by Alice Rachel
Taylor, Kayla, and Jenna have already entered the building through a French door. When Taylor tells us to join them inside, I follow Chi in, and we find ourselves in a bedroom completely furnished. When the surge hit, many people were forced out of New York City in a hurry. That’s why Taylor chose this place; it’s secure, hidden, and nicely arranged. The building hasn’t had electricity for a long time, but we should do fine with flashlights.
Everyone turns around toward Chi, expecting him to talk about what happened to him at the police station. I’m glad when Taylor interrupts the invasive gazing.
“I think Chi needs to clean up and rest. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, you can give us all the details. I know you enough to trust you didn’t tell them much they can use. I’m not worried. Just go rest.”
He taps Chi on the back and tells Jenna to show us to our apartment. Taylor will be staying in the condo down the hall so he can keep an eye out on the other side of the building. Chase and Akio will be sleeping in the one across the hall from us. James is staying with Jenna right next door to us. Everyone seems ready for bed. Only Taylor will stay up until Chase and Akio make it back here. We wish everyone a good night, and Jenna walks us to the place Taylor has assigned for us.
Chapter 29
Chi and I step into the entrance, and Jenna gives us a tour of the apartment, starting with the kitchen to the right of the foyer and the bathroom to its left. She walks us to the living room facing us down the tiny hall. Though this building was abandoned a long time ago, the luxury of the place hasn't completely faded away. It’s beautiful, with a bay window opening on to the sky above and the river below. Jenna opens the bedroom door to the left side of the living room. Taylor explained to us that certain condos here contain up to four bedrooms, but ours is a one-bedroom apartment. That’s a lot more than I was hoping for. Jenna has made the effort to clean the place up, too. Her gesture touches me.
I turn to her before she gets to leave. "Thank you for everything you've done."
“Don’t mention it; that’s my job,” she says. “I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast. I stacked all the food in the first apartment you saw. Wait till you see the dining area there; it’s huge. We’ll have breakfast together. You guys can use the shower. If I were you, I'd enjoy it while you can. Once the refugees from Camp 19 are here, Taylor's going to limit our consumption."
I nod.
"Okay, well, see you guys later,” she says.
I wish her goodnight and help Chi into the bedroom. He sits on the edge of the bed, and I can finally give him my full attention. I crouch in front of him and examine his face. Blood has dried on his forehead. It’s probably hiding some nasty bruises underneath. One of his eyelids is black and blue from the strikes. I cup his right cheek with my hand and caress it softly with my thumb. He flinches and I pull back.
"I'm sorry."
He shakes his head. "It's okay."
I look him in the eyes. The seriousness of his face is unsettling. I miss the impish grins on his lips, the playful smiles telling me that he’s truly fine.
“Chi, I’m sorry. I—”
He stops me, shushing me with his fingertip. I lean forward to kiss him, but he turns his face away.
"It might be best not to kiss me right now." He sends me a glance. "I threw up earlier, remember. That's not really the kind of reunion kiss I wanna give you."
"Chi?"
"Yeah."
"I am so sorry...for doubting you before." I want to bring him comfort and tell him I'm never leaving his side again. I am here for him now, no matter what.
“You came for me; that’s all that matters, Thia." His eyes hold mine in place. "Words don’t mean anything; only actions matter. You came back for me.” He smiles at last—a grin so small and mirthless it never reaches his sad eyes.
“We should wash the blood off of you and clean those wounds."
“Yeah, I guess we should,” Chi replies with a deep sigh.
He stares at the door with a look of determination, as though making his way there would be a small victory. I support him and help him stand up. His right leg gives in and he falls back on the bed. He growls as anger covers his face. I’m sure he’d rather do this on his own without my witnessing it all, but he doesn't have a choice. He can hardly stand on his feet; he won't make it to the door without me.
