Page 35 of Petals of Blue: Part Two
His dark glare softens slightly, and I'm really hoping it's realization setting in. I take one more jab while I have him under control. "Ignore your needs. Please? For Blue."
He deflates and tenses when I push him back into a seated position. "Alright. I get it. Let's go." Levi rips Jared's door open, startling a quiet scream from Jared. "Fuck! You fucking dickhead. That was terrifying."
Lips twitching, Levi huffs and pulls my friend from the car, immediately drenching him in the pouring rain. Poor Jared is getting dragged around. "Let's get a move on. Same plan?" Levi asks me as I jump out and rush around the car.
"Yep," I raise my voice over the roar of rain. "Nobody turned their locations off on the drive over, right?"
Everyone confirms they haven't changed their settings and agrees to stay with the group. There's a level of anxiety about turning our flashlights on since they'll give away our positions, but it's pitch black. Beyond small solar-powered lights lining a few paths branching off around the grounds, we can't see shit.
"This place is big. Focus on finding buildings orsmall shelters. Even if she's not in them, it's the best place to start because it might guarantee signs of life during a storm like this," Roman adds, making a really good point.
We nod and make eye contact with each other. Kevin checks the ammo in his gun, as does Levi. They decide it's best that they go first for protection and a clear shot.
As hard as it is to give up control, they're right. Plus, Declan decided to call the police in the car and let them know we had reason to believe Blue would be at this location, so backup is on its way.
We're all set.
A freezing cold breeze pushes us forward, and we lean into the momentum.Where are you, Blue?
Twenty-Six
BLUE
The glacial rain punches me in the chest so hard I suck in a gasp and end up getting a mouthful of water. Sputtering, tripping, and buzzing with adrenaline, I force myself to keep moving forward.
No matter how much I want to stop and swallow as much rainwater as I can, I refrain and just appreciate any drops that fly into my mouth as I run.
Roaring wind and pelting rain drown out the cursing that chases me out the door of the shed. Adrenaline is the only thing pumping my arms and legs. I don't think I would have been able to get out of there without the complete and utter fear pushing me to escape.
Part of my brain registers the small lights along a muddy, snowy path, but I avoid the obvious option and take a hard right into a cluster of bushes. Another sharp inhale of breath makes me gag on liquid, but I couldn'tcare less because it feels like I'm stumbling through row after row of motherfucking thorns.
Where the hell am I?!
Forcing myself forward, I attempt to raise my legs higher, but the bushes snag my jeans and tug on the threads. "Shit," I hiss, running by a tree that seems to reach for my bare arms. The scratch is the least of my worries right now because I swear I can hear heavy footfalls behind me.
Hopefully Clarence really is drunk so we match each other’s slow stumbles through the scraggly woods. I have a head start, and I would like to keep it.
Lungs pinching and rasping, I keep breathing. Because I have to. Because I want to.
Slowly, as if Mother Nature is coming to my rescue, the piercing rain turns to floating snow. Just the slight relief of that shift gives me a boost of energy.
More soft lights twinkle ahead, but a vine or some tall ass fucking plant slaps me across the face, making me teeter and change course. Maybe that is fate's way of telling me to hide in the darkness. Avoid the light and stay hidden.
Don't go toward the light!I hear Declan tease in my mind, and I honest to God smile. The chilly air hurts my teeth, but at least Icanhurt, am I right?
Enough. Focus,Felix growls in my head, snapping me out of my silly thoughts again.Christ, I need a cheeseburger, a nap, and a fucking doctor. I could fuck with a taco too.
And chocolate.
I hum, which quickly turns into a yelp when I slip. Righting myself, I try to ignore the fact that my shoe was sucked from my foot just like I ignore all the aches and pains in my body.
Keep running,Felix urges.
I'm getting tired, though. This is getting harder, and I'm worried I'm not moving fast enough. Or even in a good direction. What if, when that thing slapped me, I turned around and headed back the direction I came? Thinking about it, though, there aren't any thorns stabbing my calves anymore.
Run, Blue!Where Felix was once motivating, his urgency makes me choke on a sob and blur my vision with tears.
Just keep swimming, Jared sings instead, and I can't help but giggle.
