Fallen Raine {Completed}

Chapter Twenty-Five - The Dark Side Of The Mall

******RIVER’S POV******

   I looked over at Jason, who seemed lost in thought, and couldn’t help but think about Raine, who was out there somewhere, searching for Drella.

   I couldn’t help but think about how beautiful Raine was, about the quiet determination, her swift, nimble hands and shiny brunette hair. Her innocent, doe-shaped eyes that were an intriguing hazel. I felt like she was too innocent to see the things she had been subjected to on this night.

   “I think we should go look for Raine,” I informed Jason, turning to look at him and voicing my thoughts as I grew increasingly more worried about Raine’s wellbeing.

   He nodded, running a hand through his cropped fair hair. “Yeah, you’re right. She shouldn’t be out there by herself.”

We both stood, and Jason scrubbed his jaw. His green eyes darted nervously around, and he seemed to swallow a big lump in his throat as he thought over something.

   “What?” I asked, curious.

   He shook his head lightly. “I was just thinking about something.”

   “What?” I repeated, prompting him to share his thoughts.

   He sighed. “I was just wondering if Raine was okay, that’s all.”

   I didn’t reply to him, having no idea what to say. To be honest, I was sharing that exact same worry, and thinking more about it would only end up making me more and more worried. Something I definitely didn’t need to be right now. I needed to be strong and focused, for Raine’s sake. I couldn’t show weakness.

   “Let’s go find out,” I suggested, and Jason and I set out into the mall.

   Neither of us dared to call out as we walked through, searching areas of the mall. We searched together, scanning storefronts and looking through stalls for any sign of her or Drella.

   While we searched, I allowed my mind to wander, which was something I hadn’t done properly yet.

   Twelve hours ago, I was just a normal—albeit, totally arrogant—guy getting his way with a girl in the bathrooms. Which, in hindsight, was pretty stupid, but, hey, I loved a thrill. It really got the adrenaline pumping.

   Then all of a sudden I’m trapped in a mall with a bunch of strangers I’d never met before and I meet an amazing girl called Raine, who’s fierce and strong. Everything Jess isn’t.

   And in this crazy whirlwind people start dying around me, and suddenly I’m searching for bodies and messages written in blood.

   And then I lost Jess.

   It wasn’t like I loved her, or anything. As much as it sounds like something a player would do, I only really kept her around for one reason.

   Yes, I’m a horrible human being.

   But a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.

But I must admit it; I didn’t know how much I cared for her until she died. But even then I was just glad that it hadn’t been Raine.

And now I’d lost even her.

I felt like kicking myself for not going after her sooner. Why hadn’t I come with her when she went after Drella? I should’ve come with her, but I was too blinded by my judgment about Drella.

God, I was an idiot.

Just then I saw a flash of something in the distance, and started running towards it.