To Live For Once (Set Me Free II) - Episode 41

 

Rory:

"Okay! I think we're safe here." I say as I come to a stop a few steps away from the motel. I try to steady my gasping breath. The harmattan air making my lungs burn with every labored breath I take in.
"Are you okay?" Amaya sounds concerned and a little bit scared.
"I--I I'm fine." I raise my hand up to tell her to keep me a minute to catch my breath.
"You don't sound okay." She tries to get off my back but I can't stand the idea of letting her down in case the shadow watching us at the school is somewhere around. Could it have been Watson? My fists ball into fists.
"Rory?" Her soft voice filled with concern bring me back to what she's saying.
"Hospital." She suggests and yet again start to wriggle out of my back . With a flip, I turn her around to my front. She gasp in shock as her eyes snap up to mine.
"Stay still for a few minutes, please." The last part makes her relax the stubborn tilt of her chin and I let my head rest on her full mass of hair. I breathe in her scent. Banana and maybe honey?
"You okay?" She asks again. I nod and close my eyes. In

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/to-live-for-once-set-me-free-ii

. Out. In. Out. I slowly get my wits about me. Her scent calming me.
"What's going on?" I let my eyes blink open.
"You think you can stand on that foot?" He asks and I nod without much thought.
"You sure?" He asks again.
"Just let me down gently." He nods and slowly let me slip down his hard body till I get my footing on the ground.
"Okay, now what's wrong on?" Rory wrack his fingers through his hair, making it stand out here and there.
"I don't want to scare you." He finally says.
"I have a right to know this. Remember what happened the last time you didn't come fully clean?" He nods tightly.
"I can't forget. I'm still making up for that now." 
"Yeah. Now spill." He's making me anxious. He remains silent and studies me for a long while. I wait for him to speak.
"It's Watson." Wait what?!
"We were just running away from Watson? That's ridiculous!"
"It's not!" Rory pull his hair some more. I wait for him to explain.
"Watson is--- he's my brother." My mouth drops at this.
"Wh--what?" I exclaim. Rory shushes me then look over his shoulder. I feel the skin at the back of my neck prickle.
"Let's go inside. I don't feel good out here. We have to get you and your friend out of here this night. I'll explain on the way." He rambles off as he takes my hand and guide me on to the motel. I don't argue. A cold sweat just broke out on my skin.

Rory:

"Are you okay?" I cover Amaya's small hand on her lap and watch her face from my peripheral vision. She has a frown etched on her face. It has been there ever since I filled her in on the issue with Watson.
"This is all so confusing." She bite down on her lips, distracting me from the road up ahead. I manage to keep my eyes on the road while I navigate through the quiet road.
"I trusted him." She means Watson. She still doesn't think I'm right. She thinks there's an explanation other than her friend being a danger to her.
"I know. He's my family but I don't think trusting him is the wise thing for now."
"But why would he want to hurt me? I did nothing wrong to him." She sounds close to tears. I'm sure she's never been in a situation like this and I beat myself up for putting her in harm's way.
"Baby don't cry." I implore. She takes a deep breath beside me.
"I'm not going to cry. I just find this overwhelming. Look at Prudy, she's sleeping like everything is fine with the world because I can't bring myself to tell her that I've gotten her into my mess." She sigh. My eyes stroll to the sleeping figure in the backseat of my car. Yeah, she's oblivious.
"This isn't your mess. It's mine. You shouldn't beat yourself up over this. For all it's worth I'm going to get to the bottom of this and I promise you this one thing. No one would touch even a hair on your head." I lift her hand to my lips and brush my lips against her knuckles.
"Maybe you're wrong and there's a mix up somewhere." She tries after a few minutes.
"There isn't. I'm pretty sure he's up to something."
"But---"
"He brought you here to the cabin remember? He must have sent you the invite because I never did. He wants to get back at me and he knows you're the only way to hurt me. And he's right. If anything happen to you, I don't think I'll be able to live with myself." I let my eyes stray from the road to show her my sincerity.
"Is this because of guilt? I've told you I don't hold anything against you anymore. I've forgiven you."
"This isn't about guilt!"
"What then?"
"It's simple. I love you, Amaya. More than I've ever loved anyone in my life and I'm scared. I'm scared you are going to leave me like everyone else I've loved." Amaya's eyes clench shut and I watch her teeth worry her lips mercilessly.
"You think you love me, Rory.

Read " Intoxicated Romance " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I can tell you that's not it. You just want to make up for everything."
"No-- I--"
"I think that's another motel up ahead. Let's pull over." She says before I can get anything else out. Her eyes tell me not to argue. I really want to though but I see the wariness and tiredness. I let it go. For now. I pull out of the road without a word and enter the dilapidated bungalow with a sign that says Bedrest. I'm tempted to find somewhere else but I know it's late and this town doesn't have much better. Plus I realize it's also a good place to hide. No one would think I'll be here.
"This is fine, Rory." Amaya says as if reading my mind.
"You sure?" She gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"It'll do."