Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Truth

Wrapping her arm around me, Cherry brought my weeping figure inside as Brandon closed the door behind us. Cher sat us down on the couch as she kept trying to calm me down, but no matter how many times I wiped my tears away new ones would start rolling down and the uncontrollable sharp breath intake only intensified, making it hard for me to breathe.

Cher’s eyes locked with Brandon’s, who was sitting across from us, in a shared understanding before they both nodded as if they had reached to an agreement.

Exhaling, Cherry placed my head on top of her chest as she stroked my head. We were sitting in that position for what felt like hours. They quietly let me cry my eyes out until my wails were reduced to sobs and until the tremor in my body had calmed down.

“You’re okay now?” Cher asked quietly. I nodded against her chest, letting out even breathing that matched the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat.

“I’ll spare you the overloading questions for tomorrow. First get yourself out of those oversized clothes, take a bath and sleep.” I nodded again.

Placing her hands on my shoulders, she slightly pushed me off her until my eyes would meet hers. “Nothing will happen to you here. You’re safe April, okay?” Her assuring eyes bore into mine as her hold on my shoulders tightened.

My eyes burned, and my throat started to ache again. ‘You’re wrong Cher. I’m nowhere safe.’ Taking my bottom lip between my teeth, I fought hard to not usher those words through my lips.

Cher placed her palm against my cheek. “Okay?” She repeated.

I smiled despondently. “Yeah…” My voice came out hoarse and quiet.

She gave me an assuring smile, grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the bathroom. “Brandon, can you prepare the guest room?” Cher queried over her shoulder, dragging an exhausted me over the stairs.

“Already on my way babe.” Brandon smiled as he saluted.

Cherry let the scorching water run into the bathtub until the steam became visible for the eye to see. She turned the hot water off and instead turned the cold water on until the liquid became lukewarm.

I stood awkwardly behind her as she dipped her hand in the water to check the temperature.

“You know you can’t talk your way out of this, right?” Cher said, breaking the silence as she turned around, facing me.

I avoided her gaze by casting mine on the ground as I shuffled slightly on my feet; putting more weight on my left foot. “I know.” I said, just above a whisper.

Cher wanted to hear the truth. I get that and honestly, I’m not even sure if I can lie myself out of this situation like I usually do. I came to her porch in the middle of the night. Barefoot. And as if that wasn’t enough, I’m also wearing a man's suit, which is obviously few sizes too big for me. I haven’t glanced at myself in the mirror yet, but I know that my hair has turned into a bird’s nest.

What should I tell her? The same story that I told the old trucker? She would snort first before beating my ass, because we both know that I don’t have any other friends except from her and Brandon.

Or should I just tell her I wanted to cross dress for once and that my cross-dress session turned into something chaotic? That still won’t explain my sudden outburst or me knocking on their door so late.

“April!”

I jolted in surprise by Cher’s sudden raise in tone. My eyelashes fluttered as I stared at her in shock and confusion.

“W-What?” I stammered, flustered.

“You’re doing it again.”

She nodded at my thumb that I have been unconsciously nibbling on. The nail has been chewed down, and I was about to break through my skin.

“What are you so afraid of?” Cher asked, her voice laced with concern as she leaned on the edge of the bathtub.

My heart rate sped up. My fist unclasped and clasped on my side, as I could feel my jaw tighten. “I-!” I opened my mouth just to clamp it shut again.

‘I can’t tell her yet. Not when there is still a chance that Jack is watching.’

A flash of frustration hit me. With my eyebrows knit together, I bowed my head, facing the cold tiles as I drew my lower lip between my teeth, my body shaking as my resentment towards Mark was growing.

Cherry lets out a heavy sigh and walked until she stood in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I will bring some new clothes for you to change in to.” And with that said, she walked past me out of the bathroom.

When the sounds of her footsteps turned faint, I let out an inaudible groan as I ruffled my hair in frustration.

“Let’s just take a bath.”

Muttering, I shed off the clothes that I was wearing. Letting them glide off me on to the ground. I froze when I dipped my toe into the water. After confirming that the temperature of the water was indeed right, I scrambled the rest of me into the bath tube causing some of the water droplets to slosh out of the tube and hit the tiles.

I sighed, pleased as I could feel the tension leave my body, leaving only the lethargic feeling behind. My toes, which previously were frozen, were now defrost, making me wince at the tingling feeling.

Taking a big gulp of air, I submerged myself underwater. The clumps in my hair became undone and, through my squinted eyes, I could see the grim coming off my body.

As the burning feeling in my longs and the lightheadedness kicked in, I let myself emerge, gasping and coughing for air as the lukewarm liquid went into my nostrils.

“That was not smart.” I grumbled.

I slicked back my loose curls that were darkening my sight and let my body float in the water as I was facing the ceiling.

I felt more clearheaded now that I splashed myself with water and recalled the events of today. The kidnapping, the breakout and running away. My mind went momentarily back to James and his one-night stand, Alessandro. I knew James didn’t have the right amount of IQ, but that he was that stupid. I could have never guessed. Who in his right mind would do it with a Mafia boss!?

I inwardly groaned.

Well, it at least seemed that Alessandro wasn’t trying to kill him, right?

I sat back up in the tube and let my hands move beneath the surface, causing ripples to form. I watched it absentmindedly as I was thinking about how to handle Mark.

He must have already realized that I’m at Cher’s house, right? So, there’s no way that he wouldn’t come here and when he gets here, I better be prepared to fight him, because there’s no way that I will go back to that confinement.

