Epiphany

Chapter 24 Part 1~Not yet

If he thought I was going to give up this easily then he was wrong.

“Give me a reason why I can’t meet her.” I said in a calm tone and tried to withdraw any emotion from my voice and keep it still, but it was damn hard; the quiver in my voice was noticeable.

My eyes begged as I looked into his eyes again. “I won’t try to run away again or talk back or do anything stupid again. Just let me meet her and I swear I won’t do any of those. Please.”

I couldn't let Gunther walk away with me being in line like this. We'd already started conversing, and I didn't think I'd have the courage to ask him again or even speak to him later on. So it was better to bargain with him now rather than later.

Julia would now be at a greater risk of hurting herself again and I couldn’t allow it! I needed to comfort her before it was too late.

If I failed in negotiating with him then I would be forced to leave the house by myself and find Julia on my own. Which was nearly impossible. No, it was entirely impossible.

A sigh of annoyance rumbled through his throat that sounded more like a growl. “You think the things you listed annoy us? If it were or we couldn’t handle it, we would’ve chained you by now, not make a stupid deal with you.”

“Then tell me why,” I insisted, trying to soften my tone as much as possible so as not to irritate him further.

There was a reason why he didn’t want me to get out of this house.

“Is this still being discussed?” he said, cocking his head slightly. “I thought I made things clear but seems that you're just stupid to get anything.”

“Why don’t—"

“If you speak another word I'll make sure to pay a visit to your friend.”

This was all he needed to do to force my mouth shut.

A muffled chuckle escaped before he turned around and made his way towards the stairs.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Absolutely nothing.”

I bit my lip and when I heard Gunther’s door closing shut, I laid my eyes on Chase.

He narrowed his eyes at me a little, as though questioning my pleading gaze before he sighed and walked away.

“Chase,” I called out, standing abruptly.

“Don’t talk to me.” He waved me off with his hand before he disappeared into the kitchen.

I cursed at him and before I could run after him, my ears detected a scoff nearby that interrupted my actions. The first thing that occurred to me was danger when Ryder started walking towards me.

I backed away and got surprised when he simply just walked past me and headed upstairs.

This was weird.

It wasn’t like Ryder to ignore me and walk out of the room without making any of his usual snarky remarks.

I wasn’t complaining. I would’ve smiled at that if I could but something felt off. It felt as if he had decided to cause me trouble—perhaps even kill me—and that in order to do so, he should avoid any interactions with me so that no one would point fingers at him.

I shivered at my theory.

When my eyes couldn’t follow Ryder anymore as he disappeared upstairs, I furrowed my eyebrows.

Where did Jesse go?

Wasn’t he here a minute ago?

I made my way towards the kitchen, hoping to find Chase alone so I could force some answers out.

Why did I choose him specifically? It just felt right.

It felt as though he was my only hope in getting some answers out. Gunther was a no. Jesse was stubborn and insisted it was for my own good—ironic really. For the third person, Ryder, I didn’t want anything to do with him. He would end up making a deal that would probably cost my life so he would end up telling me a one word answer which I’d have to puzzle the answer out. So this led me to my final hope: Chase.

Just before I entered the room, I heard two people exchanging words in heated whispers.

“I can’t.”

“Why?! Aren’t we in the same team or what?” Chase looked desperately at Jesse, who wasn’t acknowledging him.

“Or—” Chase stopped the words from flowing out when his eyes met mine. He then sighed in frustration before marching forward, opening the fridge aggressively, grabbing a soda can and slamming it shut.

He tramped out of the kitchen and now I was forced to follow him.

Or should I leave him for now?

I mentally cursed as I couldn’t decide.

My eyes then settled on Jesse. He was studying me as he leaned against the kitchen counter with a deadpan countenance.

“No,” he said.

“I—”

I wasn’t even going to speak to you!

His eyes on me felt unsettling so did the silence.

“Where were you all?” I still questioned him nonetheless.

They always disappeared off to somewhere which increased my curiosity.

“Do you think I’ll tell you?” He cocked his head to the side.

“No—Yes! I think you’ll tell me.” I felt stupid saying that and his expression proved to me further that I do, but maybe it might have an impact on him; who knows?

“No. I won’t.”

My shoulders slumped.

“I’m hungry,” I whispered.

“Didn’t Chase feed you?” He sounded calmly annoyed.

“He did. But it was hours ago.”

He sighed softly before he walked towards the fridge in a much more calmer state than Chase.

I took a side step and my mind wandered off.

It wandered off to look for ideas. Anything that might help me see my friend again.

+ + +

Will she be able to convince them? Or will she force her way out of the house and meet her friend?