“I’ll just run back,” I said sharply.
“Don’t be mad, bro. We believe you saw her. It’s just, what can we do about it right this second?” Jasper shrugged.
“I know, man. Call me tomorrow,” I said, defeated.
I ran the entire way home. My shower was quick, and I was in bed before sunrise. I tried to make myself fall asleep, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Taylor. Finally, at 8am I gave up on getting any sleep and got dressed for the day.
I was drinking my third cup of coffee when Macie called me.
“Yeah?”
“Sam, it’s Mace. I called the center,” she said. I couldn’t tell if she sounded tense or if I was just tense enough for her to sound that way.
“And?” I asked.
“And a girl named Ana answered the phone. She said that Taylor was still there and wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.”
“Wait—I thought you said she wanted to leave earlier than planned?” I asked, interrupting her.
“That’s what she said in her email. But just because she feels better for one day, doesn’t mean she’s ready to leave the program,” she explained.
I stood up so I could pace around my kitchen.
“So, is that what her room is like? That small? With no sort of decoration or anything? No wonder she’s ready to leave, Macie. Aside from the cleanliness that place could be a prison cell.”
“I asked about that, too. Ana said she was sick with a stomach virus and spent a couple of nights in the hospital wing. That’s also why we didn’t hear from her. I’m sure she will email this week now that she’s feeling better.”
“That’s it?” I asked, frustrated.
“There’s an answer for everything, Sam. What else do you want me to do?”
“There isn’t an answer for the gut feeling I have. Something isn’t right and I’m going to find out what it is,” I said sharply.
“I miss her too, Sam. You can call me anytime you need to talk.”
“Thanks, Macie. Sorry I’m a mess. I’ll talk to you later.”
I finished my coffee quickly and grabbed the keys to my truck. Not much later I pulled into Taylor’s apartment complex. Luckily for me, she’d never asked for the key back after she broke things off between us.
I had planned on trying to find a pamphlet, a welcoming packet, or even a patient handbook from Divided Paths. I just wanted to know more about the place. Their website was vague and outdated, so I’d hoped Taylor had gotten another source of information.
I searched the obvious places first, like her coffee table, her nightstand, and the kitchen counter near the microwave. Aside from a letter saying she was accepted for the spot she’d applied for at the center, there was nothing.
I’d given up when I leaned over her counter to rest on my elbows. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples with my thumbs. After a moment I started to feel a little less overwhelmed. I stood and saw a black piece of paper sticking out of a drawer in front of me. Curious, I opened the drawer. The black paper was an envelope. I slipped the letter out and started to read. My hands shook and my mouth went dry as I read the handwritten words from Jarren’s younger brother.
The letter was short; he simply explained who he was and said that he needed help and didn’t know who else to ask. The way he introduced himself in the letter made me wonder if Taylor had met him before or if she’d only heard about him from Jarren. I tucked the letter back inside the envelope and noticed the date it was stamped by the post office. Almost four months ago. Which just so happened to be the same time Taylor broke up with me, dropped out of school, and started the downward spiral she’d been on. The gut feeling I’d been having about Taylor intensified.
I shoved the envelope in my pocket and dialed Jasper’s number as I walked out of her apartment.
“You’re awake already?” he asked without saying hello.
“I rarely sleep these days. I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“Sure, man. What’s up?”
“Come to Florida with me so I can talk to Jarren’s little brother and find out why he was writing to Taylor.”
“Jarren. Taylor’s ex? The ex that tried to kill Macie?” he asked, confused.
“That’s the one.”
“Why would he be writing to Taylor?”
“I don’t know. The letter I found in her apartment said he needed her help. I’m going to find out what he needed help with.” I was driving to my place much faster than the law allowed as I waited on him to agree to come with me.
“You raided her apartment, bro? Is this some jealous boyfriend shit?”
“I didn’t raid it. I have my own key. I was looking for information on Divided Paths. I just happened to find the letter while I was there and got curious. And of all the shit I have to be jealous about you think I’d choose to be jealous over a kid writing a damn letter?” I snapped.
“Alright. Sorry. Let me run it by Macie. When do you want to leave?”
“The next flight leaves in two hours and I’m getting on it. Meet me at the airport in an hour.”
I hung up before he had time to respond.
Taylor
“Good morning, Taylor,” Matt said as I took my normal seat across from him.
“Morning,” I huffed. I wanted to make it obvious that I wasn’t happy to be there.
“What shall our topic be about today?” he asked with an easy smile.
“Well, we could start with the fact that Ana told me I was in the hospital wing after I fell down the stairs, but I’ve searched high and low for that wing and it’s nowhere to be found.”
“You were never in a hospital wing here. You were in a small off-site building we use for experimenting,” he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest as he studied my face. I made a mental note to try harder to keep my emotions in check.
“A small building. Okay, where is this building located?”
“Seattle,” he said with a straight face.
I squirmed in my seat as I tried to think of a reason they’d take me to Seattle to be treated for falling down the stairs. Then it dawned on me.
“You said experimenting,” I said quietly.
“I did.”
