READ THE WARNING

Chapter 17

!TW!~ Stalking, mentioning of r*pe, fighting, mild gore, very brief mild mentioning of alcohol, mention of domestic violence, very brief implication of pictures (if you know what i mean)

It was six thirty and Alex was getting ready to leave work. The day had, for once, been a bit normal. His closet had been open this morning, but other than that, nothing had happened.

"Bye, guys." He said, walking to the door.

"Bye, be careful." Said Marina.

"Goodnight." Said Shawn.

Alex started walking home. It was getting dark fast, he'd have to try to hurry.

Walking down the sidewalk, he noticed someone seemed to be following him. He tried to ignore them, knowing he was probably wrong and the two of them were just going in the same direction, but he couldn't help feeling unnerved.

He grabbed his phone to text Caroline, saying he was on his way home. He glanced at the ground beside him and saw the person's shadow, much closer than before. Alex picked up his pace.

He was getting close to his neighbourhood, where not many people lived anymore. Soon, he'd be out of sight of everyone. He would know whether or not the person was following him once he reached his neighbourhood, but he knew it wouldn't matter then. He wanted to try to lose whoever it was, but there weren't really many ways he could think of to do that.

Very suddenly someone walked up beside him and touched his shoulder. Alex jumped and looked up faster than he meant.

"Do you know this person?" Asked Erebus, gesturing to the person behind Alex.

Alex looked back. The person was wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled out far enough to shadow his face, but there were more recognizable things about him than just his face, at least to Alex. Alex had seen every small part of this man's body at some point, he could recognize him easily. He felt sick to his stomach.

"Of course he does." Said Adam, looking at Erebus, his anger radiating off his body, despite his calm demeanor. "I'm his boyfriend."

"No, you're not." Said Alex, moving closer to Erebus.

Adam looked back at Alex. His eyes bore into Alex's soul. He used to look at Alex like this whenever he did something he didn't like. Mostly when he fought back, and in the past, he scared Alex enough to make him listen, but not anymore. Adam had no control over Alex.

"I didn't think he was." Said Erebus. "Mister, I'd like you to kindly fuck off and leave this man alone."

Adam was completely ready to fight, Alex could tell. His eyes were blazing and his hands were shaking.

"Mind your business." Said Adam. "He's not yours to protect. He's mine to have."

"Not anymore." Said Erebus, smiling. "If I remember correctly, he left your abusive rapist ass to rot alone. It's been a year, how pathetic are you to still be after the same person who so obviously doesn't want you?"

"Shut the fuck up, you don't know shit about me!" Shouted Adam. "Get away from us before I rip you to shreds in front of him!"

"Try." Erebus dared. Adam was ready to attack him, but suddenly stopped. Erebus hadn't done anything to him this time, something had just crossed his mind. Smiling, Adam lowered his fist and turned back to Alex, ignoring Erebus.

Alex didn't try to move. He stood tall beside Erebus, not anywhere near as scared of Adam as he was before. What could Adam do? People could still see them, Adam would be caught and probably arrested if he tried anything right now.