Chapter 10: A Threat Of Friendship?
Ember Corbin
"Why are we dropping you in a graveyard?" Lance questioned at last after I stepped out of his car. "Are you visiting someone for your mom?"
I turned back to see him looking at me from the rolled-down windshield. Giving him a firm smile, I replied, "I am going to meet someone. Do you want to accompany me?" Before he could say something, I added, "Only if you have time."
He looked at his wristwatch and heaved a sigh before getting out of the car. He was wearing a buttoned-up black shirt with black jeans, and I had to admit, the outfit looked really nice on him; especially for the occasion.
"Today is Sunday, so..." he trailed off.
Chuckling, I put my hands in the pocket of my black hoodie. The weather wasn't that cold, yet I wore a hoodie with my shorts because it was comfortable and I had intended to go to the supermarket only. "I never knew Mafia leaders had a holiday too," I commented and started walking to the entrance of the graveyard.
"Mafia leaders also need rest," he informed me and walked with me. "By the way, whom are we meeting here?" he asked curiously when I was silent.
Before opening the gate of the graveyard, I answered him, "My mom." I got inside and stood in front of the second grave, where it was engraved, 'Emily Corbin.'
"I thought your mom was alive," he let out in disbelief.
"Everyone thinks that my mom was alive, and I have a happy family because I don't want people to know how sad the happy-go-lucky girl Ember is in reality," I told him with a sad smile. "This is where my mom stays, in a graveyard."
"What about your dad?"
"I have no one apart from my mom," I lied bluntly. It wasn't a lie technically because she was the only one who was there for me. I looked back at the headstone, the sad smile still on my face. I didn't know why I felt comfortable letting my happy mask fall off around him. "You know, Lance, she's still with me, just not in front of my eyes, but she is alive in my heart."
When he didn't say anything, I looked at his guilt-flashed face. He was definitely guilty for treating me rudely, but I didn't want that. Pity was the last thing I would want from the only person I was destined to meet so many times.
Taking a hold of his hand, I crouched in front of my mom's grave and made him crouch as well.
"When did this happen?" he asked me, his voice gentler than I had ever heard him speak to me.
"It was eight years ago. Remember I told you about being in a mental asylum? I was in there after her death."
"What happened after that?"
I shuddered, remembering those scary memories, and wrapped my arms around my knees to comfort myself. "I thought I was going to recover in there, but recovering from my mom's death was the last thing they did. Instead, they increased my trauma. It was a torture cell. I was locked up in a room with nothing inside, and I thought I would never get out of that place. They used to electrocute me almost every day and barely gave me any food. So when I found an opening once, I ran away with all I had, and please don't ask me how."
"Are you sure that's the only reason for you to run away?" Lance said coldly, but I could feel the teasing tone in it.
I narrowed my eyes in his direction. "Don't mess with the woman who actually ran away from a mental asylum. The security is really tight, I will have you know."
He chuckled, making me smile as well. "Well, what was the name of the asylum?"
"Something starting with Hill Spring, I guess. I was too traumatized to even remember a name," I said to him. "After escaping, I returned to my house and started doing part-time jobs, struggling to stay alive."
I looked at Lance, only to find his eyes softening as he gazed up at me. As he opened up his mouth to say something, all of a sudden it started to drizzle.
"Oh, fuck," I cursed our luck and stood up along with Lance. "Let's take shade under that huge tree." I pointed to the tree nearby, and instead of waiting for his answer, I grabbed his hand before running under the tree.
Once we were under the shade, I placed a hand over my chest, heaving a sigh in relief. Thank God we were saved from the rain, otherwise, Lance might've ended up having a cold, and then, he would blame me for it forever. I didn't want to take any risk.
Once I realized my hand was still entwined with his hand, I tried to wriggle free until he pulled me towards his chest all of a sudden. I placed my free hand over his chest to push him away from me but stopped when our intense gazes met.
"Lanceâ" I was interrupted by him.
"Before you get any filthy thoughts, I was just protecting you from getting drenched."
