The perfect storm in a quiet room

Chapter 24

God, what do I do? What the fuck do I do?

Panic runs through my veins and invades my whole body. If I was scared of Leo before... now I'm terrified.

I don't know what to do. He keeps looking at me and smiles. I freeze and do my best to smile without it looking weird, but I don't succeed, as he frowns and looks at me like I'm a strange creature.

I stop smiling because it's not getting me anywhere and wave at him. Then I turn and keep walking as fast as my feet can.

"Hannah!" he shouts from far away.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

I can't walk and pretend I didn't hear him. It would be very rude and he already knows I saw him and he knows I know he's calling me, so I have no choice. I will have to face this situation. Why is this happening to me?

I cross the street with the knot in my stomach that has formed since I saw him. I try to hide my panicked face as I get closer to him, but it's very difficult. This guy terrifies me... and rightly so, since... I'm in front of a rapist.

The mere thought of that word sends shivers throughout my body. I wish I had never witnessed that scene. It's going to leave me with a lifelong trauma.

"Hello," I say when I'm only a few inches away from him.

"What are you doing here?" He asks with a smile... a charming smile, but I find it creepy at the same time.

"Em... nothing... just... walking," I say, avoiding eye contact with him.

He frowns and looks at me funny. Maybe he doesn't believe me? I didn't try to sound very convincing, but I didn't lie to him either—I was just walking aimlessly.

"Hey," he says as he walks over and puts a hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay? You look tense and nervous."

My skin reacts automatically to his touch and shivers. My eyes grow wide, panic takes over and my heart beats so hard that I think I'm going to have a heart attack. I've never been this scared in my life.

I take his hand off my shoulder and move a few inches away from him.

"I'm fine...just...tired. I have to... go back to my house," I say, making an effort to think clearly and formulate coherent sentences.

"I'll walk you," he quickly says with a small smile.

"It's not necessary!" I answer immediately and I think I might have sound desperate.

"Come on, let me go with you," he insists.

Shit, what the fuck do I do now? Should I run away from him? Should I let him come with me? Should I hide behind a tree? What the fuck do I do?

"No... no... no... it's not necessary," I say as I move a little further away from him and start walking, hoping he won't follow me.

Clearly today is not my lucky day, as he walks beside me and when I hurry my pace he does too. I'm very lucky.

"A girl as beautiful and sexy as you can't walk the streets alone," he says, stroking my left arm.

I don't look at him and I try not to be scared. What the fuck did he just say? What the fuck is this asshole playing at? Is he trying to seduce me? God I don't understand these people! What the fuck do they want? I've had enough.

He stops stroking my arm and I try to breathe. I breathe in, trying to calm down. I don't have to lose my sanity. He doesn't have to realize that I'm afraid of him, although of course I'm not discreet at all so I'm sure he's already realized that something is wrong with me, but what can I do? I'm with the r...I don't even want to say it. I'm with the one who did that to Casy, how am I supposed to react?