Betraying Innocence

by Phoenix, Airicka

  “Hello?” she called, sticking her head out into the hallway.

  Darkness painted the corridor on either side, broken only by the spikes of sick yellow that splintered from the ceiling, forming halos across the laminate. At the very end, blazing a frightening red, the Exit sign blinked. Wheelchairs, carts, racks of linen and other odd shapes were cloaked in black, haunting corners like monsters waiting to snatch up unsuspecting souls. Ana swallowed hard. She’d seen enough horror movies to feel a cold shiver seize her body. Where were her parents? Had they both taken her advice and gone home?

  Good job, genius!

  Ignoring the sliver of annoyance at her own stupidity, she took the final steps out of her room, dragging her IV with her. The wheels squealed, a high-pitched wail that could have wakened the dead … or undead if all those horror movies had anything to say about hospitals. She suppressed the urge to tell it to shush. She also battled back the temptation to rip the thing from her hand and go at it on her own; something told her running — if she had to — would be a whole lot harder if she had a long, metal rod to drag with her.

  “Stop it!” she hissed to herself, dampening her lips.

  Sweat slicked the rod. She tightened her slipping hold, dragging the thing more forcibly, ignoring every shriek and squeak.

  Several empty hospital rooms later, Ana stopped. Where was everyone? She couldn’t possibly be the only person on that floor! But the river of ice floating through her bloodstream had another thought. A thought she didn’t even want to consider. A crazy thought that only crazy people thought up.

  “Stop it!”

  Squeak, squeak, squeak…

  Sweat dampened the paper gown to her spine. It pasted strands of hair to her neck and made her skin itchy. She ignored the itch, the need to rub at the goose bumps that puckered along her skin. She ignored the persistent crack of her heart pleading for her to turn back, to crawl under the sheets and wait for dawn. The same pull that propelled her just that morning to hike the twenty minutes to school guided her now, driving her through each beam of light, every stretch of darkness towards the red sign of freedom and the double doors beneath it — only a handful more steps. Someone had to be on the other side. The world had to be there.

  Three steps from it, she paused, hand outstretched. Her fingers trembled. Her gut churned. She took a deep breath. And in that second, while she was bracing herself, the doors flew open and a figure burst in.

  Ana opened her mouth, but no scream came.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ana

  Her companion cursed. Something hit the floor at their feet. Hot liquid splashed over Ana’s feet, but her cry of pain as it ate at her skin was muffled by the hand suddenly over her mouth, clamping down her scream, stifling her oxygen.

  “Shh!” he hissed. “It’s me!”

  Breathing hard, too hard, Ana ripped the hand away, eyes searching the shadow looming over her. “Rafe?”

  Hesitation and then, “Hey.”

  A sound filled her ears, weak and pathetic and she realized she was hyperventilating. A sob boiled out. Her knees quivered and she began sinking.

  Rafe cursed again. Then, his arms were there, snatching her and pulling her into his chest. His heat washed over her. The comfort of his solidness chased away the nightmarish images of ghosts and demons. She momentarily forgot everything except the steady drum of his heart and the tickle of his breath at her temple as she sagged against him. Any other time, she would have been mortified, but that was the one emotion not strangling her as she squished her face into the front of his shirt and fought back tears.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered into her temple, his voice much huskier than it had been earlier. “Are you okay?”

  Weak with terror, with relief and anger, Ana squeezed her eyes shut. “You scared the hell out of me.”

  His chuckle was more sheepish than amused. “I didn’t mean to.”

  “Sure you … ow!” She yelped when his stroking hand brushed the stitches in her head. “It only feels really bad,” she lied when he hissed through his teeth.

  “God, baby!” he breathed the two words in an almost growl. The arm around her middle tightened. “I’m sorry.”

  She tipped her head back on his shoulder to peer into his shadow-bathed face. “Why? You didn’t do it.”

  Cool fingers brushed back strands off her cheek and tucked them behind her ear, sending warm tingles down her spine. “Doesn’t matter. I…” he trailed off. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. What are you doing roaming the halls?”

