In the arms of evil

V is for vendetta.

Brooklyn's pov

Colton has been going through the files on Troy. He's going to finish this. For our sake. "Baby, you don't have to. We'll figure it out, we'll-" he throws the file across the room, making me flinch. "There is no other way. Don't you get that?" He seethes, turning to face me. His eyes are dark and his body tense. He's so different from who he was in the car since we picked up Sammy and saw Leon die. "If I don't do this, I'm next. So spare me the pep talk and get with the game!" Tears spring to my eyes but I don't let them fall. Sammy comes to my side, touching my shoulder. I flinch and begin shaking. Fuck. I have to stay strong. I can't let him see me weak. "Brooklyn- god, baby I'm sorry..." his features soften as he sees me slowly breaking. I'm trembling and I can't stop.

Sammy steps back once he sees me shake violently at his touch. "Colt, she doesn't look too good" he says carefully, holding up his hands to show he means no harm. "Brooklyn, I need you to calm down" Colton makes his way over to me, slowly, keeping eye contact with me. He holds out his hand but I can't take it. Everything is flooding in. Troy. Marcus. The... incident. It won't stop. "Make it stop" I begin chanting as I cover my ears with my hands, gripping my hair as I crash to the ground on my knees.

"Jesus... Sammy get me the blanket off the couch. Now!" Colton crouches down beside me in a hurry, cradling me. "Brook, what's wrong? I can't help you if you don't tell me baby. Please, what's going on?" He asks carefully, his voice laced with worry and fear. "It hurts. It hurts so much. Make it stop, Colton. Please god... make it stop" my lips tremble as I speak, still shaking. My heart feels like it's being compressed and my blood is raging like the Aegean. He begins stroking my back, kissing my head and cooing sweet words to calm me. But nothings working. I can hear them all. I can still feel their touch. "ARRGHHHHH! STOP! STOP IT, DON'T TOUCH ME!" I shove Colton off me and scurry backwards till my back hits the wall.

Coltons eyes are filled with pain. He doesn't know how to help me and it's killing him. "Baby please... tell me how to help you" he pleads, voice almost breaking. "I can feel them. All of them! Troy, those men... everything. It won't stop Colton. Why won't it stop?" I cry falling into the foetus position. When I hear him move closer, my eyes shoot open and I rise to my feet, running into the bathroom right past Sammy as he stood there stunned with the blanket in hand.

"Baby? Baby open the door, please" Colton begs, banging on the locked door. "Sammy, get the drill!" I hear him yell, rattling the handle. "Baby answer me. Tell me you're okay. God..." the rattling grows stronger, but it doesn't over power the voices. I bring my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them, rocking. Then I hear it. The drill working the handle. What the hell?

Within seconds, Colton rips the handle off and breaks the door down. "Brooklyn" he cradles me, picking me up into his arms. I cry into his shirt, still shaking. "It's okay baby. No ones going to hurt you. I didn't mean to snap. I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry, please calm down. I'm here, doll. I'm right here" he kisses the top of my head and sets me down on the bed where I cuddle up to him, begging him not to leave. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here babygirl" he coos, bringing the duvet over us. We stay like this till I tire myself out and fall asleep in his strong arms.

Waking up, Colton is fast asleep beside me. I can't believe I had such a bad breakdown. Looking up at him, he looks how I feel. I kiss his cheek as I slowly get up and cover him back up.

I step into the living room to find Sammy still here, eyes glued to the door, gun in hand. "Hey" I say sheepishly, pulling the sleeves of my over sized knitted jumper over my hands. "Are you okay?" He asks carefully, putting the gun by his side, hiding it from my view. "I am now. I don't know what happened... I just-" I took a deep breath, sitting down beside him. "I know. You've been through a lot. It just hit you all at once is all." He brings an arm around me, giving me a hug. "Thanks for staying Sammy. Colton needs the rest." I look towards the door, and then to the clock on the wall. "You've been here for a long time. You should get some rest." Sammy laughs quietly before shaking his head. "No offence princess, but I'm way too paranoid to be getting any sleep right now. Don't worry" he pats my knee, "I've got this. Go back to bed." I nod and shoot him a smile. "Thank you Sammy. It means a lot." I wave at him as I make my way back to bed. Coltons not there anymore. Instead, a note lies where he previously was.

I pick it up with shaky hands and head his voice as I read each word:

Brook,
I'm so sorry to leave you like this. This isn't how I wanted goodbye to be. You deserve so much more than this. Than me. I've hurt you in the worse possible way when I kept that troy was my brother from you. I hope you know why I did that. Because I loved you too much to watch you go. But it doesn't excuse what I did. What I've done. I'm so sorry for any pain I've caused you while you've known me. And before. I should have stopped him. I should have killed him back then for what he did to you. I love you with all I am. I'm nothing without you. But you're stronger without me. So whatever happens, I know it'll be okay as long as you're safe. That's all I want. I hope you can forgive me for leaving you like this. But I had to, I couldn't face you and tell you I had to leave you. I don't know what'll happen when I face him, but I know I'll be thinking of you until one of us shuts our eyes. I hope I make it back to you, but if I don't, just know I saw a future with you as bright as day. Marrying you, giving you all the kids you want. Going on wild adventures. Growing old. All of it. I wanted to give you it all, and if I make it back, I promise I will. If I don't... please don't break. Be strong for me. Look after your soul baby. It's precious to me. Live for me. Feel alive again. You'll be free no matter what after tonight.

I love you baby doll. I'm sorry.
- Colton.

Tears streamed down my face as I called out for Sammy. He came running into the room, gun at point, until he saw me holding the letter. "I'm sorry Brook" he whispered, laying the gun down. As I fell to my knees, Sammy came up beside me, holding me.

Memories of my time with Colton flash through my mind in moments. The good times and the bad. And every second brings me to where I am now. Wiping my tears, holding the letter to my chest, I rise to my feet and walk into the living room where the file lies. I find Troy's last known location. Walking back into the bedroom, I take off my clothes and put a white vest top and black jeans on along with knee high boots and a bomber jacket. "Where are you going?" I ignore Sammy as I grab the gun he set down. "Whoa! Listen, this isn't a good idea..." I push past him and grab Coltons motorbike keys. I guess he took the truck.

I rev the bike as Sammy comes running out. I'm coming Troy. This will finish with me. Once and for all. You won't take anyone else I love again. I swear it.