Within These Walls

Life After Dark: 8 (WTW Sequel)

(Updated every Sunday by 6pm EST)

I wait a couple of minutes after Marcus leaves before following him into the house. Instead of heading into the rest of the house, I step out through the patio's sliding doors and take a side path that wraps around to the front of the manor. It's late in the afternoon now, almost close to sundown. My mind's playing Marcus's final words on a continuous loop. Thanks to you, I've got Saige now. He said it with that sneer playing across his lips, and it was clear the words were meant to hurt me more than they were to show gratitude.

I can't picture him lying to hurt me. It's not like him. For better or worse, Marcus really does believe I'm responsible for his relationship with Saige. But in what way? Did I have something to do with Saige joining us? Did I help the team locate her, and thereby throw her into Marcus's path? But it's not like they had never met before: I might not remember Saige, but she was with the rest of us at the facility. Marcus had to have run into her before.

So why would he thank me now?

And then there's the whole business about what happened between Marcus and me in the four months we were supposedly together. That's a long time to be with someone in my book. A long time to become close to someone, physically and emotionally. What was it like? My chest aches when I think of him now, but how was it when we were together? Were we good together? Did we fight more than we got along? And how long before we slept together the first time? The last question makes me both squirm and flush with heat.

Dammit. I can't figure out the steps in between that bonding moment in the hospital and his sheer hostility now, and it's driving me crazy.

I store the thoughts away for now and stop behind a tree that gives me a direct view of the driveway. The garage door is open and the team is clustered around the driveway. Pablo is backing the second van into the garage. I'm guessing they don't want anyone dropping by all of a sudden and spotting strange cars parked at the couple's home.

One of the three cars that were in the garage, a black late model SUV, is parked on the driveway now. Marcus steps out of the house and picks out a few people to ride with him: Pablo, Lisa, Saige, and Rochelle. "You sure you don't want us to take the Aston Martin?" Pablo asks, looking back longingly at the expensive-looking silver car.

On cue, the Aston Martin in the garage revs, and I catch Janie in the driver's seat, grinning out tauntingly at Pablo. He gives her the middle finger and lumbers over to the SUV.

I have no idea what I'm doing out here, except I don't want to lounge all day while the rest of the team makes things happen. So when Marcus pulls out of the driveway first, I run across the paved road toward the other car.

Jones catches me coming and steps into my path with a frown. Recognition floods my mind. I remember him. Well, not from the past eight months, but from before. Back at the facility. He's the same kid who blocked my way into the kitchen that first day.

"Were you a bouncer in another life?" I mutter.

"You can't be out here," he says. "Marcus made it clear you're not allowed."

"Am I your prisoner?"

His bushy eyebrows quirk in confusion, and he looks at another kid for support. "No, but you can't go anywhere."

"Well, that's the definition of a prisoner."

The Aston Martin pulls up beside us and Janie rolls down the window. Next to her is Adam. There's no sight of Willow, which means she must still be in the house. It makes sense. Willow needs to be around to make sure the owners don't snap out of it and call the cops on us.