  Moment shattered, she pulled away, reaching blindly for her IV rod. “I was … wait, what are you doing here at three in the morning?”

  They were interrupted by the voices on the other side of the doors.

  Rafe sidestepped her. “I’m not here!” Then, he really wasn’t. He moved so quick, Ana didn’t even see him melt into the shadows until she was left completely alone to face the two nurses who walked through.

  Like deer in headlights, the three froze, staring at the other in surprise, in the nurse’s case, fright.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” one cried, coming to her senses before the other.

  Ana, dumbfounded, darted a glance around the hall, searching for a plausible excuse. Then her gaze landed on the spilt cup of coffee at her feet and she blurted, “Getting a drink?”

  The nurse followed the line of her gaze and her eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

  “I called down to the nurses’ desk,” Ana said, not really meaning for it to sound like an accusation, but that’s the way it came out. “But when no one came.”

  “I was on my way,” the nurse said tightly, like Ana had just gotten on her last nerve. “We do have other patients you know.”

  Ana thought of all the empty rooms on her floor and somehow doubted that.

  “It’s okay,” the other nurse piped in, offering Ana a comforting smile. “Why don’t we get you back into bed? I’ll bring you a drink.”

  Liking this nurse better, Ana ignored the scowling one, hoping her shift was nearly over. “Thank you.”

  The smiling one led her back to her room, helped her climb into bed and tucked the sheets around her. She checked Ana’s charts, assessed her IV drip and did a quick temperature check before she started for the door.

  “Did you want water and ice, or something else?” she asked, pausing on the threshold. “I can also get you juice. We have apple or orange.”

  “Water’s fine. Thank you!”

  Smiling, the nurse left and Ana quickly sat up. She listened for sounds of footsteps, for voices, anything, but deafening silence pulsed back at her.

  “Rafe?” she whispered, partially wondering if he’d been a concussion-induced hallucination.

  There was a movement in the doorway and he slipped inside. He paused once to glance down the hall before turning to her, grinning sheepishly with his hands in his pockets.

  “She’s coming back,” Ana told him, voice low.

  Rafe crossed the distance to her bed. Ana watched him move, his boots making barely a scuffle on the ground. There was the faint tinkle of his coat zipper, but she would never have heard it had she not been listening for it.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him again.

  He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I, uh.” He cleared his throat. “I actually came by earlier, but your parents were here and I…” He blew out air. “I wanted to see how you were.”

  “Where are my parents?” she asked.

  He jerked a shoulder. “They weren’t here when I came back and you were sleeping.”

  “How long have you been here?” she wondered.

  His mouth opened and then snapped shut when the scuffle of sneakers on laminate filled the air. With spooky quickness, he darted into the attached bathroom and melted into the darkness.

  The smiling nurse appeared in the doorway, a frosty glass of water in hand. She offered it to Ana. Ana thanked her, taking a
small sip and setting the glass down on the nightstand. The nurse asked if she wanted another sedative, but Ana refused. The nurse left. Two seconds later, Rafe stepped out of the bathroom.

  “Well?” Ana pressed, not letting him weasel out of answering her.

  His gaze darted to the clock. “Since they brought you in.” He looked down at his feet, his face bunched in annoyance. “I waited downstairs for a while. I figured I’d try seeing you when you woke up…” He broke off, giving his shoulders another awkward shrug. “I didn’t know they sedated you.”

  She stared at him, positive her mouth was gaping. She couldn’t believe what he was telling her. “You’ve been here for over sixteen hours?”

  He traced the length of her bed railing with one finger, his eyes following the slow glide up and down the plastic. “I didn’t have anything else to do. It wasn’t a big deal.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t think there were words to express how amazed and oddly touched she was.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He nodded, resting both hands on the railing and leaned slightly forward. “You’re welcome.”

  She lowered her gaze and frowned at the splotchy red and purple bruises on the knuckles of his right hand. “What happened to your hand?”

  He looked down at it, shrugged. “I punched an ass. How are you feeling?” he asked before she could ask what he meant.

