Ambrosia refused to eat anything for lunch and when dinner came around all she could stomach was saltine crackers and an energy sports drink. Brianna happily sat across from Elias and Ambrosia wall she ate the steak and rice disk Elias had prepared.

"I have to say this is pretty good."

"Thank you," said Elias bluntly. Ambrosia could see he still held a disdain for the old hairdresser.

"So...what's your name?" Brianna questioned suddenly to break the overbearing tension caused more to clamp against them. She pointed her steak knife at Elias before digging back into her food.

Elias looked up from his plate and stole a glance at Ambrosia before looking back.

"It's Charlie."

"No your real name," Brianna placed her utensil down and propped her chin in her hands.

"My name is Charlie."

"Tsk, tsk," Brianna sucked her teeth a grabbed at the bottle of white wine at the head of the table. She took her glass and poured some more.

"Ambrosia, what's his name?"

Elias body became rigid when Ambrosia's name passed through the air and Ambrosia herself only stared at the old woman.

What was she trying to do?

"It's Charlie," Ambrosia answered.

Brianna shook her head and smiled softly bringing the glass to her lips.

"I thought it was uh... Eli-no uh, Elias," she took a sip, "yes, Elias."

She definitely heard the argument.

"Now I know you too are running from somthing dangerous but why lie to me about your names?"

"Because we can't fucking trust you," Elias spat.

"We can't trust anyone," Ambrosia quickly piggybacked off of Elias statement to soften the blow.

Brianna paused placed her glass down and pulled her long braid around her shoulder, her cool blue eyes scanned her room for a moment as she thought.

"I see, well something tells me those robbers were more than robbers."

Elias rose from his chair and tossed his napkin on the table, "Who do you think you are?"

Ambrosia stood up and held his arm, concern flashed within her eyes.

"Can you calm down, you are out of control today."

"I'm out of control," Elias agreed mockingly before he grabbed her empty plate forcefully and walked out of the dining area to the kitchen.

Ambrosia apologized to Brianna who only shrugged and took up her glass.

"The stress, I get it and I also know what's going on here."

Ambrosia sat back down and filed with a loose thread on her sweater she hesitated to speak but soon voiced her thoughts.

"What do you know exactly?"

"I know that he's very confused right now and—tell me Ambrosia," Brianna leaned across the table and whispered, "is he sick in the head?"

Ambrosia blinked and frowned at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Is he mentally ill," Brianna whispered even lower as she scooped some rice onto her spoon.

"Thats a rather inappropriate question, Brianna," Ambrosia countered and crossed her arms.

Brianna chewed the rice and rolled her eyes before washing it down with wine.

"You wanna talk about inappropriate, we can talk about you two hammering it off in a random woman's home."

Ambrosia shut her mouth, leaned back into her chair and let her eyes wander as Brianna continued.

"Ambrosia if you answer my questions you could be helping Elias more than you know."

"What are you talking about?"

"My husband can ensure his safety as well as yours."

"Who is your husband?"

"Trust me that's not important right now...does he take pills?"

"I think I'll go to bed now, thank you."

Ambrosia stood up and pushed in her chair she peeped over her shoulder while walking out and Brianna nodded to herself taking another sip from her glass.

Elias had already gotten into bed; his slim figure was turned away from Ambrosia as she entered. Quietly Ambrosia slipped into the bathroom to shower and came out in a plain shirt and pants that she would most likely be wearing tomorrow.

As she fixed her body underneath the covers Elias moved slightly beside her.

"We can't trust her."

"No you can't trust her, I can because I at least have some sense of gratitude for certain people who sacrifice things for me."

"What is she sacrificing?" his voice was drowsy and hoarse.

"Her safety, Elias."

There was a moment of quietness. Ambrosia was torn between apologizing and rationalizing her stressful situation.

"What about our safety?" he asked.

"Your being paranoid," Ambrosia said within a breath.

"Am I flower, I can never tell anymore," Elias sighed and mumbled something as he lost himself to sleep.

Ambrosia curled up bed, Elias' poetry journal pressed against her chest. She was holding on to another part of him that she was afraid wasn't there anymore.

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They work up particularly early the next morning, 6:00 to be exact from what was none Brianna was still asleep.

Elias had called someone and was talking to them in the bathroom as Ambrosia packed her clothes with trembling hands.

