...with my boyfriend...

Marc checked his phone for what felt like the thirtieth time since they finished unpacking and scowled. What is going on? Why haven’t they responded to my texts or calls? Did they get lost?

The cabin wasn’t exactly in the middle of nowhere. The GPS had provided them with a clear route to follow. Marc stretched out on the bed and looked out the window into the growing darkness.

He didn’t remember who was driving, but they were all good enough to follow simple directions. Maybe we should have rented a van like Scott said. Then we all could have gotten here safely, and the ‘interrogation’ would be over.

A snort escaped him just as Scott opened the door, letting in some warm light and tantalizing smells.

“Hey. I made some chili. Shall we dig in while we wait?”

“I think I should go look for them.” The words left Marc’s mouth before he could rethink their meanings.

Scott entered the room and sat beside him. “Did you get through to them?”

“No, but it feels like the right thing to do.” They’d do the same for me. They’re only coming up here to meet Scott and to support me. What kind of friend am I?

“Hey” is whispered into his ear as a finger gently tilts his chin, forcing Marc to look into Scott’s adoring gaze and gentle smile. “You’re doing it again, Lamb. Come back to me.”

Marc felt his face flush before he rolled onto his side to avoid looking at Scott. “No, I wasn’t. I know where I am.”

“Do you?” Scott placed his hand on Marc’s shoulder, but didn’t try to make him turn around.

Marc couldn’t help the stab of guilt he felt as he nodded. “I do. This is the cabin where a huge chunk of my life ended. We’re waiting for my friends to arrive to see if this will help trigger anything that might help me figure out what happened.”

Or to see if I just need to move on.

Scott was silent for a moment. Marc could feel his gaze, yet refused to turn to face him. He’s never managed to deny Scott anything once the man learned his weaknesses.

It served as another reason to make him feel guilty. I don’t deserve him…

Scott started making small circles with his thumb, causing Marc to close his eyes with a sigh.

“I’m going to fall asleep if you keep doing that. Do you want me to pass out without any supper?”

“I want you to relax and do anything foolish. Your friends are all adults, and there are plenty of ways for them to get here.” Scott leaned closer so his breath ghosted over Marc’s ear. “Why don’t we just go downstairs and eat? If they don’t show up or call in the morning. We can call the police. The worst thing we can do is explore an area we don’t know, right? I know you were here last year, but it’s not like you’re an expert.”

It made sense. Scott was usually logical and straightforward. He wouldn’t risk Marc’s safety for anything. But Marc still couldn’t bring himself to agree.

He turned around, almost melting at the warm smile Scott gave him, and leaned up for a kiss-

SLAM!

They jerked apart, eyes wide as the sound repeated itself.

“Is that the front door?” Marc asked. Is this some kind of prank? He wouldn’t put it past them to try something like this and started to get up when Scott’s hand locked around his shoulder.

“The front door has a doorbell. I checked to make sure it worked shortly after you went upstairs. Let me go down first to make sure it’s safe.”

“Absolutely not.” Marc jumped to his feet, not giving Scott time to react as he ran out of the room.

“Marc?!”

“Everyone disappeared when I wasn’t looking. I know it!” There’s no way I’m letting Scott protect me. He’s one of the few good things that came out of that horrid trip!

Marc wasn’t that athletic, but each slam against the door seemed to give him a boost. Scott was only a step behind him by the time he reached the front door.

But he didn’t open it. He looked out the peephole and jumped back as a fist slammed against the wood a second later.

“Let me in! I know you’re in there, you worthless piece of trash!”

It can’t be!

Marc froze, dread eating at his empty stomach while his heart pounded against his ribs like it was trapped in a cage, and was desperately trying to escape.

He might have tried to run out the back door if Scott’s arms didn’t wrap around him a moment later. Marc might have done a lot of things if Scott hadn’t shouted.

“STOP BANGING ON MY DOOR AND GO AWAY BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!”

Silence greeted them, making Marc smile slightly. I’ll bet no one has screamed at him like that since… Marc’s smile dropped, and the voice demanded.

“Who the heck are you? The new sucker that parasite has wrapped around his finger?”

Scott didn’t shout this time. He growled. “I’m the one who’ll make you wish you were never born if you don’t get out of here.”

Marc has never heard Scott growl before. His normally smooth tones turned icy and sharp, and made tingles go up and down Marc’s spine as they watched the door.

A part of Marc wished that the presence of another person—a stranger—would be enough to make him go away. But fate wasn’t on his side as a harsh chuckle came through the door.

“You’re the one who’s going to make me wish I was never born? Sorry to disappoint, but your little boyfriend already did that.” Another slam, hard enough to make the door shake in its hinges, followed this as the porch began creaking. “I’ll be back, you coward. I won’t let you get away this time!”

