Amidst Crimson Kisses

Chapter Thirty Seven: The Hive Mind

Margo's POV

Asher had walked into the void only an hour ago with Andre next to his side, ready to trespass into the sunrise with three foolish words. Don't follow me. I wanted to follow him; I had too, but he captured me with fire in his blue eyes. He held me captive in that moment, holding my face in his strong hands. He wanted to sacrifice himself again and for people who'd rather betray him than save his life. Then the assholes honestly thought I'd stay here, helpless in the forest with a stupid look on my face as a river of tears fall from my weeping eyes.

I breath out as someone rustles through the leaves behind me. I turn around, watching Charles stumble out of the bushes, scrambling to my side. He doesn't take well to strangers, so he hasn't met any of the others, but even Juliet, in all of her elegance, would have adored the quote, little furry chinchilla. When attention shifted from Juliet, she loved teasing me about anything I took an interest in from my past life, especially when she couldn't relate to it. Sometimes, Juliet had this way of making me feel numb to the world outside of Goulding Manor.

"You owned a furry chinchilla," Juliet beams with ridicule in her tone as she prances around her room, searching through her closet for the perfect outfit. "wow, you are country. I suppose you hiked on up to grandma's house with Charles at your ankle? What's next, you gathered in the forest with all your animal companions? And you call me, Princess. Do you honestly hear yourself? You sound like Snow White! You're a bonafide hypocrite."

"A hypocrite! Said the girl who's had years worth of ballet lessons but still prances around her room like a racehorse about to be put down. Princess, it's called walking with dignity, not galloping like a friggin horse on bath salts, and I'd thank you not to get your animals mixed up. My gawd, what are they teaching you at that fancy boarding school! I don't care what your Sex Ed teacher says; two foxes do not equal a chinchilla." I said, rolling my eyes as Juliet made a pointed face.

"Calm down, Red. I'm only saying your miles away from your old life. I'm not asking you to forget your childhood; I'm asking my small town spunky best friend to be in Manhattan with me at this moment. If you want to recall all the animals from your stable then that's fine with me. Because your the only person I can't camouflage; either way, your my spark." Juliet said, standing in the mirror as she extends a beautiful gown in front of herself.

I ascend the top of Widows Peak as the fog floats beneath me, casting over the horse stable, only leaving specks of my father's house peering through the thick of the mist. Meanwhile, silence consumes me as time halts at a standstill and awaits their departure. I can't take another second of watching with my hands folded behind my back, not when they're in the house with David Goulding. My heart thrashes inside my chest as I look at the distance separating me from Asher and even Andre. I can't deny it, I'm attracted to Andre in ways that drown out the beat of my heart, but my soul cries for Asher.

"If you're going to sneak up behind me, then the least you could do is not insult me by doing your dirty work in high heels," I sigh, listening to leaves crumble underneath her feet. "I told you it's pointless. If Asher and Andre escaped, they wouldn't lure David back to us. Not even if David tortured them for hours, he still wouldn't tell them. I'm just not sure I can trust everyone else inside that house."

"They just walked in the front door. There wasn't some well thought out plan outlining the house's structure and where to strike so they can sneak past the guards. Andre just walked in the front door with his hands on his head. Then Mateo shoved him inside while Asher snuck around the back. I swear Mateo looked at Andre and smiled. Then shoved a gun into his back. I can't believe I thought he was a good guy." Ajiona says, tears swelling in her eyes as she closes her hands, turning her feelings off.