Chapter 40: Comfort

A/N: Another update cookies! I hope you like it and stay safe! I love youu💚

🍪Ellie's P.O.V

Have you ever been haunted by your very own thoughts?

When you're so sleepy but your mind just keeps popping up with thoughts and you try to imagine a dark pit but then something pops up again and you're back to square one.

I'm a thinker and most women let their mind run free but the mental toll it does is really extremely exhausting.

I could still feel my heart beating erratically, the dream from a few hours ago kept replaying in my mind.

Not only did my thoughts prevent me from sleeping but my fear of getting kidnapped again was evident.

I'm having a post kidnap-trauma. Yeah, let's call it that.

I rubbed my feet gently against the comfy comforter, liking the way it felt on my skin. I could feel Alec's shirt lifting up but it didn't faze me considering I was the only on here in bed.

Yeah, Alec didn't sleep next to me. He asked me but I told him that I just need some alone time when it truth, its because I want to think things through.

Annie and Valentino were the traitor. Annie is obsessively in love with Alec while Valentino wants to get rid of Alec because of his jealousy.

Does Annie even know his true motives? Could Valentino really betray his pack of skittles just because of his jealousy?

This is the reality that I'm facing right now and I couldn't help but feel frustrated at the burden of knowing it.

Should I tell Alec? Should I not tell Alec? What if doesn't believe me? What would he do? Would he sit in the corner become gloomy or would he pull away again and do everything by himself?

I sighed, shifting my head to the left and stared at the blank wall. My face was throbbing and my eyelids felt like they were gonna fall off any second now.

I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes, feeling conflicted on what I should really do.

The right thing to do is tell Alec the truth but the part of me that cares for him doesn't want to hurt him but if I don't tell the truth, he'd still end up getting hurt.

I sniffled, wiping the tears that started to slide down on my cheeks. I tried to keep my sobs down, not wanting to wake anyone up.

Why did it have to Annie and Valentino? Why would they do this? They were my friends and I trusted them, genuinely and with all my heart.

My heart clenched painfully in my chest, burying my face into the pillow as I cried. I was so caught in pouring my feelings out that I didn't notice someone crouching in front of me.

I let out a startled gasp, my teary eyes meeting the familiar dark obsidian eyes of Chase Devion.

"I'm sorry, did my cries wake you up?" I mumbled, pushing myself up to rest on the headrest.

Chase sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes somehow saddened. He raised his hand up and I tried not to flinch, feeling him wipe my tears with the pad of his fingers.

"Why are you crying red?" He asked softly, his gaze worried.

I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, looking down at my hands."I'm caught up in making a decision." I replied.

"Do what your heart tells you red," He said, giving me a nod.

I felt a new set of tears slide down."But its not the right thing to do," I answered, shaking my head softy.

"If its to protect a love one then its the right thing to do." He glanced at me, offering me a small smile.

Would you still say that if you knew the truth?I thought, staring into his eyes. Is keeping the truth from Alec protecting him?

"What's the hardest decision you've ever made?" The question slipping out of my mouth.

Chase paused, bringing his leg up to the bed and resting his elbow on it."It was whether I was gonna save myself or let my mother die in the fire." He truthfully answered.

My heart drop in my stomach at his answer. Chase appeared nonchalant about it but I could tell from the way his lips turned into a grim line that it was sensitive topic.

"I'm sorry, I asked without thinking." I apologized, my lips slipping into a frown.

He shook his head at me,"It's okay red. You're my friend and I want to tell you," Chase smiled softly.

"Our house was set on fire when I was seven and I could still remember vividly the scent of smoke, feel the flames licking its way up in my room." He started off, his gaze far-away.

This was probably the reason why he didn't smoke. I noticed that there were a few times where one of the twins would move away from him when they would lit a cigarette up.

"My mother and I headed for the exit, a wet blanket wrapped around me. We made it to our stairs when the ceiling suddenly gave up, half her body got covered in it."

Chase bit his lip, trying to reel in his emotions. I placed a hand on top of his, hoping to offer him some comfort.

"I tried to help her but it was no use, the fire was making its way known and she couldn't feel half of her body anymore," He continued, his voice thick with emotion.

"She told me to leave her and made me promise her that I would live. I remember crying so hard until I blacked out, waking up to the hospital with her gone."

I wiped my tears away, somehow feeling heartbroken at what he've been through. I couldn't imagine the pain of losing either one of my family.

I couldn't help it and pulled him in for a hug. He didn't move for a second, seeming surprise at my action.

He's been through so much and yet he grew up and kept his promise to his mom. Chase really is a fighter and I regretted the times that I judged him for being so closed off.

Chase hugged me back after a few moments, his hand patting my upper back and not going any lower than that.

"I failed to protect her and yet in her last moments, she was the one who apologized for leaving me behind." Chase said, resting his head on my shoulder.

"A mother's love is absolute Chase and she died happy knowing that she saved you. I'm sure she's damn proud of you for fighting and living." I told him, rubbing my hand against his back gently.

He pulled away, leaning back with a grateful smile."Behind every sacrifice is a hard decision. If you do it for love then nobody could ever hold that against you." He said.

I nodded, somehow feeling better at his words."Annie and Valentino are traitors," I said, looking down.

I fisted my hands tightly, glancing at him briefly and looked down when I saw he was staring at me.

"I guess my hunch was right." Chase heaved a sigh, my head snapping to his.

"Hunch? What do you mean?" My brows furrowed, meeting his stare.

Chase rubbed his face gently, suddenly seeming conflicted."I know V at the back of my hand and these past month, V wasn't his usual self." He said, leaning back with his hand resting on the bed.

"What do you mean? He was his usual goofy self." I wondered out, my head tilting to the side.

Chase shook his head."He's been secretive towards me and been skipping in our monthly meetings. Alec and the others think that he's hiding a girl but I know better," He frowned.

"How about Annie?" I asked, taking one of the pillows and resting it on my lap.

Chase shrugged."Never liked her from the start, she kept giving Alec this doe heart eyes that looked borderline obsessive."

"I wish I had seen through her candy act. I shouldn't have trusted her," I thought out loud, gritting my teeth.

Chase chuckled."You have a big heart red and there are always gonna be bad apples who'll try to stick with you." He said, earning a nod from me.

Chase words gave me some kind of comfort. He's right, it didn't matter wether we were friends from the start, she still would've done this because she's a bad apple.

"Are you gonna tell Alec the truth?" He ask, seeming to put the pieces now.

My lips pulled into a thin line, letting out a sigh."I want to tell him but I don't want to hurt him and there's a teensy bit percent of fear that he won't believe me." I admitted.

Chase ruffled my hair in brotherly act."Are you kidding red? Alec's more whipped than a damn whip cream when it comes you."

I paused, thinking about his words."Well, he should be since it would've been a problem if he wasn't." I agreed, nodding my head at him.

"Stop overthinking Red and just tell him, V has to pay for his betrayal. He betrayed the gang and we don't take that lightly." Chase said, turning serious.

I yawned, nodding my head."You'll have my back right?" I asked, my voice hesitant.

He nodded, standing up and pulling the blankets over my body."Absolutely red, now go to sleep."

My eyes started to shut close, hugging the pillow close to me."Thank you for the talk Chase. I appreciate it," I offered him a sleepy smile.

I slowly drifted into dreamland, my heart feeling lighter and more relaxed. Whatever happens tomorrow, I can do this.

"Anything for you Red."