•Chapter 3•

*If You Want To Fly...You Have To Give Up The Shit That Weighs You Down.*

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I remember when we were little how inseparable the Braun siblings and I were. Nobody could tear us apart. Not even our parents when it was time for us to go to bed.

Sometimes I had wished that these days were a lot more simple like they were back then. Where we were carefree and always fooling around. Where we didn't have to worry about death or feelings or any other thing that haunts us now.

Where we were always happy.

Where we were able to live.

Now all of that seems impossible when you have a past that haunts you emotionally and mentally. Everything that you see...everything that you touch...always reminded you of your past. All the good memories and the bad. They trigger an unknown feeling within you that you cannot control...that you cannot seem to let go.

Today's events replay through my mind as I continued my journey towards my home. I just couldn't get Rylen's words out of my head.

"I wasn't the one that packed up my shit and left."

He definitely hit a bullseye with that one. I never meant to hurt Rylen. I didn't think that he would take it this hard. He wasn't the only one that was hurting. I was hurting too. Not once did he at least try to reach out to me once he knew that I was gone.

Why couldn't they just understand that what I did, I did to benefit me??

Why am I made to look like the guilty one?? They would've done the exact same thing if they were in my position...if they had lost everything in a split second.

I let out a staggered breath as I continued to walk and payed attention to my surroundings. The roads are all empty. There's nothing but a few people laundering around, a couple of stores that are open and a creepy alleyway.

Everytime I walk past this alley my body instantly gets goosebumps. There are always sketchy old men trying their luck with me.

There was a small sound coming from the ally that made me stop in my tracks. It was almost like a grunt. I waited a few more seconds just to make sure that I was going crazy.

That was until I head it again.

The smarter part of me said not to be a fucking idiot and continue home where I would be safe.

The curious side of me said to go check it out. Maybe someone is hurt and needs help.

After a long internal battle with myself the curious side of me won. Taking slow and cautious steps I walked down the passage way towards the noise and that was when I saw the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen all battered up, blood oozing from his head, cuts on his arm and his legs.

The man clutched his stomach as he coughed out blood. I gasped loudly and the man with the most beautiful, mesmerizing hazel eyes. The guy must have heard me because his head snapped up in my direction.

"Pl..please. He..help me."

For some reason I couldn't move. I just stood there like a statue while I watched this man whither in pain. I watched him toss and turn. I watched him try to get up. I just watched him.

I don't remember how long I just stood there watching him but when he groaned loudly because of the pain I eventually moved my chicken legs and kneeled down in front of the stranger.

Gee Elena...what ever happened to stranger danger?

I mentally cursed at my inner voice as I carefully draped the man's heavy arm over my shoulders and placed my hand around his torso. After a long struggle I finally managed to get the man up and we began to walk out of the alley.

"Who did this to you??" I asked.

"I can't...too much...pain." I just simply nodded my head while we continued to walk back to my house.

Pulling out my phone I checked that I only have another 30 minutes until I reached home. "Listen I'm going to take you to my house. I'll be able to help you there. It's only a 30 minute walk...do you think that you'll be able to make it??"

The guy nodded his head but winced in pain shortly after. Slowly the beautiful stranger and I continued the journey back to my "safe haven." See what I did there.

Along the way the guy would grunt or hiss in pain and each time he did my heart ached. For some reason I feel so emotionally connected to this guy even though I don't know him.

What the fuck is happening with me??

Finally we reached my house. I quickly fished out the house keys from my jacket and after a very long try with very shaky hands I had managed to unlock the door. Swinging it open with my foot I carefully guided the man inside and placed him gently on the couch. I went to go shut the door then raced up the stairs to look for the first aid kit. Normally I would find it in my parents room in the cabinet under the sink.

My parents room.

I haven't been there in so long. My heart sank at the thought of my parents. Why did they have to be taken away from me?? Why did everything have to be take away from me??

When I reached my parents room I took in a deep breath and slowly opened the door.

Stepping inside I walked towards their bed and sat down. I ran my fingers gently over the silk sheets while my eyes roamed around.

Everything is still here.

