Hidden and Silent (SpyxFamily)

Ch. 16: Part Six

       Yor stared at it.

The air was sucked out of the room. Demetrius' blood ran frozen. His jaw clenched together as if it might never loosen again.

Yor looked to him.

He looked back. Imploring her to tell him he was wrong.

"It's—" She said quietly and Demetrius didn't want her to say it.

Don't, don't, don't, don't don't, don't.

"It's for you." Yor hesitantly held it out to him and Demetrius' shoulders rose defensively as he inhaled sharply through his nose as if he had been holding his breath. Which he had.

No.

No, no, no.

Fear clung heavy to his body and ached in his muscles as if he'd swam ten kilometres. He was a rock sinking in the ocean. A gong that had been rung and shook with resounding clarity. He tried to swallow and found he could not. His mouth was dry. His palms—no, his entire body was sweating. His entire body was shaking.

He stared at the envelope. He didn't want to touch it. He didn't want to read it. He didn't want to see his name written on it or the familiar return address.

There was a letter for him. Only one person besides his brother would bother to learn where he was staying and send a letter.

Of course he knew where Demetrius was. Demetrius knew this, he knew it, and yet he couldn't fathom how the letter came to be here.

"Does it say who it's from?" Demetrius unintentionally whispered, hoarse and raw, though he already knew.

"Yes." Yor said. She didn't elaborate. She didn't need to.

Twilight appeared just outside the kitchen, overhearing the conversation.

Demetrius licked his lips. His heart pounded on his chest like a battering ram banging loudly on a castle gate. Hard and twitch inducing. He rose from the living room floor.

He didn't want to touch it. He didn't want to read it.

He wandered over to Yor by the dining table.

It was just a letter. It was just a letter.

Yor waited for him to take it. Demetrius reached out his hand. He couldn't seem to place his fingers near it.

Demetrius didn't want to know what was inside. He couldn't look at it. He couldn't, he couldn't. How bad was it going to be?

Demetrius licked his lips again and took it. He wanted to burn it the moment his skin touched it.

And there it was.

Unbidden, Demetrius sucked in another shaky breath at the sight of it.

Donovan Desmond's name written above the return address.

Demetrius glanced at Loid who maintained his distance by the kitchen door. His face was unreadable, but his thoughts were apprehensive.

It didn't help Demetrius' nerves.

He flipped the envelope over. His hand clenched before raising to graze over the flap glued down and he paused.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't do it.

It was just a letter. Just a stupid, freakin' letter. 'Open it.' He told himself.

Don't. Don't. Don't. Don't. You don't want to. You'll regret it. You'll regret not opening it.