Chosen

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Chosen Page 12

by Lauren Chow

The buff man, who I assumed was Tony, grunted.

  “Just knock Jared!” Tony shouted in annoyance. “I am not getting any younger, and these girls certainly aren’t going to heal by themselves.”

  Jared looked ready to smack Tony but knocked on the old wooden door. We were left with silence.

  “Alright, this isn’t working. How about we—” Jared was cut off by shouts coming from inside.

  I don’t exactly know what happened at that moment.

  Everything became a blur and due to all the quick motions, I felt my body scream in pain. I bit my lip hard to hold in the scream, tasting blood from biting too hard. I looked around and saw myself in Drake’s arms with Adam flanking him, while Jay pinned Jared to a tree. Tony and Tanya were surrounded by Luke and Eric.

  I felt voices slam into me and wished I’d kept the bracelet on that was probably still inside the house.

  Thank GOD.

  It looks like she lost weight. She looks terrible.

  When I am done with this fuc—

  I crammed everything away as much as I could when the voices began pounding on my skull. My ears were starting to ring and I thought I might pass out any second.

  “Who the hell are you?!” Jay roared. I almost flinched away from him. I had never seen him so angry. I didn’t like it when Jay acted this way. Even though he never showed this side towards me, it didn’t mean I wasn’t a bit scared. Jay looked better when he smiled and showed his right dimple and not when I could see the vein in his neck popping out.

  I felt the urge to calm him down, but I was in no position for that. I was too weak and secured in Drake’s arms.

  “It’s alright,” Jared raised his hands in surrender with a calm expression. “Eric called me to help you guys. We came here to help Clara. She needs medical attention fast, along with the other girl. They are malnourished and dehydrated. They both have broken bones, bruises, and scratches. I tried to clean the wounds as much as I could. Help them first and I will answer your questions,” Jared said calmly. He didn’t seem afraid of Jay. They were both the same height and built. They were an even match if Jay were to start something.

  Eric came around and got a closer look before widening his eyes.

  “Jared! It is you! Jay let him go,” Eric ordered. Jay huffed before pulling back while Eric gave Jared a hug. Eric pulled back with a smile. “It’s been years boy! You should’ve visited, and you wouldn’t have been pinned down. I’m just glad you answered your phone.”

  Jared gave him a small smile before pointing back to us.

  Luke turned to Tanya and put his hands gently on her wrists. Tanya flinched slightly but watched what he was about to do curiously. I turned away from the bones snapping together and her gasps. I looked up at Adam and Drake, who barely smiled.

  “Thank goodness you’re alright. Adam and Jay went psycho without you here,” Drake tried to say lightheartedly, but I heard a hint of seriousness in his tone. Adam kissed me lightly on the top of my head. It surprised me. Normally Adam was loud but now he seemed so solemn. I’d never seen him like this, besides when I first came here.

  “I’ve missed you Girl Scout. Don’t scare me like that again,” Adam whispered softly before looking up and freezing. I didn’t see what he was looking at because I felt hands on my wrists. I turned my head to see Luke grimacing at me.

  “This is going to hurt a little bit. You need to rest before the magic spreads throughout your body,” Luke said before closing his eyes.

  I felt the warmth spread through my body as I prepared myself. I gasped and arched my back as bones snapped to place. I let out a whimper and I could hear a hiss from somewhere else. The pain slowly started to disappear and I sighed in contentment. I felt myself become more exhausted and felt my eyes start to droop.

  “Thank you,” I whispered and let my eyes slide shut.

  ***

  “You’re useless,” Mark whispered in my ear. “All you are is trash. A Chosen one? You are a disgrace. You will fail.”

  I thrashed against his hold on me. He had me pinned to the hard floor in my prison, his body covering mine. I tried to block the terrible thoughts in my head.

  “No one cares for you. The people caring for you are only doing it because of what you are. They don’t care about you. Why would they? Everyone at school hated you. You were the freak. The slut. The whore. You deserve to rot. Bryce should’ve killed you when he had the chance. I’m going to help finish the job after we’ve had our fun with you,” he cooed in my ear.

