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Matt’s fingers were trembling.
His breathing shallow with a serene posture as he forced himself to focus on the bloody gun wound without throwing up. His completion was sickly pale and I knew it pained him to see me like this. A rag stuffed into my mouth muffling the agonizing shouts that tore out of my throat every time his fingers forcefully and clumsily went into my thigh trying to take out the bullet.
An occasional blinding light flashes over my eyes with my muscles twitching and tensing, I’ve gone through this many times but it doesn’t make it any less painful. He would flinch once in a while biting his lip really hard as he took in shaky breaths. With my mouth stuffed with a rag I couldn’t say anything and even if it wasn’t, I’d be too busy screaming my lungs out. It felt life hours when Matt finally got the bullet out of my thigh.
He sniffles softly dropping the piece of metal onto the counter staring at the blood on his fingers; they didn’t stop trembling. My head was light headed, body screaming in exhaustion but the look on Matt’s face was more than enough to have me pulling the rag from my mouth and placed it over his hands to block the view. His blue eyes were in a daze, squeezing my chest painfully; despite saying these are just feelings I can’t help feeling them.
“Matt,” I called out his name gently placing a hand on his shoulder to snap his out of his trance and comfort him. “I’m okay. Hey, look at me. Look at me Matt.” My voice was husky and low, my brain barely processing the air entering my lungs. It was hard for me to focus properly but for his sake I had to keep him together. I had to get him out of here as soon as possible.
After painful long moments he finally looks at me, stilled. My hand went higher to the side of his neck, thumb caressing his jawline, “I’m okay, you did good. But we have to leave, we can’t stay here anymore than we already had.”
He blinks slowly and nods swallowing thickly, “I…Wh-What do you need me to do?” His voice croaked.
I thought over what I was going to do next and after what that guy told me I am more afraid than I thought I could possibly be. “The usual. Guns, food, water. Change your clothes, cover your face.” His blue eyes were wide, frightened. He didn’t question me, “But…But your leg-“
“I’ll take care of it,” I interrupted. He stares at me for a moment and slowly nods; I remove my hand from the side of his neck observing his movements. The first thing he did was drop the rag onto the counter I was sitting on and disappeared around the corner—I waited.
I listened carefully when the wood creaked under Matt’s weight as he ascended the set of stairs. I glanced at my leg as I fished into my pocket, the first thing I did was dial Frank. “I know you aren’t calling me to say ‘hi’. What is it?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the man, opening the lid of the first aid kit. “They found us again. I have something planned but I need you to meet us at a different location.” I sounded awful, nearly dying but I had to solve this one way or another. I cleared my throat slowly pushing myself off the counter; as soon as both feet met the floor a jolt of agony went through my injured leg causing me to let out a loud groan.
“Are you hurt? You sound like you’re in pain.”
“I’m fine. It’s only a flesh wound.” I assured. It wasn’t deep but it didn’t mean it wasn’t hurting, “Are you bringing that kid with you again? You know what you should do? Drop him near a Police station. He’s too much trouble.” I frowned, clutching my phone in agitation and exhaustion.
“No! I’m not doing that. What the hell has gotten into you anyway? You’ve been saying shit like that for a while now, do you know something I don’t? If you do then please share.” I snapped. I wasn’t in the mood for anything, I was taken off guard twice. I didn’t expect us to be found and truthfully it’s starting to get to me how they manage to do it without the tracking device I found in Matt’s wallet.
I’m still trying to process the fact Matt knew how to use a rifle—a sniper rifle for that matter. Something tells me it has something to do with those vague memories of his childhood. It took me a moment to realise Frank hasn’t said anything, “I’ll meet you, you know where, and if you want to bring that kid then fine. Whatever you’re planning Neil, I don’t want you to be hurt.” He says in thick concern.
“I’m already hurt. See you there.”
I stared at the wound on my leg deciding whether I should patch it up and change my clothes. Plowing my fingers through my hair I closed my eyes trying to keep the weight off my leg. I won’t be able to walk like this much less drive. I have no idea what to do and everything keep spiralling for the worst. I’m being stupid, I keep running and running hoping to catch a break and spend a little more time with Matt.
I’ve played this little game before, I know how it works and yet I keep letting them catch up to me. I have to protect Matt, it was pretty clear to me that the Mafia Boss put a claim on him. I don’t know why or how things keep getting worse for Matt but it does.
“You can run as far as you want but he belongs to Alec. We will always find him.”
I gritted my jaw snapping my eyes open, Matt doesn’t belong to Alec—he doesn’t belong to anyone. A part of me wished he was mine and the other part of me thought of it better. Matt has a life, he has a family, and he has a future. The last thing I want to do is take it away from him and encage him in a dangerous world like this.
