Remind Me

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Brinley," Owen's voice finds mine as I try to lift myself off the ground I just fell onto. "I can't see you."

"It's dark," my voice is hollow.

"Come here, follow my voice," he says.

It isn't hard, considering it's a small room. Five square feet at most. When I reach him, he takes my right hand in his. His fingers softly trail up it, and I know it is completely soaked in blood. I wince when he reaches the actual cut.

He quickly rips off his jacket and slowly starts dabbing at the blood. He's gentle with me, even though I wince at every touch.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do this-"

"No, I'm sorry I let you out of my sight. I'm sorry I didn't come with you. I knew better, I knew we were downtown. I'm sorry," he says, and he sounds so pained.

"It's okay. I'm okay," I say in a soft voice.

His hand gently touches my cheek. "You don't have to be okay."

I look down, frowning. No, I'm not okay. I'm nowhere near okay. But I don't really want to sort out every emotion I have right now. All I know is that whatever it is, I'm not okay.

"It's late," Owen says. "You can sleep. I'll be right here."

I shake my head. "No. No, I can't sleep."

He pushes my hair behind my ear. "Why not?" He asks softly.

"Because I'm afraid," I say with a long breath, "that when I wake up, you'll be gone."

I can't see his face, but I can hear his sigh. He pulls me into his arms and drapes his jacket over me, careful not to touch my arm wound. I lay my head back on his chest and he wraps his arms around me protectively. It's the safest I've felt in two days.

"I'll stay right here," he whispers to me.

Listening to his breaths, I manage to fight my way into a restless sleep.

<•>•<•>

"Up!" A voice bellows in the room.

When I bolt upright, my head nicks Owen in the jaw. I find that I'm still in his arms. He doesn't say anything, but he gently helps me onto my feet. I can't even feel my arm. My head feels light, probably because of blood loss. I can see a puddle of it on Owen's grey T shirt. He doesn't complain.

"Come on, we've got some talking to do. Out, out, faster," Jonathan says.

When I start walking, I feel dizzy. I find it difficult to stay on my feet. Owen seems to sense this. He wraps an arm around my waist to help me into the other room.

I'm thoroughly shocked by what I find. Jory's unconscious in the middle of the room, hands cuffed behind his back. He has a huge bump on the side of his forehead. It looks like he's been through a battle.

"Couch. Go. Sit," Jonathan ushers us forward.

Owen helps me there and eases me onto it. My stomach hisses in hunger and I realize now that I haven't eaten in a day and a half.

"Are you starving her?" Owen asks, having heard the growl my stomach made.

Jonathan rolls his eyes. "I forgot how irritating you are."

"Are you starving her?" He repeats firmer.

"No," Jonathan replies. He gestures to Tommy who throws a granola bar at me. I unwrap it with shaky hands and eat it slowly.