Chapter 9
EMMA.
Never have I felt this level of fear–trapped against a wall by an unseen force, helpless to loosen the grip around my neck despite my frantic efforts.
“Why-” 1 choke, and they tighten their grip even more until I can’t breathe. I fight to keep my eyes open as I feel my body losing consciousness, and just before my lashes flutter shut completely, I’m released. I drag in a lungful of gasps and the click and shut of the door is all that tells me my attacker has left.
Only seconds after, the lights turn back on and though I know they’re no longer in here, I still let my eyes wander around as I relieve the redness that’s now marked on the flesh of my neck.
I crawl across the floor to where my bag lies and I fall upon it, feeling drowsiness claiming my body.
I might have been wrong after all I thought coming back home couldn’t be worse than the hell that was BlueStone but goddess was I so, so wrong. The anonymous attacks, the disconcerting sense of being watched, and whatever’s up with Violet- everything sucks.
“What are you doing?” I wipe my tears, not eager to let someone else see my state of weakness. Despite my knees wanting to give out, I drag myself up, lifting my bag with me before 1 turn, and the last person I expect after the earlier show stands before me with her arms crossed over her chest and a curious look in her eyes.
“What–what are you doing here?” I ask instead of responding to her question and she lets her arms fall to her sides before she takes two steps forward. Just two, no more and the enormous distance between us kills minuscule hope that thrived fast at her
presence.
She isn’t here to rekindle our friendship or explain what went wrong. I know this even before she opens her mouth. “You need to stay away from me. You can’t act like you know me. You can’t act like we were once.. close
even say I was
I scoff, the earlier hurt and puzzlement 1 felt replaced by fury. “Close? You can’t even say the word? You can’t es once your best friend? Violet?”
“Look, Emma. Things have changed”
“Oh, so you know my name,” I say sarcastically. “I thought it was hag for you.” She doesn’t respond, and I shake my head. What has happened to you, Vi What did they do to you? What have they turned you into? Why-” I’ve barely taken a step forward when she takes one backward, keeping the distance between us intact.
I gnaw my bottom lip at the movement and nod my head, swallowing the rest of my
my words. “What do
you
She holds my gaze, her cold eyes not betraying her expression. “I’m not the Violet you used to know.”
want?”
“I think you made that clear. I let out a chuckle and she nods. “I did, but you’re also stubborn. Trust me, this is not the time to be stubborn, Emma. Do not try to look for answers. Accept things as they are or I’d be forced to hurt you further than this.” “Cute.” I smile and when her brow raises, I continue. “That you think you can hurt me anymore than you’ve already done. No. No, you don’t get to have that power, Violet. Not anymore. It’ll be just as you said–I won’t try to find answers and I don’t know who you are. You’re nothing more than a stranger. A face I see in the crowd, one that stands amongst the voices of lies and bullying I hear every time I walk past.” She doesn’t react. Not as I want. She stays silent rather, and that pisses me off further, but instead of letting her know how she’s just broken my heart, I saunter towards her, purposely bumping my shoulder into hers like she did before as I walk out of the room,
I’m not going to cry. I’m going to suck it up and accept this is the life that’s meant for me–A life where I’m all alone and means nothing of significance to anyone.
The first day of school wasn’t so great, but I pushed through. I’ve gotten used to hateful stuff being said to my face, so it was easy to drown out the voices surrounding me each time I entered a room. At least it doesn’t get physical.
I don’t see Violet for the rest of the day. She’s doing a good job of avoiding me and so am I–or so I tell myself. I said I wouldn’t ask, but it’s hard not to wonder how your best friend turns into one of your bullies.
The second the bell rings, I’m dashing out of the room faster than anyone. I ignore the way all heads turn in my direction and
10.04 PM
Chapter 91
sprint out of the class. I jog down the corridor and push my way through the crowd of students fighting to make it outside.
The breeze that fans my face as I step out of the building is fresh and serene. I still for a few seconds to feel more of it before I start to walk. I take the quiet route–the one I used to, years back every time Violet wasn’t around–and welcome the silence that fills the surrounding air.
I cross the road to the other side and that’s when I notice something pass by me in a blur. My steps slow and my heartbeat spikes. Instinctively, my hand goes to caress the mark on my neck and my breathing turns shallow as flashes of the incident in that empty dark room come to mind.
My steps get heavier and faster before I push into a run, sweats breaking out across my forehead as I feel a presence behind me, yet I’m not brave enough to stop or turn to look. I’m fast on my heels and I’ve almost made it from the tracks when I trip over a log of wood sitting in the middle of the road.
A yelp leaves my th
throat as I fall to the ground and I hiss at the pain that shoots through my left knee, I can feel the presence growing closer, so I try to rise to my feet despite the ache. I manage to stand, but the second I try to make a run for it, my legs twist. I’m almost on the ground again when strong arms wrap around my body, catching me in mid–air.
I lift my gaze and my heart stutters at the sight of him; looming over me with my body leaning against his and his hot breath caressing my face.
“Alpha. There was-”
“I know.” He says before I can finish and gently sets me down. “Stay here. I’ll be back. I think I finally got an idea who it’s been.”
“But you don’t-” he’s off before I can let out the rest of the words and I watch the blur of his frame fade into the distance. I turn to tend to my knee and wince at the dull discomfort I feel when I grasp it.
It’s like Will wasn’t even gone. He’s back in just minutes, looking as calm as when he left, and I lift a brow. “What happened?” “You’ll be fine from now on.”
“Who was it?” I ask, but instead of responding, he bows towards me and I’m surprised when he wraps one arm around the back of my knees, the other around my shoulders and carries me into his arms. The sound of my heartbeats grows uncontrollably loud and a blush spreads to my cheeks at the thought of him hearing them from this distance. I’m pressed tightly to him that my head is almost against his chest and I can’t smell anything else other than the strong fragrance of his cologne.
“You knew? That I was being followed?” I ask when I’m finally able to speak without sounding a mess and he hums. “I’ve been looking into the attack from the day in the woods. I knew whoever it was would be back.”
A smile touches my lips. “How many times has it been now? Thrice?
“Are you keeping cour? Maybe it’s being so close to him or being in his arms, but his voice sounds warmer, clearer in a way that spreads tingles through my body.
“Should 1–it’s peaceful here. In his arms. I don’t know why I feel so safe, and I find myself tilting my head to the side. “I should, right?” My eyes are closing–perhaps from the strong breeze that blows past as Will runs with me in his arms–and I’m not thinking of the words that leave my mouth. “You’re a savior. You’re my savior. My savior.
I’m drifting into unconsciousness and it must be my mind playing games. It must be me losing touch and sense of reality because the words the wind blasts past my ears can’t possibly be from the man holding me.
Not with that tone. Not with that voice. Not those words that say, “I won’t let you feel helpless ever again–never again.”
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