AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But that’s not the only thing I’m crushed with. There’s also his presence. I thought he was tall earlier, but now, he’s towering over me, easily pinning me in place with his sheer size and those broad shoulders that no teenager should have.
His fingers brush through my hair and I’m pretty sure it’s about to catch fire and we’ll have an actual witch accident on our hands.
“Is it natural?” he asks whimsically, sounding utterly fascinated with the mere act of having his fingers in my hair.
I jerk back, startled. “Don’t touch me.”
To my surprise, he drops his hand to his side. He doesn’t take it as a challenge to his masculinity like the Joker did.
And that makes my muscles lock together.
I can deal with assholes, but how do I deal with assertive ones who flip between respecting my boundaries and crushing them on a whim?
There’s no pattern to his madness and that’s the most dangerous thing about this stranger.
“You still need to spend time with me. That, or the basement.”
“I want it to be in a public place.” If I can’t control the situation, then I can at least strive for the next best thing—a place where I can create commotion and escape.
“Afraid I’ll pounce on you?”
“It’s just insurance.”
“You’re in no position to ask for any insurance, but I’ll be benevolent and grant you that wish if you answer my question.”
“What?”
“When he”—Anonymous cocks his head in the Joker’s direction but doesn’t look at him—“had the power over you, why did you provoke him? Logically, you should’ve begged.”
“Logically, that wouldn’t have gotten me anywhere. How many women do you think begged and cried in situations like that and still got assaulted? Countless is the answer. I refuse to show that scum or any other jerk weakness.”
“Even if you get hurt for it?”
“Especially then. I’d rather swallow my poison.”
There’s a pause, a long one that nearly makes me fidget, before he releases a humming sound. “Interesting. Maybe you really are a femme fatale. You should be careful, though. If you gaze into an abyss for long, the abyss gazes into you.”
My lips part. “Nietzsche.”
“Beyond Good and Evil.” He motions at his pocket. “You have the quote on the back of your phone case.”
“It’s a favorite of mine. How do you know Nietzsche?”
“That should bemyquestion. Aren’t you too young to read him?”
“Aren’t you too quick to assume I’m young?”
“How old are you then? Oh, forgive me. I forgot that it’s a blasphemy to ask the age of a woman, not to mention a femme fatale.”
I smile despite myself. Then I quickly hide it.
I can’t be fooled by his obvious manners or his eloquent way of speaking. It’s how the rich get what they want.
Besides, he just knocked someone out, which means he’s prone and used to violence.
Definitely not someone I should allow myself to get comfortable in the presence of.
“I’m sixteen,” I say, all businesslike, and it’s not only because of what Caroline told me. Being young is a vulnerability where I come from. “How about you?”
