-Evangeline-
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I want to savor this moment. Mr. Winters's warm, strong arms wrapped around me as I lay on his chest, both half-naked, staring up at the dark abyss above while he lay on the grass. Every once in a while, the twinkling stars peek out of the dark clouds that blend with the night sky. The heat from his chest warms me throughout, even though the air seems to be getting nippy. My eyes start to drift to close when it breaks open to an annoying voice.
"Are you two done fucking?" I look at the edge of the garden, seeing August.
I grab Mr. Winters's jacket to cover up my chest, "What the fuck are you doing out here?"
August stands in his usual dark brown boots -which I hate-, black jeans and his black leather jacket covering most of his dark grey shirt while holding a bowl of what I suspect is chicken noodle soup.
"Don't act so special, spoiled brat. I'm here to get Mr. Winters. By the way, your soup tastes fucking awful," I roll my eyes.
"That's because you're eating it cold, dumbass."
"What do you need, August?" Mr. Winters says in an aggravated voice as he pulls me closer to him in protective mode.
"It's not what I need. It's what your brother needs. Who, by the way, is standing in your living room. He's been waiting for you for hours."
"What?!" Mr. Winters drops his arm around me and quickly sits up, letting me lay on the cold, damp grass, "Why the hell didn't you tell me he was waiting for me?"
"I don't know. I thought I wouldn't bug you two and let you enjoy your makeout session," August takes another bite of my cold soup, which he declares to be disgusting, as Mr. Winters stands up and walks to the house angrily.
"Well, he was certainly in an urgent hurry," I roll my eyes and sit up while putting Mr. Winters's jacket on my arms to cover myself.
I sigh while still sitting on the ground, "Thanks for not telling him. It was nice while it lasted."
"No problem. I figured you two could enjoy some time alone and finally get some answers out of him," I stare above at the sparkling stars.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?" August says, confused as he takes another bite.
"Did you know that I was famous?" August stands silent as he stirs his metal spoon in his soup.
"Sorry, kid. I did," He says with no remorse.
"Why did Mr. Winters not want me to know I was all over the news? Hell, a fucking jewelry lady knew all about me, and I didn't even know I was famous!"
"Oh, don't be dramatic-"
"They think we're married. Donny showed me everything on his phone on the car ride home. They're calling me Mrs. Winters already, and I haven't even picked out a wedding dress."
"Oh," August says in a quiet tone, "Then why don't we pick out a wedding dress tomorrow? It'll be...," August swallows, "Fun to go pick one out for you," I roll my eyes.
"Thanks, but I can't afford a wedding dress right now, and I know you don't like to go shopping. Plus, I'm too nervous to do anything tomorrow since the only thing on my mind is meeting Mr. Winters's parents."
"Do you want me to call Violet to help you deal with all this... girl emotion shit?" August says nervously as he takes of bite of soup.
"Maybe," I say quietly, "Yes... just don't invite Charlotte. Lord knows, if Charlotte comes over, she's going to make me more nervous with her excitement."
"It's too late for that. Charlotte's already in the living room with her master, Hunter," I chuckle.
"Yep, that sounds like Charlotte. She's always been one for being someone's little pet. She's into that kind of stuff," A grin appears on August's face as I know he's thinking about Charlotte.
I hold my arms out, "Help me up? My legs are numb, and it's harder to stand up than other times."
August lets out a laugh as he walks over to me. He pulls me up with one hand while the other holds his soup, letting me stand, trying to get in my legs that feel like jelly.
I walk with August toward the back door. I hold my jacket close as an odd feeling eases the air as we walk through the house to the stairs. As I stare at the stairs, yelling coming from a room on the first floor.
"Evangeline!" I turn the side of the stairs, seeing Charlotte approaching me from the doorframe, leading into a hallway.
"It's been so long!" Charlotte wraps her arms around me for a hug as she approaches me.
"Where's Mr. Winters?" I ask as Charlotte squeezes the life out of me.
She lets go of me and furrows her perfect brows, "He's talking to Hunter in the living room."
Her eyes scan my outfit, "What the hell are you wearing? Where'd your shirt go?!" I hear a laugh come from August.
I roll my eyes, "Disappeared," I say as I walk past her, into the hallway.
"Wait, I don't think we should-" I continue to walk as Charlotte and August follow.
Ironically, the living room is next to the library. The sight of the two dark grey connecting couches and the large flatscreen television hanging on the wall above the fireplace is complimented by the grey custom-designed rug that lays underneath the glass coffee table in front of the couches. It's all lit with two silver chandeliers hanging from above.
The sight should have been the first thing I would have noticed if my attention hadn't turn to the sound of choking gurgles coming from Hunter as Mr. Winters holds Hunter up high against the wall by his throat while Hunter's blood from his nose drips down Mr. Winters's hand.
"What the fuck is going on in here?!" My voice rips the tension in the room.
Mr. Winters's head whips to look at me, letting me see the grey mask covering his face, only showing his angry eyes. Charlotte pushes her away from behind me.