  She shrugged, watching her hands twist a corner of the sheets. “I have insomnia or something. Drugging me up is apparently the only way to get me to sleep. But that didn’t work so well. I woke up.”

  “I always wondered about that,” he murmured quietly.

  Her gaze lifted to him. “What’s that?”

  His hands slipped into the pockets of his black jeans. “Every time I look out my window, I see the lights on in your room.”

  She nodded slowly. “They think that’s what caused…” She waved a hand towards her head, the words glued to her throat.

  “I guess that makes sense.” He looked down at his sneakers. “Have you always had trouble sleeping?”

  She shook her head. “They think my insomnia is due to stress from the move.”

  His head cocked to the side. “What do you think?”

  Ana said nothing. She bit her bottom lip and stared back at him. Could she tell him she thought she was losing her mind? That she was almost certain she was crazy? Would he stick around after? Would he deny it? Would he agree?

  She looked away. “Your parents must be getting worried about you.”

  There was laughter in his voice when he replied, “Are you kicking me out?”

  “No!” Horrified, her eyes shot to his. “I was just—”

  He chuckled. “Easy, Rosa. I’m only teasing.”

  She didn’t know what to say when her heart did a strange summersault in her chest. She couldn’t even find the sense to be annoyed that he called her Rosa again, only that she had missed that smirk on his face.

  “Are you getting tired?” he asked. “I could leave if you want to sleep.”

  Ana shook her head. “I couldn’t go back to sleep even if I wanted to.”

  “So, what do you do all night if you’re not sleeping?”

  She jerked a shoulder. “Read.” Listen to the tapping. “Listen to music.” To drown out the tapping. “Nothing really.”

  He made a soft humming sound.

  “You know, I’m kind of surprised you’re here,” she blurted when he didn’t seem to have anything else to say.

  He turned his head to the side and peered at her. “Why’s that?”

  “I guess I just didn’t think you cared,” she admitted. She bit her lip and looked down. “I was actually beginning to think that maybe you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. You’ve kind of been avoiding me since…” She bit down harder on her lip, mentally kicking herself for bringing up that day in the rain.

  But if he caught her hesitation, he didn’t show it. The corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk. “Weren’t you the one who told me to leave you alone? Don’t tell me I’m beginning to grow on you.”

  Her cheeks warmed at his husky drawl. “Yes, but I didn’t expect you to switch from James Bond to Freddy Krueger either.”

  It was his turn to lower his head, dark tendrils of hair slipping over his brow. Ana had to stuff her hands beneath the blankets to keep from reaching over and flipping them out of his eyes.

  “Well, I didn’t mean for it to seem that way.”

  “Then why did you?”

  He hesitated a moment. His fingers curled around the railing once more and he leaned in further, his head lowered. The twisted frown on his face could only be construed as pain. It was laced in his voice when he finally spoke.

  “Because I’m not Andrews.”

  Ana frowned, bewildered. “Vinny? What does he have to do with anything?”

  He averted his face. A muscle danced along his jaw. “Who are you trying to kid, Rosa?” His brown eyes were dark pools of frustration. “We both know you belong with someone like him. Someone whose reputation won’t ruin yours. No one will look at you kindly if they see us walking down the street together. If anything, you’ll hate me for it.”

  Stunned by the bitter confession, Ana pushed up higher on the pillows, dragging herself almost level with his face. “Who said anything about me and Vinny being together? I only met the guy two days ago.”

  His head bent to the side, his eyes searching. “I’ve seen the way he watches you.”

  Ana snorted. “So? Just because a guy gives me a once over doesn’t mean I’m going to tumble into bed with him, or into a relationship. Vinny’s great, but I…”

  There was an eerie focus to his gaze, an intensity that soaked all the moisture from her mouth and pounded adrenaline into her heart muscles.

  “What?” he coaxed in an almost growl.

  Ana bit her lip, her fingers hurting beneath the tight knot of the sheets wrapped around them. But she didn’t loosen up. “I kind of already like someone else.”

