The Willows (book three)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9-Ocean's POV: 

My first day of work ended in sore arms and aching feet. I sat in a chair in the back, my head supported by my arm. I rub my hands on my uniform pants, wiping the sweat from them.

"I never said this was going to be easy."

Niall says, pulling his tie from his neck. I laugh, aching all over, "You never said that it would be torture either." He smiles at me, "You get used to it, maybe the next rush won't be so bad."

"I hope so."

I undo the tie from my neck, unbuttoning the top of my white button down, "I'll go get changed." I say, rising from my seat and sauntering down the back hall, every step was aching, "Hey Ocean?" I stop and turn to him, "Yeah?"

"Do you want to go somewhere with me tonight?" I smile, looking down at me feet, "Thanks but I think I should go home."

"It's just a quick cool down." He says, "You don't have to stay long, and maybe you could ask me more of those questions that keep you awake at night."

I move my weight from one foot to the other, deep in thought. I did have so many questions, so maybe I could stay for a little bit, "Okay, I'll just be out soon."

After changing into my clothes, I meet Niall in the restaurant and we walk outside. The sun had set, leaving our world to be plunged into darkness. The street lamps were on, illuminating spots on the sidewalk. We cross the empty street to a brick office building, the closed sign hung on the glass front door.

"We're here."

He says with a smile. Niall grabs my wrist with his ice cold hand and pulls me down an alley on the side of the building, shivers crawl up my spine at the thought of the previous attack. Images of someone lurking in the shadows chilled through my body.

Niall approaches a rusty fire escape to the office building. He climbs the ladder up to a platform with stairs continuing the rest of the way. I follow behind him as we hike up the stairs one by one. At the top I look over the railing at the gravel alley below and thought of how much it would hurt to fall off of this thing, a suddenly familiarity of hitting concrete ground sent a sharp stab of pain to circulate my body.  

Niall abruptly jumps up as high as he could with arms extended above him, grabbing the ledge of the roof. He strains his arms to pull himself up to the roof, after landing he sticks his hand down for me to take. I tightly grasp his freezing wrist that stung against my skin as he clenched onto  me, pulling me up. I press my feet to the brick wall of the building, stepping against it to help him. My arms bend over the roof's ledge, I swing my leg up and hoist my body onto the ledge. I step over and my feet land on the rooftop. Niall pulls me across the building to the other side, a magnificent view causing my breathing to stop in amazement.

The town was lit up by the light from the large moon that hovered in the sky. The far away mountain miles outside of town, made a dark shape in the sky. The forest clearly visible after the town buildings faded away. The street lights illuminated the buildings. The wind blew against my face, neck and chest, chilling my hot temperature. I like the wind. I like the chilling sensation that danced against my skin. I like the rush of cold that tingled my spine. But most of all I liked how unpredictable it was. When it would come and when it would go. Because it reminded me of saying good bye. I don’t really have a reason for liking it like that. But I’m still working on it.

“It’s so big.” I say softly against the rush of the wind that blew swiftly into me, “It’s-”

“Beautiful?”