Lost Soul

Chapter Fourteen: Refuge

"He's not coming. That's final."

Rae sighs, "what if he apologizes?"

"I don't care if he freaking tap dances the entire plot of Hamilton. He's lucky I didn't let Daniel kill him."

She runs a hand over her frizzy curls. "Just think about this for two seconds. He's one of your oldest friends!"

"That would imply we're friends," I growl, shoving my blanket into my pack.

Erick is trying to get back into the camp, but James and Daniel stand guard while Rae argues with me.

Alex is lingering near Izzy, not coming too close, but trying to offer comfort.

Ava holds her hand and whispers to her.

Cat and Nick are cleaning up our camp ground, getting us ready to leave.

Charlie's off scouting for somewhere to rest and restock our supplies.

"Raven," Rae growls as I limp away from her. "He made a mistake."

My shoulders tense. "A mistake? Was what our principal did to you a mistake, Raelynn?"

Rae takes a step back. "He didn't touch her, Raven."

"That makes it better?" I hiss. "He didn't manage to get into my-." I stop myself, panting.

Rae's eyebrows furrow. "Is this about when you broke his nose?"

"I've made my decision."

"I'm older than you."

"Then act like it," I snap.

She grabs my arm and yanks me to a stop. "He's not that man, Raven. Don't you think I would break up with him if he treated me like that?"

"I'd hope you would, Rae. But no. I know how hard it is to get out of an abusive situation."

"Since when?"

I flinch.

Fluorescents glinting off a green gem. Something sharp being dragged down my back. Fingers curled into my hair, holding my face against the floor as I scream.

I shake the quicksand off before I can get sucked into another memory. "It doesn't matter. All I'm saying is even if you were hurt before, it doesn't mean you can't be a victim again, Rae. You're too blind to see it, but Erick's so similar to our principal. I regret ever letting you meeting him."

She sets her jaw. "He's not like that. He's a good man."

"Good men don't threaten to beat helpless girls over nothing."

"Nothing? She almost got you killed."

"She saved my life. If you can't accept that and my decision, you can stay with Erick."

Her eyes widen and she takes a step back. She grabs her cross. "You don't mean that," she whispers.

"From the bottom of my heart, Raelynn, I sure as hell do. He didn't make a mistake, Rae. He almost beat Izzy. He traumatized her. What would he have done to her if we hadn't stopped him? You really want to keep someone like that around?"

She glances at Erick, who is getting impatient.

He's arguing with James and Daniel. He punches a tree next to James's face and Rae flinches.

She won't meet my gaze. "I'll come with you."

I nod. "Good. Once Charlie's back, I'll break the news to Erick."

"Tell him I fought for him," she whispers.

I sigh and close my eyes. "I will."

Charlie returns with news of a village not far from here.