Damn stitch, I grumbled, knocking on Jen’s door when I stepped in front of it. Hey Jen, it’s Lily. Are you asleep in there. You know you sleep way too much !
I waited for a second, but no answer came. She must’ve been out doing something or other, so I just sighed and walked in to the kitchen. It felt strangely empty without Jen or Noah, even Dean for that matter. I had gotten so accustomed to having people around and for the first time in my life, I was learning to be happy about having people that cared for me. For so long, I just couldn’t accept it or understand it…Why people would care. My father didn’t, he made me feel like I was worthless but because of Noah I was realising that wasn’t true. I was somebody.
Walking in to the kitchen, I couldn’t help but smile as I heard movement coming from the hallway behind me. I reached up in to the cupboard and grabbed a glass, my throat dry. Jeez, Jen, I laughed softly. Didn’t you hear me shouting ? You must have been
Suddenly, a hand went over my mouth. My body reacted instantly, trying to get away but whoever was holding me was too strong. I couldn’t move an inch. Whoever it was, it wasn’t Jen. Tears pooled in my eyes as the person behind me stayed silent, holding me against him as I thrashed.
Shhh, the voice whispered in my ear, their breath fanning across my ear. Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you Lily.
I stopped moving when I heard the voice. It sounded familiar. My heart was pounding and the tears were streaming down my face, but I forced myself not to panic. Pete ? I mumbled in to his hand as the arm that was around my waist loosened.
I’m going to bind your hands Lily, he muttered. It’s for your own good, to make you see. Don’t struggle, I don’t want to hurt you but if you try to scream or run, I will. Do you understand ?
I nodded frantically, licking my chapped lips as he moved his hand away and turned me around so my back was pressed against the kitchen counter. As my eyes fell on him, he smiled at me as he wrapped a rope around my wrists, binding them together tightly. There you go sweetheart, that’s not so bad, is it ? He soothed, reaching out to stroke my cheek.
I cringed and turned away from him, hating the feeling of him being so close to me. He looked calm, but behind those eyes, there was something menacing, different. And it scared me. I knew I should scream, cry out for anybody but it felt like my throat was closed off from fear. A tear rolled down my cheek as he grabbed my arm and marched me over to the couch, throwing me down. I hit it with a thud and winced as my head hit the cupboard next to it on the way down.
Ah, I moaned, blinking as a sharp pain shot through me.
Pete was immediately next to me, cupping my face and forcing me to look at him. His touch made my skin crawl but as I tried to pull away he held me tighter, refusing to let me go. I didn’t mean for that to happen, he whispered angrily. You have to believe me. You do believe me, don’t you ?
I just stared up at him, willing myself not to cry anymore. The tears were threatening to fall any minute but I willed myself not to show him how scared I was. His eyes seemed to darken as I kept silent. Tell me you believe me ? He screamed suddenly, his voice red with rage. Tell me !
I believe you, I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper as he stood up and paced back and forth, continuously running his hand through his hair. Why are you doing this ?
He stopped suddenly in front of the door and faced me, a smile on his face. You’re special Lily, he said, leaning back and staring at me. You may not realise it yet, but we’re meant to be together. Noah is just getting in the way. He’s not good enough for you. It may take me some time to make you understand, but I will. He pushed off from the door and gazed at me, his eyes wide as he looked at me desperately. I’m going to take you away, and you’ll see. I’ll make you see.
My heart was still beating eratically as I looked at him, but I could feel my voice coming back. I could see it in his eyes, the man was capable of anything. If I screamed for help, no-one could reach me in time if he decided to hurt me. My eyes flickered to the front door. There was no way I could reach it with him blocking it.
Please don’t, I mumbled, shuffling to the side of the sofa as he began to pace back and forth once more, muttering under his breath. It was as if he didn’t hear me, like he was trying to convince himself that what he was doing was right.
So I did the only thing I could think of. I ran. Launching myself off the couch, I sprinted towards the hallway. Lily ! He screamed behind me. The tears ran down my face out of sheer terror. He couldn’t have been more than a few steps behind me and I didn’t know what to do. I won’t hurt you, I promise.
