Love Bites (Completed)

Chapter 16

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger--but recognize the opportunity.”

― John F. Kennedy

Torrin’s P.O.V

   Gasps filled the eerie air of the darkened forest. To make matters worse a cool, chilly breeze flowed its way between branches to raise goose bumps on our pale skin. A shiver ran down my spine. Everyone eyes popped out of their sockets and I could feel the shock in the air. A cold pit of ice settled its way into my stomach leaving the rest of my body to become numb. Dumbfounded my lips slightly parted, not knowing what to think. The creature flapped it wings.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Until, it finally flew to canopy above. We stared speechless at the retreating butterfly flying over branches until, finally, out of sight. Slowly our heads came down and their eyes landed on me with panicked expressions.

“I’m in deep sh*t” I looked towards Crispin for guidance. “Aren’t I…?”

Painfully he slowly nodded his head. That was all I needed to inform myself that I was going to die.

How could the butterfly-?

How-?

When will I-?

Why?!

I couldn’t finish my thoughts. I had to figure all this out. “When?” I whispered looking back and forth between Mace and Crispin.

“Soon…but not too soon.” Mace whispered quietly.

“What do you mean?”

He sighed. “I mean…it won’t happen in a few days, but it will happen before the year is over. It could happen in a week or a few months. No one could know for sure.”

“So the butterfly is like a warning?” Bren asked eager to understand more.

Mace nodded his head. “Exactly.”

Fantastic. So death is just around the corner while I wait and wait until BAM it smacks me right in the face, and POOF I’m gone? My face began to heat up and I knew the feminine side of me was kicking in. Visibly I saw my nose become a red and my eyes began to gloss over.

No I was NOT about to cry. I’m Torrin Gray, and I do NOT f**king cry in front of people I just meet. Even less in front of a bunch of hot *ss guys!  “So I’m going to die?” I asked in a raspy voice, much to my displeasure.

“It’s not certain, but a possibility yes.” Mace said looking down avoiding my gaze. “My father and I have done research about this before. The butterfly is a spirit of someone from the dead, after life, it sends a message of great danger. If it lands on you….” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Gah, when did my life become a crappy soap opera?!

I was on the erg of tears so I balled my fist up and clung to my shirt trying to get a grip on my emotions. D*mn those things. “What are the possible things that could happen to me.” Even though I feared of the answer I knew it had to be asked. Mace flinched at the question and looked at me with a worried face. I’ve never seen everyone look so venerable, until now. I wasn’t sure if he was worried I would explode on him, or if it was my very life and safety he was worried towards. Possibly both.

“It would be bad. You could be…” He swallowed. “You could be killed, or majorly injured. Or you could be depressed, or broken hearted. You could be hurt physically or mentally. Or worse…both.”