“Was Ana experimenting on…me?” My voice squeaked as I struggled to finish the question.
“Oh, no, Taylor. Ana doesn’t do any sort of experimenting. Mariah and I do it all. Besides, you’re not an experiment. Those came before you.”
“What do you mean before me? Why would a rehabilitation center need to do any experimenting?” I laced my fingers together and held my hands together in my lap to keep myself from fidgeting.
“Taylor, we’re so much more than a rehabilitation center. As far as the ones that came before you, the majority of them work here now.”
“If I’m not an experiment, then why did they take me to the building in Seattle?”
“To start the process. We’d hoped to wait a few more months. We wanted to let you get to know us first. We’d hoped you’d go through with this willingly, but when we caught wind of you wanting to leave, we knew we had to act fast.”
I stood and walked toward the door, ready to get away from Matt and this crazy conversation. But I had to know…
“Go through with what?” I asked in a whisper.
“Becoming one of us. Becoming an Executer.”
“What the fuck?” I asked loudly. “What is an Executer? Like an assassin?”
“Of course not, Taylor. Mariah will explain it all to you whenever you’re ready. You’ve been given a great deal of responsibility now.”
“I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want any responsibility. I don’t want to be an Executer. I want to go home.” I felt tears begin to sting my eyes as I yanked the door open and ran for the elevator. I glanced behind me and realized that Matt hadn’t followed me. I slowed to a fast walk. The elevator doors opened as soon as I pressed the button. Once I was inside and the doors shut, I paced around in circles as I tried to make sense of
the conversation I’d just had.
I knew there was only one person who could help me. I pushed the button for the first floor.
I was happy to see that the café was empty. Breakfast was over, and it was too early for lunch. I’d hoped to find Martha and ask her what being an Executer even meant, but the place was vacant. I walked over to the computer that Martha usually put the orders into. I looked around and didn’t see anyone.
I sighed in relief when the home screen came up after I moved the mouse. No login credentials were necessary. I pulled up the email and saw that Martha’s account was open. With no time to spare, I typed out a quick email to Macie.
It’s Taylor. Things are going south. Find out everything you can about “Executers”. The two main names I know are Mariah and Matt. Sorry I don’t know last names. I’m fine for now so don’t panic. Something that has nothing to do with sex rehab is going on here. Come up with a solid plan and get me out of here.
Love, T
My fingers shook nervously over the keyboard as I waited for my email to send. Once it had moved to the SENT folder, I deleted it and quickly left the café. Just as I turned the corner to head back toward the elevators, I bumped into Martha.
“Oh. I was looking for you,” I said quickly, still nervous from using the computer without getting caught.
“What can I help you with? Did you miss breakfast?”
“Actually, I did. Matt moved my session up and by the time it was over the café was empty.”
“Come on and I’ll whip you up some toast and eggs.” I tried to study Martha’s face to see if this was all an act and she was really going to take me to the café to tell me all I needed to know about Matt and Executers, but her features gave nothing away.
I followed her back inside the café and she motioned for me to keep following her into the kitchen. She patted a stool before grabbing a loaf of bread from a cabinet. I took the hint and had a seat on the stool. I watched her place two slices of bread into the toaster and push them down.
“Just the toast is fine. I actually don’t have much of an appetite,” I told her before she could grab the eggs.
She nodded and turned back to the toaster. I waited for a moment for her to turn around and face me, or to say something. But she just watched the toaster.
“I need your help, Martha,” I said quietly. I noticed her body stiffen as I spoke. “Matt told me that they started the process of making me become an Executer. What does that mean? What’s going to happen to me?”
“They’ll use you. They’ll use you to get to the person they want. They’ll use you to cause his death.” She muttered some other things under her breath that I couldn’t make out.
“What? Matt said I wasn’t an assassin. I won’t help them kill anyone. I won’t,” I said loudly. She shushed me.
“You won’t have a choice, dear. That’s what an Executer does. Once their leader determines that someone has harmed someone unnecessarily, they become obsessed with that person until they get their revenge.”
“Who’s the leader of the Executers?”
“Mariah,” she grabbed my hand and squeezed it against her chest. “And she’s not one to let her followers go easily.”
“But I’m not her follower. I’m just me,” I said with a shrug.
“If they’ve started the process, then you’re one of her followers, Taylor.”
My chest rose and fell rapidly. I was on the verge of a panic attack.
“What should I do, Martha?” I asked. My voice cracked on the end of the question.
“If it were me, I’d play along. Gather as much information as possible. Then, when the timing is right, you’ll get yourself out of here.”
She patted my shoulder as she tried to hand me the toast she’d made. I gently pushed the plate away as I stood. Tears ran down my cheeks as I hugged her. The only person in Divided Paths I could trust.
I went to my room and spent the afternoon alternating between crying and sleeping. When the sun started to set, I forced myself out of the bed. I dressed in my darkest jeans and a black t-shirt.
When I looked in the mirror to pull my hair up, I saw how swollen and red my face was. I could see nothing but fear in my eyes, which I hated. I took a deep, calming breath as I told myself that I was going to be okay.