  She didn’t look at him. She didn’t move. She was scarcely breathing as she waited for him to say something. Part of her wondered if he knew she meant him, or if he would think she meant someone else. She wondered if she should clarify. Then wondered if she had the nerve.

  “That’s a mistake.”

  She stiffened. Her head came up fast, her eyes latching on to his hardened expression. “What?”

  “Don’t pick me.”

  It was the hurt that drummed up the nerve to speak. “Why not?” She faltered only slightly when she asked, “Because you don’t feel the same?”

  His laugh was cold and brittle as he turned away. Ana tried not to let it affect her, but the sound of it speared her through the chest.

  “Do you know what a guy like me looks for in a girl?” He spun on the heel of his boot to pin her with a piercing glare. “Cheap and easy. A girl who knows that I will leave before the sheets are cool and not look back. Someone who knows that odds are I don’t even know her name the whole time I have her on her back. I don’t do relationships. I don’t do sweet and slow. I will claim you.” The bed dipped beneath his weight as he planted both hands on either side of her hips and leaned forward. “I will consume you and break you again…” He moved in, pressing her back into the pillows and invading her personal space and stealing all her air. “And again until…” The minty scent of his breath brushed her face in a feather-light caress. His eyes were chips of ember against the hard plains of his face; in them fire blazed hot, angry and full of pain. Ana held her breath, her heart a rampant mess in her chest. “I’ve tainted and used every inch of you,” he murmured, his voice a husky purr that was more condescending than sexy. “You will feel me for days afterwards. That is how I will take you. That is how I will ruin you.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, the hunger in them terrifying and exciting. When he spoke, his voice was low and guttural. “So do yourself a favor.” His eyes lifted and met hers. “Don’t
pick me.”

  Melting in her own flesh, Ana shifted, moving forward rather than back. There was a spark of satisfaction in the surprise that flickered behind his eyes at her bold move.

  “But I already—”

  His hand closed over her mouth, his hold as tense as the fear in his eyes. “Stop!”

  She tugged his hand away. “Rafe, let me—”

  “No!” His growl was vicious and raw with panic. He stumbled back from her bed. “You have no idea what you’re saying.” He straightened, his face a mask of carved ice. “Call me when you want a quick roll between the sheets. Otherwise, stay away.”

  He turned away from her and stalked across the room. He paused at the door. Three heartbeats later she heard a sound, a cross between a growl and a sigh, then he was gone and she was alone in her room with her demons and now a deep ache in her chest.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rafe

  Rafe left Ana’s hospital room without a single glance in her direction, and still the hurt behind her big, green eyes followed him all the way down the elevator to the main floor. He kicked an empty soda can across the parking garage. It rolled and scuttled into the splotchy darkness. The noise was tumultuous, echoing around him like thunder. He cursed himself again and again, ripping hairs from their roots with every infuriated thrust of his hand.

  “Ugh!” He kicked the can again, sending it sailing before smacking into the driver’s side door of a red Suburban. Its alarm flickered in warning.

  He’d done it for her own good. She had no idea what she was talking about, no idea what a danger he was to her, and not just him but the entire town. He was protecting her. He had to believe he was. Otherwise the guilt of his lies hurting her would be just another notch on his tombstone and he was pretty sure there was no more rock to notch.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face.

  No. It hadn’t been a lie, not entirely. He had done her a favor. A girl like her didn’t need the bullshit and baggage that came along with a guy like him. He wasn’t Chipawaha Creek’s golden boy like Vincent Andrews. He wasn’t the mayor’s son. He wasn’t the quarterback of the football team, or captain of the swim team, or even an all-around good guy. What he was, was the son of a murderer who was rotting in jail, a guy who everyone said he looked just like. He’d been marked for something he couldn’t control since the day of his birth and that was a curse he couldn’t bring on anyone, especially not someone like Ana. It killed him, but he would rather she turned her back on him now than let himself fall too deep and her wind up hating him. The good folks of Chipawaha Creek were not known for their mercy, or their kindness towards those they found undesirable. His mother stayed because it was her home and he stayed because she was his only family. Her and the twins. He had no one else. They were the only good thing about him.