Chapter 67: 52|'I already listened to Aiden, thank you very much.'

Astrid's POV "I have a gift for you, princess." I gulped and looked up with tired eyes to find Kyle addressing me. "What do you want now, Cross?" I whispered through my scratchy throat. "Ouch." He held his heart in mock hurt. I didn't even had the energy for an eye roll. "I thought you loved me, Cygnet. I even named our kids." I gave him a blank stare and he huffed. "Fine. Don't talk to me." he pouted and I glared at him. "Talk to the delivery man?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I looked at him in anticipation as I heard footsteps. A shadow started entering my vision and I gasped. Xavier. I shot on my feet immediately but cursed loudly when shackles held me back. "W-What are you doing here, Xavier? How are you? They shot you, right? Where is everyone? Are you hurt? Did they hurt-?" He laughed. I looked at him helplessly as he laughed. "You are too gullible for your own good, Cygnet." One sentence and my heart shattered for millionth time. "Oh." Yes, this was my reply. I couldn't even bring myself to say anything more than that. Either I was used to betrayal or I had no hope left. They laughed again. "You are too stupid for a princess, Cygnet. Too stupid." I didn't even bother replying, just sat down. "And she is not even fun anymore." Xavier complained and bile rose in my throat. Who will believe me if I say that this guy cried in my arms once? "Whatever." Kyle rolled his eyes and clapped his hands. "Bring her new roommates, Elliot." My ears perked up at Elliot's name but my eyes widened at the people behind him. "Cygnet!" "Astrid!" My eyes welled up and I was torn between anger and relief. No words came out of my mouth as it opened and closed. I took in everyone's appearance. I didn't recognise a few faces while the ones I did, looked as if they were coming from some mission. Not only their clothes but their wounds. They were horribly hurt. Elliot opened the cell and started locking everyone with help of guard. He gave me a knowing look and I blinked twice in reply as he slid it towards me. In a second, I was towered by people I don't know if I know anymore. They were asking me how I was, they were apologizing to me, Kyle and Xavier were laughing while all I was curling into a ball and trying to hide in wall. Anxiety attack. My breathing pace increased with my heart rate and cold sweat covered my whole body as I hyperventilated. "She is having a panic attack! Move away! Give her space!" I discreetly heard Liam shooing everyone away from me. "Astrid! Astrid snap out of it! Look at me. Look!" he shook me frantically and then cupped my face in his palms. I looked up at him with blurred eyes as my heart continued to pound in my ears. And then, he kissed me. I heard a collective gasp as my eyes widened. He just pressed his lips harder making my eyes flutter close as I stayed frozen but slowly kissed him back. I don't know what went in between because all I could focus on was the fact that I was kissing my best friend and this kiss felt more important than oxygen to me. I was breathless yet it felt like I just got my breath again. After what felt like forever, he pulled away. I looked at him with wide eyes and he mirrored my expression. "I...uh...y-you-" he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and winced. My eyes found the reason soon. "W-What happened to y-your head?" I questioned in slight worry as I refused to acknowledge these last few seconds of my life. One sleeve of a plaid shirt was tied on his head. His head turned in direction of bars as he glared at Xavier who smirked before walking away with Kyle. "Leave it. I don't even want to know." I whispered as the fresh wounds of betrayal scratched the old ones back. "Astrid..." Asher whispered and I stiffened. Gulping my own spit, I looked at him through my lashes. "H-How is h-he?" He pressed his lips tightly and sighed when Rose/Crystal squeezed his hand. "Alright. H-He is a-alright." I nodded as relief flooded me and looked down at my lap. Silence settled like wet wool as everyone took seat in the small room. I noticed Aiden's absence but didn't question it. After what he said to me, I wouldn't be surprised if he gave up on me altogether. "C-Cygnet?" every head snapped towards Elliot who was standing outside. I could see the struggle in his eyes. He didn't want to look at Alex/Cedric. "Yeah?" I whispered. "Tomorrow." He mouthed and just before the guards turned sceptically, he threw a water bottle at me. "We still need you alive. You can give up on water after we are done but for now, drink it." I nodded in fear as I got what 'tomorrow' meant. He nervously glanced at the people sitting opposite to me but looked away and disappeared. I unscrewed the cap and took a sip but halted midway when I heard a sniffle. Gulping the water, I lifted my head to see a brunette crying into a blonde's chest. "D-Do y-you need w-water?" She looked up at me in shock as if she couldn't believe that I was talking to her. I looked at the blonde for help. He had a small smile on his face and before I could speak, the brunette hugged me and kissed my hair as she rocked me. "Um... I-I-?" "Sh. I-I missed y-you my baby." I gulped but stayed put. "W-Who a-are you?" She pulled away and looked at me with a smile. "I am Margaret Law, your cousin." "Zachary Law. I am 3 months younger than you and I am your favourite cousin." "Beatrice Law. And don't trust Zach, I am your favourite cousin." I looked between my apparent cousins, my brothers and friends as I shook my head. "Elliot is my favourite cousin." She let go of me completely as smile slid off everyone's face. "He betray-" "I know." I interrupted Alex with a cold glare. "He is the reason I died and he is the reason, I am here right now but he is also the reason I am alive. So, shut up, Alex or Cedric because I don't even remember his betrayal but sadly, yours is still fresh in my mind." He looked away in hurt. Felix squeezed his shoulder. "Astrid, listen-" Asher tried. "I already listened to Aiden, thank you very much." I know I was being a bitch but what can you expect? I was still hurt and angry. Especially now, when Elliot just dropped this bomb on me.