Page 207 of Scarbound

“Yes.”

Noeul thought about it. “That he might hurt me.” The admission came reluctantly.

“Did that surprise you?”

Noeul didn’t answer. Dr. Kim waited.

“Not completely.”

“Why?”

Noeul’s fingers curled against his thigh. “He’d frightened me before.”

“How?”

Noeul looked at her. Then away. “Different ways.”

Dr. Kim didn’t push.

Noeul continued. “I told him he didn’t need to do this. That I was safe, that he was safe, that no one was going to take me.” He shook his head. “I was still trying to reason with him.”

“You were trying to de-escalate him.”

“I suppose.”

“What happened?”

“He said, ‘I can’t, Noeul. If you leave, you’ll be lost. I know it. And I can’t allow that.’” Noeul paused. “I realized logic wasn’t going to reach him.”

“So you left.”

“I tried.” His voice tightened. “I tore my hand free and ran for the door. He came after me. His fingers caught my jacket, but I got outside first.” He looked down again. “I slammed the door and locked it.”

“Leaving Gong inside?”

“Yes.”

“What happened after that?”

“He started hitting the door.” Noeul’s shoulders tensed. “Hard. Over and over. Screaming my name. Telling me to come back.” He stopped speaking.

Dr. Kim waited.

“I ran.”

“How far?”

“I don’t know. Far enough that I couldn’t hear him anymore.”

“And when you stopped?”

“I leaned against a tree because I couldn’t breathe properly.” He gave a small shrug. “My heart was pounding. My hands were shaking.”

“What were you thinking?”

“That I’d never seen him that bad before.” Noeul hesitated.

“And?”