Manhunt (Sequel to Bechloe - Chicago was a mistake)

Chapter 16 - The Start of The End

Beca's POV

I'd just about managed to get a shirt on; a flannel I could pull over my arms to cover the bruises and button it up. Maybe now Chlo understood why I had to leave? I simply hoped she did anyway. I was left with the anticipation. I knew my torturer would be coming back, 'Strike 2'. I sat in silence on the bed just thinking, waiting, back towards the door, anticipating. I just couldn't let them get hurt, they were my family and I loved them. What if she was on her way to them right now? Jesse? What about him? Emily? Max? I didn't know where any of them were. Chloe. She'd left alone. She'd been alone when she left my room. If she couldn't go after me would she go after her? Could I do this? No. Did I have a choice? No. Me or them. Maybe if I just used the 3rd strike? If she killed me there'd be no point in hurting them anymore. If I was dead then she couldn't hurt me anymore. What if it was just a threat? My job? I felt my heart ache. My chest was getting tighter. I couldn't breathe. I tried to and it just got tighter and tighter and tighter. I couldn't do this. I had to go. What if I killed me before she could? What if Chloe got hurt? Amy? Stacie? Bella? Aubrey? Flo? What if...

When the door finally opened once again I felt my muscles tense up. This was it, she was back. I couldn't run now.
"I'm sorry. Just please do whatever just don't hurt my friends." I heard the footsteps and felt the floor move slightly as they got nearer, what would they do this time? The worries kept flooding my head, my chest was still tight. Maybe if I passed out I could sleep through the pain? "Please?" My voice was so weak I would probably be punished more for showing it. My arms and hands were tingling, chest so tight it was painful and beads of sweat forming on my forehead and upper lip. I wanted to wipe it off but I didn't have the strength or nerve to move. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault I made a stupid mistake ages ago and somehow they remembered. I promise it won't happen again. I'm sorry please don't hurt me." My voice and spirit were almost as weak as I felt. Could she take mercy on me?

I felt a hand land on the top of my shoulder and flinched, both from pain and the undesirable hate to be touched.
"It's okay." That voice, Chloe, no no no. I felt more tears pool in my eyes before they immediately fell. I turned to face her.
"I'm sorry. Just go please. I need you to be safe and okay." She stepped forward to embrace me but I did the opposite and stepped back. "No, sorry. Don't touch me." The hurt look she had, it was my fault but I couldn't do anything. I couldn't let myself hurt her.
"Beca, you're hyperventilating. You need to breathe." I looked at her but I didn't really see her. She tried to touch me again and I pushed her away. I wanted to explain how I was feeling but all that came out was a measly,
"Sorry." I backed myself up against the wall nearby before sliding down it. The pain in my back was terrible but I deserved it. I saw her standing there. She didn't know what to do.

As time went on I was starting to calm down, she still hadn't moved from her spot. I'd made her act like she was. It seemed like she wasn't even there. I tried to rise from the floor but a pained noise ripped out of me. Her head whipped round to me, I saw the tear trails now. "I'm sorry, Chloe."
"Why did you leave me?" I was a little taken aback by the question, it took me a couple moments to answer.
"Letting you go was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
"You're not answering the question."
"Sorry."
"You broke my heart Beca, and all you can say is sorry?"
"I don't know what you want me to say."
"Don't you see that all this time I've tried my best for you? I love you and you just keep leaving."
"You can't really blame me, can you? You can only blame yourself."
"What would you do Becs? Every time you leave I'm the last one to see you. Do I not do enough? Am I not enough." I cautiously stepped towards her.
"You are more than enough Chloe Beale."
"Then don't leave again."
"I can't. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I understand. You can leave. You always do." She opened her mouth but all that came out was cruel laughter that didn't look right coming from her.
"Stop laughing."
"You know you keep saying you're going so I, so we don't get hurt. You hurt us more every time you walk away." A malicious smile lay on her lips while her eyes bore into me. Usually they were the window to the soul. Her soul must've been missing. "You can't keep turning up like this. I will always love you, Mitchell but unless you're going to get your act together nothing is ever going to happen between us."
"Then it's for the best." She closed the distance between us, I almost thought she was going to kiss me. Her eyes flickered between my lips and my eyes before she finally spoke. I felt her breath on my lips.
"Don't keep hurting us. We're all better off together."
"I'd rather hurt you that have you suffer the safe fate as my mind or end up dead." For once it seemed I'd shocked her as she backed away from me. I felt warm tears prick my eyes. The distance didn't last long though.
"At least give me a proper goodbye this time." It happened so quickly and I didn't want to stop it. Her lips were on mine. I felt her body curving into mine. There was nothing I'd wanted more than this moment in such a long time.