"I still love you, Christina."
Why the heck did I just say that?
A thick silence followed. It was so tangible that I felt the air closing around me and suffocating me.
I want her to run towards me and tell me she loves me still, too. I wish it was like some stupid romantic comedy I always make fun of.
But of course, she doesn't. She walks away from me towards the road, a cold glint shimmering in her eyes. Her posture is rigid and she walks in an angry way, stomping her feet as she heads back to the main highway. I run after her, carrying three bags that we packed with food and clothes. Once I catch up to her, my mouth opens and words slip out before I can stop them.
"I'm sorry."
She doesn't answer, just quickens her pace and speedwalks down the side of the road.
Great. The silent treatment.
For the rest of the way until we reach the highway, cross over, and walk south along Route 9 to head towards Staten Island, we both stay quiet. I catch her sneaking glances at me, and she catches me sneaking glances at her. The only difference is my looks are ones of concern and hers are ones of fiery arrows. I can tell she is extremely mad. I really made a mess of this, just because I was upset. I just had to take it out on her.
"Stop beating yourself up over this."
My head whips around to look at Christina. These are the first words she's said to me in over an hour. I was already missing her voice.
"I can see it in your eyes that you're blaming yourself for all this drama. It's really my fault. I was being clingy. You deserve some time to yourself, Matt. I'm really, really sorry."
The icy look melts out of her eyes. I think I see a tear roll down her cheek, but she quickly flips her hair so it covers her face. I decide to keep my distance, now that we aren't together. It takes all my strength to not go and push her dirty blonde hair out of her eyes. And it takes everything in me to not kiss her, to not say I'm sorry. We really do need a break. We were probably just rushing into things anyways. We were probably never even in love!
We continue walking. The cool, fresh air clears my mind, and with every step I take, I'm able to picture myself without her. I really never needed her anyway.
As we reach Old Bridge, New Jersey, night begins to fall. Through the darkness, I see Christina is getting tired, so I take one of her bags from her. Our hands brush, and I feel the familiar warmth travel up my arm.
So much for not being in love with her.
"Matt, I'm tired."
I see Christina has stopped walking and dropped all the bags she was carrying.
Oh no, she must've needed to stop and rest a while ago! She's still weak! I am such an idiot.
"I'm sorry! We should've stopped and rested and ate lunch!"
"That's ok. Can we stop somewhere for the night, though? I want a chance to look at the address again and maybe do some research about the organization."
I look at our surroundings and realize I know where I am.
"Actually, there's a motel right around here, maybe an half hour away. You think you can make it?"
She gives me a small smile, "Sure."
We continue on, me leading the way and carrying most of the baggage. We are still silent, but this time it's not as awkward. More comfortable and friendly.
Basically, she doesn't seem like she wants to murder me anymore.
Hey, it's a step in the right direction.
Finally, after what seems WAY longer than a half hour, we reach the small motel located a couple miles off the main road. My parents used to take me here when they were on business in the area and had no one to watch me at home. It was kinda rundown and the rooms were small but, it was affordable and the food was actually delicious. So I checked in for me and Christina. They only had one room available, and it only had one bed in it. Christina's face remained emotionless, so I couldn't tell whether she was happy or mad about the arrangements.
"I'm gonna go grab us some food, okay? Just leave some of the bags you cant carry over here, I'll pick them up on the way to the room."
She nods, takes two bags, and heads down the hallway to the right to room A13. I make a left and head into the dining room. I've just finished loading up a tray with hamburgers, fries, salad, and cookies when I see Christina walking towards me. Her face is pale. Like deathly, sickly pale. She just takes the tray from my hands and places it on the table, grabs my hand tightly, and drags me to our room. When we walk through the door way, she flicks on the lights.
"What the hell?!?!????" Every inch of the wall is covered with pictures of Christina. The pictures seem to date back to when she was first adopted. She's pictured doing the dishes, talking to friends, brushing her teeth, even drying herself with her towel after she showered.
"There's more," Christina whispers. She still has a death grip on my hand, and I squeeze back just as tightly. We need each others strength right now. She leads me to the bathroom, where I see all the walls covered with pictures of me throughout my childhood. Then, she leads me to the closet. She swings open the wooden doors, and they squeak eerily on their rusted hinges. What I see is unbelievable. Hundreds of pictures of Maria. But not only of her alive, but of her dead. There are pictures of her corpse in the black coffin. Christina is shaking at this point. I can't help it. I put my arm around her, and comfort the best I can.
"Matt," she says weakly," look up."
Slowly, I look up at the ceiling of the closet. Pictures of me, Maria, and Christina are organized in neat rows and columns, while lines connect certain pictures to one another. At the bottom, there is a picture of Maria with a bright red "X" drawn through her face. Underneath, in sloppy handwriting, a message is written.
"She's gone, now whose next?"
Christina loses it then. She sobs into my shoulder. I hug her tightly.
Who could be behind all this? Is this stalker the person behind Maria's death?
Suddenly, I hear the floor board creak behind me. I turn around.
A gun barrel is pointed in between my eyes.
"Let go of Christina, Matthew. No one gets hurt if you hand her over."
The masked figure's voice is muffled. I pull Christina closer to me, protectively shoving her behind my back.
"Matt, let me go. I'll go with him. He won't hurt me."
"Christina, are you crazy?!!!?? I would rather die than hand you over to whoever that creeper is!!!"
"My arm is getting tired, Matthew. Should I just get this over with or are you going to give me Christina?"
"Matt, please just let me go," she sobs.
"I can't lose you like I lost Maria!" she pleads.
Then, I make the most foolish decision of my life.
I let her go.
She stumbles towards the man, who quickly puts away his gun and grabs Christina in a chokehold.
"Good job, Matthew. I'm glad we did this the easy way."
He backs towards the door quietly. I stand there, acting as if I am frozen in shock.
But, I'm not, Matt. I have a plan. NO WAY IN THIS UNIVERSE IS THAT GUY GETTING AWAY WITH THE GIRL I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!
Before he backs out of the door completely, I swear I hear Christina whisper
"I will always love you, Matt."
And as soon as he leaves the room, I'm out the door, following them into the night.
A/N: Hey guys!!!!!!! I am so sorry again for not updating. I'm really disappointing myself too :( anywaysssss.......... sooo...... WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER???????? I think its pretty sick and creepy and just plain intense. What do you think is going to happen to Christina? will Matt rescue her?!? Please, let me know what you think should happen!! Leave a comment, and I will try to respond! :) Thanks for reading, and I am going to try to stick to my one update a week rule (maybe I will update sooner! as soon as I have time!) so while ive been gone you guys have gotten me, like, 660 reads!!!! :o I was shocked and so happy!!! thank you for all you do for me and the support you give me :D I really appreciate it!!!! sooo... that being said... VOTE/COMMENT PLEASE!!!!!!
I love you all so so so so soooooo much!!!!!!!!! happy reading :) -marierosa13 **Psalm 34:4-6**