“You’re not weak. You’re not a scared little girl. You’re not going to let anyone tell you what to do,” I said to my reflection, repeating it once more before leaving my room.
I looked up and down the hall to make sure nobody was around before I made my way to the stairs. I went up to the next floor, careful to check the hall again before exiting the stairwell. I quickly made my way to the end of the hall, where Matt’s office was. I knew almost everyone should be in the café for dinner, but I was still nervous. I grabbed a bobby pin from my hair and picked the lock in no time. Macie had taught me how when I’d locked myself out of my apartment on more than one occasion. I smiled as I pictured what her reaction would be if she would have been there. She would clap her hands as fast as she could while bouncing up and down.
I shut the door behind me quietly and was sure to lock it. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I needed more information and I’d hoped something in Matt’s office would give me that.
His desk was covered with all kinds of papers. There were schedules, medication lists, bills, and to-do lists. None of them got my attention, so I started going through the drawers. The first drawer was filled with small bags of chips and cookies. Matt’s been holding out on me with more than just sex, I thought to myself.
The second drawer I opened was filled with cell phones. I held my breath as I frantically dug around for my own. I’d almost given up when I finally saw it. My hands shook as I tried to turn it on and hoped like hell that the battery wasn’t dead. After I typed in my password, I saw that there was only eleven percent battery left. Thankfully, Ana had only asked for my phone, so and the charger was still in my suitcase. I tucked my phone in my back pocket and opened another drawer. This one was full of papers divided into folders. I skimmed the labels quickly and stopped when one labeled Protectors caught my attention. As I pulled the folder out, I saw one labeled Raiders that had been tucked behind it. I laid both folders on the floor in front of me. They were filled with mostly handwritten papers, aside from a few newspaper articles. I assumed the handwriting was Matt’s but couldn’t be certain. Each paper began with someone’s name. From what I could gather, it was some sort of log on these people’s behavior. And I got the feeling that whoever wrote it didn’t agree with the behaviors of either party. It was obvious that the Raiders were considered flat out evil, while the Protectors were more like meddlers, butting in when they weren’t wanted. I didn’t see anything about any of the Protectors who I knew, but Sam Johnson was the name front and center in the other folder. There was an entire page filled with information from the night Jarren died. I didn’t know why Matt had these folders, but I knew it wasn’t because he was fond of the people written inside them. I took out my phone and snapped a couple pictures of the pages before I put them back inside the drawer.
I put my ear against the door and listened for a moment. Once I had determined the hall was empty, I opened the door and sprinted to the stairwell. I went down the stairs quickly but carefully as I made sure I had my footing on each step. When I got to my floor and went into the hall, I heard the elevator coming. I panicked as I ran to my room as fast as I could. I could tell the elevator was slowing to a stop on my floor as I passed it. I unlocked my door just as the bell chimed. I was in my room with the door locked before I could see who had stepped out, my heart racing at the thought of almost being caught. I pressed my hand to my chest as I tried to catch my breath.
Knock, knock, knock. “Taylor? Are you in there?” Taryn called through the door.
“Shit,” I whispered harshly. “I’ll be right there,” I said loudly enough for her to hear.
I grabbed a pink cardigan and pulled it on over
my shirt before going to open the door. I took one last calming breath as I gripped the doorknob and felt something buzz in my pocket. My phone.
Knock, knock, knock. “Taylor?”
“Just a second, Taryn. I’m getting dressed,” I lied. I rushed to the bathroom and shoved my phone between the stack of towels I had on the counter. I’d have to charge it later.
I opened the door to see that Taryn and Mariah were standing there. I had never spoken to Mariah, and I’d only seen her a handful of times. Supposedly, she counselled the people who were getting close to completing the program, while Matt got stuck with the beginners. I’d never complained about that setup because I’d much rather be stuck in a room looking at Matt. Not that Mariah was ugly, because she wasn’t: she was tall and lean, her dark complexion was flawless, and her hair was always as straight as a board. Her resting bitch face, however, wasn’t helping her chances in the contest I’d mentally made up between her and Matt.
“What’s going on?” I asked, confused.
“Mariah and I were eating, and we realized you hadn’t come down, so we wanted to make sure you were feeling alright,” Taryn said. I studied her for a moment, trying to see through the kindness in her voice.
“Oh. Uh—thanks. I’ve just been sleeping off a migraine most of the day. I was actually about to get ready and head to the café when you knocked.”
“You don’t mind if we join you?” Mariah asked, but it sounded more like a statement and felt more like a command.
“Sure,” I shrugged.
The elevator was filled with awkward silence, and I released a huge sigh of relief when the doors finally opened.
We sat at a table close to the entrance, where I pretended to pick at my nails until Martha came to take our order. She was so good at acting indifferent toward me when people were around that even I almost believed her. I ordered a taco salad and had to force myself not to roll my eyes when Mariah ordered an ice water and Taryn dutifully did the same.
“So, Matt tells me that he made the decision to tell you about us,” Mariah said with a sarcastic smile plastered on her face.
Want Me (Protector Series Book 3) Page 6