His Anger

~Adams Pov~

I sat down back into my leather chair and stared blankly at the open laptop in front of me. Emails, reports, phone calls—I have lost count of how many hours I tried to drown myself in work, and yet my thoughts kept going right back to her. Merina.

It wasn't a concern, I told myself. Just. Curiosity. She was a riddle I'd yet to find the answer to. Someone so beautifully broken, yet so infuriatingly stubborn.

The curiosity eventually got the better of me. I stood up from the chair and off to her room I went. The house was so silent and it got me thinking if she would feel uncomfortable with the silent place. I got to her room and pushed the door open—then hesitated.

Her bed was empty.

My eyes scanned the room suspiciously, as I took it all in. I look at the glass of water that remains untouched and on the nightstand a blanket that was neatly folded on the bed.

But She wasn't there.

"Merina?" My voice ripped through the silence, a whiplash command, cutting the stillness.

No answer.

I strode into the bathroom. Empty. I Checked the hall next door. Nothing.

A sharp pang stirred within my chest, but I buried it quickly beneath a wave of irritation. Anger. She had run. After all I had done to help her, she dared to leave.

I thundered down the stairs, every step carried a weight of frustration. The two female attendants froze as I entered the kitchen.

"Where is she?" My voice was low and cold.

The women exchanged fearful glances. "W-we don't know, sir," one of them faltered.

"You don't know?" I repeated, my voice frosting over. "I place her under your charge, and this is what comes of it?"

The attendants cringed, their heads bowed in silence, too frightened to answer.

"She's gone," I gritted my teeth, my anger barely contained as I spoke of her. "And none of you thought to stop her? Do you understand who she is? Do you understand what she needs?"

My step closer evened out to something far deadlier. "if anything happens to her—"

They nodded jerkily, their silence infuriating me further.

"Get me the security footage," I shouted, my voice piercing through the air like steel filled with tension. "Now!."

I sat on the edge of my desk, my jaw tightening in anger as I watched the footage from the cameras in the house. She had moved with a silence that was careful, ghostly, down hallways, checking every corner and avoiding each sound.

When the video ended, I leaned back in my chair and pressed my fingers against my temples. The anger I felt hadn't died down, but now it was joined by something else—a gnawing frustration.

Why was I even angry? She didn't know me, didn't trust me. I'd be a fool to expect otherwise. And yet, it didn't stop the tingle of irritation curling in my chest.

I breathed out slowly and told myself just to let it go. If she wanted to leave, then I wasn't going to stop her. She wasn't my problem.

But something hit me with the force of an icy water splash to the face as I got to my feet to leave the room.

“What if she wasn't running? What if she was trying to end it all?!” My eyes widened at my thoughts and I felt a shiver run down my Spine

The picture of her pale, battered face would be etched before my eyes always. Those lifeless eyes, that break in her voice when she said she had nothing left.

Damn it!

"Sean," I snarled at my phone.

"Yes, sir?"

"Find her. Now. I don't care what it takes—you have one hour."

"Yes, sir."

I paced up and down the room, each minute like an eternity. Something deep in my gut twisted at the thought of her out there, hopeless and desperate.

Forty minutes later, my phone beeped and it was Sean.

“Found her address. Sending coordinates now.”

I didn't wait. I barked orders for the car to be brought around and grabbed my keys. Whatever mess she'd gotten herself into, I wasn't about to let her drown in it. And when I meet her, I will certainly punish her.

************* ********** ********

The car pulled up outside a dilapidated building on the outskirts of town. Peeling paint, rusted metal, broken windows taped with cardboard. The whole area stunk of rot. Why would she come here?! Isn't she scared her illness will get worse?!

I got out of the car. People on the sidewalk could not help but give me quite a few stares. I did not mind at all, looking ahead at the building as I walked.

Sean had the information right—her door was on the second floor. I loped up the creaky stairs two at a time, spindles protesting under my clutching hands.

I didn't hesitate for a single instant as I strode to her door. I busted it open with one violent motion.

The sight before me made my chest hitch. I stood there watching her.

Merina was sitting by the window, her form outlined by the grey light of the overcast sky. She was wrapped in a blanket, her hair wet and her weak shoulders tense as she looked at me with eyes wide from shock and something else—maybe fear, maybe anger.

She glared at me, "How did you find me?" she demanded, her voice sharp but brittle.

I closed the door behind me, my eyes not leaving hers. "You didn't think I'd let you just disappear, did you?"

She sighed irritated as she stood with her arms crossed over her chest. "Why are you here?" Her tone was frosty and defensive. "I don't need your pity, Adam."

"Pity?" I spat, my voice colder. "You think that's why I'm here?

Her red eyes glared sharply at me, "Then why?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Why do you care? I don't want your help. I don't need it. Just leave me alone!"

Something sharp and dangerous flared to life inside me at her words. My voice rose, cutting across the small room. "Leave you alone? In this dump? Look around, Merina. Is this what you think you deserve?" I said looking around the small room in disgust.

Her jaw was tight, and with a spark in her eyes, she lashed back at me, "What I deserve is none of your business. You don't know me, Adam. You know nothing of my life. So leave!”

I stepped closer to her, my presence looming over hers. "I know enough," I told her. "I know you're tearing yourself apart here. Whatever it is you're doing—pushing me. But you're just too damn scared to admit that you don't want to be alone."

"Afraid?" she laughed hollowly. "And who are you to me? Who gave you the right to barge in here and act like you care? I'm nothing to you, Adam. Nothing. So leave!"

Her words cut deeper than they were probably intended, but I wouldn't let that show on my face either. I spun from her, whirling, and before I knew it, my fist pounded the wall again.

“Darn it! What is wrong with you?!”

Drywall cracked under my blow, and particles and dust rained down off the spot onto the floor.

She winced but didn't back down, her eyes locked with mine.

I looked at her red eyes which showed how shocked she was from my outburst. I was filled with anger at this moment, "You think I care about you?" I said, my voice a low growl. "You think I'm here because I pity you? Fine. If that's what you want, I'll leave. I'll forget I ever met you.".