"I'll try. I don't have much feeling back in my limbs yet," I told him honestly, trying to lift them and barely able to move a few inches.
"Captain, a little help please," the one holding me asked.
There was a grunt and the tallest one moved forward and helped me clasp my hands together around his neck.
"Thank you," I muttered as my eyes started to close.
He ignored me and looked at his partner. "Get her out of here. Everyone else, let's check the rest of this place before we help the others."
The one farthest from me gave him a nod and they disappeared into the smoke.
"Come on, there's an ambulance outside. Let's get you checked out," my white knight told me as he started back the way he came in.
"It was Cameron," I blurted out.
"What?" he asked.
"My ex. I broke up with him and he did all this to punish me," I admitted before I coughed again.
"Save your voice for now. We’re almost out," he said gently. “Then you can make a report later. The police will find him.”
"Thank you," I said, relaxing a little more in his arms.
He didn't say anything, just walked faster to get me outside. When the cool air hit me, I knew I was truly saved. This wasn’t a dream.
The chill in the night felt great on my skin. The burns were pure agony but I clung to that pain, let it strengthen me.
It meant that Cameron didn’t win.
I was alive and I would never let him treat me this way again.
Iwoke from a dead sleep with a scream on my lips. My skin was covered in sweat and I swear I could feel the searing pain of my skin burning all over again.
Even though I’d moved far away, told no one, left everything behind, I couldn’t seem to escape the nightmares and phantom pains that followed me into sleep.
How long had it been since I’d had a full night of rest?
Knowing there was no way I’d get sleep now, I forced myself out of bed. The small apartment I found in Willow Lake had a balcony. It was only big enough for a single chair and side table and a tiny rug. I put up a few string lights so it was cozy enough to help my omega settle after nights like this.
I made a quick cup of coffee and wrapped a blanket around myself before padding outside. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, the warm light reflecting off of the lake and filling the area with that early morning glow I loved.
Funny, I’d hated mornings before. Now, they were my ‘calm after the storm.’ A new beginning to the day and a way to shed the darkness night brought out.
I propped my socked feet up on the railing and let my eyes drift closed, working on my breathing.
The lingering anxiety was the worst part. It tried to hover over me for hours after, reminding me I had escaped, but not mentally.
With my friends I was just Bea, the snarky friend and hard worker. But in these moments I was far too vulnerable and felt so damn small.
Cameron was in jail for two years. The judges and the jury went far too easy on him. He had charmed them in the way that psychopaths often could. ‘The fire wasn’t intentional or used to hurt me, He was just frustrated and needed a release.’
So he got two years then mandated twice-monthly psych visits.
While I got a fucking lifetime of trauma.
He convinced them thatIwas the problem. The stupid omega who pushed him when I knew better.
Forget that I was the victim. Drugged and nearly killed.
