Royal's Way

Chapter 20

I awoke to a white ceiling and electric light illuminating and warming the world around me.

I groaned, feeling a dull pain spread from my chest to the rest of my limbs. My memory was fuzzy, my brain not allowing me to try and figure out what was going on, where I was.

I slowly sat up, finally examining my surroundings.
The McCready home.
I scowled, grumbling curses when I found my wrists bound with probably around three pounds of duct tape.

I sat awkwardly and silently for a moment, glancing at the stairs to my right, then to my left, where another entrance to the kitchen stood.
I rose a brow. "Hello?" Talking was a chore for the pain in my chest.

A pause.

"Who are you?"

I looked to the doorway to my right.
A woman, who I recognized to be the mother, stood in front Ian with a holding a baseball bat high above her head.

I was even more confused. "Uh..." "I asked a question."

I paused, my eyes darting for a moment as I put two and two together, before meeting their gazes again. "You... You helped me?" "Answer," Eliza ordered, "Or we'll call the cops."
I rose a brow. "You mean you didn't yet?" Eliza shifted uncomfortably, and didn't answer.

I swallowed. "Er... Percy. You... You really helped me?" Eliza narrowed her eyes at me, her fists tightening to the point that her knuckles turned white. "I want answers. I'm not going to let my only chance die in my backyard."

Memory hit me like a truck. I groaned, mumbling a couple swears after replying, "Yeah, I-I probably wouldn't, either."

"Where's the other one?"
Ian was talking now, his voice shaking. "Did she leave?"
I nodded. "She struck me and left. I..." I sighed. "It's a long story. But, I want to reassure you that I never wanted to do what I did. I'm being genuine. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine, I don't blame you. But I at least want you to know that, if you need me, I will help. If not, I'll never intrude again."

A silence. The mother and son exchanged nervous glances, Eliza lowering the bat slightly.

Eliza frowned, turning her gaze back to me. "Ian insisted that you were dangerous. What did you do?"

My eyes widened. I had forgotten that she didn't know about Levi's situation. "It's... a very long story."

==

"...and she didn't like that I had left, so she shot me. Now, we're here."

It took around half an hour for me to tell the full story.

Eliza was frozen, silent, confused. She slowly pointed to me. "So, you..." She pointed to Ian. "Thought he was Levi, so, you..." She went silent, refusing to mention the event in front of Ian. He already looked uncomfortable.

I nodded. "Lily wanted to use him as bait after we found out the truth."
Ian whispered something to Eliza, before she whispered back, and Ian left the room.

I frowned, not knowing how to reply.
She turned her attention back to me. "So, this 'Royal's Way...' Levi has been hanging out with someone from there? That Ruth, it's her, isn't it?"
I sighed, nodding slowly. "She's been staying in your home, as well."

She shifted uncomfortably. "Jesus..."

The front door suddenly opened.
Miriam came into view, soaked from the rain, bags under her eyes.

She went pale upon seeing me, her mouth hanging open, and eyes wide.

She quickly made her way to the stairs, hands tucked in her pockets as she quickly skipped up them to the next floor.