I bury my face in my hands, fingers clawing into my hair as desperation overtakes me. Dropping to my knees, I let out a raw, unrestrained scream, the sound echoing like a release of everything I can’t hold inside.
I never understood why my mother did what she did, but it all makes sense now. I can finally understand why she couldn't stay for me because now I don't want to stay either.
Large arms wrap around me and I keep screaming, kicking my legs in my fight to get away from Miles as he tries to hold me. I don't want him to hold me. I don't wantanyoneto hold me. I just want it all to stop.
“Maddie, please! Please stop kicking, baby! I just want to help you!” Miles pleads with me, but I don't listen.
I just need it all to stop. I scream and kick until I just can't take it anymore and everything eventually fades to black.
My limbs feel heavy.I try to open my eyes, but they’re adamant to stay shut.
What the hell happened?
I feel uncomfortable, but I can't move my body. It feels like there's a huge weight holding me down and I can feel myself start to panic, but I can't say or do anything. My heart is beating heavily, but my breathing stays calm.
I can hear voices around me, but I can't make out what they're saying. One of them is definitely Miles, but I’m not sure who the other two belong to. One is a woman, I know that for a fact.
Maybe it's Morgan?
But who's the other person in the room with us? I try to focus on my surroundings as best I can until everything starts to come in a little bit clearer.
“I just don't understand why you drugged her! She's not a fucking animal, Hudson. She's my girlfriend!”
“I'm sorry, but she was attacking you. I had to do something!”
They drugged me? But why? I wasn't attacking him?
He grabbed me.
“She wasn't attacking me, man. She was having a fucking anxiety attack because that piece of shit texted her again,” he screams, his anger evident in his tone. “We need to find him. Go get Nate and tell him to get ready. We’ll start planning tonight.”
What are they going to do? It's not like my stalker is here where they can catch him.
I hear footsteps leaving the room we’re in and it finally gets quiet in here. I know I'm not alone. I don't have to hear Miles speaking to know he's still here.
I can feel him.
A few seconds go by before I hear footsteps again coming towards me. Miles leans over me and plants a soft kiss on my forehead.
“I love you, Madelyn. I'm going to end this for you. I fucking promise you that. And once all of this is over, I'm going to make sure nothing like this ever happens to you again.”
He rakes his hand along my hair, and I feel those pesky butterflies swarm my insides once again. I know he loves me—I love him too—I just can't get over his aggressive behavior.
It takes all the energy I have to try and move my hand just a little bit, but I manage to lift a finger. He seems to notice the movement because he grabs my hand and brings it to his mouth, placing a soft kiss on the back of it.
“You awake, Princess?” he asks, rubbing my hand gently, but I don't say anything. I can't say anything. I hate this.
He places my hand back down on the bed next to me and I hear footsteps walk away from me along with the shut of a door.I guess I'm alone now. There’s nothing else I can do other than lie here and get some rest. If they plan on going after my stalker, then I’m going to need as much as I can get for what I plan to do next.
My eyes flyopen to a dark, empty room, and I feel a wave of disorientation hit me like a punch to the gut. My head is heavy, and my body feels like it’s been hit by a truck. I sit up quickly, but everything spins, and I immediately regret it.
Where the hell is Miles?
I blink a few times, trying to focus, but the haze from whatever I was drugged with still lingers in the back of my mind. My stomach churns, the overwhelming feeling of not being in control creeping up on me.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, trying to push past the fog, but everything feels off. Standing on unsteady legs, I grab my phone from the end table.
“Shit,” I curse, staring at the shattered screen.
