AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My phone started to vibrate on the table.
The name popped up on the screen.
The phone slowly turned every time it rang, the vibration making it spin clockwise. It kept turning slowly before it stopped and repeated.
“You going to answer that or what?”
I was in too much shock to do anything but stare. Finally, the vibration stopped. Adrenaline was deep in my body like I was about to run for my life. I’d felt so numb these last few weeks that it was the first time I actually felt alive again.
The screen lit up with a voice mail.
I hadn’t expected him to leave me a message.
Grave must have read the screen because he said, “Listen to it.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Might be important.”
“I doubt it.”
He grabbed the phone and played the message on speaker.
There was a long pause because Cauldron’s quiet voice interrupted the silence. “Merry Christmas.” Silence continued, but based on the slight noise in the background, I knew he was still there. “I’m sorry for everything.”
* * *
All I had in my apartment was an air mattress and the things I’d taken from Cauldron’s. But the heat was on, and so was the electricity. Grave gave me all the info for that job at the gallery, but I never showed up to the interview.
I lay on the mattress and stared at my phone, seeing Elise’s name on the screen. I hadn’t moved in hours, contemplating the call. After I listened to Cauldron’s voice mail, I deleted it because I knew I wouldn’t stop listening to it if I didn’t.
A text popped up on the screen. Not from Grave. Not from anyone else I knew.
But from him.Tell me you’re alright.
I’d been gone for over two weeks now. He’d kicked me out without hesitation. Let me walk out of there without saying goodbye. Didn’t ask how I was doing when I was at my lowest. The only person who was there for me was his brother…who used to be my greatest enemy.
I didn’t answer him.
An hour later, he texted me again.Please.
I have an apartment in the city. Got a job. I’m fine.
He didn’t say anything for a while.Good.
There was so much I wanted to say. That I wasn’t fine two weeks ago. That I’d lost several pounds in my depression. That I was worse off than I’d ever been. That I wished I’d stayed with Grave and never met Cauldron. But I didn’t.Don’t contact me again.
His messages stopped.
It hurt that they stopped. It hurt that he listened. He had no idea how much one single text message killed me. All he wanted to do was ease his own conscience, make himself feel better, and he didn’t give a damn that he made me feel worse in the process.
I called Elise.
After a couple rings, she answered. “Hello?” The sound of voices was in the background, like her kids were in the room.
“Hey, Elise. It’s Camille…Cauldron’s girlfriend. I mean…ex-girlfriend.”
She took a long pause. “Uh, hi. Why are you calling me?”
