I hope they all have a pounding headache for days. Maybe next time they will think twice before picking a fight they can’t win.
“Leave now, and if I ever catch you pulling this shit again. I won’t be so nice next time.” I gripped the knife harder, aiming a look at the girls on the floor who scrambled up and ran off.
As the others left without hesitation, I could feel my body begin to tremble from the pain and weakness that was hitting me all at once. I had tapped into powers I hadn’t even realised were mine, but the way I could feel Xarothar's panic and anger, something makes me think I accidentally tapped into our bond.
I know he was trying to talk to me, but I shut him out. I didn’t want a lecture, not with the headache I had. My magic was trying to tear me apart from the inside.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders and dropping the knife to the floor, turning to the girl behind me.
“You, okay?”
She hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“Good.” I glanced toward the street. “Come on, let's get you out of here.”
I waited for her to step ahead of me, taking the lead as we made our way to wherever she came from. Every few steps, she glanced back, her expression uncertain, like she wanted to say something to me. She probably assumed I wouldn’t understand her even if she tried.
She’d be wrong.
“I know sign language,” I told her, before asking again. “Are you okay?”
She responded, her hands moving gracefully despite the slight tremor in them.Now I am, thank you.
I gave her a small smile, ignoring the way my legs ached and cramped up with every step. I was drained, dangerously so. Every muscle in my body was screaming at me to stop, but I pushed through it. I needed to make sure she got home safely.
“Does that happen a lot?”
She hesitated, then shrugged before signing.Yes.
Something sharp twisted in my chest at her response. The casual way she admitted it, like being cornered and tormented, was just another part of her life, which made me sad and angry for her. She didn’t deserve that. Nobody did.
I clenched my fists, forcing my anger down and keeping my expression neutral as we walked. The further we went, the heavier my limbs felt, like I was wading through thick, invisible tar. I was running on fumes, and my body knew it, even if it wasn’t ready to admit it.
A tall apartment building loomed ahead, sleek and modern, its dark-tinted windows catching the glow of the streetlights. At the doors, she tapped a quick sequence on the keypad. A beep, a soft click, and the door swung open on its own.
Fancy.
She turned back to me, her brown eyes soft with concern.You can come up with me, I can see how tired you are, and no one should be home tonight.
I should’ve said no. I didn’t know her, and I didn’t trust easily, but I was second-guessing that recently. I definitely don’t like putting myself in a vulnerable position around strangers. But I also didn’t have the energy to argue.
And she seemed kind.
So, I nodded.
The stairs were hell. My headache wasn’t as sharp anymore, but the exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. Halfway up, I stumbled, my foot catching on a step. She reacted fast, spinning and grabbing me before I could faceplant the ground. Worry tightened her expression, but she couldn’t sign as she held me, so I forced out a small, reassuring smile.
“I’m okay, just tired.”
Her grip didn’t ease until I was steady again, and we made the rest of the climb slowly, step by step, until we reached a sleek black door. She unlocked it with one hand, her other still wrapped around my back, and I couldn’t help but admire how damn gentle she was.
Well, I had just saved her from a bunch of assholes. Guess she was returning the favour.
The door swung open, revealing a dimly lit apartment with a boy sprawled across a couch, and a beer bottle on the table in front of him.
Looks like people are home.
A video game blared from the TV screen, some form of shooting game, and he was deep into it, fingers quick on the controller.