Stay away from me ! I cried, barging in to Jen’s room and slamming the door shut. I turned the lock and backed away, keeping my eyes on the door. Suddenly, a thud came from the other side. He was trying to force himself in. Leave me alone ! I wept, too afraid to look away from the door as he kept shouldering it, causing it to rattle in it’s frame. There was no doubt about it, he was going to get in.
Crying, I backed away until the back of my legs bumped against Jen’s mattress. Spinning around, my eyes widened when I saw her lying there. She wasn’t moving and there was a trickle of blood on her forehead. Oh God, I whispered, reaching out and placing my fingers on her neck. I could feel a pulse, it looked like she had just been knocked unconscious.
Fuck ! I screamed, balling my fists as the door started to splinter. Somebody help me ! Please !
Backing further in to the room, I looked around for anything that could help me. But my eyes widened when I remembered I had put my phone in my pocket earlier. The panic had overtaken me and all I had thought about was getting out of the apartment. Almost in a blind panic, I frantically reached in to my pocket and pulled out my phone. I started to dial 911, but my hands were shaking so badly that I hit the wrong button.
And then it hit me. Noah was going to walk in to the apartment with no idea, and I knew that Pete said he’d never hurt me, but if Noah walked in there would be no telling what he would do. If it was a choice between my life and Noah’s, I chose his. Dialling his number, I cried as it continued to ring.
Come on ! I whispered. Pick up Goddamn it !
Lily, I’m just-
Don’t come back here, I sobbed. Wherever you are, just stay there ok ? Promise me you won’t come back.
What’s going on ? Lily you sound
Don’t come back ! I screamed in to the phone, as Pete shouldered in to the door and sent it crashing in to the room.
He advanced towards me with a look of pure rage on his face. I backed in to the corner and sobbed as Noah’s panicked voice echoed from the phone. I held on to it, listening to his voice for as long as I could. Please, I cried, as he reached forwad and snatched it away, before throwing it against the wall in anger. His eyes blazed as he stared at me.
And at that moment, the only thing that I could think of was Noah.
…………………………………….
Noah POV :
Lily ! I cried, hearing a loud crash come from the phone, muffled by the sound of her sobbing.
I looked around frantically, the panic shooting through me at the thought of anything happening to her. There was no way I could live without her. She was the one I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. It would be nothing without her.
Lily I shouted desperately, before the line went dead.
No ! I screamed, throwing the phone down and sprinting out of the store.
My heart was thumping in my chest as I ran as I fast as I could down the packed street. I barged in to people who swore and glared at me but I couldn’t have cared less. The only thing I cared about was getting to Lily. If anything happened, I wouldn’t know how to live without her. Sweat dripped off my forehead as my feet pounded the pavement. The sun shone down but it gave me no warmth. Ice cold fear penetrated my heart as I thought of her, scared and alone. My lungs burned but I didn’t slow down. There was nothing that would keep me from getting to her.
The apartment was a ten minute walk away, but I made it in two. As my eyes caught sight of the building, I ran as fast as I could up the stairs, praying that I wouldn’t find something that would shatter my whole world. Reaching the doorway, I stopped when I saw her sitting there. My eyes caught hers and she shook her head at me, the tears rolling down her face.
I stepped in and shut the door quietly, never taking my eyes off the person standing behind her, holding a knife to her throat. Let her go now, I whispered, barely controlling the anger as he stared at me, his face emotionless. Let her go you son of a bitch !
I didn’t want to hurt her, he shouted, his eyes widening as I took a step forward. Stay where you are ! Don’t come any closer.
My breath caught in my throat as he pulled the knife tighter against Lily’s neck, causing a drop of blood to fall down. She winced, but didn’t try to move. Her eyes never left mine as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Don’t worry gorgeous, I smiled, trying to keep my own tears at bay. Everything will be okay. I love you so much Lily.
I love you too, she whimpered, staring up at me with those grey eyes. But this time it was different. They weren’t filled with love like they usually were. They were filled with fear.
Stop ! Pete screamed behind her, pulling Lily’s hair back roughly, making her cry out. You don’t love her and she doesn’t love you. She’ll learn to love me.