guys give me a minute with Ash, there's something we need to talk about." I tried to sound nonchalant but given the situation, my voice was really croaky. Dad looked from me to Ash then he sighed and ushered mom out of the room. I looked at the boy and let out a sigh.

"Look, you are a great guy and any girl would be lucky to have you but I'm not yet ready to get out there again. I'm sorry but we can only be friends. Maybe in future after everything has blown over but not now." I tried to put it across in the nicest way possible but he only furrowed his brows in confusion.

"What are you talking about Chloe?" he laid out his confusion for both of us to see. This was harder than I thought.

"Have you seen my phone?" I asked in a low tone hoping that he knew where it was.

"Yeah, you left it in my hand before you collapsed." He said handing it to me. I almost let out a smile when I saw that it had a full battery. I quickly unlocked the screen and searched for something before showing the screen to him. His face paled and his eyes widened in panic.

"Where did you get this?" he asked in a low tone.

"Sapph showed it to me, it was taken on my birthday after we came back from the arcade. She thinks you're in love with me." I mumbled. This was really getting awkward.

"I do love you Chloe," he mumbled before lifting his eyes from the screen, they were a warm shade of green that looked lovely. His words broke my heart and I was about to talk when he cut me off; "but only as a sister. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you and I would never want to complicate what we have. I had my eyes set on someone but not anymore." He said the last part in a low tone but I heard it.