Marc opened his mouth, only to shut it as Scott hissed, “Don’t. He’s not worth the effort.”

He nodded, but neither of them moved as the creaking told them where the figure was until he either stopped moving or stepped off the porch. Marc glanced at the peephole, but Scott shook his head, somehow sensing his intentions.

But a minute later, the sound of an engine pierced the night air, before headlights flooded through the living room curtains, before turning around and disappearing.

Marc didn’t know how long they stood there before Scott slowly relaxed his grip. “Who was that?”

“Paulie.” Marc turned, not surprised to see Scott glaring at the door. “Steven’s younger brother.”

That made Scott look at him. “I wasn’t aware your ex had a little brother.”

Marc frowned in confusion. “You weren’t?”

“No.”

“But he was there practically every day I was at the hospital. He was the one who kept bringing in experts to try to hypnotize me when the drugs weren’t working.”

Did I really not tell him, or does Scott not remember?

Something flickered over Scott’s eyes, but vanished before Marc could figure out what it was. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, but Marc didn’t know how to feel when it happened.

He knew he felt more guilt than confusion at the moment, though, as he lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”

Scott immediately tilted Marc’s face up, looking more confused than angry. “What for? Did you call him?”

“No! I wouldn’t even if I knew his number!”

“Then why are you apologizing?”

“Because I know what Paulie’s like!” Marc didn’t mean to shout. Scott didn’t deserve to be yelled at, but hearing Paulie’s voice brought a flood of memories back that Marc never wanted to think about.

He headed into the kitchen since it was farther than the living room, and started pacing around the table while Scott hovered in the doorway with worried eyes.

“Marc?”

“He’s the worst!” Marc shouted. “I know he just wants to find Stephen. I know that. But he’s just as bad! Paulie kept insisting that the bruises came from someone else. That Stephen never grabbed me. So I had to have been cheating, or, or…I don’t know!”

Marc’s hands wouldn’t stop moving. He touched his arms as they throbbed at the memories. He yanked his hair, hoping to trick his body into focusing on the real pain.

It didn’t work, even when he yanked hard enough to bring tears to his eyes. Scott started to say something, but Marc whirled around and spotted the large pot of chili still waiting on the stove.

Scott had already turned it off, but Marc could feel the heat coming off it. He’d already stepped forward when Scott grabbed him around the middle and pleaded.

“Stop! What are you doing? Bunny, please. You’ve been so good lately. So brave and perfect. Don’t throw all your progress away because of him. He can’t touch you. I swear it!”

“You don’t understand. He’s not going to stop.” Marc let himself go limp, hoping Scott would relax, but his clever boyfriend didn’t let go, even as he pulled them to the floor and made Marc sit on his lap.

It couldn’t have been very comfortable, but Marc knew better than to protest. I really am a coward. I was about to do something horrible to Scott…

Marc turned so he could see Scott’s face and prayed his boyfriend believed him. “Paulie isn’t going to leave us alone. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he copied your license plate and tried to track us down. He used to be a police officer, or he might still be one. I heard he was forced to take some time off after I was finally released from the hospital. He was out of control by that time. I’m glad you don’t remember it. Paulie can be dangerous, and I’d never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me.”

“Oh? You can’t forgive yourself if Paulie hurts me, but you’re fine hurting me?” Scott’s sneer sliced through Marc deeper than any of Paulie’s insults as he shook his head frantically.

“I’m sorry, Scott. I wasn’t thinking”-

“That’s an overstatement.”

“I won’t do it again!” Marc cried, clinging to Scott’s shirt as he begged. “I promise. I’ll be good. I’ll be better. I’ll be whatever you want, Ste”-

Scott’s finger pressed against Marc’s lips, effectively silencing him as they both realized what Marc was about to say.

Is that how I was with Steven? Was I constantly apologizing?

Tears began pouring, and Scott let Marc go as he kept wiping them away. Marc didn’t try to reach the chili pot again. There was no point. He’d almost called the love of his life by the name of a man he never wanted to think of again.

It made Marc sick and ashamed as he scrambled to his feet and fled to the living room. Scott didn’t follow, and Marc didn’t blame him. This trip was supposed to be about moving on. How are we going to do that now?

He didn’t know. Marc’s head started pounding, making him groan as he pressed his fingers against his temples in a vain attempt to ease the pain, while bracing himself for the sound of Scott walking out the door.

Marc wouldn’t blame him, and since they took Scott’s car, there would be nothing Marc could do to stop him. But seconds stretched into minutes, and Marc couldn’t hear anything.

“Scott?” It came out as a whimper, making Marc hate himself all over again.

I hate myself so much. But he couldn’t resist calling again. “Honey?”

A floorboard creaked a few feet away, and Marc slowly raised his head, hoping to see his boyfriend. But the one looming over him was the last person he wanted to see.

Paulie.