Page 99 of Xavier

“The slipper,” I gesture to the shoe I’d thrown across the room. “That’s the shoe I threw at him that night. He’s the only one who could’ve had it.”

“How…? How does he know where you live?”

"I don't know. I changed my name. Maybe… maybe he saw my picture somewhere. I don't know." The shiver that's been creeping up my spine spreads over every pore of my skin, raising goosebumps that make me wrap my arms around myself. "He must recognize me from a picture, it's not like I'm that easy to find by my old name."

“Don’t I know that,” Xavier mumbles under his breath.

Suddenly, any energy I have left in my body is gone. I feel my body sway and I fall back against my headboard.

“Malynda!” I hear him call my name, but I can barely open my eyes. I haven’t thought, really thought, about that night in years. Having to live through it all again, telling the one person I never wanted to know, it’s taken everything out of me.

“I’m okay. I just… I just want to sleep. Please.”

“Malynda…” he calls me again, but this time, it’s like through a wind tunnel. And his voice, his face, everything is fading into air.

“Xavier…” I try to say, and it’s the last thing I hear before everything does quiet.

***

“You fucking bitch! Don’t you fucking dare tell anyone about this or I will kill you. I will find you and kill you! Don’t you ever set foot into my dance studio again!”

I’m shaking my head as I run. The only thing giving me relief is his voice getting quieter the further I run. He’s not behind me.

But he’s always there; everywhere I turn, I can see his face.

“I’m back!” His voice is taunting me.

My ballet shoes appear in front of me, a hundred, no, a thousand of them scattered all over the floor.

“I will find you and I will kill you.”

His voice is getting louder now.

“No!! Leave me alone!!!” I scream, so loud my throat burns.

“Shhh. You’re okay…. you’re safe, I promise, you’re okay,” I hear a soft female voice say and something cool and wet on my forehead. It instantly soothes me and quiets the voice and images in my head and I feel myself grow calm. “Get some more sleep, I’ll be right here,” the sweet voice says again. I obey, and feel myself fall back into the quiet darkness.

***

I'm not sure where I am and what time of day it is when I open my eyes. My head is throbbing and I rub my temple for a moment as I try to figure out where I am. I don't recognize the place. It's dark though and warm. I feel comfortable in this strange bed. And safe. And really, really thirsty.

I notice a glass of water on the table by the side of the bed and turn on the light as I sit up and reach for it. The first sip of water feels like a crystal-clear lake trickling through my brain. Bliss. There’s a knock on the door and I freeze.

“Um, yes? Hello?” I say, hesitantly.

“It’s Jade, can I come in?”

The sense of relief that floods my body is almost enough to ease the pounding in my head.

“Yes, of course, please.”

The door opens slowly and Jade’s friendly face appears through the gap.

“I don’t want to bother you, I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“Come in, please,” I say, patting the bed. I actually prefer her company to being alone right now.

"Okay," she says and comes to sit by the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?"