𝐀 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 (𝐛𝐱𝐛)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭

"Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces."
― Richard Kadrey, Kill the Dead

"Hello, Darling."

I feel my breath quicken. Slowly, I look behind me afraid of I would see.
And there he is, he looks almost the same, only his beard grew a bit. His creepy smile on his face, which still haunts my dreams sometimes.

"Derek.", I speak in a hushed whisper and he leans in.
"Mhmmm, I missed your voice. Screaming my name.", he speaks, smirking devilishly. I'm too scared to move.
"We are in public he wouldn't do anything here, right?", my line of thought is interrupted by the woman standing in the booth.

"Sir, what would you like to order?", she asks me but nothing comes out of my mouth.
"I'm sorry my boyfriend is still a bit shaken up from the rollercoaster ride.", Derek speaks with a charming look.
"Oh, you are such a sweet couple. What can I get you two, lovebirds?".
I feel his grip tighten on my waist.

"Yeah, we love each other very much. I would like a water and an Ice Tea Lemon. Thank you.", Derek still looks at me smiling making me what to puke. I shoot him a hard glare making him frown. He takes the drinks and pays the lady.
"Here, that is your favourite.", he hands me the Ice tea but I slap it out of his hands.

I realise my mistake the second after because his carefree happy attitude is gone and is now replaced with one of anger.
I take a step back but he takes two forward.
"Darling, that wasn't very nice. I bought it only for you. Don't you appreciate my thoughtfulness? Once a brat, always a brat I guess.", Derek speaks with the same wicked smile. I don't know what to say as he stands directly before me taking my chin into his fingers.
"Your skin is still so soft.", he whispers stroking my cheek.
I shut my eyes painfully tight but in his presence I feel so weak.
Suddenly we hear a shout and then Derek is gone. I open my eyes to see my saviour, Casey.

"Get away from my friend you fucking pervert.", she shouts rather loudly, catching the attention of the people around us.
"Tsk. Well, we have to cut our date short. See you, Darling.", Derek winks at me before taking his leave.
"Do you know this asshole?", Casey ask taking her eyes away from Derek's retreating form to look at me.
"Ash? Are you okay? Did that bastard hurt you?", I feel my knees buckle.
"I-....l..", I try to explain but nothing comes out of my mouth.
"Shit. Hey Ash, look at me. We will get back to the others and then I will bring you home okay? Sound good?", I slowly nod my head at her words.

She leads me back to the table where the others are laughing about something Mike said.
"There are you guys, what took you so-", Elijah doesn't finish his question as he sees us.
"Baby! What happend?", he takes me from Casey arms to sit me down on the bench.
"Baby, Talk to me. Is it your wound? Are you hurt?", I doesn't  answer his question.

Instead I let myself fall into his chest and put my arms around him, trying to control my breathing.
He is tense at first but quickly hugs me back.
"Do you know what's wrong?", Mike asks his sister.
"There was some creep touching him against his will. I think he knew Ash. The last thing he said was "See you, Darling.", Casey tells them what happened.

"WHAT?", Nick exclaims loudly.
"Oh, where is that asshole? I'm GOING TO KILL HIM.", Nick rolls his sleeves up but Ty stops him, shaking his head.
"He is probably already gone. We should call Jack.", he says and to others he may look calm but as his best friend I can see the anger lining in his eyes.
"What? Who's is this person?", Eli asks Nick and Tyler with a worried look.
They both look at me and I nod.
"His name is Derek. Ash's Ex-Boyfriend.", Nick speaks more calm this time but still with gritted teeth.
I feel Eli's arms tighten around me.
"Really? He looked older than us.", Cas asks and I put my face back in Elijah's chest, embarrassed.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Let's go home.", she announces, stroking my back. We start to walk back to the car but Levi stays behind his hands in tight fists, fuming with anger.