  I thrashed around and tried to scream for help but my voice left me. I couldn’t make any sound. He started to remove my clothes.

  This is what I was. This is what I had become.

  I was nothing. Useless.

  I thrashed around one last time until I felt something painful come—

  Clara!

  I only felt pain as I still cried out silently.

  CLARA!

  ***

  I woke up with a scream and tumbled to the floor with a loud thump. I felt hands shaking me and trying to pull me up.

  “Clara! Are you alright?”

  I looked and saw Jay, Adam, and Jared looking at me with worried expressions. I couldn’t help but break down and sob as I saw them.

  I felt arms wrap around me and I clung onto them. I needed something to keep me grounded to reality.

  I heard noises until everything was quiet but my cries. Everything came crashing down again. My reality was terrifying. It held nothing but death and destruction. I felt myself getting picked up and placed on a lap.

  “Clara,” I closed my eyes and started to relax slowly to Jay’s soothing voice. “We’re here. It was a nightmare. You’re safe. I’m going to do whatever I can to protect you. Please calm down,” he whispered softly.

  I started to calm down and looked around to see Adam holding something.

  “I brought you something,” Adam said quietly. I looked and saw my bracelet dangling on his fingers. He gently puts it around my frail wrist and I felt some relief. I could save more energy now. I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing my water that was on the nightstand. I slowly sipped the water before lying back into Jay.

  “I need to shower. I’m covered in gunk and I smell terrible,” I said tiredly.

  Adam got up and set the shower for me as Jay kept me secure in his lap. I turned to see Jared studying me intently. Jared leaned over to me.

  “I can see the look in your eyes. Don’t even think like that,” he whispered and gave me a knowing look.

  Before I could grasp what he’d said, he gently squeezed my shoulder before getting up to leave. I didn’t want him to go for some reason, but I let him leave. He probably had better stuff to do than comfort me.

  Adam said the shower was ready and he gave me one more quick hug before letting me do my business. I tried to get up but was stopped by the firm hold around my waist.

  I looked into piercing grey eyes. Before I knew what was going on, I found myself crushing him to me, him doing the same. It felt good being in Jay’s arms. Like this was all I needed to feel secure. All negative thoughts drained away as I savored the present of just being with him.

  “I missed you so much. I didn’t stop looking for you these last five days. I’m sorry I failed you,” Jay whispered.

  Five days? It was only five days? It had felt like an eternity. I pulled back and looked at him intently.

  “I missed you too,” I whispered. I looked down. “But it’s not your fault. It’s mine for pulling a stunt like that. I couldn’t stand the idea of any of you guys getting hurt and made a foolish decision.”

  I felt a hand tilt my head up. I closed my eyes when I felt something soft press on my forehead.

  “You’re crazy, you know that Clair,” Jay whispered.

  “Clair? Since when did you call me that?” I asked softly, loving the warm feeling rushing through me at the new name.

  “Sin
ce now. I decided that’s going to be my nickname for you. It suits you.” I smiled for the first time in the last few days.

  “I need to shower now. Can you help me get there?” I asked shyly. I knew there was a possibility I’d fall making my own way there.

  Jay nodded and helped me stand. I carefully walked to the bathroom and tried not to fall as Jay steadied me.

  Once I was getting ready, Jay closed the door, leaving me alone for the first time. I took off my torn and bloody clothes and threw them in the trash. I shut my eyes tightly before getting into the warm shower Adam had prepared for me.

  I sighed as it relaxed my muscles. I tried not to panic as I saw pink water go down the drain as I cleaned myself up. I made sure to scrub my skin hard, trying to get rid of any marks that were left as a reminder of the nightmare. I shakily stopped as my skin started to turn bright red, knowing I was only causing harm to myself. I sat on the edge and leaned back as the water hit me.

  I dwelled in my thoughts as the nightmares and memories kept returning. Did they really care? Was Mark right? I tried to shake myself out of it. Maybe that’s what he wanted me to think.

