As one angry base-filled song changed to another one, the tempo even louder, my shoulders pulled up to my ears. This one was worse than the beat before. Too many thumps. Too many high-pitched noises.
Wiping away an angry tear, I huffed. If I weren’t going to be locked in this room, then maybe I’d be able to find a corner somewhere to waste away in.
After getting my footing steady enough, I slowly made my way from the room. The door didn’t make a noise, but the sound was louder as I pulled the wooden thing open farther and farther. At this rate, my ears would bleed with the noise.
Looking both ways in the hallway, I saw no one but spotted the bathroom, the door wide open.
Step by step, I inched my way to the bathroom. By the time I reached it, I ran right into a brick. Or rather, a person.
“What the fuck!” the person I ran into snarled, pushing me back. I fell against the wall at my side, eyes wide.
“Have to ruin my life more? Huh? Stupid faggot.” I could barely hear him over the pounding base.
With each word he spoke, he stepped farther into my space, pushing me against the wall.
I couldn’t do anything but stay frozen, and my hands splayed out at my sides.
I didn’t know he was there. I didn’t mean to run into him. I didn’t-
“Fight me,” he hissed. “I dare you.” His breath ghosted over my skin.
I shook my head.
“S-s-s-sorry.”
A fist hit the wall beside my head, nearly missing my ear. I yelped, falling to the floor in one fluid motion.
Giving in, I gasped for breath as fear consumed me.
He laughed, dark and angry, as he grabbed my hair, forcing me to lift my head and look at him.
I clamped my eyes shut. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to see what he was about to do next.
“A piece of pathetic meat that stole my room can’t even fight back.” He pulled my hair harder, causing me to grit my teeth against the pain.
“Heath!”
In an instant, the music was lowered, yet it still echoed in my ears. Then, just as quickly, a knee hit against the side of my chest.
I cried out, falling forward as the hand released my head. Tears fell as I gasped, trying to catch my breath through the pain.
“You’re out. Go pack your fucking stuff.” Mr. Meyer shouted.
“I didn’t do shit! He was trying to make moves on me!”
“Go. Now.”
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Black spots danced before my eyes as the pain consumed me.
Shit. I was finally going to die.
Chapter 19
Allister
Smoke from the cigarette that the guy had to have rose and swirled around the room. It took everything in me not to start coughing. The aroma of tobacco tickled my nose and made the air dense.
The guy smoking wasn’t the reason I was here. I’d rather be elsewhere, moping away my misery, than sitting here, trying to appear relaxed and content as I waited for my target.
