A/N: Before I begin this chapter, I want to say thank you to anyone who's read this far. I know I don't update as frequently as I would like, and it's been a bit of a difficult time. Oakley's story is one that I want to perfect, and sometimes that means I get in my own head about the chapters. Again, I really want to thank everyone who's read this far. Please let me know what you think of Oakley and Coop's story thus far. What are some things that could really amplify the plot for you?
Thank you,
Kelly Alice
Also TW for this chapter: there will be a death. Please read with caution, and maybe tissues?
Chapter 40: Where Do We Go From Here?
After putting the note back into my bag, I walked over to my closet, and pulled its door open. I was relieved to see that the daisy was still there, but the light from the bulb didn't seem to be doing a good enough job. The leaves drooped a bit, and the petals were dimmer in their glow.
Worried, I scooped the pink pot into my arms, and looked for a better place to put it. When I couldn't find one, my worry deepened the frown on my lips.
"It'll be okay, little daisy. I'm going to fix you right up." I murmured, and flicked my wrist above the delicate flower.
A light sprinkle of mist dusted the petals, and the stem began wiggling itself, like an excited puppy. Gold dust danced around the pot as the mist was absorbed. A giddy feeling erupted in my stomach, and I placed the pot onto my desk, searching for something I could use to create a type of terrarium for it. I couldn't just leave the flower on my desk. I rummaged the nearly bare room, and found a small wooden crate, one I'd forgotten to throw out in the move, under my bed.
There was no top to it, but I could flip it upside down, and have it cover the plant with light being able to reach it through the thick cracks.
I grabbed the pot, and placed it next to my bed, and under the window. Then, I grabbed the crate, and placed it over the daisy. I had no curtains on the small window, and I was able to see enough of the flower through the crate to ease my worry about sunlight. The next problem would be water, but I wouldn't need to worry about that so soon.
*
The walk to Coop's with Ainsley was unsettlingly quiet, and neither of us spoke until we stepped through the front door. Trey smiled at Ainsley, practically drooling at the sight of her, and ushered her to take a seat next to him in the living room. I took a spot on the loveseat, and watched their brief interaction with curiosity.
"Why does Coop want us all here for lunch, Trey?" Ainsley asked, plopping down next to him.
"He wants to go over all of the information we have, and start putting a plan in motion. He thinks that with what's been going on, there's going to be something big happening soon." Trey responded, his normally goofy demeanor gone.
"Where is he?" I questioned, scanning the room. He wasn't here, where was he?
"He's talking to Alex in his room. They should be down in a second." He replied, and Ainsley took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder.
Trey immediately tucked her under his arm, and placed a kiss on her forehead. It was a sweet gesture, and one that made Ainsley turn the color of her luscious locks.
As if on cue, both men bounded down the stairs, and rushed out the door. Neither said a word, and once the door slammed shut, we all shot up from our seats. Trey was next to burst out the door, no doubt tracking his friends. I looked over at Ainsley, unsure of what to do, but her eyes narrowed, and her wings sprouted from her back. What did she know?
Ainsley ran through the front door, and the gust of wind that blasted me in the face told me she had flown away at top speed.
Something in my gut told me this was wrong. Something bad happened, and my feet sprung into action. I wasn't too far behind Trey, and my feet fought with the hard ground as I tried to keep up.
He'd sprinted into the cover of the trees, and I jumped into the branches to keep him in my sight. All that I could feel was the blood pounding in my ears as the soles of my feet tore into the bark. Panic set in once a scream echoed from afar. One filled with agony, and pain. My gut wrenched and I pushed forward, keeping Trey in my line of vision.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight in front of me as Trey bounded into the clearing. The branches were scarce, and I found myself nearly falling as I grabbed onto the last one. I hoisted myself onto it, and leaned forward to get a better glimpse.
Coop, Alex, and now Trey all huddled around something, a flash of red peeking through the cracks of their bodies. My brows furrowed, and I hopped down to a lower branch. Alex let out a strangled shout, and dropped to his knees.
I saw Ainsley on the ground, her wings surrounded her body, faced away from me. She shook violently, and Alex put a hand on her shoulder. I hopped down when she shoved him away.
"Ainsley? What happened?" I called out as I approached.
No one said anything. Nobody said anything. No one moved. Ainsley's shuddering became more violent, and a lone sob escaped her lips.
The silence began to suffocate me, and Alex stood and flung Ainsley to the side. She let out a feral scream, and went to charge after him, but Trey took hold of her waist, and drug her further from the group.
It was if my eyes wouldn't let me wander to what was in front of me. I'd seen flashes of the blood in my peripheral, but no part of me wanted to accept the reality of the situation.
Hannah, on the ground, in a pool of glowing, green liquid, and crimson. Lifeless.