𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

Chapter 11: Smiles In The Shadows.

(TW: Violence.)

Thursday 1st January 22:38 p.m. GTM

Location: Highstreet, Nardoc

Roman's POV

Now Playing...Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell

Who's watching~

A loud smash caused me to open my eyes and push myself up with my arms leaning on them. What the fuck? Breathing quickly, I look around my room a bit startled at the sudden noise. Pushing myself up onto my knees, manoeuvring myself so I can get up off my bed. I stand up rather quickly, almost falling back down because of how quick I got up. My eyes narrowed at the lack of light in my room. Holy shit. It's dark. Extremely dark. Exiting my room I crept downstairs careful as not to make any loud noise. A light radiated from the kitchen, panic rising into my body. Why was I so panicked? It could be someone who lives in this apartment. Fucking hell. You're so overly paranoid. It's pathetic. Pathetic Roman. Pathetic and weak. Walking over to the kitchen, I peer my head round the frame, scanning the room for anything or anyone out of the ordinary. Then I saw it. Saw them. The grey hoodie guy. Rummaging through one of the drawers. Not just any drawer. The drawer that had everyone's keys and piles of photos. A sharp strike of confusion hit me as I wondered what he was doing. What the fuck. Rage took over the whole confused feeling and any other feeling I had at this present moment. "Oi!" I yelled, the rest of my body entering the frame. He turned his head, his eyes just about seeable, filled with slight panic and something else I couldn't identify. He switched off the light on his side, shutting the drawer at the same time but shoving something in his pocket.

Tell me who's watching~

I ran towards him as he rounded the island corner, I lunged forwards hitting him in the face. He groaned in pain, tackling me onto the ground as I clawed at his hoodie. My back collided with the cold marble floor. I hissed in pain as I dag my nails into his clothed shoulders. Fuck. He was a lot bigger than me. I kneed him in the groin, his grip loosening as he hissed in pain. I used this to my advantage, flipping him onto his back as I straddled his hips, wrapping my hands around his throat and applying pressure. His hood came down after I flipped him onto his back. I could see what he looked like now. He had dark brunette hair, not too short nor too long. His eyes were chocolate brown. His beard not fully covering his chin or his lower face just covering the sides. I started to put more pressure against his throat, almost cutting off his breathing as he gripped my forearms tightly. Breathing through strangled breaths. He gripped my shirt, pulling me forwards and bashing me on the face. My grip on his neck going as I felt a sharp pain in my nose. Ah fuck. He pushed me off of him as we both heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Before I had the chance to move he grabbed me hiding behind the kitchen island as my back was pressed against him with one of his hands around my mouth to stop me from making any noise and his other arm around my waist stopping me from moving. A minute or so passed before the kitchen light went on, making it known that someone else was there. Always me. Fuck sake. My hands wrap around his wrist of the hand that was covering my mouth as my fingers dug into his wrist. The man turned his head towards the entrance of the kitchen. Trying to listen for any footsteps. A few minutes passed before the light switched off. Footsteps fading. The man rested his head on the back of the kitchen island. Letting out a heavy breath.

Who's watching me~

His hand never left my mouth or my waist. "Don't make any noise or I swear you'll regret it." he growled into my ear, removing his warm hand from my mouth. I wanted to make some sort of loud noise but I physically couldn't. It was like my voice had stopped working. Maybe it was the panic I felt or maybe it was the warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don't know what that warm feeling was but it wasn't bad. Even though their was a mysterious man in my fucking apartment. What the hell is wrong with me? The silence was loud. He just watched me for any sudden movements. I could feel his gaze set on me. My body felt stiff. It was like I stared at medusa and had been converted to stone. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! Roman you stupid twat. Stop being so sensitive and weak. A sudden movement brought me out of my thoughts. He was slowly releasing his arm from my waist. After he let go of me. I still felt stiff. Shit. I felt movement behind me. I heard some shuffling behind me. I heard the man's voice again. "Just for caution." he muttered and the next thing I felt was a hard object hit the side of my head, crashing into the cold surface. My eyes became fuzzy. I felt him grab my chin moving my face towards him. "Sleep well, Schöner." he said, with a low chuckle. Then. Darkness.