I didn’t want to dwell more than I already had so I stubbornly began walking, hand gripping onto my thigh as if it would subdue the pain. I barely started turning the corner when I slumped against it, hissing pass clenched teeth. I cursed at myself, this was going to be a lot harder if I don’t use at least some pain killers. “Neil! What are you doing?” Matt appeared out of the blue jolting me.
My heart was already beating like crazy and Matt scaring me into death’s door doesn’t help in the slightest. I managed to regain my composure, honey brown eyes gazing down at the shorter raven, “What does it look like I’m doing?” I retorted. He gave me an unamused look, wearing a large blue hoodie with jeans, a duffle bag strapped over his shoulder. He was holding a set of clothes which I’m guessing is for me.
“Like you’re hugging the wall,” He says sarcastically shooting me glare, “Don’t try to walk this off like last time and by the way, I’m driving.” He declares in a demanding tone.
I cocked an eyebrow, “You know how to drive?”
“No, I know how to step on the gas petal and turn the stirring wheel.”
I smiled in mild amusement, I knew why he was being this way; someway or another he had to get his mind off it even if he’s being an ass. “Okay, I’ll tell you where we’re going but first I need to patch my leg.” His eyes glued onto my face, refusing to look at the blood trickling from the gauging wound. “Are you going to need help?”
I hesitated, there was no way I could walk on my own and knowing Matt’s intolerance to blood has me thinking about it twice. “I’ll help.” He decided.
“No, you don’t have to I ca-” I yelped when he suddenly reached over my leg and nudged the wound. My leg trembled, threatening to lose its balance, “Want to try saying it again?” His blue eyes gazed up at me and his face was already looking pale. I didn’t refuse.
After disinfecting and patching up the wound I changed my clothes; Matt passed me a bottle of aspirin, popping two of the pills into my mouth. He stares at the side of my face before turning his head, “I’m sorry.”
I hated this moment between us, he’s always blaming himself and honestly I’m the asshole who actually made him believe that. Now I want to undo what I had said to him whether it is true or not, “No, Matt. Don’t apologise, you didn’t do anything.” My tone desperate, at this point I didn’t care how pathetic I sounded, I was exhausted, I wanted to eat and then sleep but the only reason I keep pushing myself is because of him.
He sighed, deciding not to argue with me; we walked out of the house, it was agonizing for me because it is my favorite place to take hide after killing a powerful person. It didn’t matter anymore since now the backyard has dead bodies and bullets through the walls of my house. Mat presses the button of the garage door, automatically lifting itself; my gaze drifted to him from time to time from the heavy silence.
The only thing I could hear is the wind whistling pass my ears and plowing through my dyed hair. I was steadily lulled into a daze, “Neil? Are you okay?” Matt’s voice sounded weird to me, I don’t know why except when I tried to respond my vision began to tilt and before I knew it I was consumed with darkness.
I was nearing the state of consciousness, I didn’t want to wake up from how comfortable I felt but this godforsaken pain on my leg was unbearable every time I moved or the car jerked. With a throaty groan I refrained from moving my injured leg as I opened my eyes, blinking the dry sleepiness in my eyes. “You’re finally awake. You scared the crap out of me passing out like that.” Honey brown eyes fell on the black mane of the pretty boy driving my car; I furrowed my eyebrows for moment.
It was pretty dark, no lamps to light up the way of the road other than the bright moon as a source of radiance and the car lights set on high beam. It took me a painfully long moment to process what Matt had said when my brain decided it still wanted to sleep. That and I can’t help noticing how blue his eyes were, “Sorry, must’ve lost too much blood,” I mumbled adverted my head forward only to see the endless outline of the trees and a two way empty road to wherever we were going. “Did I tell you where we were going?”
He sighs, “Sorry my ass and no, you didn’t. I called Frank while you decided to take an early nap.”
I glanced back at him wishing I hadn’t passed out the way I did because it is both embarrassing and pathetic. I slouched back onto the passenger seat trying to ignore the agony tearing at my thigh, “Matt, seriously I’m sorry I didn’t know I’d pass out like that.” I said in a soft voice hoping it would warm him up a bit and from the way his eyes grew tender, flickering to my direction I knew I managed to get to him.
“It’s fine, at least you woke up. How are you feeling now?” He interrogated in thick concern. I made a face, “Like I need another pain killer.” I grunted.
He nods, “It’s in the bag, make sure you eat something first before you take the pill. You haven’t eaten anything.” I did as he said searching for the bag on the back which thankfully didn’t require too much leg movement for having long limbs. As I looked around for the little bottle I suddenly started thinking of the argument we had the other day.
I wasn’t sure why I was thinking about it but I was, I would’ve said something to bring it up again. I would’ve said something else except I didn’t. It wasn’t the time, it wouldn’t do us any good if we fell into these feelings when we’re being hunted down like dogs.
This wouldn’t last.
I kept telling myself that and I regretted it. I wished I had the opportunity to tell him the truth—to admit to him everything.
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