A Brand New Ending

Chapter 63

Braeden



I remain lying in my bed, the pain from my fingers now radiating up my arm but I couldn't care less. The anger and adrenaline that still surges through me is serving as a pain killer. All the events of last night are running through my mind. How the f*ck did a perfect night turn to this?

When I saw him on top of her my whole world crumbled. I was supposed to be there to save her, to keep scum like him and her step-father from touching her. I had failed. And here she was, in the hospital again, hurt.

I soon become impatient, Chelsea nowhere in sight to finish wrapping my cast. Swinging my legs over the bed I push the door open out into the hallway. When I find a nurse who isn't Chelsea I pull her aside.

"Can you tell me which room Phoenix Harper is in?"

She looks at my arm.

"Please," I beg.

She just smiles.

"She's in exam room four,"

"Thank you," I whisper.

Turning around, I know exactly what room it is, having spent a lot of time in this hospital as a kid. When I get to the room I notice that the door is open. I slowly step inside and my eyes lay upon the empty bed, a hospital gown crumbled on the floor beside it.

Everything in the world stops. No sounds reach my ears except for the loud boom of my heartbeat. I don't have to look around. I don't have to check to see if she's in the bathroom.

I can tell she is no longer in this building. The pull I always feel when she's around is gone, my body feeling alone and cold. When I tell my body to move I leave the room, hastily making my way down the hallway.

"Braeden?" I hear Chelsea say as I blast past her, her form a blur in my vision.

My mind is only on one thing. Pushing open the door I see my father seated behind his desk, a phone to his ear. He looks up at me, instantly noticing my state.

"I'll have to call you back," he says, immediately hanging up.

He flies up out of his seat, making his way to me in a few strides.

"Braeden? What's going on?" Why isn't your arm in a cast?"

I freeze, not knowing how or where to start. I hear footsteps behind me and I turn around hastily, hoping to see a pair of beautiful brown eyes looking back at me.

"Phoenix is gone," I hear Chelsea say, her breathing labored.

My eyes find the floor. I cringe at her words, hoping that maybe my eyes were lying to me. I look up at my father, his eyes telling me that he has now caught on.

"She couldn't have gone far," he says as he pushes past us.

My mind screams at my body to move but I remain frozen as a statue. I don't even have the energy to tell them that she's not here. Every second that I am alone in the office seems like an eternity and at some point my body decides to seat itself, my legs curled up into my chest. When I see both their forms re-enter it confirms my biggest fears. It's now that my body decides to react.

"How the hell did she leave without anyone noticing?" I shout rising out of my chair, a new found anger coursing through my body. "Isn't this why there are protocols?"

My father sighs and I know that I am aggravating him again, but I don't care. Phoenix's safety was the most important thing right now. It always was and always will be. Even if she didn't want me anymore, I need to know that she was safe.

"Maybe she went home," I exclaim, making my way to the door.

My father's arm shoots out in front of me, effectively blocking my exit.

"I know that you are concerned right now, but for the love of God can you please get your cast on before you cause further damage to your arm."

His eyes are closed as he speaks this and I can tell he is trying to gain his exposure. All I do is nod.

"Chelsea," he says, allowing her to enter the room, all the components still in her arms. "Sit," he directs to me.

I do as I am told like a five year old who just got put in a time out. Each second it takes Chelsea to wrap my arm I become more impatient. Every second I am here is another second unknown of her whereabouts. As she continues to work we remain quiet like before. I notice that my father leaves the room.

"I'm sorry," I blurt out, Chelsea looking up at me in astonishment.

"For what?" she asks.

"For basically being an a*shole," I say almost with a laugh. "You're a good person, and you and my father deserve happiness. Especially him."

"Thank you," she says softly. "And I never want you to feel like I am trying to take the place of your mother. I couldn't even if I wanted to."

I swallow the lump in my throat.

"I appreciate that."

"Believe me; I know how it is to have new people trying to worm their asses into your life. My parents got divorced when I was young."

"Sorry," I say quietly.

"Eh, I was better off without them," she shrugs. "And you, sir, are done."

She gives it a once over before standing back up.

"Let's go get your girl."