Taken In

Chapter 26

Breo's POV

Sitting legs crossed on the bed I tap my finger on my phone screen repeatedly, playing a game I saw on the App Store earlier today. A notification pops up at the top of my screen and I pause the game immediately.

"How you doin gorgeous?" -J

Reading the message I smile instantly, dropping my phone on the bed to hide my face and squeal in excitement. J makes me nervous but in a good way, and I've never had that before. Sometimes everything feels too good to be true. Ignoring my negative thoughts I pick up the phone and reply to him, giggling to myself before going back to the game I was playing before.

It's so weird to think that he likes me, "Maybe he only likes me as a friend." I say to myself out loud, trying to make sense of my thoughts. Irrespective of how he feels, the events of the last few days have made it known that I definitely don't just like him as a friend. I may not know exactly how I feel, but I'm certain I feel a lot of feelings for him, which makes things even more complicated. Identifying emotions has never been my strong suit, even with my own. For a moment I imagine what things would be like if he felt the same way towards me, smiling to myself again as I ruminate over what could be. Shaking my head I get that thought out of my mind. There's no point in hoping for something that'll never happen.

J's just being nice to me because he's a nice person, not because he likes me in any other way. His kindness is not something I could ever repay, even if I had all the money in the world. I haven't even started to process how I feel about Nathan, I can't bring J into this too. Nathan is all I know, and it's hard to let go of him even though I know I'll never go back, he'll kill me.

I nod as my inner monologue comes to an end, affirming the thoughts I believe are most rational right now.

After giving myself a headache from thinking so much, my eyes become heavy and I fall asleep, phone and pooh bear still in hand, giving up on trying to stay awake until J comes home.

~

Shouting sounds through the window and I wake up instantly, feeling a rush of fear run through me as I try to adjust to the loud sound. Instantly I reach for pooh bear, feeling grateful that I accidentally the lamp on before falling asleep. I hate the dark.

"J?" I call out to the blurry room, my glasses lost somewhere under the sheets.

Feeling around for them with my hands I find them and put them on, scanning the room again before realising that it's just me in here. I sigh and lay back in bed, J's probably not even home yet.

I hear shouting outside the window again and tense up- pausing to figure out what's going on, but there's so much noise I can't make it out. I assume a party or something is being thrown, but the lack of music makes me think otherwise. After taking some deep breaths I muster up the courage to stand up from the bed slowly, walking to the large window to the right of me.

Peering over the windows edge I freeze once I realise what's happening outside. "J?" I say out loud, hoping that I'm just seeing things and this isn't what I think it is. My hands start to shake so badly that I almost drop Pooh bear but I can't look away. I continue to watch as J repeatedly kicks a very bloody looking man who is laying on the floor, limbs splayed all over the place as he towers angrily over him.

I watch the injured man lay there lifelessly, his slumped over posture reminding me of memories I wish I could forget. The lack of remorse in J's eyes as he continues to hurt him making the bad thoughts even more vivid.

"J hurts people." I say to myself before my voice begins to tremble. Falling to the floor I cover my head with my hands immediately, rocking back and forth in an aid to soothe myself. My chest feels tight and I can barely breathe, practically choking on my own tears.

He hurts people, and I trusted him. He'll probably hurt me, I make it easy for people to hurt me, so why wouldn't he? I deserve it.

Similar thoughts echo through my mind before a vibration sounds through the room. Lifting my head up slightly I see my phone screen light up from my bed. I stand up slowly, still hiccupping from the tears coating my throat- hoping it's not who I think it is.

Peering over the foot of the bed I tap my screen, reading the message sent from an unknown number.

'Breo we just want you to be safe, come home.' - Unknown

Staring at the screen until it goes blank I stand still, trying to pull myself together enough to make a plan. I have to leave before it's too late. Familiar feelings of fear and sadness run through me as I think back to the night I left San Angelo. My heart hurts at the thought of having to do this all over again. Maybe I'm never meant to find peace.

Picking up the phone I respond immediately, assuming the message is from my dad. He's the only one who could have my number after texting my mum yesterday. For a moment I feel at ease, reading the message again in an attempt to feel like I'm less alone. He's always been kinder to me, even if he didn't show it often. Tapping on the message I press the screen to call the number, standing anxiously while it rings through to voicemail. Sighing in defeat I try the number again, I need a way to get out of here and I can't do it on my own.

A text interrupts my second call.

'We're at the Greyhound bus station, tell us where you are and we can pick you up immediately.' - Unknown

I almost become light headed from relief, I couldn't have asked for better timing- my family actually wants to help me. I can use the money have to get a taxi from here to the bus station, I just need to get out of here.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway stop me in my tracks and I freeze immediately, rushing over to my bed side table and turning off the lamp before running to the door to get my bag- too afraid to focus on coming up with an escape plan. I cover my mouth with my free hand, trying to the suppress the loud whimpers that attempt to pass my lips. If J is here I don't know what I'll do, and after seeing what he did to that man, I don't know if he'll let me leave.

The footsteps silence after what feels like hours and l lean over for a moment to let some air into my lungs, allowing myself to breathe. I rush back over to my bed, grabbing my phone before putting my jacket and shoes on- standing back at the door again.

Clutching tightly onto the door handle I pause, remembering the man who stands outside, what if J put him there so I can never leave?

The feeling of defeat spreads through me and my sobs become so intense they cause my body to jerk back and forth and my head to throb, I just want to go home. The thought of J wandering around this house with the blood of a dead man all over his hands sends shivers down my spine. He's a murderer.

Unzipping my bag slightly I pull out a familiar black and white picture, reminding myself of the consequences that come with staying behind. I have to get away from here even if it's the last thing I do.

My grip on the door knob tightens as I open it in one swift motion, getting ready to run for my life. I barely have time to process the hallway being empty before I run down the stairs as fast as I can, refusing to look back. Once on the ground floor I pause to get my bearings, intimidated by how eery J's house looks at night. A shaky breath escapes my mouth, everything hurts and I can barely breathe but I keep looking, trying to focus my vision down the dark hallway in front of me. Grateful the house is empty.

Walking hesitantly I turn and see a corner I recognise, trying to recall the route J and I take when we leave the house together. The memory of him brings tears to my eyes again but I wipe them quickly, needing to focus. I dart to the corner, beelining straight for the garage door in front of me, wasting no time in opening it.

Another wave of adrenaline hits as I notice the main garage door being open. Part of me wants to pause and make sure no one is around but I take the opportunity and don't look back. I run past the various parked cars on either side of me, sprinting to the end of the lot. I notice a light turn on in the house behind me but I don't care, swinging the side door of the main gate open- before sprinting down the street.