When Colby left I felt my heart sink slightly. Being alone in this room, well in this house, felt like time hasn't shifted.
It felt like I was just taken off of the streets by four strangers, to be held captive.
I grabbed a book and curled up in bed, trying to just relax. Times were different now. I was technically held captive but it was only for a little while.
It was only until Colby could get everything sorted out.
There wasn't as much dread in it this time. I knew that there was an end to the captivity, and I knew that I would get to go home.
I just didn't know when.
I sat and read for a while before I decided to explore the house a little bit.
I obviously wasn't going to go into any of the rooms or offices but I didn't want to be trapped in one room.
When I got downstairs I walked around the silent mansion. It was a little bit of an eerie feeling, but it was kinda peaceful at the same time.
I actually thought about this house a lot since I left. It really was a beautiful place and was just my style.
I walked into the library that was once considered mine. It was mostly the same, but instead of art being on the desk, there was a flower arrangement and a couple books.
I wanted to sit in here and read, but my heart couldn't handle that.
I remember when this house was first brought up, Colby made sure that this house had a library for me. I couldn't help but think he imagined us living there for a long time.
Part of me believed that he wanted to run away with me, but knowing what I knew now that just wasn't the case.
I went back upstairs after a while, getting bored. When I got back up to the room I laid on the bed and grabbed my book.
Before I could really get comfortable the door was swinging open aggressively.
I shrieked, jumping slightly at the motion, only to see Colby hastily walking towards me.
"What are you doing!? Do you not trust me or something?!" I yelled as he grabbed my wrist, pulling me up.
"Julia, just be quiet this one time." He said and pulled me out of the room. My heart was racing with fear as he pulled me along.
Before we could get to the stairs, there was a loud crash and glass breaking downstairs.
"Shit." Colby hissed then turned and pulled me back upstairs.
"What's going on?" I whispered shakily as he opened a door that led to a storage closet.
"Shh." He hushed then got in the closet, pulling me behind.
Once we were both in, he covered my mouth with his hand, pulling me into him.
I felt like I was going to throw up as Colby grabbed his gun from its holster with ease.
Someone found me.
"She's gotta be here." A man with a deep voice growled as heavy boots stomped up the stairs.
"If you don't fucking find her, I'll put a bullet through your head." Another guy hissed aggressively.
Colby tightened his grip on my mouth as I trembled, closing my eyes.
There was crashing and loud noises surrounding us before the door swung open.
"Gotcha." The tall man said with a smile as Colby held his gun up, shooting the guy in the chest.
"Never heard of a vest?" The guy said and lunged forwards, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me out of Colby's embrace and into his.
"Stop!!" I screamed as Colby lunged forwards, hitting the guy in the head with the handle of his gun.
"Bad choice." The second guy said as he shot his gun.
I expected him to hit Colby with the bullet, but instead he shot me in the leg.
I gasped at the pain, looking up at Colby.
He clenched his jaw then shot the guy who was holding onto me in the head.
I whimpered as the guy holding me, collapsed. I fell with him.
"Oh, shit." The other guy said with wide eyes before bolting down the hallway and down the stairs.
Colby groaned then ran after him, sprinting as fast as he could.
"Oh, god!" I cried out in pain, looking down at the bullet that was piercing my calf.
I brought my shaking hand to my leg, hovering it over the wound.
I wanted to apply pressure to stop the bleeding but I didn't want to push the bullet any further into my leg.
My chest started to ache, my heart racing at the fact there was a dead person beside me and a bullet in my leg.
I started hyperventilating as Colby jogged up the stairs and towards me.
"Okay, I'm here. I'm here." He said and crouched down to be level with me.
"Did you get him?!" I asked as he shook his head. "He got away." He said and started tending to my wound.
"Who was that?!" I cried out, feeling the tears stream down my cheeks.
"I don't know." He mumbled and took his jacket off, wrapping it around my leg.
