THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.

A PLACE I THOUGHTI'D NEVER RETURN TO.

Jace's P.O.V

She is whimpering like she is on the verge of death. I am driving as fast as I can, breaking all traffic rules.

I look back at her pale face, before taking a turn I had sworn in my life I would never take again. My mother gives me a look which I ignore.

As we get closer, the memories of the last time we were here overwhelm me, but I try not to let it show. We have nowhere else to go, not at such short notice and not with someone so close to dying.

I haven’t even turned off the car when Jack comes storming out of the house, followed by who I assume is his daughter.

“I never thought I would ever see you again, little Jace,” I hate it when he calls me that. “I need help, and I had nowhere else to go,” her daughter remains at the doorway, staring at me awkwardly.

“Of course,” one thing I could always count on from Jack is his undying loyalty to my father. “I open the back seat door. My mother also steps out of the car. I see the longing look the two exchange, but I have more pressing issues than that.

“A little help here,” my sister calls out. I lean in and carry the stranger out. “What happened? Please tell me you didn’t do this,” Jack hurries after me inside the house.

He is a doctor. An unlicensed one, but still a doctor. “No I did not, she was lying by the road when we came across her,” I explain.

“Okay, place her on the bed.” He still runs a hospital at the back of his house. He does well, given that he mostly caters for the needs of criminals and people trying to hide from someone.

“Please tell me she is going to be okay,” I am not sure why I care, but I just do. “I will do the best I can,” with that assurance I walk out of the room.

“Hey, I can’t do this alone,” he yells after me. I open the door. I look around, but I am truly clueless about how I can be of any help.

“I…I am happy to help?” It comes out more as a question.

“Not you, tell Brianna I need her,” he says, looking up at me. “And Brianna is?” I am sure he has employees, but I am not sure which of them goes by Brianna.

“My daughter, the one you just passed at the door,” he points in the direction with gauze in his hand. I walk out just as he starts tearing her vest top.

***************************************

They have been in there for three hours now. I have already explained to my mother and sister what happened.

They are actually more understanding and supportive than I expected. “And don’t worry Jen, I will find a way for you to go back to campus even if it is abroad,” I know how much she cares about graduating.

She nods and gives me one of her heartwarming smiles. “Don’t worry about it for now. Just as long as we are safe and together, that is enough,” she comforts me.

I never thought after my father I was going to be the one who would make them go on the run again. My father is a one-man wrecking ball. He manages to wreck everyone’s lives. Jack’s for example. I see a picture of Jack and my father hung proudly in the living room and I feel my insides twist.

“She is going to be fine,” Jack announces coming from the medical room. “She is?” I can’t believe she pulled through.

“Yes, you can relax, son. She is resting now, and she has lost a lot of blood, but she will be fine,” I let out a sigh of relief after the reassurance.

“Thank you,” I try to give credit where it is due. Before my father dragged him into his own mess, Jack was actually a well-respected surgeon.

“Would you like to see her?” he asks me. I don’t know if it is appropriate, but I also wouldn’t want her coming to in a strange place with no one by her side. “Sure.”

I can hear them start reminiscing about the old times as I walk away. If there are two people who can unconditionally forgive my father are those two.

She is looking so peaceful and much better. She is no longer so pale and that eases my worries. I grab a chair and sit by her side.

For the first time, I get a good look at her, without the blood. Her hair is wavy and falls effortlessly to the side. I brush the hair that is on her face back.

I wonder what her story is. How can someone who looks so delicate and beautiful be cast away to die just like that?

The palm of my hand is still on her cheek when she opens her eyes. I move back and stand. “Hey, how are you feeling?” That is a stupid question, but it just felt appropriate to ask.

“Where am I?” She tries getting up, but the pain from her abdomen stops her, and she lies back down. “You’re in a hospital, well a medical center,” I answer, looking around the dimly lit room.

“What happened?” She looks at me with light blue eyes. “I found you by the road. Given your injuries, I would guess you were stabbed,” I explain, looking at her bandaged injuries.

“Water,” she whispers. I stand to get her some. “What is your name?” I ask when I get back to her side. “Amelia,” she answers.

I place the straw delicately on her cracked lips. She takes a few sips before pushing the cup away.

“What is your name?” She asks me. “I am Jace Miller,” I introduce myself. She nods before a look of confusion takes over her. “Do I know you?” She looks at me. “I don’t think so,” I would never have forgotten her if I had met her before. “No, I have heard that name before,” she insists.

“Jace Miller, Jace Miller, Jace Miller,” she repeats, but suddenly stops. She seems to have remembered where she heard my name.

That is when her eyes turn ice-cold. Her glare is so terrifying, that I even take a step back trying to escape it. “Jace Miller. You are that lawyer.”