She couldn't adjust her mind to what she was going to do. She didn't even understand what the outcome of her deal with Brianna would entail.

It's for the baby.

It's for the baby.

Ambrosia repeated within the void of her throbbing head, the flush of her fever gradually overtaking her as the minutes passed. As she finished zipping up here bag Elias came out of the bathroom and glanced at her.

"I just got off the phone with my brother, we're taking a taxi to another town where a woman he knows is living, she's a nurse and she'll take care of you, flower."

Ambrosia stared at him, her mouth opening but nothing coming out. She let out a struggling cough.

"I can't."

'What?" Elias questioned holding her bag and supporting her as they began to walk out of the room.

"I can't go that far, Elias."

"You're going to be just fine, I promise."

"No, I'm-I'm so tired," Ambrosia mumbled breathing heavily as her head swayed to a fro. Her vision had become a sudden haze of colors, and itch of discomfort rose in her throat.

Elias set their bags down by the door and turned to her to hold her face. he frowned feeling her temperature and brushed the loose curls from her face.

"Brianna can help us," she insisted.

Elias clenched his jaw and let his eyes roam for a moment, "we don't need her."

"Yes we do, the baby needs her and—do you even care?"

Elias' eyes widened and he dropped his hands leaning closer to catch Ambrosia back into his gaze.

"Of course I care, flower, why would you say that?"

Ambrosia stumbled back and turned around him so he was now facing the door.

"Because it seems like you only care about your ego, who can't help us and that we don't need help!" Ambrosia lazly pointed her finger at him.

"I just don't want more people getting in between us."

"What if I die, Elias, then what?"

Elias tugged at the edge of his coat sleeve. He was silent.

Ambrosia wasn't expecting this and she tended for a moments repeating her question.

"Flower don't say stuff like that..." Elias finally answered before grabbing her extended arms his angered flashed with irritation.

Ambrosia began fight back from him, pushing and twisting away.

"Let go of me!" Ambrosia yelled as she saw a shadowy figure slip behind Elias. She paused and leaned to the side to peer down the hall.

"Ambrosia I love you and I'm doing everything I can right now I—"

There was a loud clash and Elias stumbled back retracting into a state of shock. He reached for his head and fell forward onto his knees blood was running from his left temple. A thud followed as his slumped onto the hallway floor.

Ambrosia stood like a ghost her mouth widened and her heart racing up into her throat. She saw Brianna behind Elias with a broomstick firmly within her grasp. Brianna looked up and dropped the broomstick letting out an intense sight.

"Are you crazy, this was your deal?!"

"You wanted me to help you and so I did, he wasn't going to let me get close to you anyway." Brianna panted rubbing her wrists. She pulled out her keys and stepped over Elias' unconscious form.

"I can't leave him like this, he's going to bleed out," Ambrosia gasped reaching down anxiously examining Elias.

"And so are you...I'm sorry I had to resort to this but Ambrosia we need to get to the hospital now."

Before Ambrosia could reply the front door swung open and a sharply dressed man entered the house. He glanced at Brianna and they stared uneasily long at each other.

"This is my husband, he'll take care of Elias."

Ambrosia stood up her lip quivering as a dark shadow of uncertainty enveloped her. Brianna held out an outstretched hand and smiled.

"Let's go dear," she cooed.

Ambrosia stares at the man who adjusted his tie and smiled softly in her direction.

"What are you going to do to him?" Ambrosia questioned.

He did not answer and only lifted Elias up from the floor to drag him into the kitchen.

Frantically, Ambrosia looked to Brianna however she was already forcing her to exit the house.

As they did another man entered the house.

"Brianna what's going on what are they going to do to him, Brianna?!"

"When we get to the hospital I'll tell you everything Ambrosia, please get in the car!"

Ambrosia tried to dodge away from her car but the old woman successfully managed to get her inside and locked the doors.

"Are they going to kill him?!" Ambrosia rasped.

Brianna started the car.

"Who is your husband?"

The car began it's descend down the driveway and onto the street.

Ambrosia was silent her head was throbbing far to much for her to raise her voice again and the heat of her body was insufferable in the stress of that moment.

"That wasn't your husband was it?"

Brianna tightened her grip on the steering wheel her soft eyes glanced at Ambrosia and then back at the road. This was all she needed.

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