I'm just an average man with an average life~

I don't know how long it's been but I slowly open my eyes to bright lights and some of the people in my apartment surrounding me. I shift, attempting to sit up but bring one my hands to the back of my head at the sudden sharp pain. "Woah slow down Roman." my eldest brother Russell spoke, kneeled beside me with one hand on my back for support. Blair was on the other side of me, her hand on my shoulder. Vincent was nowhere to be seen. Odd. I groaned at the throbbing pain at the back of my head. "What happened?" Blair asked, concerned. I brought my attention towards her slightly off focus. "Uhm..." I started, rubbing the back of my head lightly. I stopped, trying to remember what happened. "Right, questions later. First I'm taking you to the hospital." Russell broke in, steadily lifting me up. I felt a bit wobbly as the pain became worse when I stood up. A sharp pain going up to the back of my head. I hissed out in pain, rubbing the back of my head again. Blair looked at the back of my head. Her response being an audible gasp. "Roman. What the hell?! There's blood streaming down your neck." she shrieked, my face laced with panic as I took my hand from the back of my head for it to be covered in blood.

I work from 9 to 5, hey hell, I pay the price~

I looked towards Russell in an urge of panic. He stared at my hand in slight panic and distress with a hint of fury. "Right, we better get going." breathed out trying to keep his composer. He kept a hold of me to keep me walking steadily as I kept one hand on the back of my head. Still having throbbing pain in the back of my head. Fucking hell. I couldn't properly remember what happened other than small bits that replayed in my mind. We were leaving the apartment. Only Russell came with me as he didn't know where Vincent was. Which was unlike him. Very unlike him. Maybe he's just still asleep. I mean it's still a bit dark outside. I brushed it off as nothing as me and Russell got into the elevator. As the elevator was dead silent. Russell spoke up after the long silence. "Where were you..after the argument?" he asked, a bit weary. I hesitated not knowing how to answer and what his reaction would be. "I just want to know you were safe is all. I know right now may not be a great time but I ju-" he began to ramble on and I cut him off. "Mark's." I muttered, the pain making it difficult to concentrate on the current conversation. He stayed silent for a moment. I grew weary. Did that upset him?

All I want is to be left alone, in my average home~

"I see, glad to know you were somewhere safe" he said, smiling towards me slightly. I smiled back. That was nice to hear from Russell. Especially with his protectiveness. Due to...previous. Issues. But we're not gonna go into that. The elevator made a dinging noise and then the doors opened. Me and Russell made our way outside, towards his car. Once we were inside his car. Russell's phone started ringing. Vincent was calling him. "Oh my gosh vince. I can't" he said the gritted teeth and put his phone in his pocket. I stared out the window, the pain getting increasingly worse. He started his car reversing out of his parking spot and going onto the main road. Halfway there I fell asleep despite the immense pain I was in. Once we got there, the cool breeze of the outside air disturbed me from my sleep. I made a muffled groan and felt myself get lighter. I opened my eyes a bit as it was very bright now. Russell is carrying me. He didn't look at me once so I just closed my eyes again and tried to empty my head.

But why do I always feel~

I had a huge worry about going into hospitals however. "Okay Roman, I know you don't like hospitals and neither do I but you have to resist any urge. I know it may be difficult but you've done it once you can do it again." he explained, my eyes opening again to look up at him, for him to be looking at me. I knew exactly what he meant and why he said it. I muttered a small 'mhm' in response before wrapping one of my arms around his neck holding onto his other shoulder. Despite my blurry vision. We got into the hospital reception and the first thing I could smell was the rusty scent of blood. It was so strong and hit my nose like a brick. Don't do anything Roman. No matter how much you want to. I must keep control.

Like I'm in the Twilight Zone?~