Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 81

***TRIGGER WARNING- Violence mentions***

Mira Lynne just returned from work. She opened the door and locked it behind her.

"Hey Cat! I'm back." She went into her room to change. Coming back out, she continued the conversation. "Work was crazy tonight. We hardly had any breaks. It was insane. How was your day?"

"My day was pretty good. AJ sent me the rough cut of what we filmed yesterday to see how it was looking," Cat said, standing up.

"Awesome. Can't wait to see it!" She walked into the kitchen to get a water bottle. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet. I was just about to grab some food."

Mira Lynne walked back to the living room with Cat. "We can make something here or I can run out. What would you rather?"

"Let's make something here. We have stuff to make. No need to head out."

"Okay. What are you in the mood for? I Can make my famous mac and cheese, and we can do some pork chops with it. What do you think?"

"Oh, I haven't had your mac and cheese in ages. Could we have that tonight?" She smiled.

Mira Lynne smiled back. "Of course! Is the pork okay, or would you rather something else?"

"The pork sounds wonderful."

"Alright! Want to come into the kitchen with me and keep me company?"

"Yes I would!" They both walked into the kitchen.

Mira Lynne got the ingredients out for dinner.

"Sorry I couldn't be there to help with the dinner rush." She said quietly.

"Hey," Mira Lynne put down the knife she had been using and put her hand on Cat's. "None of that. You need to keep yourself safe. We will manage without you."

"I know... I just miss it, I guess. I used to hate the dinner rush because I'd be so stressed out, but now... I don't know..." She said.

"I know. I get it. You miss it." She smiled. "Just know this will all be done soon and you can be back to the stress." She continued cutting.

"Yeah. I'm glad Gwen offered me a job. I didn't just want to stay here all day. I needed a way to chip in."

"You know I wouldn't have minded. I have plenty of savings—"

"No. I'm going to chip in around here. I can't be dead weight on you. You've done so much for me already," she said.

"That's what friends do. We help out when and where we can."

"Yes. Which is why I want to pay you back in some way."

"Fair enough." She turned and put the pot of water on the stove. "Laney was asking about you. I told her we'll have to invite her over for dinner after this is all over."

Cat noticed that Mira Lynne was speaking as if Cat was going to stay there after the whole Damien issue was taken care of.

Cat raised a brow. "Mira Lynne..." She was unsure how to approach it.

"Hmm?"

"Uhm... You're acting like... Well, you're talking about it like I'm staying..." She said carefully.

"Did I? Oh goodness! I know you're not staying, it was just a Freudian slip. I'm sorry Cat." She looked apologetic to the woman.

"It's okay! I just... I didn't really think about it until you brought it up, I guess," she said. "Do you want me to stay?"

"Honestly, it's been nice not being alone. I've lived alone for so long that I almost forgot what it was like to talk to someone other than myself here." She giggled to herself. "But I don't want you feeling obligated to stay because of that. If you want to stay, I won't mind. If you want to go back to your own apartment, I won't mind either."

"Hm... Maybe I'll think about staying." She said quietly.

"Just know the option is there."

There was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it. You focus on cooking." Cat quietly walked over and looked through the peephole.

"Hello?" An unfamiliar, yet somewhat familiar voice called out.

The peephole was dark when Cat looked through it.

"Who is it?" Cat asks.

"It's Mr. Thompson from next door. Can you open the door please, Miss?"

Cat, while hesitant, opened the door.

Damien pushes his way inside, pointing the gun at Cat and closing the door.

"Hello my Darling."

Cat choked back a scream, stepping back. Her hands went into the air.

"Thank you for letting me in. Now, where to begin." He stepped closer to Cat.

"Please don't shoot..." She whispered.

"Cat, who was—" Mira Lynne came around the corner. She stopped and froze upon seeing Damien pointing a gun at Cat.

"Mira Lynne, go back to the kitchen. Please," she said, still frozen in fear. "Damien, can we talk about this?"

Damien laughed. "You really think that will work on me? I've already shot and possibly killed two people today! I'm hoping to add a third and fourth to my list." He waved the gun over to Mira Lynne, who was still frozen.

"What... Who did you shoot..." She asked hoarsely.

"Oh, that's for me to know, my Darling." He swung the gun back to Cat. "Now... where to begin."

"Damien, please..." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "You can talk to me. We can work this out. I want to help you."

"You don't want to help me. You want to save your life and hers. Trust me. I know. I tried the same with my Uncle. He liked when I would beg and cry for him not to hit me, not to punish me. It's how I became a real man!"

"Damien, I told you a long time ago that I would help you. The first time you hit me, I told you that... Because even though you've done so much to me and my friends..." Cat drew in a deep breath. "I still love you. And I still want to help you."

"Please, no one could love me. You never loved me. No one ever has or ever will." He shook his head. "How would you even help me?"

"You could start by putting down the gun."

Damien started lowering the gun. "What else would you do?"

"I'm going to ask for the gun." Cat took a step forward, her hand out. "Damien, please, will you hand me the gun?" Her voice was gentle, as if any wrong tone would make it all go south.

Damien looked at her, then down. He started holding it out but hesitated.

Cat stayed quiet, watching the gun in his hand nervously.

He lowered it more, enough to where Cat thought he was handing it to her. She stepped forward more, reaching out. Suddenly, he grabbed her, spun her around to where her back was against him, and the gun was against her neck.