THE KEY (book one)

|fifteen|

"I think she's walking up."
"Shh"
Soft voices fill my brain as I open eyes.
Where am I? What day is it?
"Erra?" I slowly turn my head to the side to see Phoebe on her knees next to me.
When did we get back here? I got shot.
"What... happened? What day is it?"
She looks up and I follow her gaze to the boys looking at me like they've seen a ghost.
"I thought we were gonna lose you too."
I pull my shirt up to see four healed stitches on my stomach. "H-how... how long has it been? How long was I asleep for?" She looks at the boys again and I sit up automatically regretting it.
"Hey,hey, hey... it's been two days.. today making three." Luke says shoving his hand into his pockets.
What? I try to sit up again but Phoebe won't allow it. It's been three days, which gives us two days left.
"Guys the keys! We... we have two days left."
"Yes... but you were in no position to go out there again. The Pexagon send over supplies to help out with healing, and the sedatives kept you asleep." Phoebe holds onto my hand as Levi explains.
"We kept looking for the keys but no luck."
I lay my head back on the pillow and cry.
How did we get to this?

XXX
"Hey," Phoebe slowly opens my door sending a friendly smile.
"We're heading over to Inklink if you wanna join."
"I don't know Phoebe I just wanna stay in. I'm terrified to go out there again."
"You've been in for two days though. We all need a break and I can't leave you here."
I sigh at her begging. I honestly wish i could but every time I go out there I always come face to face with death. I can't bare it anymore.
"Here try this." She walks over to me with a pill in her hand. "It'll make you feel better... I promise." It takes me a bit to think about it. If i stay here I'll just be overthinking and stressing out; maybe I should go. I take the pill from here hand and swallow it quickly. I don't even bother asking what it is.
She helps me get ready and we join the boys in the mobiles.
"You okay?" Levi asks and I rub my eyes.
I'm not.
"Yea I'm okay." I lie.
"Is everyone in?" Luke asks looking through the rear view mirror.
"Yea." I mumbles stare out the window. Luke starts the engine and we take off.
A slight drizzle of rain starts to fall matching our moods. "It's thirty minutes." Phoebe says and turns on windshield wipers. Readjusting my grey tank I sigh and look straight ahead. The look of Drew's face when he knew he was going to die replays in my head and I instantly regret coming out.
When we get to the bar I unlock my door, quickly get out and start walking down without them. I feel strange. "Erra wait up!" Phoebe calls out. The words Inkliq glow in purple on the front of the building, and black wooden doors keep you from seeing inside.
"Sorry." I feel a bit light headed.
"It's raining." I chuckle hold my hands out collecting little pools of water.
"It's gonna be a long night." She laughs. Why is she laughing?
When the boys catch up she links her arm with mine and we walk into the bar. It's pretty dark in here, apart from the pretty pink lights that glow from the shelves and the bar table. Red lights shine from the ceiling matching the tone of the dark music  playing from the speakers. It's humid in here and shockingly not very packed.
"I'm gonna look at the tattoos." Phoebe mentions patting my shoulder; it tingles. I nod spotting a seat next to a middle aged biker man at the bar and claiming it. The screens above the shelves show the Cage penthouse with tons of MCPD cops surrounding it. "Hey can you turn that up please?" I ask the barista, gesturing towards the screen. Levi takes a seat to the right of me and frowns. "Look." I say pointing.
"Cole Cage is reported to be dead in his very home along with other civilians. One of them being Drew Waters who as been reported missing for several months. His parents Lina and Kent waters arrived at the hospital just hours ago confirming the body is in dead their son." The female news reporter explains. I clench my fist so hard I can feel the surface of my skin begin to peel. Does my mother or Eli even know where I am? I'm I considered missing like Drew was? A second later two shots are put in front of me.
"It's from the man in booth two." The waiter explains pointing behind me. I turn to see three men sitting in a booth to the left. I make eye contact with the man who supposedly bought the shots, fake a smile and turn back around.