"Oh my god! Don't hurt him!" She takes a step forward, and Mr. Winters's head turns to look at her, giving her a threatening look in his eyes.
I take a step forward, and Mr. Winters's head looks at me with menacing eyes as he looks from Charlotte.
"Put him down," I say in a stern voice. Mr. Winters's grip tightens on Hunters's neck.
If he wants to play games, then I'll play.
I take off my jacket, revealing my bright, noticeable red bra. Mr. Winters drops Hunter to the floor, dropping his hand to his side as Winters and Hunter stare at my still swollen breasts, giving them both an erection.
"If you want to cause a scene, then I'll cause a scene," I say as I put my hand behind my back, hanging onto my bra hook.
"Evangeline. Don't," Mr. Winters says with an unbending tone. His eyes narrow through his mask, getting more furious.
I keep a serious look as the tension in the atmosphere constricts. The air gets harder to breathe with every second -that stretches out to centuries- as Mr. Winters's eyes stare at me. His look's so intense it could burn a hole in a tree.
"I told you to drop him, but since you don't want to listen, then I have to find some way to-" Knowing I'm the bait in a lion's den, I unhook my bra as Hunter slides himself up against the wall with wide eyes, waiting to see the reveal.
Mr. Winters quickly walks towards me and picks up the jacket. He wraps the jacket around me tightly before I could take the straps off my arms. He slides his hand under my thigh and his other behind my back, lifting me, and stares at Hunter with a baleful look. As Hunter holds his bruised jaw, he stares at me with a grin as Charlotte looks him over worriedly.
"If you mention it one more time, even Evangeline won't be able to save you," Mr. Winters says with no remorse.
He turns around and starts to walk out of the door while squeezing my thigh so tight that I know he's going to bruise it.
"She's making you soft," Mr. Winters stops in the doorframe and turns around to Hunter's.
"What did you say?" Mr. Winters says, trying to control his tone in front of me while lowering me, letting my feet touch the ground as he lets me stand.
"You heard me. I don't-" Before Hunter could finish his sentence, Mr. Winters's hand was already around his throat, slamming Hunter against the wall and tightening his grip with every second Hunter tries to breathe.
"Stop! You're going to kill him!" Charlotte screams as she tries to grab Mr. Winters's arm, but he tosses her to the side with one swift move.
My body freezes as I stand there, watching Hunter's face start to turn to a shade of purple as he claws at Mr. Winters's one hand around his throat to breathe.
I know I'm supposed to call off Winters, but I can't help but get the feeling that Hunter called for this.
My body stands here, frozen. I can't move my body. Every ouch of it stings with dread and a little betrayal.
I swallow the lump forming in my throat and parten my dry lips, "Cole..."
My voice doesn't sound like mine. I don't recognize it. Instead of being confident and brave, it was full of disappointment and... fear.
As the words reach Mr. Winters's ears, he drops Hunter to the floor, letting him gasp for air, and turns towards me.
His eyes, which were full of darkness and anger, quickly turns to a shade of regret and sadness as he stares at my fearful face.
I take a dragful breath and take a step back from him. The only thing that flashes in my mind is the memory of Mr. Winters's face when he was beating Eric to death. It's the same face he had when he grabbed Hunter by the throat.
I take another step back and let my legs do the work as they stumble out of the door and try to run into the hallway, up the stairs, and into the only room where I feel safe.
Johnny's nursery.
I slam the door behind me, locking it, and back to the empty wall. I look at the still-empty room -only lit by the moonlight that peers into the window- as my heart's about to beat out of my chest. I grab my arms with my shaking hands... Mr. Winters's jacket...
I take the jacket off and throw it on the ground, hating every sewing in it.
Even though it's warm in here, the cool air nips at my skin, sending goosebumps down my whole body. I rub my hands on my arms, refusing to wear the jacket, while trying to calm my quivering lip and shaking body as my skin feels like it's about to freeze off.
The door handle shakes, and a pounding sounds from the door.
"Evangeline. Open the door," Mr. Winters's voice sounds quiet, comparing how he spoke to Hunter from the other side of the door.
I cover my mouth, trying not to make a whine or any noise, and look around the bare, dark room for a place to hide.
I stand up slowly, walking my aching legs toward the closet as quickly as I can while trying not to make a sound as the pounding on the door gets progressively louder.
I open the closet and walk inside, closing the door quietly behind me. I back into the deep end of the closet, shuffling into a sitting position.
I cover my mouth, feeling my heart about to beat out of my chest.
If Mr. Winters was mad at Hunter and didn't listen to me, who knows what he's going to do once he found me?
My stomach sinks as I hear a loud cracking sound come from the door with a loud bam.
An eerie silence fills the room as the footsteps step into the room. I peek out of the cracks of the closet door, seeing the room empty.
If this were a horror movie, the floor would be creaking. But the house isn't old. It's new. And this isn't a horror movie. This is real life.
A quiver gasp leaves my mouth as the closet door slams open, bringing me back to reality.
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-End Of Chapter 73-
Thank you soooo much for reading Chapter 73 Of CRASHING DOWN INTO GLORY! <3