Page 11 of Haunted Hearts

The door creaks open and I worry it’s Alabaster, but Karma pushes through.

“Aww, hi there, beautiful,” Genni says, leaning down and petting the cat. Karma purrs into her hand before jumping on her lap.

“She likes you.” I smile, scratching Karma’s head.

“I’m glad to see you, too, it’s been a long time. I’m happy to be away from there, I just… I wish Ben was here.”

“Ben? Is he your boyfriend?”

Her face turns a light shade of pink. “Yeah, something like that,” she says sheepishly. “He is kind of everything to me.”

“I get that.” I look down with a soft smile as I play with Karma’s tail. “But I feel like my situation is fucked-up.”

“When I first met Ben, he threatened to kill me, actually.” Gen giggles. “He was assigned to be my handler, to keep me in check and watch over me when I wasn’t doing a job for the Order.”

I got out of there because of Cade, but Gen has been with them all these years. When we were kids, she was always so mature for her age, so kind and caring. Something I was so unfamiliar with. I still vividly remember one time we were playing in a ditch near the river, I slipped and fell into the water. Gen jumped in without hesitation, pulling me to the shore, and she cut herself on the branches dragging me out. She was hurt so much worse than me, but Gen just kept comforting me; when she brought me inside and sat me down by the fire, she patched up my knee where I got scraped falling. Telling me I would be okay and patting my head. It was so comforting; though we are the same age, I always saw her as an older sister. Always looking out for me, always putting me first, even when it meant putting herself last.

“I can’t imagine what you had to go through…” I trail off. I hate that she never got out, that she had to endure all those years of torment. “Listen, I’m sorry,” I say quietly, not meeting her eyes. Karma stands, stretching on Genni’s lap before jumping down and exiting the room.

Gen shifts and takes my hand in hers. “Cal, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. You did nothing wrong. You needed to get out of there, and I’m glad your brother did what he did.” There is pain on her face. “Things played out exactly how they were meant to.”

Even now… after everything—she has been separated from the man she loves, and Gods know what she had to go through to get here—I should be the one comforting her. So why do I feel like crying? It’s been over ten years since I’ve seen Genevieve, and yet it’s like no time has passed. Suddenly I’m still that scared, quiet little girl covered in mud. I pull my hand away, instead grasping her into a tight embrace.

“No. You don’t get to do that. You have been strong your whole life, but I’ve never been able to be strong for you. I can now.” Despite my words, tears spill from my eyes.

Gen doesn’t move but I hear her breath hitch, before her chest sinks into me, her cries coming in desperate gasps. I hold her tighter, flowing freely together. I’ve never seen her cry. But things are different. I have grown.

“I just want to get Ben out of there,” she says, her voice hoarse from crying.

“Cade will get him out. I promise.” I try my best to sound comforting.

“But… his only motivation is to take down the Order. We both know that. Ben’s survival is not a priority.”

“Cade has never gone back on a deal. I know you don’t know him, but trust me when I say my brother will do everything in his power to keep Ben alive.” I pray the confidence in my tone is reassuring; then her shoulders drop into me and I sigh with relief.

“What’s the story with you two anyway?” I ask.

Gen snickers and sits up; the distant look in her eyes and gentle expression painting her face tell me everything I need to know. They’ve been through some shit, that much is obvious.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to pry,” I say, changing the subject. “But I am curious. How did you get into Cade’s head? It was like you took over his mind.”

I know it’s a touchy subject, considering Cade was in the middle of being tortured by Gen’s boyfriend, but I have to know.

“I knew his ghost wasn’t the only one present.” She looks up at me with knowing eyes. “I doubt I would be capable of it now; he was weak and broken down. Illusion magic may be a parlor trick, but useful nonetheless.”

“Can you teach me?” I ask, my eagerness more obvious than I’d like.

She smiles at me. “Yeah, I think I can do that. But for now, I think I’m going to take a nap.” She stands.

“Oh! Can I save your number?” I ask, pulling out my phone.

“Sure, here.” She takes my phone and I take hers as we exchange contacts.

“I’m sure you’re tired. Let me know if you need anything, okay?” I hand her phone back.

“All right.” Gen gives me a fond look and exits the room.

I hear the click of her door down the hall and get up. The familiar sound of Call of Duty echoes from Jack’s room, gunfire and static bleeding into the quiet. I move closer, noticing his door is cracked. Peeking in, I see Jack and Alabaster sitting next to each other. Much closer than necessary.