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Fuck, I really needed to find another way to show her I cared. I’d think about it later when I knew she wasn’t in danger.
The loud generator blocked all sound from the front as I looked around the building. Trash littered the ground as I made my way around it. A little way down, I discovered a side door standing ajar, so I peeked in. Finding no one around, I slipped in and took a few seconds to orient myself to the darkness.
Music could be heard from the front, so I followed it, realizing I was behind the attractions. Every so often, there would be a door, so I’d open it and look in to see if it was where Fin was. I found myself in the mirrors at the third door, and I instantly cringed as a hundred different versions of me glared back.
It made it more difficult to look around with all the distortions. Squinting, I saw a shape lying on the ground, but it was far away. Closing the door I’d opened, I quickly went to the next to find two guys fighting. Shutting it, I kept going, praying that one of them would open closer to the prone figure.
On the fifth one, I struck gold and was able to see the person lying on the ground better. Making my way around a few mirrors, I kneeled down, brushing the hair back. A spike of fear rushed through me when I realized it was Fin. The two figures I’d seen earlier moved closer, and I had an odd feeling they were fighting over the girl lying on the ground.
Picking her up, I made my way back to the door, thankful I’d remembered which turns I’d made since it looked the same in the mirror maze. When the door shut, the music was dulled, giving me a slight reprieve to look down at the girl in my arms. She made a small moan, but it was enough to let me know she was still alive. Going back the way I’d come, I counted the doors as I passed until I went to the one on the opposite side that led outside.
When I exited the house of horrors, I looked around, searching for a place to lay her down. A nearby picnic table by the hot dog stand caught my eye, and I walked over, laying her on top of it. The yelling at the front of the line was still going on, and I realized Asa and Cohen were still trying to get inside. Placing my fingers in my mouth, I let out a big whistle, drawing their attention.
I motioned for them to come over, pointing at the table. It took them a few seconds to recognize me, but once they saw Fin’s prone body, they quickly gave up their quest to argue with the teenage attendant and jumped over the railing to get out of line.
While they made their way to me, I checked Fin over, taking her pulse and inspecting her body for any signs of injury. There didn’t seem to be any visible signs of trauma outside a knot on her forehead.
“Milo?” Asa asked, slightly out of breath as he reached me. “How?” he started, but then shook his head. “Actually, explain later. Is she okay?”
“I think so. She was unconscious when I found her. It looks like she might’ve hit her head. Her pulse is a little fast, and she’s pale, but that could be from passing out.” I lifted her eyelids, finding her pupils responded to the light, and a sigh of relief fell from my lips. “I think she’s okay, for the most part.”
I looked up, meeting the two guys who were watching me. They didn’t look pissed, so I relaxed, no longer worried I’d get a black eye.
“I can tell you both have questions, but the fact that you were both still out there and that when I found her, two other guys were fighting, I’d suggest we go somewhere else for the conversation.”
Whatever they’d been about to say died off, and they both went into hyperdrive, focused on Fin. I appreciated that they took what I was saying seriously and didn’t hesitate to respond. Maybe this wouldn’t be as horrible as I imagined.
Though I hadn’t expected two other guys to be present when I shared my heart, it seemed like I’d have to get used to it or move on. I was beginning to realize I couldn’t move on.
Asa bent down and picked up Fin into his arms. I wanted to pout for losing the opportunity to do so, but this wasn’t the time. I followed them out of the park, and I peeked back, something drawing my attention as we turned the corner. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like one of the figures from the tussle was standing in the shadows, watching us.
Stopping, I looked closer, but nothing but darkness greeted me, the last light of the sun having disappeared.
“Milo?” Cohen shouted, and I turned back, jogging to catch up to where they’d stopped.
“Nothing, I thought I saw something,” I said in response to their looks. The three of us made our way out of the park with nothing more to say, ignoring looks as Asa carried Finley.
I’d come here thinking I’d share my heart with a girl, praying I wouldn’t be rejected. And instead, I was possibly finding myself part of something bigger. All I knew was if Fin was involved, I was all in. It was time I stopped being just her rescuer and showed her I was here to stay.
Sixteen
FINLEY
Pain throbbed in my temple,and I wanted to move so I could make it stop, but my arms were banded to my sides by a strong force. Voices shouted nearby, and I tried to recall the last thing that had happened, but nothing outside of the pain filtered through.
A whimper left my lips, acting as a warning sign to the noise as it abruptly stopped. The tightness holding me shifted, a warm sensation spreading over my forehead.
“Fin, sweetheart, you awake?” a voice asked, sounding miles away. I felt like a kid with a string and a can, waiting for the garbled message to reach me, but it didn’t make sense when it did.
Painfully, I used all my strength to lift one eye open, only to be blinded by a light shining into it. Wincing, I drew back, smacking into the hard object that held me. Another whimper left me as I tried to figure out what was happening. Memories coursed through my head of my kidnapping as fear rose up in me, coating my skin in a cold sweat.
“No!” I shouted, but the sound only came out as a muffled scream.
Soothing sounds and soft touches bracketed my face as the pressure from behind let up. The now gentle compression felt nice, calming my racing heart and breathing. As I began to feel more like myself, I decided to try opening my eyes again. Slowly, I lifted my eyelid, thankful that I wasn’t blinded by light this time. A face swam into focus, the edges of a smile playing on their lips.
“Asa,” I sighed, my body relaxing. His comforting smell of rain and cotton filled my nostrils as I breathed him in. My hands reached out, clasping onto him, not wanting to be left alone.
“You’re okay, Fin. You’re safe. We got you,” a voice behind me said, reminding me that there had been someone there. I peeked over my shoulder to find Cohen smiling at me.