  But what if he was right? Adam wouldn’t have befriended you if you weren’t the one.

  But Adam would have been my friend even if I weren’t the Chosen, right?

  I don’t know! I was so confused. After all the pain I’d been through the last few years... who knew.

  I got out and wrapped a towel around me to dry myself off. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and gasped.

  My skin was bright red from my hard scrubbing and registered the sting from the cold air. It looked like I’d lost weight, and I looked very weak. The most damaged features were my eyes. They looked so sad and lost. Tortured. I tried to ignore them and realized I’d forgotten my clothes. I groaned and opened the door to see Jay on my bed.

  I cleared my throat to get his attention.

  “I need to change. I’ll be downstairs soon,” I mumbled. Jay nodded and left the room quietly.

  I left the bathroom and gathered some clothes. I put on black sweats and a blue Disney shirt, showing a picture of Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I frowned at how baggy the shirt and sweats looked on me. I put some light grey fuzzy socks to finish my lazy outfit.

  Oh well. Time to face the music.

  I silently went down the stairs, Mark’s voice still ringing in my head, even with my bracelet on. The voice got louder and louder, pulling me into a darker part of myself.

  Nothing. Mark whispered.

  Useless.

  19 - Climbing Back Up

  I stumbled into the kitchen to be crushed into an embrace.

  I felt warm tears on my neck, and I just held Maggie’s larger frame as she trembled.

  “I’m so glad you’re safe,” Maggie sobbed. I rubbed her back soothingly. Maggie had become a mother figure to me. Even though I hadn’t known her for long, Maggie had given me that warm motherly feeling I’d been missing my entire life.

  I felt another person join our hug and saw a relieved Eric. He looked like he’d aged a few years. I felt guilty for causing him so much stress.

  You don’t deserve their worry. You aren’t worth the trouble.

  “Don’t do that again, Clara. We were all worried,” Eric said in a fatherly tone. I smiled tightly and nodded.

  I pulled away and got crushed into another group hug consisting of Drake and Luke. I didn’t mind though.

  “We missed you, Clara. Jay was a moping mess,” Drake teased lightheartedly. I could see the relief in his eyes.

  “I’m glad you’re safe,” Luke said sweetly, and he patted my messy hair. I didn’t even bother fixing it. He examined me again to make sure I didn’t have any more injuries. I smiled at the gesture.

  They don’t really care. They only care because you’re the Chosen.

  My smiled slipped and I blocked that out. They were my family—and even if they didn’t care. I cared about them.

  Once our group hug dispersed, I ran to Jared who was leaning against the wall. He caught me as I practically launched myself at his frame. I tried to hold in my tears.

  “I should’ve gotten there sooner,” Jared whispered. “If I had, you wouldn’t be feeling like this. You wouldn’t be hurt.”

  “I am—”

  “You may be physically, but there are some scars that Luke can’t heal. Your soul is hurting,” he said, cutting me off softly.

  “How do you know?” I whispered so no one else in the room could hear us.

  “It’s my job. I’m just glad I got you before he...” he trailed off tightly and I hugged him. I pulled away and found Adam, Tony, and Tanya on the couch. Tanya was pretty much in the same state that I was in, wrapped in a blanket. I went over to them and gave Tanya a warm hug.

  “We’re out,” I said jokingly to try lighten the air. Tanya gave me a weak smile.

  “Yes, we are. Thank you for finding me. I’m glad I’m out of that hellhole. Once I recover, I’m going to find the closest straightener,” Tanya laughed. I smiled at her.

  I could tell we were going to be close friends. So, this is what it was like to have a girlfriend? Interesting. I went to Tony and surprised him with a hug. Usually I wasn’t so touchy, but I couldn’t help but be grateful. Tony hugged me back.

  “Thank you for rescuing me,” I said sweetly and I gave him a soft smile. He smiled back and nodded his head.

  “It was my pleasure to save you from that place. No one deserves to be there. I know firsthand,” Tony said in a soothing tone.

  I nodded and turned to Adam. Adam stood up and crushed me into a hug. I hugged him back, missing his embrace.