No matter how strong Chi is, he is only human after all—a fact that he doesn't seem so willing to accept. I love him for his weaknesses as much as his strengths, but I don’t speak my thoughts. I simply put my arms under him again. This really frustrates him—having to lean on me, the girl he wants to protect. The reversal of our situation does not please him one bit, and he lets it show quite clearly. He leans against me and stands on both feet this time. We walk through the living room, then the entrance hall, and enter the bathroom. I push the door open with my left hand, and it squeaks in its hinges.
The bathroom used to be luxurious, with marble walls, but the whole place is desolate now. Because the room lacks heat or air conditioning, mold has made itself at home on the walls. I’m not sure the faucet is still working either, but we’ll just have to try. Jenna said we could use the water coming from the tanks on top of the building. The tub is cracked at the corners, revealing the concrete hiding underneath the tiles. I ease Chi down so he can sit on the toilet seat while I lean over the tub to turn on the faucet.
Nothing comes out at first, and when the water finally starts running, it is so slow that only droplets fall out. It becomes more fluid after a few minutes as a brown liquid streams out, foul and disgusting. I hesitate. Would it be better to leave Chi covered in blood or to risk cleaning him up with this filthy water?
I let the water flow for a long time as I observe Chi. He’s holding his face in his hands, still in pain and trying to get it together.
“Are you going to be all right?” I ask
“Yes, I’ll be fine. I just have a migraine.”
I dread some concussion, but I don't speak my fears out loud. I have to convince myself that Chi is going to be okay. Even if he isn’t, there is no hospital we can go to. The search for him will have doubled by now, and the authorities will be on the lookout. We have to make the most of what we have here and hope for the best.
“I’ll go get some medication.”
I cast Chi one last glance and walk out. When I exit the apartment, his image remains printed inside my brain—a picture of him wincing, ashen with pain. I hurry through the corridor, reach Taylor's apartment, and knock on the door. It takes just a few seconds for him to greet me.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I need some antiseptic and medication for Chi,” I explain.
“No problem. Please, come in. How is Chi?” Taylor asks while turning his back on me.
“Not great.” I sigh.
He grabs a duffel bag from a chair in the living room and rifles through it. He holds out a bottle of pills as well as a tube of antibacterial cream, some bandages, and medical tape.
“Here,” he says. “It will be hard to get more of these, so use them wisely.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Are Chase and Akio back yet?”
“No. It takes a while to park the car and row back here. They should arrive in an hour.”
"Okay. Thank you for the medication."
Taylor nods and grabs my arm before I exit the room. The concern on his face is laid bare for me to see. “Call me if there’s a problem. Chi was badly beaten up. We need to make sure he’s okay. If his symptoms get worse, come to me immediately.”
I nod again, thank him, and rush back to the apartment. I make it to the bathroom as quickly as I can. I don’t want Chi to have to wait longer than he should. When I walk in, I find him leaning over the sink, brushing his teeth. He turns around and asks if I’m okay.
“Yes, yes,” I reply, too quickly. I'm fine, just worried sick about him.
He narrows his eyes at me, but he doesn’t push the subject. I approach the tub. The water from the t
ap is clear now, but it's still cold to the touch, though not freezing.
“So, are you gonna help me undress and step inside?” Chi asks with feigned nonchalance.
A mischievous smile has spread on his face. He's enjoying my embarrassment just a bit too much. I flush as I meet his eyes, his words setting my cheeks aflame, and he chuckles.
“I thought I might just help you clean your face and then you could take care of the rest yourself.” I clear my throat, but it's too late for me to pretend his words didn't just set me on fire.
“Right.” There's no sarcasm in his voice when he says it. He just means it as a statement.
He comes to sit on the edge of the tub, and I settle down next to him beside the faucet. I let the water run through my fingers and watch it pour down my hand. Jenna has left some soap here for us as well as a couple of towels. I grab a cloth hanging from the wall and pass it under the water until it’s soaking wet. I touch the fabric to Chi’s face to clean his skin as delicately as possible. I work on his forehead first and then his eyebrows.
Grime and blood smear the cloth right away. I rinse it in the tub, soiling the water, turning it light brown and pink. As I clean Chi’s face, a cut appears; it's slashing through his left eyebrow. On his cheeks, some red and slightly swollen bruises reveal themselves from under the dirt covering his skin.
