The Los Angeles Lighthouse | ✔

Chapter 4: The Kidnapping Pt. 2 (Because That's My Luck)

"SATIS!"

Love jerks her head up with a hiss. The hold on my chest lightens as she moves to her feet. She turns to the intruder and snarls, "Warden. What are you doing here?"

"My job."

I follow Love's gaze to where a woman with coiled hair stands. Wait—I know her! She's the leather jacket from earlier....Brooks. Brooks is yet to notice me, her attention utterly zooms in upon the figure across from her.

"I don't usually indulge in females, they're far too stringy for my liking." Love tilts her head and steps away from me. Her eyes lock onto that of Brooks with a flirtatious smile. "But I'll make an exception for you, my dear. Wait in the corner. I'll get to you next..."

Brooks doesn't move. Rather she reaches for the gun resting on her hip. "I don't think so."

Love's eyes widen from shock followed by sheer panic. "You don't think so..?" she echoes. "But..." she flashes another tempting smile in Brooks direction. "No! You can't—you are—"

"—not interested," Brooks interrupts. She raises the gun and aims it towards Love.

I shove Love to the side and position myself in front. My hands ball into fists and I widen my stance, heaving like an animal. What are you doing? Stop! "Don't you touch her!"

    Brooks hand starts to shake. She gradually lowers her gun and steps back. "You again?" She shakes her head in disbelief, her mouth twisting into an uncertain frown."That's a new record. It hasn't been twenty four hours."

Trust me, I know. A bitter taste resembling hatred fills my tongue. "I won't let you come closer. I love her!" No, I really don't.

Brooks cast a seething glare at Love, echoing my internal dialogue. "No, kid, you don't," she gestures to the ground. "Take a look around! You aren't her lover, you're her dinner."

I pause to regard my surroundings. The walls are a pale blue, nothing special. My gaze drops to the floor. I'm definitely going to be sick. Bones litter the ground ranging from skulls to femurs. Each in different sizes; each human. I suck in a breath, "She loves me. I make her happy."

"You're her happy meal."

Caught up in the conversation, neither of us notice Love slipping out from behind me before it's too late. She barrels forwards, hissing and spitting, targeting Brooks. I don't have the chance to move. BANG!

The silence that follows is deafening. Love crumbles to the ground in a heap. Brooks slips the gun back into its holster. "Faex," she growls. "I didn't mean to kill her."

I promptly collapse.

"Shoot," a pair of hands lock around my forearms, preventing me from crashing into the rug of bones below. "You alright, kid?"

An overwhelming aftertaste of salt coats my mouth. "Mason... my name is Mason..." I wrinkle my nose and slowly begin to tumble forward. The grip on my arms tighten and yanks me upright.

"Whoah, there," Brooks guides me to the wall. With a sigh of relief, I lean against it. "Hold on, Mason. I'm going to call someone to clean all of this up."

I nod sluggishly. My eyes flutter shut and tune out Brooks hushed voice, "Yes, Le Mer. One casualty... approach with cation... might be others..."