Chapter 196 Audrey

Silver arrows rained down from a dark sky. Straight toward my mother, laying in her hospital bed, ho**d up to countless tubes and machines. "No!"

I ran to my mother's sleeping form and threw myself over her just moments before the first arrow hit, shielding her from the shower. I made it just in time; though the arrows pierced my back, blinding pain shooting through my body, she was safe. Protected.

Or so I thought.

When the arrows finally stopped coming, I pulled back, arms still wrapped around her.

"Mom-

I felt my stomach sink. My mother.... She was choking on my blood.

Liquid silver had seeped out of my wounds, pooling around her, soaking into the hospital sheets. As if it had a life of its own, it rose up and slipped into her mouth, her nose, her eyes, crept up her arms and legs and across her torso until she was completely covered.

Then, it covered me, too.

I didn't scream. Although I didn't know if that was because of the silver quickening in my lungs, or because I had lost the will to fight back.

I jerked awake with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, I was disoriented, the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my consciousness. But then I realized I was in bed, in Edwin's apartment. How had I gotten here?

Last night's memories slowly began to fade back in, clouded as they were-Edwin carrying me out of the hospital, changing my clothes like a child, feeding me. It was all such a blur, I had been so fogged by three sleepless nights.

But I had slept through last night, it seemed, seeing as how the sun's light was just barely beginning to peek over the h**n.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light of dawn, I saw Edwin moving around the room, pulling clothes out of drawers and shoving them into a duffel bag.

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12:40 Mon, Sep 23

Chapter 190

My clothes.

voice **rse. "What

face. "You're awake. How are

his question. "Why are you packing

throat bobbing as he swallowed. He didn't

away.

"Edwin..." I warned.

Charles are going to take you to my summer cottage for a while," he finally said, turning away to stuff another sweater into my bag. "Until this whole situation blows over." "What?" I struggled to sit up, my muscles screaming

he gravely said, “I had a conversation with my father last night. He... he gave

"What?" I sat up

eyes yellow, and I felt some of my coiled muscles relax-but only the slightest bit. "But I've decided that the best course of action is to make it appear as if we've broken up. You'll go to the cottage, somewhere safe and our of the way, until

nothing to

don't want to go. I want to stay here, with you and my friends and... and my mother. I

classes online," Edwin replied. "I'm sorry, Audrey, but it's the only way

panic rising in my chest. I struggled to stand on shaking

safety is more important than a graduation ceremony," Edwin said, a bit coldly- as if the words pained him and he was trying to quell his own anguish. "You have to get out

Sep 23

stormed up to him with what little strength 1 had and ripped the bag from his unsuspecting hands, throwing it

tensed, jaw clenching,

"You promised you wouldn't treat me this

felt like an eternity, Edwin's face was ashen as he quietly said, "I know I promised, and I

"There's always a choice."

my things. "The car is already waiting. Peter and Charles will keep you

feeling betrayed and furious. "I can't believe you're doing

I love you, Audrey. I can't let anything happen

sending me away? Taking away my right to choose my own fate?" I shook my head,

hurt flash across his face, but I was too angry to care. Turning on my heel, I yanked a pair of

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