But the question is how I am going to protect myself. I can’t fight for the life of me and I certainly don’t have some sweet gadget on me or a gun, for that matter.

‘But there’s a knife.’ I thought momentarily as realization made its way to my face.

That’s right, I can use Cher’s kitchen knife to protect me. I will just put it under the pillow and when Jack makes his appearance, I will take it out swiftly and stab him.

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‘You’ve never killed someone before, though?’ My subconscious mind kindly reminded me.

Okay. Yeah. I haven’t killed someone before and to be realistic; I am not even sure if I’m able to even graze him. However, I am just hoping that I could somehow frighten him or make him back off.

Clenching my fists, I nodded as determination sets in. “Let’s go.”

I stood up. Instantly, as my wet skin made contact with the cool air, a shiver run down my spine and my body cried as it wished to return to the warm comfort.

…

After changing into the clothes that Cher brought for me, I tiptoed to the kitchen; cursing under my breath every time a wooden plank made a creaking sound underneath me. I drew out the drawer, grabbed the knife and hastily went back upstairs to the room that I would sleep in.

As I entered the room, I went straight for the bed. Hiding the knife under the big white comfy pillow. Switching off the light at the nightstand, I crawled under the fluffy duvet, exhaling satisfied at the warmth that came off it. My eyelids felt heavy as the tiredness took over my body, causing my mind to drift away to a dreamless dream…

My consciousness was brought back to the abrupt movements that came from the window. Hearing it slide open, I kept my eyes shut while keeping my breathing regulated as the expected guest made his way through to the window. The thudding sound of his shoes connecting with the floor made me flinch.

I could feel my heart stutter as I heard him coming closer to me until his figure loomed over my body; casting a shadow over my face.

He chuckled lowly. Letting his hand skim over my face, I could feel his minty breath fanning my ear as he whispered,

“You think I wouldn’t know when you’re acting like sleeping beauty.”

Snapping my eyes open, I gritted my teeth as I swiftly went for the knife under my pillow. Swinging the knife at him, Mark effortlessly grabbed my wrist as he slammed me back into the bed. Pressing his forearm on my throat hard enough to render any further movement, but not hard enough to cut off my air supply.

“Your hundred years too early to beat me in a fight, kitten.” Mark growled as he bared his teeth at me like a feral wolf.

Grunting under the pressure of his forearm, I trashed my legs around trying to free myself. Mark snorted at my feeble attempt and snatched the knife away from me.

Turning the knife around, he lets his eyes roam over the sharp object, examining it. He was silent for a while before his expression twisted in to a smile, a smile that didn’t meet his eyes.

“Thanks baby, you saved me the work.”

His voice sounded cheerful, but the crescent moon shaped eyes that were cast down at me were void of any light and his benign smile only managed to set terror in my body. The small hairs on my neck were raising up as I had never seen this expression of his before.

“Using a gun would wake up the neighborhood, but I can kill them with a knife quietly and cleanly.” His voice was sweet, but his words carried venom in them.

I paled as dread took over my face. He stroked my head before walking casually to the door.

“W-wait..” My lips were trembling, making it difficult for me to form coherent words.

Not knowing what to do and terrified what would happen the moment he set his foot over the door threshold, my body went into autopilot, scrambling itself to Mark. Like a lost kitten, I clutched at the flaps of his suit, looking up at him with a pleading expression.

His walking came to a halt, but he didn’t bother to look back. “W-wait. Why are you going to kill them?” I asked, my voice quivering.

His harsh blue eyes finally met mine, their color still dark and foreboding. “Because you most likely spilled the beans to them already, didn’t you?” and he starts to walk again, but I refused to let go and fasten my hold on him.

He groans. “I wish you would hold on to me in some other situation.” He said, just above a whisper.

What he said went right over my head as I shook my head vehemently. “N-No, I didn’t.”

“Stop lying baby girl.”

“I’m not lying!”

I let go of him as I yelled. Gasping, I quickly covered my mouth with my hands, worried that my voice woke Cherry and Brandon up. After a few minutes of not hearing any movement, I focused my glare back at Mark. “I’m not lying!” I repeated, but whisper-yelled this time. “I wanted to, but I didn’t. You can listen back to the conversation that I had with them on your stalker devices.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and pulled out his phone. After fiddling around with it, he placed it against his ear and listened attentively to the recorded conversation.

Lines appeared between his brows as he furrowed, displeased at how I was right. He clicked with his tongue and put his phone away as he turned around to face me.

“Fine, you’re right.”

Placing my hand on my chest, I sigh, relieved.

“But we are not done yet.” He said as he folded his buff arms in front of his chest.

And the tension made its way back into my body. I glowered at him. “I am not going back with you.”

I balled up my hands into fists and put them in front of me as I stood in a defensive stance. I don’t care how, but one of us will get bald because I am not going back there without a fight.

His eyes softened and were gleaming with affection, but he quickly masked it away with a hardened expression. “I’m not going to take you back by force again.” He scoffed.

I blinked, bewildered, and I felt my steps falter. “W-What?”

He hunched forward with a widespread vindictive grin, and a foreboding feeling washed over me.

“I will let your best friends live under one condition.”

My brow formed an arc as I took a step back, afraid of what he wanted. “And that is?”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling our bodies together so there was no gap between us. With a mellow smile, he stroked my cheek with his thumb as he let his eyes roam over my face, inspecting every inch of it.

“Tell them the truth.”

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