┌Chapter 11┘
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[House, in the night]
I looked at the time on my wristwatch and I knew I had missed the bus.
This was something I wasn't expecting.
I can't believe my luck!
We walked for about ten minutes before heading back.
I was outside Old Hans' house.
Lao Han came up at me with widened eyes.
"What on earth happened to your beautiful face?"
Lao Olya heard him and ran outside to meet with us.
"Sweetheart! You are bleeding!"
Lao Han frowned and looked at Damian suspiciously.
"Let's go inside. Olya, bring the damn aid kit here."
"On my way."
Lao Olya said, also glancing at Damian weirdly as if this was his fault.
I frowned and shrieked back on his side, scared that they would hate me, after all, I brought such trouble to them.
"Hey, it's okay, Beth. Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you."
"They must hate me by now, Damian. Look how much trouble I brought to them. I always do this, I am a fucking mess!"
"Don't think too much baby girl, just do as you were asked."
"Urgh! I'm so messed up!"
"Yeah, I know that now..."
"Sweetheart, let me help you with those wounds."
Old Olya offered.
"Thank you, Old Olya. But it is okay, the wounds are already dressed. I don't want to be more of an annoyance."
I said in a small voice.
I am used to people yelling and fighting with me. I never cared before, but I feel safe with these people, and I have no idea how to act normal and accompany any of them.
I had forgotten about what I did to my hand with all the depressing thoughts going through my mind.
(Lao Olya)
"What are you apologizing for, it is okay. We are happy to help you."
(Lao Han)
"What happened can you tell us?"
The Old Woman glared at her grandson once more.
She took my hurt hand and led me to the couch so she could help me dress the wound.
I didn't dare to look in their eyes.
I was reminded of when I was hurt and no one ever cared about it. Worse, they thought of me as a burden and threw me away.
I remember when they beat me up and curse me.
_______________________
(voices)
-You useless, worthless!
-You don't deserve a f*cking thing!
-You are nothing!
-BASTARD!
-JUST DIE ALREADY!
•••
I shook my head, trying to push away their voices as far as I could.
"I am very sorry for the trouble I brought upon you."
I was ready to cry but didn't.
They were trying to calm me down and convince me that they were happy for me being there with them.
They said I brought life to them in this abandoned town.
But I am really afraid.
Afraid of them hating me. Afraid of them not wanting me anymore. I am afraid of being abandoned again.
The state I am in:
PATHETIC,
WEAK,
DEFENSELESS,
LONELY,
DAMNED.
(Lao Olya)
"What happened sweetheart?"
I told her what happened but didn't mention that Damian shot three people. It seemed though as if they knew what their grandson was capable of without me saying anything.
I also told them about my condition but asked them not to say anything to anyone else.
They agreed, the Old Woman hugged me tightly saying that I am too strong for my age.
The Old Man agreed and smiled at me sadly. But it wasn't pity. It was adoration?
All I know is that it wasn't pity, and it made me happy.
I know they wanted to help me, but I dare not accept anything from such good people.
(Lao Olya)
"Damian helped you, you said?'
(Lao Han)
"I think he doesn't hate you as much as we thought."
They glanced at each other.
I didn't understand what they meant.
He hated me so much, that he stood there watching me fight a bunch of idiots.
I had a questioning look on my face and they laughed at my unawareness.
I wasn't going to believe the movie crap that had shown their ways to my boring life.
We talked for some time and then I remembered that I had missed the bus.
This bus was long gone.
I guess at that time my fate was sealed.
"Oh no, I missed the bus!"
(Lao Olya)
"It is okay, sweetheart."
"I can't be your burden anymore. I will call my friend to pick me up so you won't have to worry."
(Lao Olya)
"No, no. Not now that we have a reason to keep you here!"
"Huh?"
(Lao Han)
"You are staying with us for the weekend."
It was a statement, not a request.
And I was more than happy to oblige.
Old Han asked me to give my mother's number so he could convince her for me to stay with them for the weekend.
"It is not appropriate for me to stay and disturb you anymore."
(Damian Yang)
"Now you care about things, when you cut your hand in half, you forgot all about the consequences."
"YOU-"
(Damian Yang)
"I what, stupid Beth?"
"You- you... don't come so close to my face!"
(Damian Yang)
"You think you are smart and tough, don't you?!"
"I know I am. And- and what the hell is it to you? You stood there watching like it was a f*cking movie!"
(Damian Yang)"You asked me to."
"Now I ask you to kill yourself, will you?"
(Damian Yang)"You're pushing me again, sweet Beth. I have told you to be careful and not provoke me."
"Stay away from me!"
This man is really weird!
He knelt in front of me, grabbing my hand and examining it like it was a piece of wanted treasure.
"What are y-"
I didn't even get to finish the sentence when his face brushed my cheek.
(Damian Yang)"Do not move, do not speak, hell do not even breathe if that is what it takes for you to survive me."
What does that even mean?
Damian Yang"You are hurt, sweet liar."
"What?! Don't look at me like that!"
"Like what?"
"Like..."
"Hmm?"
"Like a f*cking perv! And stop petting my f*cking head! You are so weird!"
He chuckled slightly, the low noise sending tingles all over my body.
[house, living room]
The old couple looked at him, at our interactions from the kitchen astonished.
(Damian Yang)
"Do not let her leave this weekend no matter how much she begs you to."
"YOU-!"
(Lao Han)"When did you start talking this much?"
(D.Y.=Damian Yang)
"I don't understand you, grandfather.
(Lao Han)
"This kid."
I was startled and had a worried look on my face.
Damian patted me on the head, sighed, and left.
It was the weirdest moment of my day.
The kids were sleeping with Sheila in one room. The Old Man and Old Woman had their bedroom, as the mother of Damian and his father would sleep in the second bedroom.
There was only one left the one I was sleeping in.
I immediately said that Sheilas' family would sleep there.
I was okay sleeping on the couch.
They disagreed, but I was good at convincing people.
I insisted, and in the end, they reluctantly agreed.
I was happy about it.
I took the clothes Sheila left on the bed.
It seemed that they were convinced that I would stay on the weekend no matter what.
I smiled for a second and then grabbed my stuff and placed them on the couch.
The Old Woman said with concern that I wouldn't be comfortable sleeping on the couch and frowned.
Old Han asked me if I needed anything else.
"Hey, don't be like that. I can sleep on the couch. I am not that delicate."
Damian was in the kitchen robotically cleaning the dishes.
'Ignore him, he's a f*cking a**hole.'
His face showed no expression at all, but his movements showed he was annoyed by something.
(Damian Yang)
"Okay, that's enough. I will take her with me."
He said smiling for his grandparents to see,
"WHAT?! NO!"
I panicked and kind of yelled at him.
Old Han said that when Damian visits them, he didn't stay with them.
(D.Y.)"You will come to the other house with me."
"Ah-huh.
I am okay staying here but thank you anyway."
I flashed him the fakest smile I could master, so he could understand I did not want to stay with him.
"HEY, YOU!"
I snapped when he grabbed my things, kissed his grandparents, and left without another word.
I hugged them and went out running to catch up with the man in front of me.
[House. Outside, night]
As I walked, my head throbbed, it felt like knives cutting through every single brain cell.
Bells rang in my ears, and I leaned in a corner spitting out blood.
Then the nightmare from last night came to mind.
I don't know if it was because I was tired and ran around, or because my mental state was a mess.
Well, it was probably because I almost bled to death tonight.
But it happens while I was awake, which was not normal.
...
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