Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 8 – Fighting Alone

“If you want to be strong, learn how to fight alone.” – Unknown

Kiya

“Little Bit, I have found nothing worth finding.” Jackie’s voice rang from my closet as her hands thoroughly rummaged through my hanging clothes.

“Nothing suspicious in the bathroom!” Sapphire called from the lavatory. “You need more toilet paper, though!”

My eyes narrowed to the muffled coughs of Galen, who crawled from underneath my bed with his hair partially covering his left eye.

“Nothing down here but dust bunnies.” He chortled, grasping the helping hand of Mikhail as he pulled him from the ground. Isaiah checked through every nook and cranny in my room for any evidence of an intruder but found nothing. Not even he, who has a degree in Forensic Science, could find anything.

From my peripherals, Darien lingers at my door. The disgusted and annoyed look on his face told a story that he wouldn’t be caught dead going through the threshold into my room. Hatred burned into my back, searing off the small hairs on my arms under the intensity of his glower. Involuntary, unpleasant shivers swam down my spine as my ex–best friend silently wishes for my disappearance.

After revealing my sleep troubles to my friends and, shockingly, under Neron’s request, all of them are scoping out clues for an intruder. Or at least an entranceway for it to trespass. A deep part of me desperately hoped for a slip up from the hybrid; if Osiris had left clues of his presence for my friends to detect. With every hand that came up empty, my heart sunk in a sea of disappointment.

The bastard is intelligent. He left behind no evidence of his arrival. I saw him. Felt him. His presence engulfed

the peace in my room and left behind the chaos. It thrived off the aura of disorder, using it as a weapon to subdue me. Osiris is crafty and I’m a fool to think anything different.

“Kiya, are you sure something was here?” Isaiah asked me, rising to his feet from his knees. The sunlight. made his deep melanin glow. “Because if there was, none of us can find anything.”

“So, we’re wasting our time,” Darien growled from the door; arms crossed. “We have better things to do and we’re here chasing dust bunnies and imaginary friends.”

“Dude, chill out.” Galen barked with a scowl on his face. “We’re here helping a friend. Who knows what could be out there? And I trust Kiya’s words that something was in here.”

“She does have a creative imagination.” The insinuation lining Darien’s tone stung deep. He believes that I’m making this up, but I’m not! 1–I just… “We’re chasing a ghost.”

“Don’t write it off, yet.” Abigail gently added. Her smile is dazzling. “After all she’s been through, she has every right to be concerned. A presence in a room isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s an affliction that can happen to

anyone.”

Osiris has done must be

The war against him is a battle I must fight alone. He’s the one who kidnapped me, and

I’m the youngest of our crew, thus making

believe I need protection. As much as

I remember it. The onslaught of Cerberus. Their broken, bloodied bodies on top of the burning grass. All in their silent vow to keep me safe. It brought a wave of agony I’ve never felt before. It cut deeper than a knife and burned hotter than Greek fire. Those images resurface in my nightmares–sometimes with the bonus of their bodies shifting to stiff corpses.

way. His eyes should remain on their target, not on potential liabilities or extras in whatever his plan is. My friends deserve to be happy and safe with their mates, not risking their lives

a

fiery hellscape over three weeks ago. But the love and protection for my

to finding whatever the fuck we’re supposed to find.” Pushing himself off the door, Darien

is his problem?” Galen asked, his

the situation. Galen, although flamboyant and silly, takes his friendships seriously. He grew up with Darien and

friend to bitter enemy within a day, and I don’t know why.

most.

to be the reason for Darien and Galen’s fallout. I don’t want

friends departed from my room shortly after I declared that they can leave. Each had expressions of sadness or disappointment but didn’t dwell on

It’s cold.

told them,” Artemis sighed. “This would make things a lot easier, Kiki. You had the chance, but you let it pass you by. Why?”

2/4

Fighting

1 defended. “Why should I let them fight

to fuss over me.”

their safety. You’re selfless to a fault. But, sometimes, we need help with things we can’t handle ourselves. If you don’t tell them about Osiris,

else. Keep the enemy’s eyes on their target and

will it help them if

Cerberus did to them. Abi’s arm hasn’t fully healed yet from it. Osiris has the potential to do worse. When I get rid of

very long. Please, don’t wait too long to tell them.

my legs into the bathroom. Opening the faucet, I splashed cold water on

eventually. But is it worth the risk? Osiris can get into the territory undetected and haunt me. Who knows what else he’s capable of?

Everything felt peaceful for