The Perfect Storm 2

Chapter 85

My heart is still pounding and the tears are still flowing.

"W . . . why did you—" I start.

"Help you?" Hayden asks his light-brown hands on the steering wheel. His voice is much deeper than I remember but I'm not afraid of him, I've learned that all demons have a weak spot. 

I nod at him as we drive farther and farther away from his house and into the unknown. Hayden turns to me and parts his lips, I scan his face and notice a tattoo that I haven't seen before. A small arrow lies above his cheekbone, close to his left eye.

"Because I took part in this too . . . and I owe you an explanation whether I want to give you one or not." He clenches his jaw and I nod even though his eyes are glued onto the road now.

"How long has this been going on?" I ask, my voice barely there as I try to speak through the tears closing up my throat.

"For about two years, fucking a hundred girls isn't easy," Hayden says and I feel completely weak.

"The three of us competed in everything, school, sports, and then finally girls, but it didn't become a game until I suggested it become a real competition," Hayden explains, glancing at me quickly but I can't look at him. 

He looks away and finally continues, "Money got involved, and it started from a small bet to a real game that we took too seriously. The first one to fuck a girl would get the prize that was betted on the loser. It became almost an obsession and because Miles was doing so well, the bets became more intense. People trusted him to get the girl quicker, it wasn't just money anymore, it was cars, accessories and some even betted their girlfriends that Miles ended up fucking somehow." He says and my stomach churns.

"The goal was to fuck a hundred, claim the biggest prize and leave but of course not without the proof of one of their belongings," Hayden explains and I take a deep breath as I stare out the window. 

I don't even know what's real anymore, someone I cared about so deeply has betrayed me in the worst way possible.

"Miles became obsessed with winning and so did I but girls weren't all over me like they were him, so I . . . I took advantage of them instead. And after Miles told me the game was on again, for the hundredth and last girl, I had to beat his ass and when I saw you in target, I knew I had to shoot my shot." Hayden explains and I want to throw up.

"Are you going to—"

"Nah, I'm not doing that no more." He says, his voice deep and serious.

"Can you drop me off--" I ask and he looks at me.

"You sure? You know he'll find you there, your dorm isn't the best hiding place."

"Drop me off at the nearest motel," I say and he nods.

THE ROOM IS empty except for a large bed and two nightstands that I have nothing to do with. My hand rests on the llight gray steel that the motel is dressed in. 

Hayden left a few minutes ago but I still can't seem to make it past the door. The cold blows inside but I can't move—I feel numb. 

I stare at the room in front of me for what feels like an hour before my feet can finally step one by one inside the room. I shut the door and sit down on the edge of the bed.

My eyes feel bloated and my eyelids are weak from all of the tears that have fallen from them. As I sit there, the memories flood back over me like a tonne of bricks that I can't handle all at once.

 The tears start to flow again but this time with more anger than before, Hayden's words only made this situation. I fall down onto the hard brown rug beneath me, my legs have finally given up on me. 

The whole night I've been wondering when I'd finally collapse and now, now is the time—I'm finally dead inside. 

I gave up everything for him, I gave up my mother, Jace, my old life, my beliefs, and myself all for it to blow up right in my face and make me feel like nothing. 

If I had only turned around the first day I left, If I had only realized that going to WSU alone wasn't worth it, none of this would have happened. I yell into the quietness above me before taking off my shoes, ripping off my dress, my underwear, and rushing under the covers. 

I feel dirty, I feel dirty in all of these clothes and I want to be alone with Jace's necklace—The only pure thing I have left.

Madison: "I need you, Jace."

I put my phone away and close my eyes. I don't care that it's barely midnight, I don't care about anything. I want to stay here forever.