Page 57 of Shadows Within
“I have no clue, but I think Callum knows more. I guess I should talk to him sooner than later.”
“Yeah, I think so.” She takes a sip from her plastic straw.
I decide that I’m going to hit the gym tonight and ask Ricco for a round before I work on my paper. I walk out to my car, faster than normal. The wind feels stronger than this morning. My hair that has fallen from my clip swirls in the breeze as dead leaves dance to their own tune around me.
I can barely see my car in the distance, parked beside a streetlamp yet consumed by the evening’s shadows.
As I get closer, the street light flickers. Although this aged campus is beautiful, it creeps me out sometimes. There have been stories that different buildings on campus are haunted. I usually don’t buy into them, but it’s evenings like this that make me question my beliefs. There are other cars parked, but I don’t see anyone else in the lot.
I unlock the driver’s door and glance into the window. A single red rose lies on my seat.
Callum.
I pick up the rose, it’s free of thorns.
He’s taken them all off.I look around, expecting to see him. I don’t. While it doesn’t make everything okay, it’s a beautiful gesture.
I get in my car and can’t help but smile. The gym can wait, I know where to find him.
Protection
Callum
The air is thick. I’m used to it by now, but every time I open the door it hits me, like it’s my first time here all over again. As I walk further into the greenhouse, each rose comes into view under the ceiling lights. It’s just past six in the evening, but it’s that time of the winter where depression is deepened and the moon shines longer than the sun. I’m better acquainted with the moon anyway.
I know Scarlett doesn’t want to see me yet, but that doesn’t stop me from watching her. I always will. I inhale the sweet rose scent and walk over to the bushes that haven’t bloomed yet, their beauty still hidden. The soil under all the rose beds is dry.
I remember when I found this place, after a drop in my first year. I needed somewhere to clear my head. I was driving from campus to The Society and pulled off the road to notice a small path. I followed it and saw this old building—surprised I’d never heard of it, but glad it was unknown by many. The moss growing on the roof intrigued me. I didn’t know what this building was until I walked in. The smell of the half dead roses drew me in before I saw them—much like today.
She creeps back into my thoughts. I’m struggling to accept that she doesn’t want to talk to me. She doesn’t know how crazy it’s driving me to watch her from afar.How did I do it for so long before?We’ve spent almost every day together, and being away from her this long just feels wrong.
Lately, everything at The Society has been setting me off—from the pledges and my father to school stuff. I’m stuck in the vicious cycle of blaming everyone but myself.
I think about the night where I saw her at that party, four years ago. She still doesn’t know what happened, and if I tell her, I worry it will break her even more. I can’t see her go through this agony again, but the risk of not telling her is greater than saying something.
I walk over to the hose on the other side of the greenhouse and glance at the bench where she moaned my name not long ago. I fill a bucket with water and evenly spray the flowerbeds.
Just then, I spot headlights as a car approaches the path. I recognize them immediately—it’s Scarlett. She gets out of the car and slowly walks up to the worn door, opening it with caution. As soon as she steps in, her cheeks turn a bright red. I place the bucket down and lean against the bench, keeping my distance. My arms fold over my chest. I don’t approach her, it takes everything in me, but she’s finally here and I don’t want to push her away.
“Hi,” she says and looks toward the ground.
“Hi, Angel.” My tone is low.
A moment passes before she speaks again. The whole time I stare at her. She’s so beautiful with fury in her eyes—it’s her best look yet.
“I’m mad that you didn’t tell me about my mom. You knew and you didn’t tell me, Callum.” Our eyes lock. Sadness sweeps across her face—she’s not masking it at all.
“I didn’t want to keep it from you, I just didn’t know how to tell you without hurting you. I didn’t want to see you the way you are now. I’m the only one that should bring you pain, Scarlett—pain that you’ll enjoy.” It’s true, I will break her, and she will bask in it.
“The fact that you didn't tell me hurts even more, Callum. I opened up to you about what she’s done that has hurt me, and instead of sharing this, you held it from me. If I knew something about your family, I would tell you. Because I care about you.”She looks to the roses, like she can’t trust me.I need to make this right.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve told you.” I take a step toward her. “But Scarlett, you have to understand...I’ve never done this. I don’t know how to do this right. I know that what I did was shitty, and it doesn’t justify my actions.” I take another step closer to her. “I’m sorry. You must know that I’m sorry, and that the last thing I want is to hurt you like this. The only way I’ll hurt you is so fucking sweetly. I’ll bring you pleasure you’ve never felt before.”
I stroke the side of her arm.
“You think you hate me now, wait until you see what I become for you.”
Her breath hitches. I don’t lean in and neither does she. Instead, she pulls back. I can tell it’s because she’s trying to stay strong. So, I let her.
