The Ocean’s City
Chapter 20

The car’s soft rumble did little to soothe me. I wiped the tears that silently rolled down my cheeks as I curled into the car’s back seat, trying to be invisible.

Dalton and Hutson both sat in the front, silent as death itself. I didn’t want to think about death. The expression in Dannie’s eyes was all I saw as the guilt drilled tortuous holes into my heart.

I had no clue how long I had been lying in the back seat staring at the old vintage leather interior of the car as we drove to who knows where.

I knew nothing about these men and their world, but it didn’t take the sun to set and the stars to slowly shine through to get to the beachfront property. They were taking me somewhere else, and as much as I worried about what would happen to me, I felt impatient to be there.

The car wasn’t big enough for the three of us. We had demons the size of elephants fuming in the spaces between us. Hutson’s energy rolled off his body in masses of hurt and anger that could quickly kill someone.

Suppose it wasn’t because Dalton was in the car; Hutson probably would have disposed of me long ago. Every breath, noise, or movement from Huston caused me to cringe and wish I wasn’t alive. I wanted to be nonexistent.

The car gradually reduced speed and the steady tick of the blinker, followed by the vehicle turning off the freeway. My heartbeat was slow, but each pound was fierce.

The car rolled to a stop, followed by the same gut-retching silence.

Dalton cleared his throat, and his leather seat groaned as he shifted his weight to look back at me. I didn’t bother to move.

“Silvestia, stay with Huston,” he spoke with a dark, masked tone that hinted that he was beyond livid.

His words caused me to jolt up from my seat to beg him not to leave me alone with Hutson. He loved Dannie equally as I had. I was not ready to look into his eyes and admit my friend’s fate.

My eyes pleaded with Dalton’s back as he had already shut his door and walked towards the gas station.

My breath quickened, causing me to feel dizzy. A new strain of tears rolled down my face. My fists went to the sides of my thighs as I painfully grabbed at my skin.

Huston frustratedly rubbed at the stubble on his chin, his anger emanating from him as he refused to look my way.

I wanted to apologize, but it would be the greatest disrespect if I spoke or addressed his presence. I bit my tongue, allowing the pain to surge through me.

Dalton was back with a bag. His eyes searched over me as he opened his door and set it down. “Do you want to stretch your legs?”

I didn’t speak as I scooted closer to my door, and he opened it for me to get out. I stood up on wobbly legs. Dalton closed the door behind me and gently pushed me against the car door.

One hand was on my hip, and the other softly caressed my cheek. I searched his eyes, but his expression was unreadable. One thing was for sure: he was disappointed.

He let out a sigh. “Don’t go too far.” He dropped his hands and went to the pump to fill the car.

I cringed at the idea of disobeying him again. I felt the urgent need to do everything he said from now on out so I would witness nothing terrible.

As his hands left my body, there was a surge of disappointment. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted from him. I had wanted nothing from him before, but now, as his hands touched me, I tried to embrace him and beg him to take every tear and heartache away.

Was he even capable of that? He did, after all, create a whole alternate reality. Why couldn’t he take my pain away?

I paced to the front of the car, my arms crossed, trying to clear my head. My eyes met Hutson’s through the windshield. He glared at me like he thought my ungrateful ass would run again. I dropped my gaze and played with the gravel on the asphalt.

There was a click at the pump. Dalton put it back and walked towards me, placing a firm guiding hand on my lower back, and he motioned for me to get into the car.

He put the car into reverse and drove off. I settled myself against the window, watching the view. The city buildings yet again disappeared. Sorrow filled me as the deep blue ocean that was Dalton’s favorite color and sandy beaches did not replace them; instead, it was deserted—no signs of civilization for miles as we drove one car on the pavement.

The darkness masked little light, and millions of stars dotted the sky. The car light shined on a sign on the road that read the motel, and Dalton abruptly turned into the parking lot.

The boys talked so low I had to strain my ears to hear them.

Hutson got out of the car and headed inside the main building. Dalton watched as he rubbed his hand against his pant legs.

“How are you doing?” Dalton asked. Our eyes caught in the rearview mirror. It was an odd question. How was I doing?

I tore my eyes from him, deciding not to give him a response. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and swung his door open, causing the whole car to shake.

He turned to look at me, fuming. It was like he wanted to put his anger out on me. For the first time since being taken, I genuinely felt threatened by him. My shoulders shriveled as his glare burned me. Before he could react, Hutson called from a distance. “B229”

Dalton heaved as he shouted back, “ok.” Then, he opened my door at a much calmer speed than he would have a few seconds ago.

I refused to speak as I studied every vein and muscle pop in his body. He was upset, but at least he contained it again. He lifted his hand, and I placed my clammy hand in his.

Short breaths steadily streamed out of his nostrils as he helped me out of the car. The smell of his cologne caused me to lean into him and get some reprieve from how I felt.

But as fast as our hands touched, he let go and moved to the trunk of the car, pulling two duffle bags.

I fought the need to overreact when I noticed them. They were both black leather and looked expensive. They were both embroidered. One said Mr. Dalton Bax, but the second one had the wheels in my head turning.

It read: Mrs. Silvestia Bax.

How did he have time to pack any bags?

Thanks for reading the twentieth chapter of The Ocean’s City. Let me know what you think! Grammar Nazis are welcome!