Chapter 61: Unsafe

Caspian had some 'business' to take care of, so I spent the rest of the morning alone in his room. Most of the Stingers had left for school; the few that remained were all preoccupied with sharpening their swords and filling their guns.

I had done a bit of snooping and I seriously regretted it. The couches had guns stuffed under the seats and the kitchen cabinets were filled with boxes of bullets. I had no doubt that if I could get access to Victoria's room there would be a literal skeleton in her closet. Adding to all the weapons and clear means for protection from any kind of attack, the place was designed to withstand infiltration. The doors and windows were all automated and locked with the click of fingers. The Stingers had immunity to the law, so why were all these precautions necessary. I felt unsafe in this criminal base, especially now that Caspian had disappeared for the day.

The day passed and still no sign of Caspian. I was beginning to wonder what this business he referred to had involved. I bit my nails, convincing myself that this was the only nutrition I needed. I would wait for Caspian to eat; God knows he was probably starving wherever he was.

I could hear the sound of doors opening and closing. I willed the door in front of me to open and admit Caspian, but it didn't. I had only been sleeping here for a couple of days, so I couldn't understand why it felt weird climbing into bed without Caspian by my side.

I couldn't sleep, so I resorted to counting sheep. But after the first few sheep, I got bored and occupied myself with thoughts of Caspian's kisses, wishing he were here to kiss me goodnight and to hold me until I fell asleep. Now was the only time I wished I was back home, safe in my bed and free from worrying about being under the same roof as criminals.

I pulled Caspian's pillow to my nose and inhaled deeply, hoping the sheer smell of him would calm me down; and surprisingly it did. But not enough to prepare me for what happened next.

A figure with shredded clothes stumbled through the door. His body was covered in cuts that looked like they had been inflicted with a whip. He leaned heavily on the wall, trying to appear as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He flashed me a smile. If his body wasn't oozing blood, I would have been fooled into believing that his smile was genuine. His face was untouched and gave away nothing about his condition. I gulped noisily, trying to take it all in. "What happened?" I managed to ask him.

He shrugged. "Just a few scratches," he replied. A grimace passed over his face, so quickly I wondered if it had actually happened. A hand flew to my mouth, trying to muffle my screams. I wasn't one of those people who was composed at the sight of blood.

"Hey." Caspian walked towards me, slowly as if each step caused him pain; he was past trying to hide it. "I'm ok."

I shook my head. "You need a doctor." My breath was coming out rasped and I knew if I kept up this level of oxygen intake, I would pass out. I tried to regulate my breathing pattern: in and out, in and out.

"I've been worse," Caspian tried to soothe me. He would have gathered me into his arms, if he wasn't covered in blood.

"Lay down," I ordered. "Now," I added, when Caspian made no move to obey.

Caspian sighed.

I peeled back his shirt, not sure what I should do. "Should I get Lewis?" I asked, fighting the urge to throw up when I saw his broken skin.

Caspian subtly shook his head and took my hand in his. "I'm fine," he tried to convince me. "Honestly."

"For some reason, I don't believe you," I replied, making my way to the bathroom.

I filled a bowl with warm water and grabbed a towel. "I can do this," I told my reflection in the mirror.

I returned to Caspian's side and gently dabbed the wet towel to his wounds. He winced in pain, causing me to wince as if I felt his physical pain as well. "I can't do this." I wiped the tears from my eyes, afraid they would fall into the long gashes that covered Caspian's chest. "I'm going to get help." I ignored Caspian's protests and somehow managed to get myself to Lewis and Rosalind's room.

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