"Oh," I uttered and bit my lower lip. I pulled him under the shade to refrain from him getting drenched, and here, he was doing the same. Yet, he says we aren't friends.
"Ember," he called out. "How can you be so confident in everything?"
I furrowed my brows in confusion. "I don't understand."
"You speak up whatever you have going on in your mind. You don't even hesitate to apologize when you know it's your fault. You should be the one having the least confidence because of losing your loved ones at a young age."
I smiled hearing his words and said, "Why should I be less confident when fate already played its card? I always try to think positively. Just because I lost my loved ones once, doesn't mean I won't find new ones who will love me. I have hopes that I'll find my loved ones one day. Not the same people, but maybe my soulmate, who will have a big family to never make me feel lonely."
It seemed like he was impressed by the answer, but he covered it up with a blank look and asked, "Why do you want to be my friend?"
"Because you are always there for me and do everything a friend should. Candy is my friend, but I never feel the same way I feel when I am with you," I answered honestly. "You give me the peace and assurance that you will fix everything. Even though you don't say it, your presence and silence say it all. Besides, I know you will protect me all the time like you are doing now, even if it's menial like protecting me from the rain." As soon as I breathed out, Lance noticed how flushed our chests were and immediately pushed me away slightly.
Clearing his throat, he said, "I... uhâI am sorry." I saw his cheeks reddening. It could have been from catching a cold in the rain, but I was pretty sure it was because of embarrassment.
I burst into a fit of laughter. "It's okay, there is nothing to be embarrassed about." When my eyes fell on the sky, I urged, "Hey, look at the beautiful sunset."
Both of us looked at the beautiful sun setting down as the drizzling continued. It was such beautiful scenery.
Mom, today I brought a friend of mine with me, and when I am with him, I feel comfortable. Please keep a watch on our friendship because I don't want to lose him now. I lost every close person of mine, but I don't want to anymore.
"Since it's raining, should I call Sebastian to bring an umbrella and take us to the car? I will drop you home then," Lance asked, bringing me out of my fallacy.
"Sounds like a nice idea," I replied with a bright smile.
He called the driver, and he escorted us back to the car after giving us two umbrellas.
When Sebastian started the car, Lance gave him the directions to my house, and I stayed silent, feeling a little lighter after opening up with someone about my past. I didn't share my entire past with him, yet it felt lighter.
"We are here," Sebastian announced.
"Thank you, Sebastian," I said and turned to Lance. "Thank you for dropping me."
He gave a curt nod.
As I got out of the car and was about to get into my house, Lance called out, "Ember."
I turned to face him with a smile. He was now standing in front of me after getting out of the car. "Yes?"
"Can you give me your phone?"
I raised my brows in confusion. "Why?"
"Just give it," he ordered.
I took out my phone from my pocket and handed it to him after opening the lock. I saw him typing something, and once he was done, he handed it back to me.
"Goodnight," he wished me and rushed to the car without waiting for a split second.
After watching his car drive away, I checked my recently used apps and found Lance typing something in the contacts. While scrolling through the contacts, I found a new contact saved as 'Lance.'
A grin appeared on my face seeing his number saved on my phone. He was considering me his friend. This was really one of the happiest moments of my life.
I changed the contact name to 'My Rescuer,' and my grin didn't even stop for once. I got into my house with a continuous grin, which disappeared when my eyes landed on a piece of paper lying on the floor.
I picked up the paper, only to see it was written with blood,
'It's your turn to die now.'
My eyes grew as wide as saucers. Fear engulfed me as I gulped and ran to the nightstand near my bed in my bedroom. I opened it and hid the threat letter in it before closing the drawer. Without even bothering to change out of my clothes, I slipped under my duvet and covered my head, curling into a fetal position as I kept mumbling to myself, "Please protect me, Mom. Please protect me..."
A/N: If you are enjoying the story so far, please follow me, trimagical_ for regular updates. Thank you and have a great day! Don't forget to keep smiling.