Forgetting Adaline

Chapter 22 - Actions vs Consequences

"Never better." I mumble and drop my head into the crook of her neck so she can't see my face; in my current state I can't be sure I have complete control over my expressions. The car pulls into the underground parking lot of my building and I straighten myself in my seat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with even bringing her into the building.

The car comes to a smooth stop and just as I'm about to open the door to step out the alarmed voice of my driver halts my movements.

"Boss, I think we have a situation." The tone in his voice has me instantly on edge and I've thrown open the door before I can think.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I see when I emerge from the car.

My private access elevator is directly across from me but that's not what catches my eye. No, the first thing I see is a jarring red smear on the wall beside the doors and the tiny, fragile figure curled up on the ground below it.

All the breath leaves my lungs in one violent exhale and for a second all I can do is stare in horror. I feel instantly sober.

"Harry, what-." The fucking blonde in my car has climbed over to my side and is halfway out the door and trying to peek over my shoulder.

I spin around and unceremoniously shove her into the car causing her to fall back with an indignant squawk. She starts to say something else but I slam the door closed before she can get a word out. My driver quickly lowers his window and looks at me apprehensively.

"Get her home, now." I dismiss him with a glance and don't even bother watching to make sure he follows my instructions. I don't even register the sound of the car leaving; I'm already moving.

"No. Fuck fuck FUCK!" Panic forces bile into my oesophagus and I have to swallow multiple times to avoid vomiting. Addy hasn't moved or made a single sound and my hands shake in trepidation as I get closer to her.

I lower my voice and soften my tone. "Addy?" Nothing.

I kneel in front of her and take stock. She's curled into an upright fetal position - arms wrapped tightly around her legs that are pulled into her chest. Her head hangs forward allowing her hair to form a protective curtain around her face; even though we're in dim lighting I can see dark, wet patches in her hair that make my stomach involuntarily try to empty itself all over again. 

"Addy I need to touch you." Still no response so I risk slowly reaching my hand out to brush her hair away from her face while gently cupping her chin with the other to lift her head up. My breath hitches in my throat as her face is revealed and she finally shows some outward reaction and flinches slightly. My hand comes away from her hair stained red.

If the horrific state she is in isn't enough to destroy me, then the completely vacant expression in her eyes certainly is.

I make an important decision in this moment; Evan does not get a quick death. No fucking way. An execution is too kind for him. Every instinct in me screams that he is responsible even though, in my slightly tipsy state, I can't seem to figure out how he could have gotten to her. She was safe in her room - how did this happen?

Her face is a mess of cuts, bruises and swelling all coated in a sickening layer of blood and dirt. The left side of her face is worse than the right; her lip is split open and still bleeding, and there's a nasty cut on her cheekbone that might need stitches.

Fucking hell. This is all my fault. I was a complete asshole and let her leave upset. I stupidly assumed she'd gone back to Tink's and had failed to personally check before leaving. And now she's looking at me like she isn't even in there anymore - she hasn't given me any indication that she even knows who I am or where she is right now.