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I snuggled close, needing his warmth to combat the cold chill I felt taking control of me. We stood there together, the wind blowing around us and the sounds of the city muted in the alley. His heartbeat was all I listened to, the soothing tones reassuring me it would be okay. Zane kissed the top of my head, and the last piece of my heart clicked into place, giving me the courage I needed.
Drawing back, I smiled softly at him, taking his hand. Together we walked up the stairs, the silence feeling ominous now. The shop opened in a few hours, so no one else was in the building. When I entered the place that had been my home for the past two months, a cold chill ran down my spine. Some of Slade’s words began to penetrate the fog, and I began to put some pieces together from what he said without saying anything.
“Fake-you watched us, didn’t he?” I looked up to Zane, and he nodded, apprehension creasing his brow.
“Yeah, Slade believes so. There was, um, video footage sent to your father once Slade arrived at Emblazed. It was of the three of you from last night.”
“Son of a gun!” Covering my mouth, I prayed my father hadn’t seen much of it, my cheeks flamed. “Oh geez, I really hope he didn’t watch it. I don’t know if I could take it if he did or thought less of me, now.”
“Your dad loves you, Noxy girl. He’s not going to think anything different. I bet he’s just as embarrassed as you. I believe that was the stalker’s intention. To put a wedge between either you and the guys or you and your parents. If he separates you, then you’re easier to manipulate.”
“That’s not creepy or anything,” I muttered, moving into the living room. The furniture was still in the same positions, the bottle of tequila open and on the floor where we’d left it. Everything looked the same but knowing he’d watched us made the moment between us have a film of degradation about it that hadn’t been there before.
Walking into the bedroom, my mind was in a daze, and I almost felt light-headed as everything pressed down on me. Grabbing a bag, I started to toss some clothes, shoes, and underwear in, my sketchbook, and my electronics. I grabbed my makeup bag and pulled my toiletries out of the bathroom. By the time I entered the bedroom again, I felt dizzier. I stumbled as I made my way to the bed. Sitting down, I stuffed items in, but my hands didn’t work as well. Tossing it over my shoulder, I stumbled toward the dresser to grab my jewelry. I didn’t wear much, but I had two pieces that meant a lot to me. Blaze’s necklace was one of them, and the other a bracelet Duncan had given me. I found the bracelet and slid it on, but my necklace was missing.
Opening the stand, I sorted through them as Zane came in, his voice a hollow sound.
“Lennox, something's wrong. We need to go.”
I turned my head to him, and it felt like my head moved in slow motion, the world blurring as it went by. Attempting to form words, I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Zane lifted me up, and he stumbled out of the room with me, making it to the stairs where the air was clearer. Once we were free of the apartment, he sat me down and motioned for me to take deep inhales with him. The clean oxygen started to filter in, and I realized it hadn’t been panic or a haze causing me to feel dizzy, but something else entirely.
Zane started to pull me toward the back door, urgently wanting me to move faster. My legs cooperated for the most part, but whatever I’d been breathing in still affected me. His words infiltrated my consciousness just as we made it clear of the door.
“You okay? We should move further away, I think there’s a—“
He didn’t get to finish his words as a large boom sounded out, knocking us forward as debris began to fall around us. Zane managed to lift me up again, running away from the shop and barely made it away before a louder boom sounded, this one rattling cars and windows around us. We fell forward from the blast, the heat searing our skin, luckily we were far enough away we hadn’t been hit with anything.
Turning over, I looked up at what had become my home, my sanctuary, the place I’d foundmyselfagain. Equinox Ink was a wall of flames, and I was suddenly grateful it was before opening. Zane pulled me to his chest, and I realized I was crying. He began to rock us back and forth, soothing us together as we sat in the middle of the road, chaos surrounding us.
“What just happened?” I croaked out, looking up at him with tear-stained eyes.
“I’m not 100% sure, but I think it was a gas leak, though I’m not sure what they used as an accelerant to start the explosion. I didn’t smell the gas though… “
“You don’t have to say that. You can saymy stalker.”
His smile was sad as he looked down at me, and he nodded, accepting I didn’t want to deny the fact this could only be his handiwork. My phone beeped, and I managed to pull it out, amazed it only had a small scratch on the screen from the fall.
There was a message, and as I read it, anger covered the fear that had been there. Psycho Thane thought he was going up against the Lennox James of old, but I wasn’t her anymore. Whether it was finally grieving Duncan, my lucky encounter with Babs, or the guys coming back into my life, I’d finally embraced who I could be. This Lennox James didn’t hide, and she most certainly didn’t bow to bullies or stalkers. I hadn’t done it as a teen, and I wouldn’t start now.
Psycho Thane thought he had me, that I would cave to his demands and fulfill his deluded fantasy.
The only thing he had was an expiration date. It was time I uncovered the imposter and took back my life.
Thane: We belong together. Don’t you see that now? Do I need to keep sending you reminders, or have you gotten the message? You’re mine.
ME: *Message failure gif*
ME: In case the GIF isn’t clear, I’ll never be yours. The only person I belong to is myself. How about you face the consequences of your actions? That would get my attention. I’m not going to play your games.
Standing up, I wobbled for a second before I steadied myself, grabbing on to Zane in front of me. Reaching for his hand, I gave him my phone to read. He gave me a curious look once he read my message, but I could also see a look of pride. Ambulances and fire trucks arrived, rushing to check us over as they attempted to put out the fire.
“Call your brother and let him know another property is on fire.”
“What are you going to do?” He asked, worried.
“I’m going to figure out a place for us to go.”
Zane smiled, kissing me on the lips, surprising me. Something on my face had him smiling as he pulled away.