Chi's eyes rest on my face the entire time, watching me closely. He flinches every so often when I touch him, but he doesn't complain once. I brush his cheek with my fingertip, tilt my head to the side, and lean closer to him to ensure I don't miss a spot. When I'm done cleaning his skin, he holds my chin between his fingers, pulls me forward, and kisses me softly. His lips are like the wings of a butterfly against my mouth, fluttering gently.
“Thank you,” he whispers against me. “Would you mind helping me take off this shirt?” he asks, his eyes studying my reaction.
My heart races as I help him out of his top. I pull it off to reveal his upper body and arms. His chest is tanned and his frame lean, his muscles beautifully chiseled. My heart stops and something inside me ignites. I swallow a breath, and a part of my inhibition breaks. Chi is just beautiful, even under all the bruises. I let my fingers run down from his chin to his throat to his chest, then down the line of his abdomen, stopping at the rim of his pants. When I lift my eyes to meet his, a tiny smile has appeared on his face again. My cheeks heat up and I glance away. He has caught me staring and detailing his body with my hand. I pull back my incriminating fingers and hold my hands together, as if to chastise them for being so indiscreet. Chi finds my modesty cute, and I couldn't hide my attraction to him even if I tried. I clear my throat and he chuckles—a low rumble rising from deep down his throat. The more I flush, the more he laughs.
I choose to feign indifference, fooling neither of us as I wash the cloth that has grown nasty. Then I work on getting his chest clear of blood. The hunger is growing inside me, so I focus on the task and try to think of it as just that—a job. I ignore the craving and force myself not to stare at him, no matter how stunning he is. Chi pushes my hand out of the way and lifts my face to his. He watches me before kissing me. His mouth presses hard against mine, and his tongue comes grazing my lips gently. My chest is flush against his, my shirt the only obstacle between his skin and mine. I've stopped breathing. His lips soften as he teases my mouth open. And I respond to his kiss in kind. My heart is palpitating under the effort to keep my cool, but I'm thawing, melting under his warmth. When he pulls away delicately, I come undone, short-winded. I avert my eyes, and he pulls me to him to whisper against my ear, “I love you, Thia.”
I can feel myself falling over the edge, the elation inside my heart giving me wings. But I don't reply. I can’t. The words won’t come out.
“I know.” I kiss him, all the while wanting to kick myself for not returning his words.
What is he going to think? How long is he going to put up with me before giving up? There’s no disappointment in his eyes though, just understanding. Guilt stabs at me, and I can't hold his gaze for long.
I change the subject. “You’re clean now. Are you sure you can do this by yourself?”
“Well, it looks like I don’t have a choice now, do I?” he replies, but not unkindly.
A dry laughter escapes his mouth, full of humor and teasing. I blush profusely. I step outside and close the door behind me. I lean against it, lift my eyes to the ceiling, and slap my forehead. I stay there for a while, eavesdropping to make sure he’s okay and that he’s not falling or hurting himself. Shuffling and water noises come out from inside the bathroom, as well as Chi's barely muffled groans. I have this urge to rush in and help him, but that’s beyond my ability right now. This isn’t something I can bring myself to do just yet. The thought of Chi naked is just too overwhelming and intimidating.
When his footsteps confirm that he's out of the tub, I walk away from the door and head to the living room, as quickly and as softly as I can. I don’t want him to know I was listening.
He steps out of the bathroom and comes to the living room, with nothing on but a towel. The sight of him stuns me into silence. The situation is so intimate, so intrusive to his privacy, and yet it doesn't seem to faze him, my seeing him like this. He’s just so handsome I can’t take my eyes off of him. Even when he catches me staring, I can’t turn away. Why isn’t he wearing any clothes yet? He smiles when he catches me gaping at him, his white teeth bright against the tan of his skin, and I find that I can't breathe.
