The Cordon // Jake Riley

E L E V E N

I wanted to be alone. To collect my thoughts to collect my feelings. It was strange the feelings I felt boiling inside me, bubbling around deep with.

Pain for the death of Katie.

Rage for the knowledge I had accumulated about Dr Cannrets.

Sympathy for Quentin, his mother, the only constant in his life was now gone. How he felt I couldn't imagine that pain.

"Hey." I heard Jakes voice, the sadness in his tone was enough to tell me that he too was feeling the awful emotions I was.

"Hi." I rose up just a little, pain still shooting throughout my body but I forced a broken smile while I held my hand up to Jake letting him know I was okay; that he didn't need to come assist me. "What um, what're you doing?"

"I came to check on you."

"I'm alright."

Lies.

It was all lies. I was not fine and I never was from the start of this mess. I wasn't happy in my normal life with my; I guess now ex boyfriends and I'm not fine here. I was shot, I lost someone who had become so special to me and now I was afraid. Afraid of Jake and not in the bad way but in the way that I'm afraid if he leaves my sight something bad might happen again and I won't ever get to see him.

Jake didn't say anything but from the look in his eyes I knew he saw me. He saw all the scared parts and he wasn't backing down. "I'm scared Jake."

I broke.

Tears poured in my eyes and it was only a matter of seconds before Jake had me in his arms.

• • •

We all sat calmly in the room we all shared together, it was late and everyone but Jake and I was asleep. My eyes watched over Quentin as he slept, my mind quietly thinking about how well he's handled this. I knew he was hurting deep down and when ever he was ready to break I would be here.

"I have something to tell you." Jake spoke, breaking the silence.

I turned to him, not saying anything.

"I think I may have found a way out of cordon." Jake almost wanted to smile, the way his lips almost curved up. "My old friend Meese he has a way only there's a flaw."

"What, what's the flaw Jake?"

"15,000$"

My eyes goes wide and I huff out in annoyance. "Where are we supposed to get that kind of cash?"

Jakes eyes closed for a brief second, his brows furrowed. "I don't know. I just . . I've just got to get you two out of here before I lose everything."

The strings on my heart pull at his words and I can clearly hear the pain in them. I move forward grabbing his hands into mine. "Hey look at me, baby look at me."

At my use of the work 'baby' Jake looked up at me; his eyes still so hurt. I was breathing slowly, staring into his eyes trying to find some words to comfort him but none where coming. I didn't have any because I knew he was right, something bad might happen to us in here and there was nothing either of us could do.

"We're going to be okay. I know it's scary Jake but we can make it out of here. We can survive this, we have to because it's not about just us anymore we have him." I look at Quinten, "and we're not losing anymore people. We've made it so far and we're not giving up. We will get that money. I'll find a way."

Jakes eyes look into mine they where holding so many emotions was hard to pinpoint which one he was truly feeling. I felt his left hand loosen and slip from grasp, his fingers brushing my skin all the way to my stomach where the gun shot wound was.

"Anything can happen, Maia. You're the best part of me right now and I can't loose you. The thought that — that I could've a few days ago scared the shit of out me."

"I know and you're never going to feel that again. I promise, we're getting the money and we're getting out of here."