My door slightly parted. I was so close.
So fucking close.
I suck in a breath, before a violent cry leaves my throat. It’s the sound of pain. Not entirely physical but mental, emotional pain.
“Little rabbit,” the monster I vividly remember from my nightmares whispers his vile breath into my ear and shoves me inside my apartment, slamming the door closed and throwing me face first into it.
The smells of cigarettes and poison violently dance around me.
The shaking of my body is involuntary, and my labored breaths are violent and strong. The tears flow and flow like a river stream and the noises leaving my throat are ones I have never heard before even as he laid on top of me once upon a cruel time.
“This must be my lucky day. Imagine my thoughts when I saw your face. Fuck, how I’ve missed this face.” He pulls me again by my hair and my scalp screams.
Will anyone help? Will the man he was talking to minutes before, help me? No, if he’s anything like this asshole, then no. He’s probably long gone.
If I can only reach my phone and send an SOS to Liem.
“I missed you. Missed this hair.” He inhales deeply, pushing his face in my hair causing a sourness to rise in my throat. “I missed this body.” He runs a slimy hand down my neck, over my breasts, then down my waist until he cups between my thighs, gripping with violence. I gag then let out a murderous scream.
“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! You sick fuck!” I scream, practically baring teeth in fury.
“We’re all something, little rabbit.” He pulls up my shirt, revealing the scarred over initials. The fingers I’ve felt many times before slide over the raised skin and I wince. “I remember like it was yesterday. But he was never worthy of you,” he seethes talking about the man I was almost sold to. “I think I’ll just keep you as mine. Forever.”
Without another thought, I thrash with everything I have, but I won’t be able to get a shot at him like this. “I’ll never be yours!”
He laughs, the depth of it rumbles off the walls. “You’ve always been mine. Ever since my cock claimed you back in that warehouse, sweetheart.”
The pressure on my scalp releases and he backs away spinning me with a vast turn. My heart stalls as he pulls out a gun from his holster and smiles. The weapon being casually waved as he looks around in amusement, my breathing staggering as my stomach constricts in a knot.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding out. Guess that tiny rat is going to have to die. Too bad the drugs didn’t get him first.”
Rat?
Does he think…wait a minute.Was he coming here for my roommate’s boyfriend?
I’m dizzy but force the words from my mouth. “What did he do now?” Letting him believe I am in fact the rat’s girlfriend.
He shrugs, eyeing me up and down. “Had to make a house call this time. I’m tired of people stiffing me out of money. They take, take, take, but never give, give, give.”
“Drugs.” I sound unsteady as I continue to breathe with unevenness. No wonder they’re never home. My roommate and her boyfriend are dealing drugs. Doing drugs. What the fuckever. Jesus Christ. I’ve been this close to him the whole time, and I didn’t even know.
He bites out a laugh. “Ah, it doesn’t much matter anyhow. I’ll be taking you with me as soon as my business is finished here.” He stomps around my apartment scanning every room with his gun still casually pointed in my direction. “Where is the little prick?”
I swallow.
“Not home?” He prowls back over in my direction. “I’m surprised anyone would be interested in tainted pussy.”
My chest heaves in rage and I spit. “Fuck you. You are nothing but a disgusting piece of—”
He closes the gap between us in one swift motion and presses the gun to my forehead. I let out a gasp. “Your mouth always did get you into trouble. I liked you better when you stopped talking.” He lets the gun trace down my cheek before dropping it and I can finally breathe.
I hold still, knowing he’ll punish me more if I fight back. But I can’t give up this time. I won’t.
My phone vibrates again in my sweatshirt pocket. I’ve counted the number of times it’s gone off, hoping it’s Liem.
If this pompous asshole heard it, he doesn’t let on, just keeps casually sauntering around my apartment like it’s his.
He scoffs, drawing the curtain open with his gun. “What a coincidence indeed.” He looks out toward the diner.
