The Pole Dancer

Chapter 21

A/N

Warning! This chapter describes domestic violence, like emotional and physical abuse. It may be hard to read for people who have been through this.

"Jen... What... What happened to you?" Nikki stares worriedly at Jenice.

The brunette has a big bruise on her cheek, her lower lip is split, the wound is already starting to heal. And another bruise on the forehead.
She has a reluctant look, looking like a jar full of anxiety, quickly stealing glances left and right, looking behind Nikki.

He winces when she pulls him into the house, slamming the door, locking it and bolting it, looking reluctantly at the window.

Jenice looks scared to death.
And Nikki feels like Jenice's losing her mind.

"Jen..." He approaches her again. "What happened? Who did this to you?" The last question is offered with a slightly raised voice.

"It was..." It's so hard for Jenice to talk. She has not slept or eaten for several days. She has fluffy eyes and huge dark circles. She looks in so much distress, Nikki has never seen her in this state. "It was... It was him," she looks at him with eyes full of uncertainty and fear. "Paul... He did it..."

Nikki is dumbfounded. His face falls and he turns his head towards the window, with the thought of rushing out, getting into the car and following that bastard's footsteps and teaching him a lesson he will never forget.

However, Jenice's touch calms him down, the brunette softly grasping his arm.

"I'm sorry that I vanished like that," she whispers desolately. "I shouldn't have. I shouldn't speak like that with you in that day. I am sorry. But I was scared... He... He threatened that he would not only hurt me. That he will look for you and destroy you too. Sandra, Lily or whoever would help me get rid of him. It seems that he saw us in newspapers and magazines together. And this is where his obsession with chasing after us started. It seems he started with me..." Jenice seems to be running out of air.

"Oh... Hold on, babe," Nikki lays his hands on her shoulders and pushes her onto a couch over there, both of them sitting down. "Tell me what exactly happened. Why did he come after you? What he wants?"

"He's just nuts," she sighs. "I don't think I will ever get rid of him in this life. Anyway..." The brunette takes a deep breath.

"Flashback starts..."

"Sarah, baby? It's time to take a bath," Jenice calls after her daughter, she has a towel in her hand and heads to the bathroom, and turns on the faucet in the bathtub.

"Coming, mommy!"

As water rustles, there is a knock on the door. Jenice turns off the tap and walks slowly towards the hall. Who could be at such a late hour? Is it Nikki? Did he come back?

Sarah follows behind her, Jenice not hearing her steps. There is another knock on the door.

Jenice glances out the window. Somehow, the person in question is standing so close to the door that the young woman can't see his face. Something entices her senses, to think that it is not Nikki. It doesn't seem to be him, having a different stature.

"Who is there?" She asks, waiting to hear a voice she would acknowledge. But this time too, nothing is heard.

"Who is it, mommy?" Sarah asks curiously, tilting her head.