What did they mean? I knew who I was, didn't I? I was Rosalia Mallory, a girl left on the doorstep of our town's foster agency to find a new home. From there I went through three homes before at the age of 16 instead of having to live in the group h...
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Rosalia's POV:
I see him the minute we round the corner. I know it is his voice calling out to me and I try to follow it. Pulling Mara with me she struggles to keep up but I drag her on, my fear keeping me moving.
"ROSALIA!" Stopping for a second I pull Mara around a corner to catch our breath. She concentrates on taking deep breaths while I try to calm my racing heart enough to keep running. "ROSA!" The voice calls out again and I catch my breath for a moment before shooting an apologetic glance at Mara and pulling her with me. We run, fear keeping us both running. Zig-zagging around corridors we pull each other along. I can tell Mara is tiring and so am I but I let the adrenaline and unease power me on until we round the final corner. By the time we reach it we're both shaking and I can't keep my eyes from restlessly scanning the group assembled at the end. I can feel Hunter's eyes on me and I struggle to resist looking until the last second, knowing what will happen when our eyes meet.
What I didn't expect was the intensity. As soon as our eyes meet what feels like pure electricity shoots through me, leaving me feeling dizzy when the rush fades from my veins. Taking unsteady breaths I keep my hand in Mara's and try to battle the dizzy rush flooding through me. Blinking I bite down on my lip for a moment before I let my shaky fingers drop from Mara's. She looks at me out of the corner of her eye and I smile slightly but the gesture feels forced.
Taking a step forward in no time at all I'm running towards him. The closer I get the less anxious I feel. When I reach the other end of the corridor he pulls me into his arms and I bury my face into his shoulder, blocking out the subconscious nag that I shouldn't be doing this. Standing this close I can feel his tension and it slowly drains out of him the longer he can see me. Pulling away slightly he tips my chin up to look into my eyes. "Are you ok?"
"I-I..." I want to agree but for some reason, my speech doesn't work. Maybe I'm still a little afraid of whatever was chasing me. Or maybe now the adrenaline's faded I'm too tired. Either way, he seems to notice my lack of words and looks over at the other two.
"Ash take Mara back to her room, see she's safe and come back." He looks over at Ash and I take that opportunity to share a look with Mara who's glaring. Seeing the anger in her gaze I shrink back from her glare. "Rosa?" Hunter looks at me with concern and I motion to Mara. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong is you trying to bench me when my best friend is in danger. Danger from a threat we don't fully know or understand." Mara's voice is full of conviction and I want to tell her to stop being crazy and stay out of it but she silences me with another scathing glare that shuts me up instantly.
"But-but you could get hurt. Or worse." I focus on her and try to get her to understand but she remains obstinate in her decision. "Mar I'm just looking out for you. I've lost too many people in my life. I-I can't lose you too." I can feel tears in my eyes and fight them back until she takes my free hand. When I meet her eyes her glare has softened and she mouths 'sorry' to me. I smile slightly and give up arguing - realising that it's a losing battle.
