He turned back to me, his eyes blinking.
“Think about it, Cookie Monster.” The shadow slipped back down to his neck a little more. “Did you do everything you could?” It was agonizing waiting as he thought about it.
“Yeah.” His whisper was like a breath.
“You are not God, Isaac.” I tried to reach him as I stepped closer. The black shadow swirled faster over his skin as I spoke. “You don’t have control over who lives and dies. All any of us can do is our best.” I was close enough to touch him. “You didn’t smother her. You didn’t kill her.” He had to listen. “She didn’t blame you. She said that you made her feel loved in her last moments of life. She was grateful for those jokes. You made it so she wasn’t afraid.” I stepped closer until I could smell limes. Tears poured down both our faces. “She also said to tell you you’re wrong.” Isaac finally met my gaze. His eyes were lost in a storm of agony that I couldn’t fix. I could only stand beside him and go through it with him, let him know he wasn’t alone.
“Back up,” he said, his voice pleading.
I shook my head as I stepped closer, until there was only a breath separating us.
“No.” He was finally hearing me and I wasn’t about to lose Isaac to a fucking demon. “You would never hurt me.”
The shadow spilled over his head and face, his eyes started to burn red. NO! I grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. My lips found his. His lips were still, but I didn’t care. I kissed him deeper, harder, desperately. He needed to know that he wasn’t what he thought. That he was essential to me, to my life. His lips finally moved and one arm wrapped around me. The other went to the back of my neck, holding me still as he kissed me back. Vaguely, I felt that sick cloud move away from his skin, but I didn’t stop. I wanted Isaac in control again, and if I couldn’t do it with logic, I’d sure as hell do it with love. My body burned as I pressed against him. He took over the kiss. It grew softer, gentler. His lips slowly eased from mine. He pulled away a little, his breathing heavy. Those amber eyes were warm and wide when they met mine. His hand flexed at my waist as the other moved from my neck to cup my face.
“Lexie?”
“Losing you would kill me,” I told him softly, moving my hands to hold his jaw. “So fight that fucker back and hold on. We’re getting rid of it.”
The storm in his eyes was calming, but they were still full of shadows. Tires screeched in the parking lot, car doors slammed. I didn’t take my eyes off his. He finally gave me a small nod. I kept eye contact as the others started to run towards us. Isaac looked away from me to them. His eyes flashed red as the shadow surged over him again. I grabbed his face and forced his eyes back to me.
“Cookie Monster!” His eyes flashed back to amber. “Fight it. We love you. Don’t let that thing take you from us,” I all but growled. Isaac’s eyes were desperate as he nodded again.
“Move slowly, guys,” I told the others, my eyes not leaving Isaac’s.
“Red…” Isaac warned, his voice deeper. The guys stopped moving.
“Fight,” I ordered. “This is your body, not his. This is your life, not his. You make your choices, not some fucked up thing from hell. So choose.” Tears kept falling down my face again. “Choose us, choose our family, and fight like hell.” He took several deep, shaking breaths before he nodded. The guys moved slower this time.
“Isaac, we’re going to put a zip tie on your wrists, alright?” Miles said in his soothing, calm voice. “It’s to stop you from hurting yourself or us.” Isaac struggled to fight against the shadow again, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he nodded. I took his hand from my face and moved it to my lower back. Then I held his face again, keeping his eyes on me. The smell of engine grease reached me as I heard a zip tie being closed behind me. Isaac tensed. The red started to come back. I pressed my hands harder into his face.
“Cookie Monster, I’m right here,” I whispered. “Feel me. I’m right here. You aren’t alone in this.” The shadow finally pulled back until it almost disappeared completely down his shirt. Isaac nodded.
“I’m good,” he said softly. “Get away before it comes back.” I hesitated. “Please,” he pleaded. I nodded.
Isaac lifted his arms up over my head and I moved. Zeke and Asher went to both sides of Isaac and started walking him away from the edge of the cliff. I didn’t leave Isaac’s sight as we got him into the Blazer. Asher climbed in the back, he turned and helped Isaac get inside. Zeke followed closely. I drove, following Miles and Ethan to the private section of the airport. It was a tense drive.
“We’ve got your back, man,” Asher told him firmly. Isaac nodded, his body tense.
We got to the airport without any issues. Zeke and Asher got Isaac out of the truck. When he saw the plane he went white.
“No, no, no,” Isaac began, shaking his head. “You don’t know what this fucker can do. It could probably tear that apart in the air.”
“We know. That’s why we’re sedating you.” Miles came over with Dr. Zimmer. Isaac’s face filled with relief.
Dr. Zimmer’s face was serious as he opened his bag. “Do you agree to sedation, Isaac?”
“No shit, doc,” Isaac snapped.
Dr. Zimmer drew up a syringe of medication. “When you wake up, we’ll have landed in Boulder.”
Isaac nodded. I watched the shadow on Isaac’s neck as Dr. Zimmer gave him the injection. Isaac blinked heavily. It was only a couple minutes before he was out and sagging in Zeke and Asher’s arms. The guys carried him to the plane and strapped him in. I followed with Dr. Zimmer.
“Thanks for coming,” I said.
“I’ve known Isaac for years,” Dr. Zimmer answered. “If something is really wrong, I’m going make sure he gets through.”
My eyes burned. “Thank you.”
Miles’ plane was beautiful and comfy looking, but I couldn’t really appreciate it right now.
I took the seat next to Isaac, wanting to keep an eye on him. I held his limp hand as everyone strapped into their seats. Ethan sat in the chair across from Isaac. He met my eyes. Neither one of us said a word; we didn’t have to. We were both terrified. Hades planted himself in front of Isaac. I eyed him. He was in the guard position, but it wasn’t for me. Odd.
The pilots closed the outside door then moved into the cockpit. The cabin was silent, the tension thick.
We were waiting to taxi to the runway when I remembered something. “Oh, shit.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked.
I dialed Rory. “Rory.” I turned to look at them across the aisle as I held the phone to my ear. “Parents.”
The others cursed and pulled out their phones too.
“Hey, kid,” Rory answered.
I cringed. “Um… don’t kill me…” I quickly gave Rory a rundown of events. He immediately started cursing. He told me to take care of Isaac, and that I was in deep shit when I got back. All in all, it wasn’t bad.
The plane took off soon after that. I kept hold of Isaac’s hand. For the first time in my life, I felt like praying, but I didn’t. I was too worried about Isaac. The others were just as quiet. Two hours. Just two hours and we’d be there.