"What do you mean you don't know!!" I screamed as he clenched his jaw.
"It means I don't know!" He snapped as I shook my head. "Please don't yell at me." I mumbled as he sighed.
I knew it was ridiculous because I yelled at him first, but I was I shock. I had a pass.
"We have to get this bullet out of you." He mumbled then stood up, pulling me into his arms.
"You can't get down to the office anymore." I reminded as he chuckled. "You think I don't know that? I'm gonna do it here." He said and carried me into my room, then towards the bathroom.
He sat me on the counter, then opened the medicine cabinet, pulling out some cotton balls and rubbing alcohol.
"Sit tight." He said then left the room. "Can't walk anywhere, dumbass!" I called out then looked around.
I couldn't believe how quickly things had changed tonight.
It made me wonder what would have happened if Colby didn't show up when he did.
"Alright. Leg up." Colby said as he walked into the room with what looked like a little first aid kit.
"What happened at the banquet?" I asked as he unpacked stuff that he would need to fix my leg.
"Nothing really." He mumbled then put some alcohol on a cotton ball.
"This is gonna burn." He said and looked up at me. "I can handle it." I said causing him to grin.
"Yeah, nothing really happened. I overheard two idiots talking about coming to get you." He explained then brought the alcohol soaked cotton ball to my wound.
I hissed through my teeth slightly, but kept myself together no matter how much it burned.
"There's apparently another guy who didn't come inside. That's how the other guy got away." Colby explained as I frowned.
"So what's the next move?" I asked as he grabbed a metal tool.
"Not sure. Haven't had a second to talk to Sam. I have to apologize for getting blood all over his house." He said with a small laugh.
"I think he'll be more upset he wasn't in on the action." He said then started pulling the bullet out.
I gasped and grabbed his free hand, which was resting on the counter next to me.
He looked at our hands for a second as I cringed at the pain. "Almost done." He said then focused again.
"We were going to be leaving tomorrow anyways. Not sure where we will go for sure, since now I know that Adam has people out to get us." He hummed casually, pulling the bullet from my leg.
"You're really a bullet magnet." He said then put it on the counter next to me, the metal clanking slightly.
"Only around you." I mumbled and let go of his hand.
"I thought he was gonna shoot me, to be fair." He said then put numbing cream on the wound. "Yeah, well he didn't." I grumbled.
"And his friend paid the price for it." He said then started to stitch my wound closed. "Sorry about the lack of pain pills. Don't want you to get triggered." He said as I shrugged.
"Used to it." I said quietly. Colby looked up at me for a second with an almost sad look on his face. It went away quickly, being replaced by a serious face.
We sat in silence for the next couple minutes while he stitched me up.
"Aaaand done." Colby said then patted my knee. "You did great." He said with a small smile. "Thanks." I said then got down from the counter.
"Stay in here while I clean up the body. I know you don't really want to see that." He said as I nodded.
"Yeah, thanks." I said quietly as he cleaned up the first aid kit.
Once he left I felt the emotions running through me. I didn't expect tonight to go like that but I should have expected for some danger to follow wherever Colby went.
I just didn't expect any of this.
I sat in the bathroom for a long time before Colby came back into the room.
He had blood all over him, which looked out of place considering how nicely he was dressed.
"It's all cleaned up. Jake and Corey are on their way back, then I'm gonna shower. Sound good?" He asked as I hopped off the counter.
"You can shower now..I'll just sit in the bedroom." I said as he nodded. "Okay, I'll be quick." He said as I nodded and turned to go into the bedroom.
"And Colby?" I asked, turning around to face him. "Yes?" He asked, unbuttoning his shirt.
"Is there any way you could sleep in here tonight?" I asked so quietly I didn't even know if he heard me.
I didn't want to admit that I would feel more comfortable in here if he was here, but it was the truth.
I don't think you could really blame me considering the circumstances but it was still strange.
"Of course, sweetheart." He said as I nodded and turned and leave the room.