Finding Him

C H A P T E R - T W E N T Y - O N E

Running through the empty base, my mind starts to fog. There's nothing but concrete floors and the echo of my voice.

What happened? Where is he?

Suddenly, I find myself stuck in the center of a cold warehouse. Alone. Vulnerable.

"Rowan! Where did you g-go?" My voice hiccups. I squint my eyes. The air is starting to get clouded. Smoke. As I ingest it, I cough. Hard. Too hard.

My eyes start to fill with water, the poisoned air fueling the pools.

"R-Ro—," coughs keep interrupting me until my hand is clutched over my chest. I'm begging for clean air to fill my lungs.

Fuck.

I reach for my phone but stop when I realize I've left it in the car.

Double fuck.

"Eleonora!" I hear his voice. It's so soft that I want to wrap myself in it.

Ringing sounds in my ears. I'm almost toppled over until I feel hands on my shoulders, steading me.

Rowan. Thank god.

"W-we have to get out of here." I say breathlessly. His arms hug around my body.

"You're okay, Eleonora." He strokes my hair down.

"No— I.. something isn't right, Rowan. We've got to go." I sniffle, my eyes finally starting to readjust.

"No. No. Everything will be okay."His voice is at my ear, lulling me.

"Rowan?"

His grip becomes tighter on my waist.

I cough. I swallow. I try to calm down.

I can't.

When my eyes finally open and I'm stuck staring at his hard expression.. my heart drops to the floor. Down, down and even further. Below zero. His face doesn't hold his normal charismatic darkness but a sorrowful anger.

"I'm sorry, Eleonora."

Three simple words.

Three simple words to plunge my heart into Hell.

"What?" I don't know if the word ever makes it out of my mouth or if I'm still speechless.

I feel it. I know the feeling down in my gut. I know what's happening. I know it. I know it. I know it.

I just don't process it quick enough.

Betrayal.

"I didn't want it to end like this." Words whispered below my ear.

I'm frozen.

This is a dream.

"I really didn't."

Betrayal.

It has to be a dream.

I get jerked back by a sudden pair of hands grabbing mine. Cuffs are quickly snapped around my wrists.

Betrayed.

Now, the fog has lifted. Now, I see Rowan's face so clearly. And he doesn't look the same now. He doesn't seem so familiar anymore. Rowan Brown is now a forgotten face. A different soul. A fucking liar.

I am so stupid.

How could I of let him fool me? For so long. How long did he plan this? How long has he been fooling me? How long have I been the fool.

"I've got it from here." A new voice says. A deep voice says. A voice who holds me captive.

I must look insane. Eyes wide, heart shattered, mind blown. I must look like a fool.