“Thank you, Paris…” a voice echoed from the hall. “Thank you so much. Oh, God….”
Riley stared at the ceiling of her bedroom drowsily while she listened to the conversation.
“It’s okay, Mrs. Princes,” Paris said. “Please, don’t cry. The doctor said she’s going to be okay.”
“Why her?” Violet cried. “Why are they doing this to her? I don’t get it! I hated watching her hurt all these years… but now this? They tried to kill her! I shouldn’t have left the room! I shouldn’t have left her alone!”
“It’s going to be okay, Mrs. Princes,” Paris said, clearly trying to calm Violet down.
“They took my baby!” Violet said, almost screaming now. “While I was in the house!”
Riley listened to her mother rant, too tired to yell out so she wasn’t alone in her bedroom anymore.
But a sudden shadow hovered over her, and her breath caught as her eyes widened.
She couldn’t see it clearly, but he had dark skin and bright gold eyes.
Did the killer sneak in her room again?
No, no! She couldn’t run! She was too tired…
“Paris!” his deep voice called, making her heart stop for a moment. “She’s awake!”
He stepped away as the door opened, and Paris came walking in, Violet behind him.
Paris sat on the bed, Riley’s breaths quickening when his hand inched toward her.
He drew back at this. “Hey,” he uttered, leaning a little over so he could see her face, “I saved you, remember? Don’t panic.”
Her eyes darkened when she recalled the memory of her drowning in the ocean.
He was right… he did save her…
But why? And who knocked her out and took her to the water…?
“Riley,” Violet said, sitting on the bed beside her, as well, “how are you feeling?”
“Everything hurts…” Riley said, voice raspy.
“Yeah,” Paris responded, “your muscles, huh? Drowning will do that to you.”
She gazed at him and back at her mom. “What’s going on?”
Violet looked at Paris and back at her daughter. “We have to put you in protective custody, Sweetheart.”
Riley tried shifting to her side, but her muscles burned, so she stopped. “Did the police come?”
Violet hesitated. “Not exactly….”
“What does that mean?” Riley questioned.
“Let’s not talk about this right now,” Paris stated. “You’re going to lose your voice. So just take a break from talking for now, okay?”
“Mom…?” Riley whispered, knowing she’s answer. “What’s going on…?”
She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“It seems like you know,” Riley urged. “I don’t want secrets. You always told me to tell the truth, so tell the truth.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Riley, there are things going on that are beyond your understanding, Sweetheart. I just can’t explain it right now.”
“Why does everyone want to hurt me?” Riley questioned. “Why are they taking everyone I love?”
“Claire is fine,” Paris promised. “She’s still in the hospital with the two officers. She’s going to be alright.”
“What about Ryan?” Riley said.
“He’s fine, too,” Violet said coldly, “but that doesn’t mean you can call him over.”
Paris sighed and shook his head. “Everyone’s okay. So, just take a breather, alright?”
“I want to see Claire…” Riley said, trying to sit up, but her muscles burned, so she whimpered and collapsed back on the bed.
“Not right now,” Paris stated. “Let yourself heal for a little, okay?”
A knock on her bedroom door came, and Riley looked to find the same guy standing there that originally called Paris in here.
“Sir…” the man said despite him clearly being ten years older, “we have to go.”
“Why?” Paris said, urgency in his tone.
“Code twenty,” the man stated.
“Shit,” Paris murmured.
“What?” Violet said. “What’s wrong?”
“We have to move her,” Paris explained. “Violet, you have to get out of here and go into hiding.”
“Mom?” Riley said.
“Remember the meeting place?” Paris stated.
Violet nodded.
“We take the train,” he told her, “at five, and then we split. Meet up every week at the café.”
“What the hell is going on?” Riley cried.
No one answered.
“Someone please tell me what’s happening!” she cried. “What’s happening?”
Violet looked at her numbly. “You and Claire are in good hands, Riley. Remember that.” She walked over and kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Mom?” Riley said, tears building in her eyes.
“I love you, Honey,” she whispered. “You’ll be alright.”
“Mom!”
“Paris, twenty,” the man repeated.
“Violet, you have to go,” Paris said again.
She cupped her daughter’s cheek for a moment before running out the bedroom door.
“Mom!” Riley cried, trying to sit up but everything hurt. “Mom, come back! No! No!”
Paris caught her arm and guided it around his neck.
“Stop!” she said, pulling her arm out. “Stop it, Paris! Tell her to come back! Tell her to come back! I don’t want her to leave me!”
“Riley, we have to leave,” he said, pulling her arm up again.
She tried to wiggle out, but he lifted her, running out the door seconds later.
“Mom!” Riley said, trying to get out. “MOM! Come back to me! Come back to me, mom!”
But Paris’s guard opened a door to a car, and Paris got in with Riley cradled up against him, and he quickly closed the door and the man drove off seconds later.
Her childhood home started moving further away, and Riley tried to get out of Paris’s grip, but he wouldn’t let her go.
“Mom!” she cried.
“You’re mom’s going to be okay,” Paris said. “Look away. Look away now, Riley.”
But she didn’t, and when she saw a spark of something in her bedroom window.
A loud explosion boomed through the neighborhood, making her scream.
Paris cradled her head to his chest as all the cars parked on the sides of the road echoed their alarms.
When Riley looked up, her chest caved when all that was left of her house was the foundation and burning wood.
