Sanctuary [h.s.]

Chapter Sixteen

"Baby, you don't gotta fight

I'll be here 'til the end of time

Wishing that you were mine."

***

It had been several days since I last saw Harry, and his absence gnawed at me more than I cared to admit. The last time we were together, he had been in a strange, almost unsettling state. His usual charm and wit were muted, replaced by a brooding silence that left me feeling uneasy. Ever since he saw the markings on his back, it was as if something within him had shifted, a switch flipped, illuminating shadows he wasn't yet ready to share with me. Despite his reticence, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him to suffer alone.

Today, with a rare pocket of free time, I decided it was the right moment to reach out. I'd given him enough space, or at least I hoped I had. So, I picked up my phone and called him, suggesting we go out for a bit. The plan was to meet at his place and take a bus together to our destination, hoping a change of scenery might do him some good.

Olivia, as usual, had been buried in work. Her absences at home were more frequent these days, and during her rare moments of free time, she wasn't around much either. It was almost comical, the way she sneaked around like a lovestruck teenager. I had my suspicions that a guy was behind her mysterious disappearances, but she hadn't shared any details with me yet. Her coy smiles and mysterious phone calls were telltale signs of a blossoming romance, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and curiosity about this secret affair of hers.

After spending some time carefully applying makeup and changing into a breezy floral dress, I stepped out into the sweltering June heat of London. The afternoon sun blazed overhead, and the city was alive with the sounds of traffic and the buzz of people going about their day. A slight breeze ruffled the hem of my dress as I hailed a cab to take me to Harry's place. The journey was short, the familiar streets passing by in a blur of colours and motion.

When I arrived, I found myself standing outside his door, my tote bag hanging lightly from my shoulder. The building loomed quietly, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves as a gentle breeze swept through the street. I knocked on the door and waited, listening for any signs of movement from within. As the seconds ticked by, my patience settled into a quiet calm.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a stray orange cat padding along the pavement, its fur bright against the dull grey of the concrete. The cat paused when it saw me, letting out a soft meow that seemed to echo in the stillness. Without thinking, I knelt down slowly, extending my hand toward the little creature, beckoning it closer with a gentle smile.

The cat hesitated, its green eyes fixed on me as it took tentative steps forward. Just as it was nearly within reach, a familiar voice cut through the quiet.

"What a delectable little pet," Harry's voice remarked, his tone casual yet carrying a weight that seemed to crash over the scene like a wave. To the skittish cat, it must have sounded like the crack of thunder.

The poor creature's fur bristled, and with a startled hiss, it darted away, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as it had appeared.

I straightened up, brushing off the skirt of my dress before crossing my arms over my chest.

"Oh, now look, you've scared off the little snack," Harry said, his voice dripping with a teasing nonchalance that only served to underline the wicked glint in his red eyes.

I gasped, feigning shock, and gave his arm a light, playful smack. "Harry! You wouldn't... You couldn't possibly eat a cat, could you?" My voice carried a hint of disbelief, though with Harry, the line between joke and truth was often blurred.