TemperanceWithout thinking, I swiftly aim my gun to his thigh, pulling the trigger. The gun lurches back, causing me to flinch as my ears ring. As I look at the man, his hands fly to his thigh, grunting in agony.Before he can lift his head, Zander appears behind him, clocking him on the head with the handle of his gun. The man falls to the floor unconscious as Zander steps over him, walking towards Connor and me."You missed his head." He tells me, obviously worried that I was in danger only seconds ago. "I wasn't aiming for his head," I respond as he squats down to Connor. "Do you want to die, Temp?" He asks me. I am taken aback by his question.If I were still like I was a while back, I would've said yes, maybe even let the guy kill me. But that's not me now."I don't mean like that. I mean... If you don't kill him first, then he will kill you." He stands, gently taking Connors's gun from my hand. "I don't think I can kill a person," I respond honestly, my legs shaking at the thou
Temperance I sit at a table in the house I grew up in after mom died. Alec and Emaline sit in front of me. Multiple pictures of younger me align the walls. Those are the pictures that my late mother used to have on the walls in the house we lived in all together. I laugh with Alec about something I don't remember as Emalines eyes are filled with terror, staring at the front door as a man walks in. I ignore the man, looking at her with wide eyes. "I thought you were dead?" I suddenly remember seeing Emalines dead body. I remember holding her dead body. My heart begins to race. "That's not what you should be worried about Temp." She responds, her eyes not leaving the man at the door. I glance at the door, my heart drops and I feel my blood start to flow backwards as I see my father. "I... I thought you were dead? I thought you were dead how are you here?" I gasp, I stand up, backing up. I glance towards Alec and Emaline only to find them gone. "I never died. I was just waiting f
Alec"Ok so when can I leave here?" My voice is laced with irritation as I grit my teeth at the nurse.Zander sets a glass of water at the bedside table, annoyed with my complaining."You're still extremely weak. You can't put too much stress on your mind and body. You'll overexert yourself.""I'm already fucking stressed being down here."She opens her mouth to respond but is interrupted by Ethan's frantic yelling.We go silent, watching the door together as footsteps get closer. I reach for my gun, glancing at the nurse who steps back, placing her hand on Connors forehead.Zander straightens his back, reaching for his gun, standing in front of Connor and the nurse to protect them incase Ethan attracts an opposing member.I cock the gun as the door bursts open, revealing Ethan who buffs in the doorway, catching himself as he almost falls forward."What the fuck are you doing?" I question, ignoring the pain as I sit up. "Temperance... she's...""She's WHAT?!" I interrupt, my patience
Temperance I stare at the dead man in front of me, foam drying onto his skin as Alec paces angrily. I open my mouth to say something but then put my hands up to my neck, gently rubbing the place where his hands were. I'm so cold I feel my nipples poke out, stabbing my shirt. I'm trembling not only from the cold but from the fear I just had shoot through me. My throat is scratchy and my neck is tender. My cheek hurts from where he slapped me. I haven't felt so beat up in a long time. On the way outside he shoved me multiple times, ending up halfway dragging me, yanking my arm. It took Alec ten minutes to get to me. I could've died in that time. I'm going to have to start defending myself if I want to continue staying here. "What's going on out here?" I feel a cruel presence behind me as Adams voice booms through the quiet patters of the rain. Before anyone can react I watch in slow motion as Alec's already weak body gives out, collapsing onto the wet grass. "Alec!" I scream hi
AlecMy head pounds and my stomach aches.Is this how it feels to be dead?I keep my eyes closed, trying to go back to sleep."Alec?" The sweet voice of my mother perks my ears. I open my eyes, immediately wondering why she's back from her trip so early."You've been asleep for two days." She thins her lips, pushing her hair back as she stands up from her chair.I glance around the room, the nurse is gone and my mother is the only one in here aside from Connor who now looks like he's awake."I thought I was dead." He whispers, looking at his shaky hands before laying them down by his side."Has Temp been down?" I question them, suddenly concerned on where she might be.My mother shifts on her feet, pulling her chair back to the wall to get it out of the way.Why is she so silent?I repeat my question, glancing at both of them."Adam has swamped her with other things." Connor speaks up for my mom."What do you mean by that?" I sit up, grabbing the glass of water beside me and taking a
TemperanceI thought everyone is supposed to have character growth. Not just in books but in real life. Yet it's been a year and a half and I'm still stuck on what happened during my adolescence.I stare in the mirror I stand in front of. Things are definitely different from back then. My looks included.Back then my hair was long and thin. Now it's thick and short, down to my shoulders. My eyes used to be dull and lifeless but now they are bright. My thin and honey body is now healthy and I'm never starving.To think I almost killed myself.If I would have I wouldn't be where I am now. Both of my parents are dead, anyone who's wronged me is gone, I'm surrounded by a loving husband and amazing friends.Several times my mind has gone back to the one person that escaped my grasp. The one person that slipped through my fingers.Emaline.My best friend.I see her every time I closed my eyes. Her face is morphed now, it's blurry. Her face has faded from my mind. I haven't forgotten her, ju
AlecI watch in shock as the woman I love throws things at me, glass cutting my face as she screams.She looks insane as she screams. In her eyes there's an emptiness. Like she's not all there. Somethings different about her.Connor has watched this whole thing play out, I can tell he's clearly on Temperances side. He watches with a hint of interest as she screams at me. Like he's studying the human emotion on someone who is severely angry.Ella turns the water off, pulling Connor back as Temp makes her way to me.Temperance isn't after Connor. She wouldn't hurt Connor. She's after me.She doesn't understand my reasons. I'm doing this for her. I love her so much that I would marry another woman just to keep her safe.Her safety is my main priority.There's multiple eyes from our friends on her. I feel almost embarrassed to be screamed at by her in this manner.Zander stands in front of the crowd. Rea clings onto his arm. Damien and Ethan stare dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.I ca
Temperance"He might not even go through with the marriage." Connor states, leaning on my dresser beside me as we stare at the wall opposite to us.I shake my head no, giving a sad smile, "The fact t-that he's e-even going is enough d-disrespect to me. I'm... I'm not-not staying here." I try to twist my ring around only to get a stab in the heart when I find nothing there.Connor turns towards me, "You're leaving. What about us? You'll be leaving everyone. Me, Zander, Ethan, Damien, Rea, Bee, and Ella. Can you really handle that?"I have made amazing friends while being here... but I can't just walk around this mansion like it's mine whenever Alec will take a wife soon."I c-can see you... and Z-Zander-no not him. Chris, I can see him. No o-one else." I love them all but I know I'll only be able to keep a tight circle if it means leaving. I know Alec will look for me when I leave and I'm not planning to let him find me.He tries to speak, trying to get me in my right mind before I beg