Subterranean | H.S.

S10

2/2 of the double update

Persephone's pov

''Hello, Persephone.'' He says, looking straight at me.

''This is not happening.'' I say, a little too loud.

My eyes run over the space, searching for a gun. I don't see it on the bed, I don't see it on the table and I don't see the object in his hand. It doesn't mean it's not somewhere in here.

''Is something wrong, Phee?'' Arnie gets up from bed and walks to me, wrapping his arms around my hips. I take him up and wrap my arms around him and take a step back with him in my arms. I make eye contact with the man on the bed.

''Everything's fine.'' I murmur. Arnie wraps his arms around my neck.

''Harry said he's your friend.'' Little boy look at the man sitting on the bed. Harry smiles at him and closes his book, leaving it beside him.

Was he reading to him?

''That's what he told you?'' A tear falls down my cheek. I put my hand on Arnie's neck and hide his face, pressing my cheek against his.

He gets up from the bed and I walk back.

I'm absolutely terrified.

I never wanted him to step into this room. This was supposed to be Arnie's safe space. He was never supposed to be here. He was supposed to stop harassing me. He's always showing in my working space. I thought I made it obvious. My only purpose in here was to take care of Arnie and I failed.

''What do you want?'' My voice is shaky.

He stops right in front of me. I'm trying to protect Arnie, and make it less scary for him by holding him. I wrap myself even tighter around his body.

''I want to talk.'' His tone sounds serious and by the way, he is standing I can tell he's really confident. He knows he's stronger than me and he has power over my body.

He knows he's intimidating.

My eyes jump in between his, looking at his pupils and trying to find a lie.

He hasn't done anything triggering since I came in here, which makes me feel even more on edge. ''I don't trust you enough to be in the same room as him.'' I say as quietly as I can, knowing it's impossible for Arnie not to hear it.

One more tear falls from my eye and I watch him slowly following the dropping tear.

With an open mouth, I stare at him. 

Does he know what he's doing?

''We can walk and talk outside if it makes you feel better.'' He answers me, pressing his lips together. For some reason, I look at his hands, full of rings, pressed to the sides of his thighs.

I nod my head and I see as he leaves the room, turning around to look at me. ''I'll be waiting down the hall.'' And after that, he's gone.

I let out the air that I'd been holding the whole time.

I wipe the tears away and put the little boy on his bed. ''Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?'' I hold his face, looking for injuries.

''No, he was reading to me.'' He takes his book back into his tiny hands. ''Will you read to me now, please?'' He hands me the book and I hear my heart break, knowing I have to leave again to go talk to Harry.

''I have to talk to him. I'll come back to give you the drip and then I'll read to you, okay?'' I take his hand as he says a little 'yes'.

I don't know how I'm supposed to act. I don't know if my mind's going to work properly. I'm so lost. I just want to go home.