I walked up to my moms dressing table and stared at the medium sized gold jewellery box. Picking it up I blew off the dust and opened it up. Everything is still here. Her rings. Her necklaces. Her earrings. Everything.

But something else caught my eye.

I pulled it out and my eyes swelled up with tears. It was a charm bracelet that I gave to her when I was five. I made it myself. It was pretty small on her at the time so she took it with her everywhere she went. To work. To church. Everywhere. Whenever she picked me up I would always see the bracelet with her. She said it was her lucky charm.

That day was just the one day where she didn't have it with her.

"I miss you so much mom." I whispered. "I need you."

Just like somebody else down stairs needs you. Said my inner conscience.

Shit. I almost forgot. Placing the bracelet back in the box I put the box back where I found it and went into the parents bathroom. Flicking on the light I walked to the cabinet under the sink and I yanked the small doors open and I pulled out the first aid kit.

Making my way out of my parents room I rushed down the stairs not before making a complete fool of myself and almost falling face first to the floor. I composed myself and made my way to the couch and sat down next to my hazel eyed friend.

"How are you holding up??" I asked. He grunted and rested his head on the arm rest. I unzipped the kit and pulled out the surgical spirit, some cotton wool, bandages and a small cream that helps heals cuts and burns fast.

I dabbed some of the surgical spirit on the cotton wool then placed the spirit on the table. I moved upwards towards his head and I gently placed the cotton wool on his open wound.

"Shit!" He hissed. I whispered a tiny sorry and continued to clean up his wound. As I was dabbing in his forehead I jerked when I felt his hand interlock with my free one. I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach when his hand touched mine. I looked at his face to find his eyes shut tightly. He looks so mesmerizing. So enchanted.

Each time I dabbed on his wound he would squeeze my hand as some sort of comfort. But I couldn't stay like this forever. I had to finish with what I was doing. Undoing out connected hands I grabbed the healing cream and applied a pea sized amount on his forehead and then took the bandages on the table and gently placed one on his forehead where it had been split open.

I continued to clean his other wounds on his arms and legs, put the cream on and placed small bandages on the cuts that looked deep. On the other small cuts I just put the cream on.

"There. I'm all done." I said. I stared at the mystery guy closely and he looks very young. In fact he didn't look that much older than I am. He had soft facial features. His jawline was created to perfection. The black t-shirt he was wearing was tight on him showing off his muscles. And those lips...goddamn those lips.

"Thanks." A deep voice said breaking me out of my demented thoughts. "Can I um...can I get some water??" He asked.

Nodding my head I walked into the kitchen. I pulled out a glass from the cabinet and poured some water from the tap. Which reminds me...I have to go grocery shopping or else I'm going to starve to death. I walked back into the room and handed the guy the water. I reached for my bag on the table and pulled out 2 pain tablets and handed them to him.

"Here. These should help with the pain for now."

He mumbled a thank you and took down the pills in one go and swallowed it down with the water. Then he stood up and started walking to the door. Staring up at him in shock I quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Hey wait. Where are you going??" I asked.

"Home." He simple stated.

Stunned I looked at him with wide eyes. "Look it's pretty late and I highly doubt that you are going to get home in such a state and by foot. Why don't you just stay here for the night and then you can leave in the morning??"

"I could be a murderer for all you know and you are allowing me to stay in your house." He lifted his eyebrow.

"Had you been a murderer I would have just walked away the minute I set my eyes on you and no murderer would ask a simple civilian to help them...they would actually want to get away." I stated.

There was a moment of silence and we just gazed into each other's eyes.

"Besides.." I said "There was just something about you that told me to not walk away. Even if you were a murderer." I whispered out the last part and I saw something flash in his perfect eyes.

"Are you sure that I can stay?? I don't want to overstep any boundaries."

"I'm sure. It just wouldn't feel right to me if I just let you go without letting you stay and rest." I stated.

"You know...not many people would be doing what it is that you're doing now." He said.

"Yeah well I'm not many people." I replied. He nodded his head then went back and sat on the couch.

"I'm Kevin Parker by the way." He extended out his hand for me to shake and I placed my tiny one in his.

"Elena Laine."

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