Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Koah Harbor
POV
Life had a way of always throwing me curve balls I didn’t want, or care for. I’ve been in this apartment for a few days now, I don’t know how long Enzo had stayed here but a part of me saw traces of him everywhere. On the sofa I know he didn’t use or own, on the bed I knew didn’t sleep in.
It brought me a sense comfort. Not much though, the neighbourhood wasn’t the best, there was always some sort of noise, I was constantly on high alert every noise, sound and movement woke me, startled me. I wasn’t sleeping through the night because I still feared Austin finding me and making me pay for running away.
I left my entire life in New York. My family lawyer didn’t even know where I was or how to get into contact with me. I left him an email telling him I was alright and not worry about me, I made sure Austin had no access to my accounts or assets. That took me weeks to set that up before I left, I was worried what he’d do if he found me.
Would he truly kill me if he found me? Would he force me to marry him first? Too bad for him, I set up my will that all my accounts and assets go to Enzo if anything were to happen to me. I’ve been planning my escape for years, but it wasn’t until after my parents death I realized how short life truly was. I didn’t to spend the rest of my life being miserable with Austin and the first person I thought of was Enzo. I wondered if he was happy, if he was skating through life the way I was. Or if he found what I couldn’t give him back then.
I didn’t want to bother any of my friends with my problems, they were happy with their lives and I was worried Austin would go looking for me by them. Also my friends were worried I’d break down if they mentioned Enzo so he didn’t even know Enzo existed. I was safe, yet I didn’t feel safe. I felt anything but safe.
Carly checked in on me this morning, I’ve felt better after listening to her, she promised to visit me tomorrow.
Carly was a stranger yet she’s been nothing but kind to me. She was kind enough to let me live here rent free. I was happy I didn’t have to worry about rent, though I needed to buy groceries for myself. I’d figure it out once I can actually keep food down.
I didn’t want to get a job, that would leave an employment record. I couldn’t have Austin finding me because of a grocery store job.
Not that I would get a job in anything but dance, I remember how my friends and family were worried when I said I would go into dance instead of taking over the family business.
That very family business is what Austin thought was rightfully his since he was. My boyfriend.
I didn’t have any siblings so I was the sole heir to my parents fortune it was starting to feel like a curse rather than a blessing, I grew up privileged and I didn’t realize how cruel the world truly was until Austin first slapped me across the face.
I’ve had everything handed to me because of my family name, it was my until I worked with my ass off to get into my dream job I realized I had to fight, train and practice harder than anyone else if I wanted to keep my position.
But I gave it all up because my life was more important than my dream job.
The apartment was old and almost every thing made a sound. Every one of those sounds made me jump toward the ceiling. There were creaks in the apartment that would startle me if the dogs walked over a certain floor board. The hum of the refrigerator was too loud and would startle me in the middle of the night, the footsteps from the apartment above mine, when the man and woman was getting ready for work at five in the morning. God even my own shadow startled me when I caught it moving across the wall.
I hated how scared I was of every movement, of every sound. What I hated most was feeling trapped inside my own head. Most of all, I hated that Austin had done this to me. He was the reason I as trapped in an apartment that has seen better days.
Remi jumped into my lap.
The tiny white and black coloured dog immediately began licking my chin as if she could somehow chase all my fears away. I really wished she could.
"Remi..." I laughed weakly, trying to push her away, I know they must be bored but I didn’t want to walk them in this neighbourhood.
I tried lifting Remi, but she wasn’t having it.
Draco climbed onto the couch beside me a second later, but unlike his sister, Draco wasn’t affectionate when he was worried. He simply pressed himself against my side and stayed there on high alert, he was watching and waiting.
I knew he was waiting for Austin to come. They were jumping at the same sounds I was. Once Draco tried to save me when Austin was on one of his rants but Austin had kicked him away and I had to take Draco to the vet. Since then Draco has been scared to even breathe the same air as Austin.
I run my fingers through his fur. I was too buddy. I was scared to even think about what Austin would do to me if he found me.
Remi and Draco were identical twins so they looked so alike most people couldn’t tell them apart.
The same fluffy white and black coloured fur, the same dark eyes, the same black button nose, the two were twins in every way except when it came to their personalities.
Remi loved everyone, she would demand pets from anyone and everyone. Though she never really even tried to get the same from Austin.
Draco on the other hand, trusted almost nobody, he barely tolerated my parents, he loved me and only me. At this very moment, both of them were staring at me with concern.
Dogs always knew, they knew Austin was a monster before I did. They knew long before I even noticed something was wrong with Austin.
They knew I was hurting and wanted to cheer me up. Even Draco who would always try to stay clear from being too close was right beside me, like he wanted to protect me.
A car door slammed somewhere outside and my entire body tensed up. Immediately both dogs reacted. Remi stopped trying to lick my face, and Draco’s head snapped toward the window.
The apartment suddenly felt too small, if someone came in I would be trapped in the apartment. It had no back door and was on the third floor. I felt too exposed and too vulnerable in this apartment suddenly.
My heart began pounding.
Had he found me?
No.
No, no, no.
Austin couldn’t have found me already.
Could he?
I glanced toward the door.
Then the window.
Then back toward the door.
The familiar panic began creeping into my chest.
Remi crawled higher into my lap, pressing her tiny body against me.
Draco moved closer until he was on top of my lap too.
I knew they were trying to protect me, it brought me a sense of comfort knowing I had these two, to ground me, to remind me I was alone. I wrapped my arms around both of them and buried my face in Remi’s fur.
For a few seconds, I allowed myself to pretend, that Austin didn’t exist, he was a figment of my imagination, I pretended New York was on the other side of the world, pretend I wasn’t constantly looking over my shoulder, or waiting for the other shoe to fall. I pretended I was safe in Carly’s apartment.
No one knew I was here. I was safe. Carly didn’t know who Austin was. She would never come into contact with him or tell him where I was.
I sighed, I was pretending, but deep down I knew better, because Austin wouldn’t give up, just because I ran away. Eventually he would find me, and come looking for me.
Was I...
The knock on the door made me jump.
I slowly walk to the door, making sure I didn’t make a sound. I looked through the peephole.
A woman wearing reading glasses, a baggie shawl, a pair of baggie jeans and a tee with a frog print.
Who was this woman? Was she friends with Carly?
I opened the door and the woman pushed me aside walking into the apartment.
When she turns to me she looks startled.
"Where is Carly?" she asks.
"She doesn’t live here anymore..." I say making sure to keep my voice soft. I didn’t want to set her off.
Something about this woman scared me.
"Fucking hell Carly!" she shouts causing me to jump. Her eyes soften. "Do you know where she moved to?" she asked.
I shake my head. "All I know is she is staying with her employer so she offered her apartment to me." I explain.
She nods clearly angry. "Sorry. I’m Amy Dunkin." she introduces herself.
I nod, "I’m Konan." I don’t give my last name. I didn’t know this woman and the thought of her knowing who I was and telling Austin scared me more than being impolite.
I’d tell her anything she needed to know if she didn’t seem like the type of woman who would sell her own left leg if it meant getting ahead in life.
She just gave off the vibe of Someone exactly like that.
The thought of Austin finding me sent chills down my spine. I wanted this woman to leave. She was scaring me.
