Unmasked

Chapter 32

TW: The topic of death, and grief is the major idea of this chapter.

The officers looked between each other and back up to Luke, I couldn't read the expression on their faces though, the tears clouding my vision made everything blurry.

"What's happening officer?" Luke asked again, his eyebrows scrunching up in confusion as his gaze switched to me and the officers. His look was firm, yet I could tell by his body movements there was a flicker of fear.

"Laurel Miller has been confirmed dead." He stated, his eyes not meeting mine. I clutched onto my flannel tightly, loud, ugly sobs raked through my body and down my spine. A pare of strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a hug and scooping me up into their lap as I cried into their chest.

I looked up to see Blake wrapped around me, brushing the hair out of my face and muttering comforting words. I clutched onto his shirt tightly, letting the tears slide down my face. "It's alright. . .you'll be okay." He muttered into my hair, making me sob louder.

Luke stared at the officers intently, directing them inside to the kitchen privately. I could hear everyone else scurrying their way over towards us without looking up.

Ryder and Andrew sat down beside us, each patting my back in a comforting manner yet not uttering a single word. They knew exactly how this felt, actions sometimes spoke louder than words.

The world felt like it crashed down on me, again. The women I grew up with, the person who took care of me when I was a baby. My mom, was gone. And even though she wasn't there for me for these past couple years, I won't ever get the chance again to grow from those moments. To make new memories, and forget about all the old cruel ones. I will never be able to tell her 'I love you,' again.

I thought about running up to the bathroom and cutting myself to turn this emotional pain into something physical. Anything to distract myself from this sinking feeling. I looked at the boys around me, their morose features and their pitiful looks. It wouldn't hurt me to do that to myself, but it'd hurt them. So I wouldn't.

I lifted my head from his chest and wiped away the tears that continued to run down my face. "Can I get a glass of water?" I asked hoarsely, my body shaking from the cold and crying. Finn nodded quickly, "Yeah, I'll get you one. . ." He mumbled, walking quickly into the bathroom and getting a glass.

I took big deep breaths trying to calm myself down but it wasn't working, the world felt like it was spinning and I couldn't see what was going on around me. "Quinn?" The voice sounded so far away, I grabbed onto the wall but only managed to stumble and fall on my butt.

"W-what —?" I try to grab ahold of something, but my hands felt so tired. My body felt so tired. . .

"Quinn! Quinn — are you okay?" Andrew asked frantically, shaking me as my eyes drooped. The next thing I knew, all I could see was black and feel someone catching me.

• • •

"I think she's waking up, everyone shut up." Luke whisper shouted, the other voices suddenly died down. I lifted my head from the pillow on the couch, with my eyes barely opened I scanned the living room, seeing them all sitting there.

I wrapped my arms around me, looking up at the clock reading '3:49 am.' I sighed, and pulled the blanket around me, embracing the warmth.

"How are you feeling?" Luke asked, standing up and sitting beside me on the couch, pulling my head onto his shoulder.

"Like shit." I simply stated, my eyes watering.

Luke bit the inside of his mouth and looked around to everyone else, and back at me. "You know, we didn't know your mom that well. Could you tell us more about her?" He asked thoughtfully, brushing the messy hair out of my face.