Fractured Minds (Rebels of Sandland 3)

The man took a step forward, and the way he leered over me in such an intimidating way made me move away from him instinctively.

“No Alice, huh? That’s a shame. I was looking forward to catching up with my favourite niece.”

Not the answer I was expecting.

“You’re Finn’s uncle?” I said, more as a statement than a question.

“That I am. Has he never mentioned me?” Finn’s uncle dipped his head in greeting like he was an old-time gent and smiled, then quirked his eyebrow at Finn. Finn didn’t return the pseudo warmth that was thrown his way by his relative though. He folded his arms against his chest, causing his muscles to flex and my heart to skip a beat.

“I’ll let Alice know you dropped by.” Finn’s words were meant for me, but he didn’t look my way. Instead, he clenched his jaw tightly and I could see a nervous tick develop as he held himself together. I wanted to walk away, let him carry on this façade, but something snapped inside of me.

“If you need me. You know where I am.” I gave him a look, trying to tell him that whatever was going on I wanted to help, but I needn’t have bothered. His uncle gave a whistle and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Finn decimated any self-respect I had left with his next words.

“If I needed anything, the last person I’d go to is you. Don’t come here again. Alice is gone and I’m not interested. You’re a fucking nuisance. Just fuck off.”

His uncle gave a loud chortle as the heat of shame crept over my face. My throat constricted, feeling like it was closing up and making it difficult to breathe or swallow. If I didn’t move away from here, I knew I’d do something to embarrass myself. I couldn’t let either of them see the tears that were about to burst free, and even though I knew deep down this wasn’t Finn talking––not the real Finn––it still stung like hell. A lifetime of disappointment hadn’t hardened my armour or made me stronger for the fight. My skin wasn’t thick, but bruised to the point that the pain was simply compounded. What was one more knock, one more cut to the thousand I already held in my hear

t?

“Say what you really mean, son.” His uncle obviously found my discomfort amusing, and the way he leant against the gatepost showed he was enjoying the show and waiting for more.

“I always do. And I’m not your son,” Finn bit back, then lifted his chin defiantly. “There’s no one home, only me, so you may as well fuck off too. Not that you were welcome here in the first place.”

“You know I’ll be back. My place is with my family. In the arms of my loved ones. It’s a shame Alice left. I know how much she loved our cuddle time when she was little.”

His uncle winked and Finn lurched forward, but I put my hand on his chest to stop him from doing whatever he was about to do. He gritted his teeth, then tore his hate-filled glare from his uncle to stare at my hand covering his rapidly pounding heart. A thumping beat that matched my own. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t need to. Finn always spoke loudest in the silence.

Thank you for understanding.

This isn’t about you.

It’s… complicated.

“You never were right in the head, boy.” His uncle cackled, breaking both of us out of our silent bonding. I heard his slow steady footsteps from behind, heading towards me, and I braced myself, reluctantly dropping my hand from Finn’s chest. He came to a stop right by me and grinned down, saying, “You had a lucky escape, love.” I turned to glare at him and recoiled. His teeth were rotten and I moved away feeling violated at being so close to him. “If you want my number though, I’ll see you right. I know how to take care of a lady.” He winked, looking me up and down and licking his vile lips. I stumbled backwards, desperate to escape this lecherous creep.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him where to go, but I was beaten to it.

“Get out of here,” Finn growled over my shoulder, but he didn’t push me away.

We both stood rooted to the spot as his uncle huffed and smirked, then turned on his heel and left, muttering that he’d be back to collect what was owed to him.

We watched him saunter down the road like he didn’t have a care in the world, and I went to step forward too, but Finn grabbed my arm and pulled me into him, so my back rested against his chest. The warmth from his breath as he whispered into my ear made my goosebumps resurface.

“Let him go first. I don’t want him to follow you.” He took a few deep breaths as he held me against him, then he said, “Maybe I should walk you home? It’s not safe in this part of Sandland.”

As tempting as that sounded, he didn’t need to worry about my safety.

“I came in my car. It’s parked just down the road. I’ll be fine.” I tried not to show that his fake but still hurtful words from earlier had affected me, but I was a rubbish actress and he knew it.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. I just didn’t want him to think that… I don’t like the thought of him––”

“You don’t have to explain. I think I get it.”

I didn’t.

And the way his face twisted in pain, I guessed he was praying I didn’t either.

I watched with sadness as the boy I’d seen earlier, who spoke with pride about his artwork at the abandoned chapel, began to shrink in front of me, folding into himself and appearing smaller, fragile even.