Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,114
mouth and nose, I’m relieved. Breathing wasn’t difficult besides the screaming pain in my side, but just knowing that precious air is being pumped directly into my lungs allows me to relax. A placebo effect I’m sure, but nonetheless, a welcome one.
An officer comes by next, but I don’t catch his name, my mind still trying to process everything that’s going on with me. Elias holds my hand while he asks me a few questions about my escape.
“Can you tell us anything that might lead us to where you were?” Closing my eyes, I draw on a deep breath for courage.
“I was in an old cabin, and he’s still in there. I-I don’t know if he’s a-a-alive. Everything was so dark, and he was lying on the floor. I j-just ran. Straight through the trees so I don’t know which direction. But I don’t think I ran that long.” My teeth chatter uncontrollably as I try to share what I can.
“Anything else you can remember?”
“Um, he has a car with him. There was a road and a dirt driveway that led right to the cabin door.”
The officer nods at me. “Thank you. I’ll let you get to the hospital, but a detective will meet you there to take a full report.”
When the officer leaves, I turn to gaze at Elias, ignoring the poke and prod of Mike’s assessing. Instead, I study the slope of his nose, the perfect bow of his mouth, his chiseled jaw rough with stubble like I’ve never seen before. His eyes, their usual depths glowing with hope and love and joy, yet ringed with purple and blue from what I assume were sleepless nights and long days of searching. As he moistens his pink lips, I watch, and when he whispers, “I love you,” my heart swells. I whisper the words I’ve been so desperate to say to him back, grateful for his dedication to find me some hundreds of miles from home.
As I stare at his face, memorizing every line and crease, movement to his right catches my eye. When I turn, I’m so caught off guard that I suck in a sharp breath causing Mike to think I’m in pain. After reassuring him I’m fine, someone I thought I never wanted to see again steps up beside Elias, and I’m struck speechless. Nervously, he extends towards me a bottle of water. I uncap it with a shaky hand, pulling my mask below my chin to down a long, drawn out pull.
“Take slow sips. You don’t want to get sick,” Mike offers.
I nod my head and take a small sip.
“DJ?” The name feels foreign on my tongue.
“Yeah, Sis. It’s me.”
My gaze slides back to Elias, whose face is a mixture of reassurance and guilt. Then back to DJ, who looks only concerned. No longer the angry older brother whom I remembered. His brown eyes, so much like mine, hold kindness and a little pain. I take in his stature; his big burly shoulders, his height probably barely topping six feet, his thick, corded arms; hands stuffed into the pockets of his blue jeans.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I’m overcome with questions, and as much as I’d denied it in the past, I desperately need answers.
Tentatively, he takes a step forward as if he’s testing the earth to hold his weight. One large hand comes up to rub the back of his neck.
“I contacted him,” Elias contributes to the silent conversation between my brother and me. That small detail prompts DJ to speak.
“Yeah, ah this guy here called me up the other day and told me what happened. I hadn’t heard about it yet, but I swear if I had heard it first, I would have been here on my own.” I can tell he wants me to know Elias didn’t push him to come. He wants to be here. He wanted to find me. He’s trying to make amends, and after all I’ve been through, I’d be a selfish bitch to deny him.
Before I have a chance to respond, Mike pipes in that we need to head for the hospital. Through my pleading and begging, DJ and Elias convince me to go.
“Please don’t make me go alone, someone come with me,” I plead. Elias takes a step forward, but DJ holds his hand out to him.
“Is it alright if I go? I need this time alone with her.”
Elias searches my face, for any sign of distress or disagreement, I’m sure, but he finds none. Giving