When he sees my confusion, he rushes to explain himself. “James brought some of my clothes here a while ago when Taylor decided this was gonna be our hiding spot. But I couldn’t put them on myself. I have some briefs on, but I’ll need your help with the rest.”
He sounds apologetic and his tone makes me feel bad. He's in pain. He shouldn't have to apologize for not being able to take care of himself tonight. He limps his way to the bedroom, and I follow him in as he sits on the bed. That’s when I notice that he does have clothes in his hands. He must have gotten them from the closet when I went for his medication.
I can hardly look at him right now. Chi is so good-looking in all his vulnerability that I'm blinded. I join him and take my place by his side while holding the tube of medicine in my hand. I pop the top open and squeeze a drop of cream out. It's cold to the touch with a strong smell to it. I run my fingertips over the wound on his arm. It's deep and painful to look at. Chi flinches when the balm touches his skin, but he doesn't say anything. When I'm done, I wrap a bandage around his injury.
"You know, I can do it myself if you want," he says.
I shake my head at him and ask him to turn around so I can apply the ointment over the slashes on his back. After that, Chi turns around to face me, and I'm about to touch his chest when he grabs my wrist gently and pushes my hand away. He entangles his fingers in my hair and pulls me to him. He strokes my lips with his, so softly I might expire under his touch. His kiss deepens, my mouth opening to his, until he takes a different route and makes his way up my jaw. He presses his lips against the curve of my throat before reaching for my ear. When he finds the spot behind my lobe, his tongue brushes my skin and I inhale sharply as he sighs against me. He stays there, with his face buried against my neck, breathing heavily as if he's trying to restrain himself.
I clear my throat and he pulls away from me. He hands me his t-shirt so I can help him put it on. Once his arms are inside the sleeves, he stands up and the shirt falls over his chest. He’s understanding enough not to take off his towel until his pants are on. I help him by pulling them up, his body so close to mine I can feel the heat radiating from him and smell the soap on his skin. His breath against my cheek tickles me. He drops the towel and I gasp, my mind a mush of senseless needs, all rationality gone. But he's dressed now, already zipping his pants up. He sits back on the bed, and I crouch in front of him to put his socks on, in an act so innocent and yet so personal. We both stand up at the same time.
Chi
leans toward me and whispers, “Thank you." He kisses me on the nose while holding on to my shoulders. "Well, I guess it’s time for bed.”
"Why didn't you just put on your pajamas?" I ask.
He sends me a glance, his eyes shining wickedly. "I don't own any pajamas, Thia."
I flush, crimson red I'm sure. He has dressed up for bed purely out of respect—such a simple move of decency from him, meaning so much to me.
The bed is old. The covers are clean, but sleeping here still seems unsanitary. Chi lies down carefully. He winces as he lifts his legs up. He leans back against the pillows and breathes deeply. I find my place next to him and rest my head on his collarbone, careful not to hurt him. I wrap my arm around his stomach, and he begins to stroke my hair.
“What happened to you when I was gone?" he asks. "They didn't touch you, did they? I was worried sick about you, wondering what the officers might do to you. But you're okay, right?"
“They took me back home,” I reply.
He sighs in relief. “They did? How did that go?”
“Surprisingly well, actually. The officer questioned me, but I acted dumb. I think he bought it. I did make it clear that you hadn’t kidnapped me though.”
“Are your parents aware?” he asks.
“My mother was there. She lied to my father about it, too. She has changed so much. In a matter of days, it’s as if she's become a new person.”
“Maybe she was like that all along. You just never knew."
“She said she had to pretend for our own protection. It was strange, but it felt nice, you know, to realize she did care all along.”
“So, how did you find me?" he asks. "I didn’t think I was gonna make it, honestly.”
“Mother had Walter take me by train and drop me at Taylor’s house. No one knows. My mother is to pretend I ran away.”
“So, they’ll be looking for you too, then. They’ll know you came for me.” His stance grows wary.
“Yes. And I don’t care.” I pause for a minute while he kisses my hair and plays with my curls, absent-mindedly. “Officer Bryan Harris helped us. He told us you were getting transferred and where to find you.”