Halo

Chapter 24: Asher

I groaned when I woke up with a massive headache. My fingers brushed around me to feel Echo. She said she'd be around. Except this was not my bed. This was leather. I did not go to sleep on leather. Hadn't in a long, long time. I bolted upright, nearly screaming in pain when my burns sizzled, cuts opened, and my leg ached.

"Jesus H. Christ," I hissed and flopped back onto the leather. My head pounded harder. I recognized Fifteen's white irises in the rearview mirror. Of my car. My red car. What the hell?! "Where am I?" I asked evenly. Too evenly.

"Earth." Connor. What?!

"Specifics?"

"Almost Greece," Fifteen was smirking.

"Greece?!" I roared. Why the holy hell was I in Greece when Echo was in Egypt?! "Stop this car, Fifteen, or I swear to Echo that I will tear out and eat your intestines right before your stupid pretty eyes!"

"Don't be threatening me, damn it. It was her idea," Fifteen chuckled. My fingernails dug into the leather. That was probably not good for both the seat and my fingernails considering how expensive the car was and how short my nails were.

"What do you mean...her...idea?" my voice had dropped dangerously low. Why would it have been Echo's idea to send me to Greece? Echo loved me!

...I hope...

"I mean, Asher..." Con started. Chickened out. Damn. If Con was chickening out of telling me, it had to be bad. Connor wasn't afraid to tell people exactly what was going on. Unless it would hurt them. Must've been the angel in him.

"It's time, honey," Fifteen said somberly. "She's ready. You know you couldn't keep her here forever." Connor smacked Fifteen hard.

"She's not ready, Ash. She doesn't want things to be like this, but she feels guilty. And honestly, I can't blame her. But really? She's God. She'll get you into heaven. No need to worry," Connor mended Fifteen's statement. Truthfully.

I crossed my arms over my chest and sank my fingernails deep into the skin of my forearms. If she wasn't ready, then why was she leaving? Technically, I guess, I was leaving, but not by choice! Why did she want me to leave? What the hell did I do wrong?

For starters, you did lie to her...about basically everything.

I rolled my eyes at my own thought. I was right, though. I was a liar. Nobody liked a liar. Not even Echo Miller. Especially not Echo Miller.

My sweet Echo.

I clenched my teeth together. Connor. Fifteen. Me. "Who is keeping my angel safe?"

"Scar and Keev," Connor said quietly. He had more to add. I could tell by the slight drop-off in his voice. "And Luke."

"Luke?! You left the only good thing that's happened to me in the care of the only thing that's smashed her innocent little heart?!"

"Yeah, I'll take that side of offense to-go please," Fifteen muttered.

"Stuff it, sleaze-bag," I said through my teeth. He whistled lowly. "You left Echo in Luke's care. What the hell does she do if he gets hungry again?!"

"Well she'll probably have no other choice but to sleep with him. I doubt he gets that hungry in one and a half days, though, Ash," Con turned to give me a quick, reassuring glance.

My blood was alight in my veins. "Take. Me. Back. Now."

"No can-do, sweet pea," Fifteen sighed. "We're already more than halfway there, and by the time we get back, she'll already be dead."