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I cannot help but roll my eyes. “Hero, I left my family to be free. I left so I could make my own decisions and not have people tell me what is best for me. I didn’t leave one prison to become trapped in another. Plus, we don’t even know if this person is real. I just felt like someone was watching me, just like you used to. Maybe I was just being paranoid.”
“Don’t compare me to your parents. I’m doing this to protect you, not harm you.” He completely ignores my other comment.
I laugh, but nothing about this conversation is funny. “Funny, because that’s exactly what they used to say.”
Hero’s features darken. “I don’t care what you think, or say, you are not going.”
I tell myself to tread lightly, not to push him over the edge, but it’s been two weeks and nothing bad has happened. I can’t help but fear that maybe Hero is just trying to keep me here with him, so I dig deep inside myself and find my lady balls. “Hero, I’m not asking you. I’m telling you! I’m going back to class. If you don’t like it, then I’m moving back in with Tasha. I won’t be controlled, and I won’t trade one prison for another.”
I see the moment he snaps in his eyes. Disappointment and hurt seeping through his, furious gaze.
It pierces through my heart, but I can’t let him gain control over me, not like this. I want to have a normal life and I can’t hide out here forever.
I can have Hero and still be a normal college kid, right?
“Fine then, go! Go back to your precious classes. Go be a tutor for pennies, and don’t forget to get drugged and raped at parties between all your studying.” He pulls his shirt on and storms out the door.
I think about stopping him, but decide to let him cool off first. I know he didn’t mean what he said, but that doesn’t make his words hurt any less.
When I hear the front door slam a moment later, sadness seeps into my bones. That’s when the first tear rolls down my cheek. While I’m getting myself dressed, I tell myself I did the right thing. I need to make him understand where I stand. I can’t let him make all the decisions in my life. After I’m fully dressed, I decide I need to spend some time with a friend today.
Tasha may still be mad at me for moving in with Hero, but I’m certain she would meet me if I asked her to. Getting my phone out, I send her a quick text asking if she wants to meet for coffee after I talk to the administration people about making up the classes I’ve missed.
She returns my message almost immediately, and I sigh in relief. At least I didn’t lose the one and only friend I’ve made. I slip into my flats and stick my phone into my backpack. I sling it over my shoulder and head out the door. I don’t lock it, though. I don’t know when Hero will be home and I don’t want to be locked out.
Cool, fresh air hits me as soon as I step outside. As I walk along the sidewalk, I realize this is the first time in weeks I’ve been outside on my own.
Which makes me happy and slightly sad, because truthfully, I miss Hero.
Pushing the unwanted feelings aside, I concentrate on the freedom I fought so hard for today and walk myself right up to the administrative building.
I barely make it halfway up the block when the feeling of being watched creeps up on me. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, alerting me. Looking around anxiously, I tell myself it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just Hero trying to scare me. It wouldn’t really surprise me.
Letting my backpack fall off my shoulder, I swing it around so I can take my phone out. I’m just going to call Hero and tell him where I am just in case. I unlock my phone and scroll down to Hero’s name. My fingers move nervously across the screen. Just as I’m about to press the call button, my arms break out into goosebumps and the air shifts around me.
Something’s wrong. Something is very wrong.
I’m not quick enough to turn around and face my attacker. Someone large and strong grabs me from behind and covers my mouth with a white cloth. I panic as my legs thrash. My body surges with a need to run and escape. My fingers dig into my attacker’s arms, but it’s no use my vision starts to blur, and my grip loosens.
A sickening laugh fills my ears. It sounds far away, but close at the same time. I suck in a deep breath to scream, but the words are muffled. No one can hear me. I feel myself drifting further and further away from this world.
