Afterward, Reign withdraws first, collapsing beside me on Chaos's bed. He then gently pulls me away from Chaos, and I snuggle into his side while Chaos wraps his arm around me from behind. In the quiet aftermath, I feel utterly content and at ease in their embrace, so much so that I drift off to sleep, surrounded by their warmth and safety.
It has been a week since Chaos and Reign told me how they feel, and I have felt as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders ever since. It’s good to know where I stand in both their lives, but from what I know, they still haven’t found my stalkers.
Last night, I begged them to let me go out for a while today, just to get some fresh air, even if it's freezing outside. They agreed to take me to the beach for a couple of hours, but said I need to dress warmly.
As I prepare for our outing, I am looking through my belongings in Chaos’s bedroom, trying to find enough layers to keep me comfortable, but unfortunately, most of my warmer clothes arestill back at the dorm so I’ve had to borrow some of Chaos’s which drown my small frame.
Lucy has tried to contact me a lot recently; she has not been back to the dorm much either, from what I know, but she has still been attending school and she keeps asking what’s wrong, but I have just been telling her I am sick, and I will be back soon. It feels wrong to lie to her, but I don't want to burden her with everything that's going on. Eventually, I will have to tell her the truth, and I hope she will understand.
I dig through a drawer in Chaos’ wardrobe, trying to find a beanie or something that can conceal my ears while I am at the cold beach. I go through a heap of hats when I suddenly pause, something sinister catching my eye.
I freeze, my stomach dropping as my hand begins to shake while hovering above it. Waves of emotions crash over me, and I recoil. Tears well in my eyes as I whisper to myself, grappling with the sudden realization of what the fuck is going on; what has blindly been in front of me the entire time.
“No, please, no. It can’t be them.”
I inhale deeply, pushing aside the hats that obstruct my view until the white balaclava fully comes into sight. A surge of nausea rises within me, and my gut wrenches but I swallow the bile back down. My whole-body shudders, tears blurring my vision as I back away, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, but I can't tear my gaze away from the drawer, feeling as if I might collapse beneath my weight. My heart races in my chest, and anxiety grasps me, threatening to suffocate me. With each breath, I struggle to keep the unwanted truth and betrayal at bay, feeling it tighten its grip around my throat.
As Chaos's calls my name from a distance, fright surges through me, and I frantically search for something to defend myself with. My gaze lands on his bedside cabinet, and I remember the scissors he keeps there for cutting weed. I rush over to it, pull open the drawer and grab hold of them. When heavy footsteps approach down the hallway, I leap onto the bed, clutching the scissors in both hands, readying to protect myself at any cost.
The door swings open, and Chaos stands there, hand on the handle, pausing as he takes in the sight of me stood on his bed. His gaze sweeps over my tear-stained face, his expression unreadable, before settling on the scissors in my hand. He releases the handle and takes a cautious step forward into the bedroom, his eyes never leaving mine. I point the scissors more strongly at him, my shaking hands clenched tightly, a mixture of fear and determination in my eyes.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I sob with a murmur and shake my head as soon as he speaks.
“Not you... Please don’t say it’s you. You wouldn’t—”
I notice his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he takes a deep swallow, but his eyes give nothing away.
“FUCKING TELL ME!”
When I scream at him, he remains silent, but it’s enough for me to know; he doesn’t even need to say it. My throat quivers as I whisper.
“How could you?”
I take a step over the bed to leave the house, but Reign suddenly comes into view at the doorway, and I stop in my tracks, my eyesgoing wide. I take a few steps back, pointing the scissors at both of them and when Reign speaks, my wet eyes snap to his.
“Put the scissors down, Char. We need to talk.”
“We were going to tell you tonight, but—”
My eyes flash to Chaos and I shout at him, cutting him off.
“Tell me what? That you are my fucking stalkers?”
Chaos’ jaw tenses and he glances at Reign.
“It’s complicated.”
My heart aches when Reign says that and my brows pinch when I look at him.
“Fucking complicated? Who terrorizes a young girl for five years of her life? Who the hell even are you two and why the fuck have you been doing this to me?”
“We’re who you’ve known this entire time, Char.”
I scoff, my eyes darting to Chaos.
“Fuck you, Chaos. You both lied to me.”
