S4. Trapped
I wanted to escape, to hide, to run away.
He followed me here. I didn't know what he wanted. He murdered the Collins a year ago but he saved me from an unknown man. His action and intention didn't match with each other. The English literature went off smoothly and as soon as the class was over, I made a mad dash out of the room. I can't believe I just spent two hours in a closed space with him. Roarke Romanov was made of ice not only that, his every move was flawless, perfect beyond belief. The way he spoke words were like he was seducing everyone in the room. I wasn't affected but it was distracting to watch every other girl in class looked up at him like he was a Greek God.
More like the devil himself.
I can't believe someone as dangerous as him would show up in a public place such as a local community college. He was still following me, why I have no idea. I was far from being a threat to him. Even though I did give his description with the police officers, the case had already been put on hold or maybe he came back because he wanted a clean slate. I shivered in fear at that thought.
A sudden tap on my shoulder made me scream.
I looked wide-eyed at my equally stunned best friend and glance at some of the students who were looking at me like I had finally lost it.
Liza wheeled me around to the direction of the cafeteria, her brows scrunched up.
"What's that about Honey? Are you having those nightmares again?"
I nodded, at loss for words. I could still feel my hands trembling.
"Seriously, I think you should go see help or something."
I glared at her and immediately pulled away from her grip. "I don't need a shrink Liza. I'm not insane." I pointed out and picked out a seat farther away from the rest. Some of them were already looking at me strangely. In between what happened in English Literature and my sudden scream, I'm sure they're looking at me as a crazy person right now. Ever since the Collin's murder, they had been treating me differently, as if they were expecting me to crack.
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you."
I sighed deeply, feeling the rush of guilt. "It's okay. I'm sorry too." I murmured, massaging my temple to ease some of the dull ache.
"Oh my God."
My head snapped up as she said those words. My eyes followed where she was looking and instantly froze when I spotted Roarke Romanov talking to another professor. He turned his head on my direction and our eyes met. I quickly looked away feeling my heart beat race.
"I thought they were just exaggerating when they said the substitute teacher was hot!" Liza exclaimed, fanning her face.
When I didn't say a word, she pouted and sighed. "Come on Honey. He is hot. Oh wait, he's the substitute professor for Mrs. Kevlar. You're lucky you have English Literature with him."
I promptly zoned out of what she was saying as soon as she said lucky. On the contrary, I felt like the unluckiest girl in the world. Liza will surely be all over me if I told her the faux pas during English Literature.
The day passed by in a blur. I couldn't concentrate on any of my subjects, my thoughts were running in circles and they always end up with him and Mrs. Kevlar's condition.
If something happened to her- I shook my head, ridding my mind of those dark thoughts.
With agonizingly slow speed, I slid my things inside my bag and contemplated what I'm going to say to Jonah's murderer if I ever saw him again. I was angry but I was more scared that he had come for me. I wistfully looked out the window, grateful that I can finally go home without meeting him again. I watched all those students spilling out the school with carefree faces. For a moment, I was envious. I wished for a normal life too.
I felt his presence before he even spoke. The hair at the back of my neck stood up and my back straightened in alarm. Funny, how responsive I was to him -the danger.
"Where's Mrs. Kevlar?" I ground out, silently priding myself for not stammering. I kept my back turn to him.
"Her condition is none of your business." He retorted icily. I clenched my hands and turned to face him, heart on my throat.
My mind went blank as I saw him standing by the door, hands deep in his pocket and regarding me intensely. My knees shook and I gripped the edge of my desk for support. If he had notice he merely tilted his head, as if he wanted to view me in a different angle.
An angle to kill you perhaps?
"What do you want from me?" I asked.
His stormy gray eyes were frosty, bare of any emotion but it was intense, his very gaze pinned me to the spot I was standing. I was pretty sure that I couldn't move a finger. Couldn't even breath if he as much as glowers.
"If I tell you, I'll need to kill you." He said grimly. I shivered in response, mentally berating myself for asking this man. But I was at loss now. I was just the baby sitter.
"Did the wolf yesterday hurt you?" he asked.
I frowned, suddenly confused with his question. I was expecting something along the line "I shouldn't have left you alive."
"W-what?"
A faint trace of irritation flashed in his eyes. Clearly Roarke Romanov didn't like to repeat himself. "I asked you if the wolf hurt you yesterday."
Hurt me? I slowly shook my head. But why does it matter to him if the wolf hurt me or not?
"No bites? Claw marks?" he prodded on.
"No..."
He straightened up. "Good. You should still change home. You're not safe."
It took me a minute to digest what he was saying. "Is this some kind of joke? I'm not safe with you! You murdered a boy! How am I supposed to feel safe with you?!"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm safer than the ones who are trying to kill you that's all you need to know"
"Kill me? You're the one who is trying to kill me!" When did this ever become about me? I felt my world spinning out of control.
Roarke glared at me. "I'm trying not to kill you. Believe me, this will be so much easier if I snapped your neck. The ones out there they will kill you. Maul you. Tear you to pieces. Pull your backbone out and rip your intestines out."
I was going to be sick. The tears pricked my eyes. "But I didn't do anything! I'm just the baby sitter."
He didn't speak, his silence infuriated me. "I have the right to know why I'm in this mess."
A vexing smile stretched his lips and a sarcastic laugh spilled out his mouth. "Your right?" His eyes suddenly flashed golden. "I'll tell you your rights. You don't have any. The minute you entered that fucking house, you're already fucked!" He snarled.
I took a step back, the air was knocked out of my lungs in shock. His words replayed in my mind "the minute you entered that fucking house, you're already fucked!"
"Go to your Aunt tonight." He ordered, voice calmer than before, then suddenly his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. I got the sudden feeling that someone was watching us.
"Fuck. Go home now. Pack your bags!" He said in a voice that made me want to cower in fear. I hastily grabbed my books and went for the door. I didn't dare looked back as I hurriedly ran to the bus stop. At as distance, the school looked peaceful, but I was not fooled. I heard the growls that ripped in the air before I was even lucky to get past the double doors.
I was on edge. My heart was beating so fast like I have ran a marathon. The cold afternoon breeze didn't soothe my heated skin. My mind was racing with questions.
Why me?
I wasn't special. I was normal but now I wasn't. I was suddenly the star of a nightmare with wolves wanting no more than to get a piece of me.
I knew I had to go away. Without Roarke saying it, I was neither safe with him or with whoever was out there. I was far better on my own.
My mom was still in coma and I only got a dog.
I quickly slipped out of the bus and walked briskly to my apartment. My hands were shaking, it took me numerous attempts to fit the key on the lock. Mallows was nowhere in sight as I stepped in my apartment. It was nearing nightfall. A thin layer of dark clouds had blanketed the red orange sky.
"Mallows?" I rounded up in a corner leading to the kitchen. Still no sign of my dog. He was not in the living room either. Something tugged in my gut. There was something wrong. Mallows was a bright dog. He should have showed up minutes even second upon the front door opened.
I quickly went up to my room. "Mallows? Come here boy!" I called out, slipping inside my room.
I froze when I realized someone was under the covers of my bed. The figure in question was small, must be four feet. I place a hand on my mouth to keep myself from screaming. I was trembling in fear as I approached my bed. I softly gripped the edge of the duvet and with a silent prayer pulled it off.
My breath caught in my throat.
No. No. How can this happen?
In my bed lay Jonah, a feverish and naked but alive Jonah.
Content Altered: Made major changes for this chapter including the chapter title from Detention to Trapped. March 27, 2017