Dana

Chapter Nine

Oh God, I couldn't breathe. Two attacks within two days? That was a record.

"Dana, breathe. Goddamn it not again," said a deep voice next to my ear.

How did Jared always manage to show up out of nowhere?

"You'll be alright Dana, come on, in through your nose."

A hand rubbed my back.

Stellar. She was actually worried about me. Don't worry Stellar, I'm not going to die, I wanted to tell her but I was too busy choking and wheezing.

"Fuck come on, inhale and exhale."

I glanced up at him and wanted to tell him to stop swearing.

He was kneeling before me on the floor, hair slightly disheveled and eyes wide. He looked... concerned.

Well of course he's concerned, they're going to exchange you for their money. If something happens to you, well you get the point.

Everything was spinning and I was suffocating. I closed my eyes. It was too much.

"No! Open your Goddamn eyes, open them," Jared growled while gripping my arm firmly.

I shook my head, not willing to watch as the world tilted around me. I was gasping for breath. Another wave of panic washed over me as Stellar's words replayed in my head.

A prostitute. God, please no!

"Open. Your. Eyes." Jared's low and patient tone surprised me. It was so strange to hear him speak without yelling or growling. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Good, now look at me. Look at my eyes. And breathe. You're fine."

And I looked at him, my eyes sweeping over his face taking in his features; his eyes, his nose, his lips. The jaw and chin covered in light stubble. The three creases on his forehead.

And I breathed. In and out. I breathed deeply and sagged with exhaustion. He had his hand circled around my arm, preventing me from collapsing on the floor. I was so tired all of a sudden.

He really knew how to help someone during a panic attack.

"Oh my God, Dana I thought you were dying! But you're okay-"

Jared cut Stellar off, "did you take her to the others yet?" He was back to using that harsh tone, all patience gone.

"Umm, that's actually what I was talking to her about, when she just stopped breathing," Stellar mumbled like she was in trouble or something.

Jared looked pissed off. Standing up, he turned back to me, opening his mouth to say something but I spoke before he could.

"Jared, I can't do what you want me to, I can't okay, I'm not going to become a prostitute. No freaking way."

"You don't get a fucking choice, so I suggest you get your shit together, if you want to survive here," he said, his tone dangerously low.

The thought of staying in this damned place for a long period of time actually made me want to scoop out my own eyeballs, I got claustrophobic and nauseous when I thought about it.

"Chris, tell Marcus to meet me out front," he ordered the dark haired guy leaning against the wall casually, looking bored. I hadn't noticed him before, he must've come with Jared.