The Willows (book three)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10-Ocean’s POV:

The flashlight beam shone carelessly around the room, the object rolling around on the carpeted floor. He begins to walk around the room, his breaths are slow and long. I bury my head in my arms, my back aching from being pressed against the solid wall. I'm so cold, a layer of goosebumps had risen on my skin causing me to shake vividly. I look up from my arms, the unconscious attacker lying on the floor with blood splatters on his face. I hold in the scream, the gruesome way his face is and the excess amounts of blood on his skin implants a permanent memory of his face. He begins to walk around the small room, papers fall and crumple as he rummages behind the old cabinets and files in the room. A sigh escapes his lips as he turns, his body facing the desk I hid behind. I hold in my breath once again, watching his feet step closer to me.

“Ocean?” 

I release my held breath and relax my tense muscles. I could recognize that deep raspy voice anywhere, everything about him I have memorized and I am so relieved to here that familiar voice,

“Edward.” I say through a weak sob. I pick myself up from behind the desk and run into his strong arms, the warmth of his body scares away the cold that circulates through me. I cry carelessly into his chest as he wraps his arms around me.

Edward holds me for what seems like forever as I let every tear that built up in my eyes fall down my cheeks. I withdraw from the embrace and look up at him whilst wiping the moisture from my face, “How did you possibly know where I was this time?” I receive a half smile, only one dimple implants in his cheek, “I was around.” He says simply. I hate his answer and it frustrated me to my very core but I suppressed the stress inside. I look at him as he wipes away another runaway tear from my face.

"Lets go, I have a car downstairs."

“I don’t want to see.” I say, referring to the unconscious man lying behind me. He nods, “Then don’t look.” He says softly. 

We begin to walk out of the room. Edward holds me close and I bury my head in his chest. My foot bumps into an object on the floor and I eyes shoot open. The bloody face unconsciously lies there, his hand next to my foot. The distorted structure is incredibly vile, causing me to whimper at the sight. Edward’s body shifts and his chest blocks my view fo the face. I won't be sleeping well for the next few days. 

We make our way down the entire building and out onto the street. I spot Niall standing next to his friends and I was glad to have a familiar face around. He steps over, the apologetic gaze in his eyes is evident from afar, "I am so sorry for everything, for bringing you here and for calling you when I shouldn't have." I place my hand on his folded arm, “It’s okay.” I reassure him softly, “I’m okay.” I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring him or myself more, I just needed convincing at the moment.

The ride home was awfully silent. I hadn’t concluded whether I was mad at Edward for his mixed emotions or happy for him saving me from the unknown attackers. I wanted to ride with Niall back home but Edward forced me to ride with him for my own safety. Being in the same car as Edward was the last thing I wanted to do right now. My arms were crossed in a stubborn way in front of my chest as I avoided to notice the eye contact Edward wasn’t giving me. I wasn’t in the mood to blow up at him for keeping secrets from me again. Even thought I had every right to be mad at him, but I just didn’t have the internal energy to yell at him, let alone put myself through it all. 

Once we pull up in the driveway of my house I was relieved that I got through this without the blow up. I didn’t speak a word to Edward, only to get out of his truck and walk away casually. I step up the stairs an reach for the door handle. My plan doesn’t go any further when the sound of his door slamming gave off and I froze in my tracks, just about to go inside. The temptation to leave boiling inside me.