Page 94 of Pretty Little Fears

Havingthe upper hand of surprise plays in my favor asIfeel his windpipe crushing beneath my grip.He'schoking and sputtering, arms flailing and smacking me.Idon't stop though.Itfeels as if my hands have been sewn into his skin.Myhandle on his throat doesn't waiver or falter, regardless of what he does.

Mymonsters are out to play, and the only word they know is kill.

KILL.

KILL.

Lorenzohas been smart enough to keep his distance and stay away from me.Stayout of my reach.Idon't realize he’s dead until a small hand is wrapping around my arm and tugging on it.Myname is repeated and the soft voice draws me out of the darkness that overtook me.Likethe light at the end of the tunnel,Blairpulls me back from the depths of my mind.Iturn around to her small body wrapped in the blanket, her hair matted and tears dried on her face.

“He’sdeadEmmett, you can let go,”Blairwhispers, clinging the blanket to herself tighter.Herwords penetrate the black haze as my surroundings slowly come back to me.Relieffloods my body asIlook back down atLorenzo’slifeless body.Thegrip the darkness has on me begins to loosen andItake a deep breath, focusing back on gettingBlairthe fuck out of here.

I’mfrantically patting down his pockets searching for the keys to unlock the chains on us, when a gunshot rings out.I'mup and looking forBlairto cover her whenIfreeze.Prideswells in my chest at the sight of her.Shestands tall, gun in her outstretched hands, aimed straight atLorenzo’schest.Achest that is now pooling out blood.

“Forgood measure?”Iask with a small chuckle, my eyes never leaving hers.Shenods andIlocate the keys inLorenzo’spockets.

Takingthe keys,Iquickly start unlocking the cuffs and chains that have kept us captive for days.Itake the gun out ofBlair’shand, and tuck it into the waistband of my pants.Thesafety is off in case someone else tries to stop us from leaving.

LiftingBlairinto my arms,Icarry her up the stairs with her still wrapped in the tattered, bloodied blanket.Ishift her gently in my hold and push open the door.Lightassaults my eyes andIrotateBlair, shielding her from the brightness.

Lookingaround,Ifind myself face-to-face with a handful of female workers.Theystare at me with wide eyes, taking in the blood covering us both.Idon’t know if the wide eyes are due to the blood, or the fact that the prisoners are no longer locked up.

“Ineed clothes and a phone, right now!Hesitateor refuse and you will fucking die!Rightfucking here and right fucking now!”Ishout throughout the corridor, my voice bouncing off the walls.

Thewomen scurry in different directions, rushing to gather whatever they can for us.Onewoman returns with a baggy shirt and sweatpants, whichIassume belong toLorenzo.Thethought ofBlairin his clothing turns my stomach, but it’s our only option.Anotherwoman brings a bowl of water and a towel.Sheholds it up and makes eye contact with me.She’solder and doesn’t look as afraid as before.

“Doyou want us to clean her off before dressing her?”Sheasks.Iappreciate her offer, but no fucking way.There’sabsolutely no fucking wayI’mletting anyone touch her.Neveragain willIleave her side.Neveragain will someone else touch her.

IsetBlairdown on her shaky feet and help her step into the borrowed clothes.Onceshe’s dressed,Ipick her back up again and head toward the front of the property.

Pullingout the phone,Idial the only other numberIknow by heart.Ilift the phone to my ear, listening as the dial rings.IknowGrimmisn't still here.Blairhad counted the days we were held captive by scratching tally marks on the wall.

“Hello?”

“It’sEmmett.Weescaped.IhaveBlair.Ineed you to come get us.”Thesounds of an engine revving fill the background.

“I’malready on the way.Ifigured something had happened toyou.Theygunned me down soIhad to leave and make a plan, getEliandJadento help me fuck shit up and get you out.I’mfive minutes out,”Grimmresponds.

Iglance down at my brave girl and tighten my hold on her. “Seeyou soon, man,”Isay, settling down on the porch withBlairstill in my arms.Wewait forGrimm’sarrival.

Grimm’stiressqueal as the blackMcLarenspeeds its way towards us.Hehalts to a stop and quickly jumps out, rounding the car and opening the back door for me.Icarefully slide inside the car, being cautious to not hit her legs or head on the car's exterior.

Ishift her body onto my lap until she hums a soft sound.Takingmy hand,Igently pet her hair, trying to coax her into a peaceful state.

Blairnestles into my chest more, hiding herself from the world.Leaningforward,Iwhisper words that only she can hear. “Youand me,Blair.Wewill forever be intertwined.Ourshattered souls will merge as one.You’remine, little obsession.I'llfill those cracks in your heart for you, just as you did mine.”Imurmur, my voice gentle.

Pullingmy gaze away from her,Ilook out the window and watch the scenery blur past as we make our way home.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

BLAIR

Imust have driftedoff to sleep because, by the timeIopen my eyes,I'mstill pressed againstEmmett’schest in the back of the car.Lookingout the window,Inotice we aren't moving, andIdon’t feel the rumble of the engine.Peeringaround,Irealized it's turned off and we’re the only two left inside.Ishift my head to look up at him and see his head tipped back, his gaze focused on the ceiling of the car.

Hesoftly runs his hand over my hair, not saying a sound as he comforts me.Thecar is no longer on, so why are we still inside? “Arewe home?”Icroak out, my tone is scratchy.Atthe sound of my voice, he lifts his head to look down at me.

“Yeah, little obsession.We’rehome.”Hewhispers, leaning down and placing a kiss on the crown of my head.

“Whyare we still in the car?Howlong have we been here?”Iask, my voice quiet.IfIremember correctly, it was morning when we leftLorenzo’s.Thesun is quickly fading now, and the sky darkening.

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