Crawl To Me

25 - Actions Of Fury

Jacklyn

He has different shades of anger. His grip tightens on my cheeks, forcing a hiss of pain out of me. I grab his arm, desperately trying to push him away, but the more I resist, the stronger his hold becomes. His eyes burn with fury, leaving me powerless to break free. Tears well up in my eyes, spilling over from the pain and fear clawing at me. Summoning my courage, I meet his enraged gaze and plead softly,

"You're hurting me, Ren."

Instantly, his eyes soften. He releases me, running a hand through his hair in frustration as he steps back. I remain rooted in place, staring at him. Though his expression has changed, his body remains taut with tension. Words escape me, and I'm too frightened to move. How am I supposed to understand what's going on with him when every second he's a whirlwind of thoughts, emotions, and actions?

He moves closer, placing a hand on the doorframe, leaning just beside my head. I can feel his presence looming over me, but I don't dare meet his eyes. Slowly, he lifts his hand, attempting to touch me, but I push it away without looking up. He tries again, and I push him back a second time.

A deep sigh escapes him, and in a swift motion, he pins my hands behind me with one hand while the other forces me to look at him. I freeze under his touch, words failing us both. The air between us is heavy with unsaid questions, unresolved emotions, and suppressed feelings. The situation makes it impossible to speak, let alone process what's happening.

His grip softens, his touch suddenly tender, and his gaze-no longer burning with anger-holds a gentleness that leaves me breathless. The fear pounding in my chest melts away, replaced by a warmth I can't explain. He leans closer, his lips hovering near mine, ready to close the distance.

But-

A knock at the door shatters the moment. I flinch at the sound, but he stiffens, frustration flashing across his face. With a sharp exhale, he punches the doorframe beside my head, the sound reverberating through the room. Releasing my hands, he takes a step back, tension radiating from him.

I gulp down a shaky breath and move to open the door. It's Jeremiah, his expression filled with concern as his eyes scan my face.

"Everything okay, baby? You look pale. What happened?"

I glance over my shoulder at Ren, whose unreadable expression mirrors my own turmoil. Jeremiah follows my gaze, his demeanor shifting as he narrows his eyes at Ren.

"What happened?" Jeremiah demands, his tone deep and firm.

Ren stands there, silent and unsure of how to respond.

"Nothing, Jerry. N-nothing happened," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jeremiah's gaze sharpens as he looks back at me. "Go to your room. I'll bring you some lunch."

I hesitate, casting one last glance at Ren, who meets my eyes with an intensity that makes my heart race. Overwhelmed, I turn and rush to my room, the weight of everything crashing over me.