+ 1.20: Mind Games

Al Simhara, Egypt

For the rest of the day Azaria ignored Jared. Her stubbornness and quick temper hadn’t allowed her to forgive him for that comment. It was best that she be left alone to fully accept what had just gone down; better that they continued in silence to avoid a battery of insults and unintentional remarks about each other’s flaws.

When they returned to their lodge he eventually broke the silence.

“I shouldn’t have said that about your run in with Davrin.”

She turned her back on him and stared at the wall in front of her.

“I’m really sorry.” Seconds before he had made the comment a wave of anger and darkness had washed over him and he felt as if he’d lost control over his own tongue. He didn’t know why but he was angry at her; furious that she had allowed herself to be swayed by a few charming words and the prospect of a free drink. A voice inside his head told him that he should feel betrayed; that he should blame her for ruining her life.

“I had told myself it would be just one drink. I didn’t see him slip in the drug. Everything was just a blur until I woke up to find myself in a strange house, a year later, pregnant with a child I didn’t plan on having.” She spoke slowly, realising her own carelessness of that night. She turned back around to face him and he pulled her into his arms: her solace from all that was wrong in her world. 

“It was a stupid move by a drunken girl still trying to rebel against her over-bearing parents.” She had realised that it was the truth behind Jared’s comment that had really hurt her. All this time she had blamed Davrin wholly when really she was to blame too. She had foolishly accepted a drink from a stranger in a new city where she knew nothing about the people that lived there. But who could blame her? He was charming, mysterious and handsome. Her curiosity had been peaked the moment he approached her.

“You’re the only person who knows and if you’re going to judge me for it-”

“I wasn’t judging you. I don’t know what made me say it. It didn’t even feel like I was really saying those words myself.” He stuttered. He searched for the words to try to explain but he could only have described it as being possessed.

The fear of losing her had become his biggest weakness – he realised this when he couldn’t find her anywhere near the market place. And in that one instant when he had felt so vulnerable it had felt as though some kind of evil that had been waiting in the shadows had suddenly struck; forcing him to say those words he knew would hurt her.

When she didn’t lash out, and simply walked away, the darkness that had taken hold of him had retreated and he was in full control again; completely aware and regretful of the hurt he had caused her.  

As Jared tried to explain and apologise, it suddenly made sense to Azaria what had happened in that instant. She knew who was behind this. ‘That conniving bastard!’ She should have known he was still alive somewhere.

She smiled forgivingly and kissed him on the cheek.  

“So what did the fortune teller say?” He asked carefully not wanting to push her into another corner.

“A lot of things. I don’t want to talk about it until I’ve made sense of it. Let’s just enjoy our trip.” She pulled away from him and lay down on the bed patting the empty space next to her, inviting him to join her.

* * * * * 

Meanwhile in Bridgeport...

“Fuck!” Davrin had managed to get into Jared’s head. His plan was to instigate an argument between him and the girl but she hadn’t reacted the way he wanted her to. Now they had kissed and made him. His blood was boiling.

The very thought of Jared’s hands roaming over Azaria was enough to make him sick. His stomach twisted with jealousy and rage. And the way she thought she loved him. ‘Stupid little girl is in such denial’. He relished the idea of snatching her away from that weak human and claiming what was, in his opinion, rightfully his. He would continue to toy with them until he escaped this shit hole.

* * * * *

A week later, Twinbrook 

They had returned from their trip, sunburnt and missing their comfortable bed. Azaria had even brought a stomach bug back with her. A local doctor had told her it should subside in a few a days.

Jared had tried to extract more information from her about the fortune teller on the flight back but she wouldn’t let on. He was starting to doubt whether that woman had just rambled off rehearsed predictions otherwise Azaria wouldn’t have been so guarded over it. However, he decided not to harp on the subject any further. She would tell him when she was ready and he knew that.

Two months later

It was now two months later and the nausea was back. As she leaned over the toilet bowl, she heard Jared’s voice call out to her from the other side of the door.

“You okay?”

She pulled herself up off the floor, knees still weak from the vomiting, and walked over to the basin to wash the vile taste from her mouth. She gazed back at her reflection in the mirror.

“I don’t think this one’s a stomach bug.”

Note: Previous chapters can be found here: Chapters: Generation One

** Continued in next chapter **