Eerie
967 Words
Aria
The lobby is quiet, too quiet. There's no one around for midday, not even the security guard nor the receptionist. Grabbing for my charm bracelet I find the life jacket as we walk towards the elevators. The guys are now quiet the only sound that of our feet slapping the cold tile floors.
The lobby itself doesn’t seem to be in such a state of disarray so I’m beyond surprised when the doors open to the executive level. My jaw drops as I gasp. Wyatt mumbles something and Connor hisses out a f**k. I hear Wyatt's leather strap click as he grabs for his gun, readying himself for whatever’s coming next.
We’ve all been told the threat was cleared but this…
This is beyond recognition. The walls are smashed, and furniture is cut into tiny confetti pieces. Stuffing sprinkles the room like a new snowfall, while the high recessed lights flicker in places, out in others, while some shine just as bright as yesterday.
It’s eerie as f**k. I don’t blame Wyatt for pulling out his weapon, I’m reaching in my bag for my knife as we speak. A new always carry possession I added to my bag after the incident last week reminded me why I always needed to be prepared for the worst.
We’re slow to walk through the floor, watching our every step for glass and nails but hearing the all-tale crunch anyways. Like outside with the reporters I’m sandwiched between the guys, knife in hand.
We were told that the threat has passed but we’ve all learned what not being leery and prepared gets us. The three of us are all scarred from the experience, our instincts in battle with our senses and fears.
Wyatt leads us through the ruin the mumble of voices can be heard coming from the direction of Mason's office. He stayed where he was after the transition, not wanting to be in the same tainted place that his father once sat he refused. I don’t blame him, I sold the house I grew up in, that place had nothing but horrible memories including one of the worst most horrible nights of my life. The night Brian took the rest of my dignity and shattered the last bit of soul I had left.
There was nothing there I wanted, nothing left but horrid reminders. If it was my grandmother's house that would have been a different story, given the chance I would still buy the place back. That was my true home, my safe place. The spot I made the best of my memories and good times.
As we walk farther into the chaos it seems like nothing is sacred, they smashed everything and anything they could, I just can't seem to fathom how they managed to pull it off.
“This is crazy,” I whisper.
“Shh,” Wyatt hushes me.
“I think we're overreacting here. Sounds to me like Maverick’s voice,” Connor whispers back. Turning my head, I notice his face has lost all the signs of his earlier tension as he's seemed to have assessed and found no threat but for some unknown reason probably lingering PTSD Wyatt and I aren’t so lucky; the tension stays.
It does sound like Mason's mumbles but still until we see it's all clear with our own eyes I keep my knife at my side and Wyatt has his gun drawn, c****d, and ready. I’m happy to have his body to hide behind but weary even if this is nothing even if Mason is in there fine, what happened and why does he have no security? That’s the whole reason he only had one guy but now…
Now it’s time to hire another man to help Leo against Mason's wishes or maybe not Mason seems to adjust well to those sorts of things and if he was running he would need more guards anyways, so what better way than now?
“We can’t keep this up,” Jaxson says from the other side of the wall, he must be pacing with the sounds of his steps crunching.
“I know. The expenses here alone- our insurance claims are going to sink us,” Mason responds. Good to know he’s fine. Dropping my knife back into my purse I breathe a sigh of relief as my anger flares to life.
“We need to figure something out fast. Will a week even be long enough how do we get people back here? How do we make them feel comfortable again?” Jaxson continues while we walk through the broken door drawing their attention.
“Crash?” Mason's wide eyes meet mine as he pushes off the far window, his tie undone and hanging loose around his neck. Leo stands off to the side watching us with a grim look while Jaxson watches from the middle of the room.
“Oh, look you’re both alive.” I swing my gaze between the brothers irrationally angry at them both.
“Sweetheart…” Mason starts his voice even, controlled, hopeful mixed with some trepidation.
“Don’t sweetheart me! Look at this place, Mason! What the f**k! You didn’t think to call me?” I bark marching my ass over to him, the guys now take their stance at the door, Connor just outside watching like someone else should have been before we got here.
“Babe-” he starts only getting cut off by a “Christ! This is a nightmare.”
He didn’t, I glare knowing the high-pitched conceded voice.
“Mason honey are you in there.” No, she didn’t, I groan my heart pinching.
“I’m in my office,” He answers back, ignoring the honey and the look of disgust and daggers I’m sending his way.
- Writer
