Havoc

Chapter Sixteen

Please read the Author Note of this chapter. It is very important.

Chapter Seventeen

Shifters’ Den

Tariq 

I trudged down the dark trial back to my tiny, one story home. The air felt stuffy and dark—as if a heavy and foreboding cloud smothered my entire body. Each step I took felt as if I was encased in Jell-O. However, I knew my feelings of darkness were only inside me. Hatred, anger, and disgust were all directed inwards towards myself. 

I entered quietly through the back door. The house was ensconced in darkness. I walked past the kitchen, Sunny’s domain. I enter the hallway and passed four doors. I continued to walk until I found the exercise room. I flipped the switch. The room was flooded with lights and the dark blob outlines became work-out machines. I pulled off my jeans and stepped into my sweats. I pulled a sweatshirt over top of my white tee-shirt. I changed my loafers for my white Nike sneakers. 

I snagged my iPod off of the table and quickly jammed the headphones into my ears. I cranked the music up and stepped onto the treadmill. I turned the machine on and began to run. I ran as fast as I could, pushing myself. I ignored the stitch in my side, the icy burn of my lungs, and the harsh beat of my heart. I ignored everything but the feeling of self disgust. I was disappointed in myself. But I didn’t know what bothered me more. The fact that I foolishly ignored Sunny’s belief that Chaos was innocent, that I illogically and irrationally believed that Chaos bombed the Den, or that I allowed Braden and Logan use the Ilumi Veritas on Chaos. 

The dark emotions swirling around me reminded me of another time when the dark cloud smothered me. Of the only other time, I ran until I collapsed of exhaustion and hunger and thirst. It was the day after I lost my pack. The day that a little girl, a brave and foolish girl lost her team. I thought back to my times in the labs. 

I remembered the first time I met the little girl. This little girl who a year later became Chaos. She was no more a day over thirteen. But her, at the time, black eyes glinted with a stubborn attitude. Her smile was one of confidence and challenge. She chose me because I cared for children. I sacrificed myself for a child. She told me it was the reason she picked me, the reason why I was worthy of being rescued. I cared for children, no matter whom or what they were, I protected the young. She told me there weren’t enough men like me in our world, told me I didn’t deserve to be locked up. 

I closed my eyes and continued to run. I deserve to be locked up now. I allowed harm come to a child. I allowed it because of who she was. My eyes opened and I glanced down at the tattoo on my left arm, directly on the bend of my elbow—Chaos’ symbol. The reminder I forgotten, the promise I broke. I closed my eyes as I was transported back to the day, both Chaos and I lost someone precious in our lives. I lost my baby sister; Chaos lost her best friend and savior. 

She was betrayed, her teammates and friends were slaughter by a turncoat. I remember her releasing me from the gate, the boy jumping in front of her as the turncoat fire his gun. I remember Chaos breaking down, shutting down as she watch the life drain from his eyes and his blood bled out through his wounds. I savored the satisfaction of ripping the turncoat into pieces. Justice for me and Chaos. I remember walking over and carrying out an unresponsive Chaos. But most of all, I remember the promise I gave Chaos. I walked out of the basement with Chaos tucked firmly against my chest.

As soon as the sunlight hit her face, she began to struggle. Afraid she'd hurt herself, I released her immediately. She stared at me, covered in her best friend’s blood. Her chest heaved harshly as she sucked in air. Her face pale, her checks were tracked in tears and her lips were bloodless. Slowly, she blinked and masked her facial expression and emotions behind a blank wall.