"You want one?" I ask holding up a glass to Levi.
" No I'm alright." He says looking up at the screen. I shrug my shoulders and chug them both down. "That was strong." I chuckle handing the glasses back to the waiter. My lips feel numb. "Guys look, look, look!" Phoebe yells and I spin around to she see her walking towards us."What are you okay?" I panic."Yes I'm fine! Look what I got." She says turning around and moving her hair to the side revealing a fresh tattoo on the back of her neck. It's the outline of a gun with the letters D.W inside.
Drew Waters.
"I like it Phoebe." She turns around and smiles. Levi doesn't say anything and just turns and looks back at the screen.
"Good! So what are we drinking?" She asks looking over the bar. "Well I just had two shots of vodka. Levi's not drinking. Luke?" I question and he shakes his head.
"Okay well I'm getting vodka shots for all of us I don't wanna hear it." She orders squeezing between me and Levi. She's hiding he pain. It's hurts to watch.
"I'm gonna grab a booth." Luke blurts and walks away. I feel for him. I know Drew meant a lot to him even though he didn't show it. "Hey sir can I get four shots of strong vodka, please." She says pointing at the glass bottles. She shows him the fake I.D Luke made and four shots are
immediately placed in front of me.
"I'm gonna go sit was Luke."
Levi looks at the shots and scratches the back of his neck.
"Levi it's not gonna kill you." I chuckle grabbing my shot.
"Drink up." I grab his and hand it to him. He shakes his head and pushes it away.
"Didn't take you as much of a drinker." He admits rubbing his chin.
"Full of surprises." I sigh. We sit in silence for a bit before until ask ask, "So where do you think the next location will be?"
"Hopefully somewhere you won't try to get killed." He says bitterly.
"Ha.. yea because I just stood there and asked to get shot. Don't blame this on me Levi."
"I'm not.. I... just want you to be okay."
He's such a damn a softy. I smile to myself.
"Have you heard from anyone back home?" He asks rubbing his petite facial hairs.
"Not at all actually it's like everyone just disappeared. That's why I'm so desperate to find all of The Keys...so I can get back home." I explain and take down the last shot. I notice the man that ordered my first round of shots is walking towards us. He's not as big as I thought he would be. Probably about Levi's height, pale skin, grey hair, and multiple piercings.
Levi notices and turns in his chair.
He nods his head at Levi and smiles.
"So what do you say? How much?" He asks and I frown.  I'm confused.
"Excuse me?" Levi asks.
"You know...how much?" He repeats in a snarky way gesturing his head over to me. He thinks I'm some type of prostitute. I clench my jaw and chuckle.
"I'm right here." I stand up but Levi pulls me back.This might not end well.
"Let's go." He scoffs and pulls me up with him. The man laughs. "Hey come on I was just pickin at cha. I know she's gotta be free." He just had to push it. Without another thought Levi turns punching the man right in the throat. He stumbles back holding his neck. Levi holds his hands in a fist. I don't think I've even seen him this angry. Phoebe and Luke get up from their booth and run over to me. The friends of the man get up and Luke steps in. The man catches his balance and tries to throw a punch but is way to drunk. He misses and gets another punch but in the eye this time knocking him out. Levi's breathing is hard, his fist are still clenched as he looks over the man as if he's waiting for the fight to go on. He doesn't get up though and Levi huffs out. The whole bar is silent just looking at the scene. Levi looks up at me for a split second then wipes his nose and storms out of the bar. Phoebe, Luke, and I all exchange glances, and look back at the gang.
"Come on guys." I sigh walking towards the exit. The rain has eased up a little; it's just extra humid now.
I run to catch up with Levi but he gets in the mobile before I can, so I just hop in the passenger seat and close the door.
Nothing but our loud breathing and the sounds of the city fills the silence.
"What the fuck." I regret the words as soon as the leave my mouth. He looks over to me and I can't think of doing anything else do I laugh. The doors swing open and in hops Phoebe and Luke. "Let's get the hell out of here." Phoebe laughs and we do just that.