The Ride of a Lifetime

23. Fog

"You what?" He leans forward desperately. I scutter away. The information didn't hit me as hard as I was playing on. But I knew it would. Any second now. "N-Nick's sister?"

Javis gulps, his adam's apple bobbing up and down. The mere sight made me dizzy. "You need to listen to me."

I wanted to cut in, to be hysteric. But this Javis, with his bleeding lip and ruffled hair, eyes heavy and so, so vulnerable, this Javis remains the one who showed me the world with a touch of his hand.

He killed someone.

Fuck off, subconsciousness.

He seemed as surprised as I was at my unexpected patience. He clears his throat, and I brace myself, "Daisy and Samantha were best friends. Joined at the hip since seventh grade. They had dreams to go to the same university together and alas, it came true. They both studied medicine, both in their final year."

"And then Daisy got Parkinson's." I mumbled.

"She thought Samantha would be the one person out of everyone who would be there for her, you know? They weren't kids anymore. They're adults for god's sake. Samantha said she couldn't be best friends with a someone who has Parkinson's. It'd ruin her entire image."

At the ending note of his words, the glare and pain on Javis' face was so prominent, I felt my heart twist.

"But you killed her... How?" My breaths were wavering, sweat slickening my skin.

Javis brought his eyes to meet mine. 

I look away.

"Samantha and Daisy were fighting. I was there with her, telling Samantha to fuck off. We were on a sidewalk and all I saw was red. Red anger, red faces. Next thing I know Daisy was screaming and Samantha was laying in.." He clenches his jaw. "She got hit by a car. I must of pushed her, I must of done something. Daisy was mad at me."

Before I could process my circulating thoughts, the door flew violently open. I jump, startled. 

I had imagined Nick barging through the opening. Instead a tall, blonde man around Daisy's age sauntered in. His stride was too casual, too confident. I felt sick.

"I'm terribly sorry for Nick's behaviour, Luna." He directs a glare of hatred to, "Javis." The name came strained, bitter.

I didn't find the energy nor the courage to spit comments. Nick was aggressive- human. This man was.. Damaged, psychotic. Unpredictable.

Javis' entire body was rigid with tension. We were leaning against the wall, the rough wood cool against hot, fearful skin.

Ryan walks back and forth; slowly, taunting, enjoying the game. He catches my half-hearted glare, erupting into a fit of laughter.

"Nick's a dumb bitch, isn't he? Why bring an innocent little lamb such as you into this entire ordeal? I explicitly told him- Javis. I wanted Javis."

I scoff. Javis growls, "Then let her go."

Ryan lifts an amused brow, blonde hair too bright and perfect for a place as such. "No, no. The plan might have gotten a little twisted. But that doesn't mean she's entirely useless. In fact," He smiles cheerily, voice sing-song, "she's very, very useful."

With that, he inches closer, bending over to meet my face. "Get the fuck away from me."

"So she talks!"

The outburst made my shoulders jump and I curse myself for letting him see me so shaken. 

Javis shuffles in front of me, threatening even when constrained. Ryan pouts dramatically, straightening up.