“I’m just trying to protect you.” Henry attempted to put his cold, clammy hand on my arm, and I stepped back toward the door.
“Protect me from what?” My turn to play dumb. He threw his arms up in the air.
“This! This whole fucked up situation!” Sophie said in a rather loud voice. Plus, she was still staring at me, which was creeping me out.
“Hmm...” I over-exaggerated, tapping my finger on my lips. “Let’s start again. Why do you two have the same color eyes?” There was a pause. I was feeling impatient, waiting for a truthful response from at least one of them.
“It’s common where we come from.” Sophie slipped into program mode. It was like she was just repeating information that was drilled into her head.
“Okay. Well, since we all are being so honest here, then I think it’s time we change things up a bit.” I paused. “Claire!” My tone was obnoxious again because I was good at that.
“Coming.” I still kept my eyes on the two of them as Claire entered the room. “What’s going on?” She crept into the room with caution when she saw me staring Henry and Sophie down.
“Claire, I believe these two are lying to us.”
“Elaina…please, love.” Henry reached for me. I stepped back again. “Don’t do this.” He looked devastated. I was, too, goddamn it!
“Then, tell me what the fuck is going on. Now!” Henry looked over at Sophie. He frowned at her, and she shook her head.
“There is so much,” Henry scrubbed his face with his hands. Then he looked at me again, desperation in his eyes. “It would be all too overwhelming.”
I looked over at Claire and rolled my eyes. “Really? How could it possibly be any more overwhelming than what has already happened?”
“You have to trust me.”
“How can I?! I know you are hiding something, damn it! I deserve to know!” Yes, I felt like I was entitled to an answer. I almost married the man so I felt that I deserved some sort of explanation. Henry looked back at Sophie. He seemed to be looking for permission. Sophie shook her head again.
“Elaina, now is not the time.”
“Now is as good as any, Henry.” My patience was hanging by a thread, and even that was fraying.
“Look…it’s getting late,” Claire began. “Maybe we should all get some rest. Maybe in the morning, we will have clearer heads.” I whipped around and glared at her. I wanted to choke the practicality right the fuck out of her.
“We need to know what the fuck is going on here. I need to know!”
“I agree, but being this aggressive isn’t going to help. Let’s all just cool off and get some rest.” I laughed. I admit that my laugh had a bit of a mental tone to it. It was quite fitting for the situation.
“Fine. Claire, you’re sleeping in here with me, and Henry can sleep in the guest room with his twin.” I stormed out the door and headed to Henry’s new bedroom.
I grabbed up some of Claire’s stuff and headed back to the door, only to be stopped in my tracks by Henry. He closed the door and stood in front of it.
“Get the fuck out of my way, asshole,” I growled.
“Elaina, please, don’t do this.”
“Do what? Try to get some truth out of you two? There’s something up, and I deserve to know!”
“You do, and you will know. You just have to trust me. I have your best interests at heart.”
“It’s in your best interest to tell me the goddamned truth! Now, get the fuck out of my way!” I roared.
“Not until you say you trust me.”
“Okay, fine. I trust you.” I rolled my eyes. “Now move.”
“You don’t actually feel that way. I need your trust.”
“Why?”
“Because!” He slammed his fist into the molding around the doorframe. His frustration was boiling over, much like mine. He took a deep breath. “If I don’t have your trust, then this whole group is going to become divided. We need to stick together for better survival.” Yes, he was making sense, but I wasn’t going to show him I felt that.
“Oh, please. Maybe that would be the best thing. You and your girl, Sophie, can go out there and do whatever it is that you do. The rest of us can hole up somewhere.” I shrugged.
“Please. You have got to trust me. I love you more than anything.” I felt bad that I was being so bitchy, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I dropped everything in my arms and broke down. He tried to grab me and pull me close.
“Don’t,” I said, failing miserably at choking back my tears. He reached for me again.
“It’s true. I love you so much, and I can’t live without your love. I need you in my life. I need you to trust me, and continue to love me. I know this is stressful and, frankly, horrible.” I couldn’t look at him while he groveled.