“There’s no way out now!” he shouts. I ignore him and look down at Ma, covering her face and keeping her low so she doesn’t inhale the smoke.
The sirens are louder now, closer. Frustrated, Shane curses and kicks something and then he ducks out with a knife sticking in his chest.
And in all that, all I know is, broken and fucking half-dead, through the flames of hell or fucking floods, I’d walk through it all for Mia.
Smoke obscures my vision. I’m probably breathing it in, but I don’t give a damn.
With everything I have, I pick her up with both arms. The pain in close to unbearable. I’m practically useless, bordering on a total failure but not with Mia. Not with her life hanging on by a fucking thread.
I pick her petite frame up, tucking her into me, making her as small as possible.
I grip her to me so tight like I’d rather we be fused together then I get on my knees, looking straight at the door. If I look down at her battered face and the blood, I’ll lose it.
With that thought, I’m on my feet. Fire has surrounded the entire place, but I put one fucking step forward, then another, then another fucking one.
I feel the clothes on my back catch fire, but I keep going.
Nothing else matters now. Not even me.
She’s everything.
I failed her once, never again.
And into the fucking fire I go, making sure not one flame touches or so much as kiss an inch of her, burning her.
Only I get to fucking kiss any inch of her. Nothing and no one else! Forever.
Even if forever lasts in the blink of a fucking eye.
“You, Mia, it’s always been you baby,” I whisper in her ear, pressing kisses to any part of her I can reach. “It’s all about you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mia
The numb fade into slight consciousness happens slowly, agonizing and strange.
At first, it feels like I have my head underwater, as I hear the muffled sounds of sirens, beeps and rushed voices around me.
I feel an incredible weight bearing down on me, like I’m being shoved down, buried really, into the hard earth, a weak groan of pain escapes me.
I feel cold. So cold, it’s seeping into my bones, freezing my veins and bones.
“We’re losing her,” an unfamiliar rough voice says above me.
“No! Bring her the fuck back!”
The other voice sounds distorted as well, and soon, everything feels like it’s drifting away, becoming increasingly meaningless, small and insignificant.
I’m becoming insignificant.
I feel weak and faint, and all I see is the darkness. The moment I become aware of the darkness it seems something else appears. A bright light. The light and suddenly, the plethora of agony I was in, the coldness, the voices and sounds… it all disappears like it was never there.
Peace.
This is it.
This is peace. And I want it. I want it badly.
“Mia? Wake up, baby.”
Julian!
The light dims at the edges and the darkness comes back.
“Baby, stay with me,” I hear him beg, his voice sounding somewhere between rage and desperation I’ve never heard from him before, my heart shatters for him.
In my mind’s eye, I see him. His face is distorted and blurry, but his eyes, my God, those eyes see into me, piercing through me and his lips, so plump, deceptively soft, wicked and so, so kissable, they open slowly, almost seductively and…
“Mia!” the voice snaps above me. I want to smile. That’s just like Julian, roping you in with his incredible sex appeal, the glint of intelligence in his eyes and the soft, almost kind charm he exudes in spades, but deceptive and devious. Like him. Like me. Like death.
I feel a cool hand at the cheek. I can feel my heart fluttering in my chest like a little bird, fighting to stay and yet my soul… my poor, broken soul, it just wants peace.
The light brightens up and the darkness becomes smaller.
It’s almost as if there’s a battle of wills warring in me and I’m sure one is going to lose.
My soul or my heart? Is there really a difference now since both are shattered?
“What’s happening? Why is she convulsing like that?”
I want to respond. I want to tell him I’m awake, but I can’t speak.
“Fucking wake up, Mia!”
“Sir—”
“Why isn’t she waking up.”
“You have to let her go now.”
“No!”
“Please step away from her so the paramedics can have a look at her.”
“She’s been shot!”
“Yes, and you’re badly hurt, Julian, now let her go so they can do their—”
I feel myself being wrapped in a strong embrace and then hot breath over my face.
Warmth.
Finally, just a glimpse of it, a tiny feel I didn’t know I was craving. And it’s enough.
I swear I feel him plant a heartbreaking kiss at the crown of my head but why can’t I talk to him?
“Mia! Baby, please….”
This time, I step into the light.
Headlines
THE FITZGERALD/MONTAGUE PLOT THICKENS IN PALOS VERDES.
Fire is catching to this case, literally.
Shocking reports coming out of Palos Verdes tonight where shots were fired in the out skirts of Los Angeles and a blazing fire broke the serenity of the night, hours after it was announced that Julian Fitzgerald’s case was dropped due to new, indisputable evidence proving his innocence.
So, what happened?
LAPD has given a statement via their Twitter account and have confirmed that at least one has been killed and two in critical condition, after criminal activity broke out in the outskirts of L.A. One of the two might not make it.
Is this connected to the situation we heard coming from Clintwood Academy earlier this morning when one of their students—who still hasn’t been identified—where a kidnapping might have taken place?
Not only that, but a fire was also reported in Palos Verdes at a residential home belonging to the infamous Matthews’ family, where shocking discoveries were made.
It is no secret that Clintwood Academy and St. Jude Academy are rivals, with reports of pranks dating to five, or six decades back.
Is this somehow connected? Are these ‘pranks’ getting out of hand? Is this just high school or is there something more going on?
Could Mia Montague be a forever damsel in distress? Or should she try a career in film?
One question still rings clear, however, what is going on here?
We need answers.
Chapter Nineteen
Julian
A week later
Have you ever felt so agitated, powerless, out of sorts and on the verge of losing your fucking sanity all in one breath? Up until now, I can’t say I have.
But now, now I know how chaotic and senseless emotions are. How they make you lose your fucking mind. How they twist you up inside and nothing, not even common sense and rationality can calm you down.
That’s me in a fucking nutshell and I’m fucking tired of it, I might fucking disintegrate.
I’m sitting on a godforsaken gurney, staring intently at the door as anxiety slams in my chest, being prodded every which way.