  “It felt weird not being around you, Keller,” I whispered, and he crushed me closer towards him. I could feel him shake, and I rubbed his back soothingly.

  “Don’t you ever do something that stupid ever again, Clara. I won’t live to see you pull another stunt like that,” Adam croaked, and I nodded my head as we stayed in our embrace.

  Without removing his arms, he whispered in my ear.

  “Goats. You still owe me and I want to know what happened. I want to know how you’re really feeling besides using my magic. You can’t hide it from me,” Adam said seriously.

  I groaned while everyone looked at us curiously. I reluctantly nodded. I wasn’t going to tell him everything. I didn’t want Adam to do something stupid.

  Adam finally released me and I settled on the couch, with Tanya sharing her blanket with me.

  Everyone went into awkward silence as we tried to figure out what to do with ourselves. Jay came into the room with trays for Tanya and me. We munched a little bit in silence as everyone broke into small chatter.

  Look at what you caused. All the happiness is gone.

  ***

  I sat and stared at the bracelet. I started to play with a few charms until I got them stuck in my hair. Frustrated, I pulled them out and groaned.

  For the last few days, I’d been recovering from my kidnapping. Eric and the guys banned me from the training room so that I’d get a full recovery. Tanya, Tony, and Jared moved into the house, since they didn’t have anywhere to go and especially since Dexter was probably looking for them now.

  During these past few days, I’d been starting to get distant. I stayed in my room most of the time and only left when Maggie called me for a meal.

  It left me isolated with my thoughts, which were raging against one another. One saying one thing and one saying another thing. Even though the bracelet saved me from other people’s thoughts, they couldn’t block out my own.

  I’d had restless nights and hot showers, due to nightmares or voices screaming in my head. I hated how Mark’s words affected me this way. I didn’t want to believe him, but my insecurities always stayed in my head.

  “Frustrated?”

  I jumped back from the voice with a squeal and snapped my head to the door. I saw Jared looking at me with his u
sual blank expression. I sighed and moved over on my bed so he could sit with me.

  “A little bit,” I muttered. The corner of his mouth twitched up a little before he looked me in the eyes.

  “You’ve been distant, locking yourself in your room. Judging from only knowing you for a short time, I know this isn’t like you. Everyone is worried about you,” Jared explained while examining my face.

  I contemplated what he’d said and tried to figure out a response. I felt a connection with Jared, but not in a romantic way. He was like my big brother and I could tell him anything. I hesitated to say what was on my mind as I tried to place my words together carefully. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

  I told him everything. I told him about being adopted by my foster parents. I told him about my school life and the names I was called and the bullying. I told him about Adam and meeting Jay. I told him about Bryce attacking my home to seeing Irene and Hebert killed. I told him about meeting Eric and Maggie, along with the other boys. I told him about when I first met Tanya in the prison. I gulped as I told him about my time with Dexter and Mark.

  “In the prison, Mark... he was the one who almost,” I gulped. I needed to say it. “Raped me,” I said. I cleared my throat and kept going before I lost my nerve. “H—he told me so many things. The way he spoke, it was like he knew everything about me. It felt disgusting hearing him talk about my life. He told me I was trash, that no one cares about me, they’re only with me because I’m this Chosen. He told me I’m going to fail and only kill people—my loved ones and the innocent,” I felt a tear start to fall but kept going, grateful I wasn’t stuttering. “I try to block him out. I try not to believe him. But... those thoughts have always been in the back of my head, Jared. They aren’t going away—and I don’t know what to do. I’m starting to believe them,” I said quietly.

  Throughout my confession, Jared listened silently. I’m glad he didn’t interrupt me and let me rant. After I finished, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him. I rested my head on his shoulder.

  “You are strong, Clara. Mark can’t weaken you. This is making you stronger. Don’t listen to him. You are not trash; you are a human being just like the rest of us. We do care about you—not because of this Chosen crap. I didn’t care before I realized that. You can do this, Clara Evans.” Jared finished his speech quietly.

 

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