Chapter 108: Chapter 108 Protect You
GWENETH
His eyes narrows like my words had been a slap on his cheek. "What did you say?" He said, sounding a little aggravated.
I am too scatterbrained to take the hint to rephrase my earlier sentence. And then again, I’m done being shit on and treated like crap by my peers. And him who is the leading cause of that.
I repeated it again with a snap. Adding that I wanted out of his sick games. The darkness in his gaze mounts and his lips curl up at the sides, his features turning villainous. He tightens his hold on me. His fingers digging into my flesh with bruising force, and he forces me to take a step forward, basically dragging me alongside him. "That reckless boldness of yours won’t save you from me. It would only get you deeper into the abyss of tortures that I have in mind just for you!"
He releases me and shoves me back against the wall, and pain radiates down my spine upon impact.
His huge frame cages me in, leaving me no escape. I can feel the heat from his body rolling off him and into me.
I shiver at the coldness in his gaze and the tiny hairs on my neck stands on at his sentence. "What I want is your screams. Your tears. Your fear. I want you weak and immobile like a helpless little doll while I take and take until there is nothing left to take." His smooth, velvety voice is bouncing off the wall, curling like a snake and echoing in my ears. It is menacingly dark and mocking.
A sob erupts from my throat. "Please stop it already! I’II stay out of your way.
A. .and pretend I don’t exist. It will be like I was never here. Like I never existed at all." I’m full-on rambling now, grasping at straws for anything that might get me out of this situation.
"That is the problem. I can’t leave you alone."
The air in my chest rattles, and I’m afraid of what will happen next. He is not going to assault or hit me when there are people watching right? I can’t put that past him as much as I want to this time.
I close my eyes, wanting to sink into the safe abyss in my mind if that would be possible in his presence. If there is even any at all.
"What do you think you’re doing?" A voice meets my ears. I blink my eyes open, turning in the direction of the voice. My throat constricts, and I don’t dare look at Calix. I’m afraid of what I’ll see if I do.
His searing body heat fades as he takes a step back and then another, putting enough space between us to where I can finally breathe. The heady scent of woodsy cologne drifting away, and I continue staring at him, the guy—Rex.
My heart is thumping against my ribs, threatening to break free. I don’t know if he is saving me or not. I let out a heavy breath. Nearly collapsing into the wall. I was not even aware of how tightly strung every inch of my muscle has been until now.
This level of fear is a new one. It is getting high every time. I can’t help but think about what the next one is going to be like.
When I came to a little bit, I found myself being dragged away by Rex. I turn to look over my shoulder to see Calix still in that spot with a dumbstruck and angry expression. What. . . just happened?
CALIX
"What was that about?"
"I should be the one asking." Rex calmly retorts. "Why did you make her a target? You have never made a female target before."
"Do you know her? Even if you do, it should not be any of your business." I say.
"Well I am making it my business now so stop harassing her." He practically growls. Surprise is an understatement for how I feel right now. The others are also looking at him with wide, curious eyes. Curtis then speaks, "Do you like her?" Rex throws him a glance like he is stupid for saying that.
"Do I have to like her? I am just asking you to leave her alone. You have gone far with your games this time. If not for anything, but for me at least."
GWENETH
I hardly got any sleep last night as I could not stop my mind from running over how Rex had taken me away from Calix yesterday. I thought that it must have been an illusion created by my mind. But my mind wouldn’t be so merciful and creative.
The untraceable soreness and mild redness at my wrist that he had almost snapped in his tight hold yesterday disproved that thought. Rex had escorted me to the parking lot and even offered to give me a ride. I politely refused him, saying I already had a way to get home. My friends happily filled me in on all they knew about him. According to them, he is tight friends with Calix and the rest. But with Calix mostly. And apparently he is the nicest out of all of them. Good in both soccer and basketball. Also handsome too. Quite the golden boy unlike his friend who is the grim reaper.
I have grown pretty used to being a black cynosure for one reason or the other here at school. The reason for that now is that Rex and I are holding hands as we walk into the cafeteria.
We had a lot of talk during our self study session in English class earlier. I had chosen to do mine at the library. He came to meet me there where I had hidden in my favorite corner. It is quite glum and dark and peaceful. Which is why I like it. Turns out it his also his favorite place too.
I felt uncertainty and doubt in his presence. All of Calix’s minions are almost as evil as him. I did not want to believe so soon that he is different and nice just like the way he looks. His radiant, gentle smile that reaches into his eyes had driven that doubt and uncertainty far into my mind until it became non-existent. He told me that he did not fully know why Calix behaves the way he does. It is through him that I learned a little about my tormentor. Turns out he doesn’t have parents. He is an orphan. I feel sorry for him. That is the cruelest thing that could ever happen to anyone. Growing up not knowing your parents. But it does not at all excuse his evil acts. Rex had been rawly sincere when he said that he has never cared about Calix’s bullying and even took part in it himself. But now he wants to be different and protect me. When he said those words, I felt a warm, sweet feeling. I wondered if that was what they call butterflies. That was the warmest thing that anyone had said to me. It would probably be the only one. So I allowed myself to revel in its sweetness. Coming from a guy like him, almost meant the world. I never expected to hear that from a guy—ever. I have come to believe that I am not beautiful like most girls. Not in the way a guy like him would be attracted to. I had asked him why.
Why he wants to go against his friend to protect me. "I just want to protect you." He had said. So now here we are being the reason why the whole cafeteria is gawking wide-eyed and open-mouthedly. "Give me what she just had." Rex tells the man serving behind the counter. He glances between me and Rex before he complies. He is curious as well. I look at my tray that is holding an overflowing portion of fries and double cheeseburger along with milkshake. I had always been given rat portions ever since Calix brought his trouble into the picture. It was the kitchen staff own way of bullying.
I scanned the whole place looking for my friends. I did not see them, but guess who I saw and locked eyes with? The devil himself. He is sitting on a chair and behind a eating table. His fingers drumming on top the table with a laser like gaze.
Tension seizes my whole body the second our eyes came in contact. I quickly averted my gaze, but not for long because then we had to find a seat after Rex collects his tray. It was impossible to not look at him. There weren’t many unoccupied tables and Rex just had to chose to sit on the one that is the closest to him.
Rex pulls out a chair for me to sit on. The action might be plain to him but it felt unnecessarily intimate. Do you have to do this? I ask him with my eyes. Doesn’t he care about how this looks? I can almost feel pins sticking into my skin from too many gawking stares and a single harsh one. He seemed to get it because he shrugs.
He puts his hands on my shoulder and pushes me to sit my ass down on the chair.
Comments