May 7, 2023

Queen

I followed the GPS on my phone until it pulled into a trail in the woods and I glanced at Syn through the rearview mirror. "Umm, are you sure I'm going the right way?"

He nodded. "Just follow the clearing."

I nodded, taking note of his quiet demeanor since the incident a couple of hours ago. I assured him Saint and I were fine and mistakes happened, but he didn't let himself off the hook. His eyes were downcast as his face didn't give me a hint as to what was going on in his mind. I just knew something was severely wrong and I was beginning to worry.

Especially after Saint started crying whenever Syn made the slightest gesture to touch him.

I played it off like it wasn't a big deal so Syn wouldn't feel bad, but it was huge. Saint loved his father. Most times, he preferred his company to mine, but tonight he clung to me like he'd never done before. It made me think back to what he told me the last time I spoke to him.

"When I touch him sometimes, I feel like I'm falling. The feeling is brief, but it is powerful. Take care of him for me..."

I wondered if that phenomenon he described to me had anything to do with him avoiding Syn tonight. The more I thought about it, it did. But it wasn't like Saint had all of the answers. There was still the mystery of what was going on with Syn.

I just hoped that this week with him would provide some answers. If I wanted to figure shit out, I needed to start thinking as he did. If I could have a fraction of his perceptiveness, I'd get it within seconds...but I didn't. I was just me and even if I didn't have gifts that he possessed to make him so keen to observation, I had one thing.

Love.

That hopefully would be enough to light the metaphorical bulb dangling above my head.

"It's right there," he said.

I drove downhill, following his direction until we reached a large two-story cabin and I stopped the car. "Umm, I don't think so, Syn," I said. "A cabin in the woods? There could be serial killers out here."

"If we're being technical and going by human law, I classify as a serial killer, Queen. Shit, you probably do too," he said, the light in his eyes returning a little bit.

"False," I spoke up. "Serial killers have a pattern and I do not. Therefore, Queen," I pointed to myself, "is not a serial killer. I just have a few bodies." I shrugged.

"Sure." He crossed his arms, a small smile spreading across his pink lips. "A lot of serial killers say they're not serial killers."

"False."

"How?"

"I don't know. I just like disagreeing with you."

My phone rang in my pocket and I pulled it out finally. I'd been so busy in the past few hours that I didn't want to answer any phone calls. I looked at the contact, and once I saw Aiden's name, my eyes widened. "Fuck," I whispered, leaning my head against the steering wheel.

"I'll leave you to that," Syn said, his voice clipped with a tinge of amusement that usually wasn't there where Aiden was concerned. This time was different than those times before though because right now we knew that I was screwed. I had left the dinner party without a word and to make things worse, it was with Syn.

I answered the phone, giving Syn a dirty look as he unclipped Saint's car seat. "Hello," I spoke.

"Queen? I've been trying to call you for hours, where did you go?"

"I'm sorry," I said genuinely. "I just had a...family emergency. I didn't have time to say bye, but please tell your mother and everyone that it was a pleasure meeting them."

"A family emergency?" He asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm just not going to be home for a few days. It's a lot to explain, but I'll talk to you once I'm back," I said.

"Hmm, are you sure everything is okay?" He asked. "My father's friend didn't do anything to upset you, did he?"

"What?"

"While we were gone...did the guy my father introduce me to do anything to make you uncomfortable. I noticed him looking at you before I left. I didn't want to say anything and make the moment weirder than it already was—"

"No," I replied quickly, "he didn't do anything."

"Okay, well," he said, "if you need anything, please call me."

"I will."

"Be safe, Queen."

"Always." We hung up the phone after a quick goodbye and I looked back at Syn who was still in the backseat of the car.

"So he noticed Drake looking at you yet didn't do anything?" Syn asked. "What is up with your taste in men?"

"I ask myself that every day," I snapped back, making him scoff. "What happened to 'I'll leave you to it'?"

"Curiosity," he said. "Are you going to tell him that you're with me?"

"Do I need to?"

"It's your life, darling," he said as he opened the car and carried the car seat with his free hand.

"Who the fuck is darling?" I cringed. He shot me a wink, closing the door behind him and heading towards the front door of the cabin. I left the car, grabbing whatever bags I could from the trunk as I froze my ass off. Leaves crunched under my boot as I headed towards the front door and on my way, I couldn't help but look around at my surroundings.

Considering how late and dark it was, I couldn't see anything besides trees for a few meters in every direction except for the cabin. That was the thing about woods that would always make me a bit uneasy. If you saw a figure out in the dark, it could either be a concoction created from your mind; like when you stare into a closet for too long and see something staring back at you...or it could actually be someone out there watching you.

Shit was fifty-fifty these days.

I walked into the house and set the bags by the door. After several trips, everything was inside and I closed the door behind me and Syn walked back down the stairs. When he noticed all the bags I was carrying, his steps slowed and he raised a brow at me. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Why not?"

"I was going to get them."

"Now you don't have to." I smiled, tucking my hands into the pockets of my leather jacket. "Are you going to give me a tour or just stand there?"

He sighed, pivoting on one foot to turn around and I smiled to myself as I followed behind him. After a brief look around, he guided me to a bedroom upstairs and opened the door. "This is where you'll be staying," he said. "There's a restroom right through the closet and Saint is in the room next to yours."

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"Where's your room?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." He crossed his arms, making his biceps flex as he leaned against the door frame. "Do you plan on visiting?" I walked past him into the room, rolling my eyes and he held my bag out for me. I took it from him and he gave me a playful smirk before turning back towards the hall. "Have a goodnight, Queen."

"You're going to sleep?"

"Mhmm, I have something to take care of tomorrow."

"What is it?"

"Oooh, so many questions," he groaned. "The fridge is fully stocked and if you need something feel free to call me. I'll wake you up before I leave though."

"You still didn't answer the—"

"Goodnight." He disappeared from in front of my door before I could get another word out and I rolled my eyes.

"Asshole," I muttered under my breath.

"Heard that," his voice boomed down the hall.

"Good."

I heard his laugh echo back to my room and I shoot my head, biting the inside of my cheek. What could he possibly be doing that needed to be so secretive? He was the one that wanted us to come here and now he was leaving? It didn't make sense, but I decided I wouldn't dwell on it any longer. I tended to make a big deal about small things.

I just needed to sleep and hopefully, things would come to me in the morning. I unpacked my bags, took a quick shower, and slipped into a large t-shirt. It was one of Syn's old ones, but I doubted that he would even remember it. I pulled the covers, getting ready to hop into the bed, but when my phone vibrated from the table, I sighed and walked over to check who was messaging me so late.

(xxx)-xxx-xxxx: You stabbed me over a little jokey joke, your highness. You owe me now, and I'd like to play a little game.
4:02 a.m.

What the hell? How did he get my number? A moment later, my phone buzzed with another notification from Drake and my finger hovered over the message.

(xxx)-xxx-xxxx: *View Attached File*
4:03 a.m.

I took a deep breath, my fingers lightly tapping the screen as I sent my reply, not bothering to open the file just yet.

Me: No, I'm good.
4:05 a.m.

꧁꧂

Author's Note
Queen's just like "oh no no no, I'm not clicking that link. Don't even think about it, girl.💅😮‍💨"

PERIODT‼️ in 2022, we say no thank you to psychos tryna play games😮‍💨 but okay in all seriousness wtf??
Why is Syn being so damn secretive about where he's going...and why does Drake feel like Queen owes him...?
More importantly, WHATS IN THE DAMN FILE??
Lmk y'all Thoughts✨
Muah💋