Ch. 9- Connected

Days Missing: 7      11:32:45 PM

 

Iris

I sit on the couch, my legs pulled tightly into my chest. I eye the wall, as if it contained all the answers I needed. As if it knew where my sister was. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. I teeter on a dangerous edge, anything could push me over. I try to keep myself intact for the guys, try to be strong, but honestly, I’m running out of strength. Seeing Zane unravel is making me begin to unravel as well, like thread carelessly wound into a loose ball, the slightest thing causing it to unravel wildly. I finger the thin fabric of my shirt, feeling the cheap coarseness. My dark hair falls into my face, and I don’t care to brush it away.

I feel a finger brush against my cheek, tucking the strand of hair behind my ear. I look up, and find Saxon staring at me, concerned. He sits down opposite of me on the couch as I prop my elbow on the back of the couch, weaving my fingers through my hair. He reaches out a finger, stroking my cheek as he smiles softly, trying to comfort me. I try my best to smile back, but fail, my chest sinking.

“Talk to me.” He whispers.

I lift my head. It feels heavy on my shoulders. I meet his beautiful eyes, which stare into mine.

“I’m trying to tell myself that we’re going to find her, that I’m going to see her again,” I start, finding it hard to keep my voice steady. “But I’m getting to the point to where it almost seems pointless.”

I’m angry. Angry at myself. Angry that I’ve given up so easily. Why have I give up so easily? Isn’t this where the sister connection thing kicks in, giving you this gut feeling telling you that she’s alive? Yeah, well, I don’t have that. Instead my body is empty, like an abandoned shell.

Saxon inches closer towards me. I force myself to look at him.

“Just keep telling yourself that. That we will find her. Because that’s the only way that we will find her. By not giving up.”

I knew he was right, and I’m not sure I could forgive myself for thinking such thoughts. Thoughts of giving up.

Saxon’s body shifted, molding into mine, snaking his arm underneath my back, lying both of us down on the couch. There, he held me, and I stared methodically at the ceiling as I listened to his breathing.

“I love her. She was all I had all those years. She took care of me as if I were her child. She can’t just be…gone.”

My chest begins to swell as I longed for my sister, missing her reassuring arms, which would always wrap around me securely when I’d wake her up in the middle of the night all those years ago, screaming from the after math of a terrible nightmare. She’d pull me into her lap, rocking me back and forth, shh-ing me as I felt my eyelids once again growing heavy.

I find myself growing angry, angry at the b******s who took her from me. I finger Saxon’s shirt, the anger swarming throughout my body like bees.

“Why the f**k did they take her?” It’s more of a statement then a question, because I know he doesn’t have the answer.

I feel Saxon’s chest rise as he inhales, letting out a puff of air through his lips.

“I don’t know, Iris.” The vibration in his chest tickles my ear.

“But we will find her.”

There’s a terrible crash, and a frightening scream echoes throughout the house, setting my teeth on edge.

“Zane…” I find myself muttering, suddenly worried about him.

I feel Saxon shift, and he gently slides me off of him, rising from the couch.

‘I’m going to go check on him.” He says, kissing me lightly on the cheek.

I lay my head on the armrest, glaring once again at the ceiling. I absentmindedly grind my jaw as I think of the monsters who’ve taken her. If I ever get my hands on them, I swear to God they’ll be begging for mercy.

Reviews

[Alleyway Rover]

At first I was worried about adding yet another first-person POV into the mix. I still am to a certain extent, but Iris is the first person who’s given us an actual look into her mind. She’s the first character who’s using the first person perspective to show the world around her and it’s especially powerful coming right after her scene with Zane earlier.

I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record on this issue, but it really is on my mind and it’s the most important note I have right now. I’ve read several scenes with Zane and the rest of the people in this house. There has not been a single scene where they’ve been out pounding pavement trying to find this girl.

It would make sense if the police told them to just hold tight, relax and we will inform you when we find something. Then, I would understand the restlessness, the anxiety and the frustration that is pounding through the narrative. But as it stands with absolutely no police involvement, it feels like the whole gang is just kicking around this house feeling sorry for themselves. I feel like, as a result, the story has stalled at this point. The main characters have got to drive the story forward. If there is something preventing them from doing so, that’s another conflict, another obstacle to overcome and more story goodness to enjoy. As it is, I don’t see anything that is stopping them. And I get the sense that there are people out there looking for Alexandria, but we haven’t gotten that perspective.

We’re just wandering around in circles waiting for someone, anyone to take control of this story and drive it to it’s stunning conclusion.

[JordanIsaacSmith]

It's great that we're continuously exploring new characters and their motivations, it keeps things interesting when there are no major plot developments. Great piece of writing.

[RainDancer1997]

I love how you showed how much she loved her sister. The bond and everything. I'm really loving this!!