The Deranged: Pt 1 Chapter 12

After strapping Potter into the passenger’s seat, Aiden instantly appeared in the driver’s side, buckled and ready to go. After revving the engine a couple times, Aiden ripped out of the apartment complex’s parking lot. Potter gripped the sides of her seat in fear and excitement. She was being kidnapped for the first time in her life yes, but if the symbol in the steering wheel was right, this might be the only time she’d be in a Ferrari. The engine was very quiet like a whisper. The black leather seats were smooth and warm. Potter was amazed with everything from the crystal clearness of the windows to the slick shine of the middle consol. The ride was so gentle that it didn’t even feel like they were moving. Potter leaned her seat back and stared out the window. 1

After juggling the handle a bit she got the incline she wanted. Then Potter cast cat a fleeting gaze over at her captor. Aiden was so rigid, like a pale blue statue. He had stopped glowing and his eyes were once again dull. But the question still circled her head. Who, or rather, what the hell am I dealing with here? The scared teen tried her vest to avoid staring, but the temptation was too great. Potter focused on his jaw line and followed down to the lean muscles of his torso she hadn’t before noticed. As her eyes traced his forearms, Potter got a look at the speedometer. 2

Her eyes zeroed in then expanded as she read it. “Aiden, I think you should slow down. Like right now.”3

His jaw twitched but he didn’t answer.4

“Aiden. Pull this car over now.”5

Still he didn’t respond. Potter tugged at her seatbelt. “Aide if you don’t slow this car down...”6

“You’ll what? Smack me again. No offense, Rose. But I think you did more damage to yourself than me.” Aiden’s hand quickly flicked Potter’s wrist before returning to the wheel. Potter hissed. She’d forgotten her wrist still throbbed. Not only that but is was the same arm that had been cut earlier that morning. Potter rolled her sleeve up and fingered the bandage. Eli had doctored her so nicely that it hadn’t bothered her until now. A small line of old blood could be seen. To keep the cut clean, Potter would need a change of bandages soon. She glanced back at Aiden’s stony face.7

“My name’s Potter.”8

He made a sharp turn and barely flinched, “What?”9

Potter turned her body to him completely. “I said my name is Potter, not Rose.”10

“She was supposed to name you Rose.”11

“You don’t know anything about me or my mother. Now, stop this car.”12

Aiden shifted gears ignoring her. Potter pulled off her seat belt and began to fiddle with her door handle.13

“It won’t open.”14

“Take me back.”15

“If I have to tape your trap shut, I will.”16

Potter turned and leaned in as close as she willed. “I wish you would.”17

Instantly the car screeched to a stopped. Potter lurched forward crashing her forehead against the dashboard and sprang back into her seat. She gripped her skull and screamed out. Aiden simply watched and waited for her to calm down. The pain in Potter’s head brought tears to her eyes. She was too preoccupied with her concussion to care about crying in front of Aiden. He hadn’t even told her why he dragged her down away in the first place. And how did he know where I lived? So many things were flowing in and out of her mind that the pain seemed to be getting worse. Potter didn’t even notice when Aiden exited the car. She just wanted the pain to stop. The cool draft of the night air in the car took some of the edge away when her door was opened. Potter peeked out of her hands to see his pale silhouette staring down at her. She whimpered a bit before daring her self to speak. “Please tell me you didn’t do all that to prove a point.” 18

“Learn to where your seatbelt.” Aiden held out his hand. Potter waved it away she was in no mood to move. Aiden gritted his teeth and checked his watch. “Do you need to be carried?” Potter nodded weakly and whimpered at the movement of her head. 19

“Fine. Stay here.” Then he was gone. Potter grimaced and silently rolled eyes. As if I was planning to drive off anyway. Potter gradually leaned her body back. That way her back could relax. Potter rubbed her temples tentatively. There was already a swollen bump at the top her head. Potter reached out to close her door. She didn’t want to draw any critters by the overhead light. But as she swung the door shut, it collided with something. The door opened back up and a man’s lower half came into view. Slowly the person keeled until they were eye level with Potter. Potter fluttered her eyes trying to focus in on the person’s face. Slight stubble was present around the jaw. Steel grey eyes stared at her softly. “Eli.” Her voice hurt her own ears as she called out his name. Eli reached out and eased his hands underneath her head and knees. Carefully, he pulled her from the passenger seat. Once her head cleared the frame, Eli brought Potter close to his chest. So close that Potter could feel the beating of his heart. The last thing she recalled was Eli whispering she would be ok. 20