Page 28 of Madness & Mayhem
With a nervous and guilty inhale, I hold my breath as I bring the needle forward. “I’m going now,” I whisper as I press the needle against his skin. It twitches and trembles, his muscles tensing beneath my grip.
“Fuck,” he growls, his jaw going taut as I move the needle through his skin. I push it through the other end, pulling the needle tight until the thread pulls the wound together.
I wrap the needle around, going into the skin again. I work as quickly as possible, not wanting to delay any longer than needed. Reign’s face pales by the second, growing sweaty, though his skin trembles like he has the chills.
When I’m finished, I grab the scissors, snipping the end and dropping the needle on the ground.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, climbing onto the couch and curling up beside him. He’s weak, his arm barely lifting to curl around me.
“Fucking hell, Lakyn. You could never be a fucking nurse,” he grunts, squeezing me tight, and the next breath, his eyes close, and he passes out.
My eyes crack open to the sound of static. It crackles loudly through the air, and I shoot up off the couch, my breath leaving my lungs in a rush.
My eyes connect with Reign’s, and I notice how much better he looks. He’s kneeling in front of the TV, messing with the antennas.
“What’re you doing?” I ask, rubbing the heel of my palm against my eyes.
“I’ve almost got it.” He moves it around a few more times, and slowly, a picture comes on the screen. It’s fully static and not clear in the slightest, the images wobbling and making me dizzy.
But I can see enough.
Reign’s picture, along with mine, sits on the screen.
The words slide across the bottom of the screen in large, bold red letters.
Dangerous and on the run. Any leads, please call the local police department.
Reign sits back slightly, staring at his distorted picture on the screen.
“We’re dangerous now?” I snap, staring at my picture. “What the fuck?”
Reign shakes his head, an angry look in his eyes. “Don’t be fucking surprised, Lakyn. I saw this shit coming from a mile away.”
My brow furrows. “So, what are we going to do? They’ll find us here eventually, right?”
He takes a deep breath, shoving to a stand. Walking over to the window, he pulls the heavy, dusted curtain back, staring outside. “Well, staying here is only going to be temporary.”
“Where will we go?” The thought of leaving everyone behind. My mom, my friends, it leaves a breath of terror in my chest. What does that mean? That we’ll be on the run forever? I’ll never see Posie again?
Dropping the curtain, he turns toward me. “Staying here will get us killed. You know this.”
I swallow, suddenly nervous. Not sure I’m ready to say goodbye to my home.
Reign steps up to me. “You wanted this, Lakyn. You wanted to be with me. There’s no going back. No stepping back in time. You decided to walk away from it all.” He narrows his eyes, bending over and grabbing my chin. He pulls me toward him, until we’re nose to nose. “You want to walk away from me? This?” He waves his hand between us. “Because I’ll tell you something.” His nose brushes my cheek until his lips caress my ear. “I’m not going to let you. You’re with me for good, baby Lake. Forever.”
I shiver, my eyes falling closed.
“There isn’t anything that will get me to let you go. You’re stuck with me, so you better release whatever block is in your mind and get used to it now.”
I narrow my eyes as I lean back, glaring into his eyes. “I don’t want to leave, Reign. I just don’t want to leave everyone behind.”
His eyes narrow. “You don’t get both, Lakyn. Not after everything we’ve been through.”
My eyes water, and I know he’s telling the absolute truth. “I know, Reign.”
Squatting down, his fingers curl around my jaw. He pulls me close, giving me a kiss so deeply I can feel it in my bones.
I’m breathless when he pulls back, staring at him with dazed eyes. He runs his thumb across my lower lip, wiping away the moisture.