Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

"I feel shitty being back here when Daryl's still laying in a hospital bed..." I trail off in a whisper, not wanting Emma's parents to overhear any of the details regarding what had happened to Daryl. Emma hadn't wanted to worry them more than what was necessary, simply making out that Daryl had just caught a really nasty bug that left him in the hospital.

I went along with her wishes but knew that deep down, it probably wouldn't be long before they would hear the truth around town for themselves...

"At least now we know he's doing ok... Vincent wanted us to leave only to rest up." Emma confirms, as we both remained under her duvet having not long woke up from a much needed sleep. Vincent told us to go home and to get some rest after we were eventually let through to see Daryl, but I figured that it was also just to help put some space between us.

Seeing Daryl, although he had been asleep and snoring when we had, at least we could stand and watch him groan and stir around in his sleep briefly to confirm that he was alive and doing way better than what he was before...

"I don't think Vincent cares what I do, not after everything that's happened. He's acting cold towards me, and I don't blame him either." I sigh, deciding to admit how I felt.

Emma turned on her side to face me, her brows knitting together in sudden concern. "He's just... dealing with it all in his own way, you know? I mean, he's scared for Daryl. We all are. But I seriously believe that he likes you way more than to just ditch you so don't sweat it!" She encourages as I feel my lip wobble ever so slightly but I push to hold it together.

I stared up at the ceiling, lost amongst the many 'what ifs' moving forward. "I know, but I can't shake the feeling that he blames me for all of this, just like I blame myself... maybe if I hadn't gotten so involved in his life... then none of this would've happened to begin with... Daryl wouldn't have got shot!" I breathe out the last part, feeling the ache of the event very much still present.

Emma sat up at that, tossing the duvet aside as she looked down at me. "Sofia, stop this. You didn't ask for any of this. Ashton is the one to blame, and him alone, not you. Daryl got hurt because of that psychopath, not because of you. Vincent just needs time to process what's happened and he will come back around."

Her words made sense, but it didn't ease the dread gnawing at me from the inside. I had never felt this way about anyone before, and the thought of Vincent never forgiving me, hurt my heart to the core.

He was the best thing that had happened to me in a long time, they all were, and to think that there was a chance that nothing would be the same now, was soul destroying...

"I'm not sure if time is going to fix this. Every time Vincent looks at me, I can see it in his eyes, the pain, the dread, the tension... the damn resentment! The anger! It's like I'm a reminder of what almost happened to Daryl... and I feel so awful about it!" I push myself to sit up now too, drawing in a shaky breath.

Emma huffed and shook her head to disagree with me, running her fingers back through her messy bed hair. "You're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep digging holes for yourself Sof! You just have to wait and see what happens next and I'll be right here, by your side, no matter what! I sent Reid a text to tell him we would come by again this afternoon, maybe you should send Vincent a text too? See if he responds?"

I wasn't so sure about the idea, but agreed that I had to at least do something... I couldn't just give up, could I?

I nodded at Emma's suggestion, even though a part of me was terrified. "I'll have to use your phone, I don't know what Ashton did to mine the night he took me... I was just getting used to having it back too!" I grumble, as she forces an understanding smile.

I wondered if any of my belongings would be recovered from the crime scene, including my phone, if he hadn't completely broke it that is... and I also wonder what happened to the old lady upstairs? Was she alive?! Emma reached for her phone on the nightstand, opening up Vincent's phone number before handing it to me.

My fingers hovered over the screen as I thought about what to say. What if Vincent didn't even respond? What if he said something I wasn't ready to hear? What if he just straight up tells me to get out of his life?!

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Was I ready for that?

"I don't even know what to write," I admitted, my voice barely reaching the air. "What do I say after everything that's happened? What if it only makes things more awkward?"

"Stop it, you're panicking again! Just keep it simple," Emma suggested, sitting cross-legged beside me. "Just ask how Daryl's doing, or if they need anything brought up to the hospital when we visit. You don't have to pour your heart out right now, just let him know you're still thinking about him."

Taking a deep breath, I eventually started typing, trusting that my friend knew best in this scenario when my own thoughts were so out of control.

'Hey Vincent, it's Sofia, I don't have a phone right now so I thought to send you a quick text using Emma's. Just checking in to see how Daryl is doing today and to see how you are feeling? Let me know if you need anything later, we will be coming back to visit again soon x'

I stared down at the message for a few seconds, feeling my chest tighten before I turn the screen around to face Emma who skims over it for herself.

With a final nod from her and a deep breath from myself, I hit send, before giving the device straight back to my friend to keep it safe.

At least she could see his response come through before I could to maybe inform me if it's a bad one or not... and that's if he even decides that I'm worthy of a response right now!

Emma nudged me gently. "See? Not so bad now, right? Now you just wait and see what happens, one step at a time."

I nodded, however still felt that sending the text had been just as bad as I had imagined it to be, but I put on a brave face for her.

Emma wrapped an arm around me, pulling me in for a side hug. "Vincent's hurt, but he's not a cold-hearted person, although he likes to pretend that he is. He knows you didn't mean for any of this to happen and that you couldn't have controlled Ashton or his actions. You just need to give him some space, and I'm sure he'll come around and in the meantime, try your damn hardest to get back to your normal self."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But doubt still clung to me like a dark cloud preparing to rain all over my life once again...

"What about all of that stuff with my father? I didn't even get any time to process any of that. Do you think he's tried to make contact with Vincent or his Dad to discuss their fucked up deal again?!" I pull my fingers together, as more worry suddenly seeps in to my pores.

One second I felt relieved knowing that Daryl was ok, and the next I felt on edge knowing that all of this drama swarming my life was very far from being over...

No wonder Vincent would want to get rid of me now, it would be a lot less hassle for him!

"Hey, let's calm down! One thing at a time alright? I'm sure Vincent plans on talking about all of that with you when the time is right. You have to realise that you can't control the past and that you can't beat yourself up over it!" Emma explains, being a grounding force amongst everything.

Before I could respond, Emma's phone vibrated on her lap, as my eyes widened and she immediately lifts it up - hiding it from me at first as my heart starts to pound.

"He's sent you a text back, says that you two should probably talk..." Emma sums up the message, before turning it to me to fully read it for myself next.

Is this a good sign? Or a sign that he plans to end everything face to face?

It was hard to tell what lay ahead...