Remnant Book 1

Chapter 7

The shock of recent events prevents me from yelling, crying, or any other reaction for that matter. I'm speechless and dumbfounded after witnessing Cyrus kill a man.

After vomiting in front of the diner, I can't catch my breath. I'm panicking!

Why wasn't I like the characters in movies? Beautiful shocked expressions, maybe a cute squeal could've erupted from my lips, or a gracious swoon to the floor. Instead, I expelled my contents everywhere adding to the already gruesome crime scene.

I feel someone grab my shoulder, and I jump in response. Cyrus stands before me appearing harsh as usual. I quickly turn and try moving away from him. I had just seen him stab and choke someone to death for Christ sakes. He's a freakin' murderer!

The world is changing, moving too fast. Everything around me feels like it's crumbling. My breathing is erratic, and my heart is pounding in my chest echoing through my ear drums. The sound is deafening and consuming every part of mind.

"Raven please calm down. You're hyperventilating. Slow breaths," he tries showing me by breathing in and out as he places his hands on my shoulders. His arms rub my arms up and down in slow rhythmic movements.

Like if that is going to work! It is one thing to see it done but completely different to mimic the pattern after seeing someone die in front of you.

"You...killed...someone," I finally manage to say. "Oh my God, my throat..." I trail off unable to complete the sentence. I feel my throat wanting to close.

I reach for his arms that are resting on my shoulders in order to gain my balance. Since everything appeared to be spinning, I cling on tightly to prevent myself from falling. Already a headache is building at my temples pulsating as loud as my heart.

Cyrus curses when he notices my bleeding hands and instantly lifts me bridal style in his arms to carry me to the car. He opens the door and sits me in the passenger seat while searching for something in the back.

He recovers a bag and pulls out a bottled water, opening it, and quickly ordering me to drink. I began to take deep gulps to ease the burning in my throat. The world begins to settle around me.

"Slowly Raven, or you'll choke," Cyrus instructs holding the end of the water to prevent me from swallowing too quickly.

I nod taking short sips and lean back on the headrest of the car. Steadily my breathing begins to descend. I close my eyes thinking of my bedroom, pillows, and comforter surrounding me, longing for the safety of my room. Why couldn't this just be some horrific nightmare? Maybe if I try hard enough, I can wake up.

Unhurriedly, I lift my eyelids to gaze into his familiar face. Cyrus has taken the water bottle from me and is looking at the small cuts in my hands. He pulls out tiny pieces of glass, and droplets of blood remain after the removal of each fragment. One by one, items are extracted from the bag helping him clean away the stains and wrapping them with gauze. His delicate ministrations relax every trembling nerve.

I lean back once more and register the voices around us, light whimpering in the distance, and the crunching of gravel beneath the heels of people walking nearby.

"Are you better?" Cyrus asks from where he is now crouched in front of me by the opened door. He has one knee on the ground, and my hands still secured in his when fear begins to creep through my limbs.

"We have to call the police! They'll want to know what caused all this. What about the man you killed?" I ask devastated of what is going to happen to us.