Saving Lexi

Chapter 4

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L: HELP 

I texted the one person whose name popped up first on my phone. Melvin Tonelli.

It was a desperate, last-ditch effort for help. If I called 911, the robbers would hear. If I screamed out the window, they would come straight to my room. 

Before I could text him to call 911, the footsteps reached my door. I gasped, slamming my hand over my mouth.

I curled into a ball and pressed as close as I could get against the wall. I shut my eyes so tight it hurt. My breaths were coming too fast now. I tried to slow them down so I didn't make noise.

I would be okay, they would take what they needed to take and they would leave. They don't have any reason to expect that anyone is home. They're not here to kill me, they just want a nice TV or family heirloom. 

The footsteps faded and I let out a shaky breath. I stayed frozen for a few more minutes as their steps approached my parent's room.

Fuck, Mom's gonna be so upset if they steal her jewelry.

After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps became louder and faster and my doorknob jiggled violently. The chair held.

"Hey!" A muffled voice yelled. "This door's locked!"

"Huh?" Another voice shouted back. "Well, well, well. Let's see. Do we have a friend in there?" 

*Knock* *knock* *knock*

Would now be an inappropriate time to shout 'Occupado!'?

Nervous laughter almost overtook me. 

"Maybe our friend has nice things in there." 

They really used the term friend loosely.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" 

It was like ice water injected into my veins. No more laughing. My entire body went numb and all I could do was stare at the underside of my bed and wait for them to open the door. It was dusty down here.

Something in that man's voice, unsettled something deep inside me.

The doorknob jiggled again, and my chair flew back, crashing to the floor. I choked on a sob and braced myself.

There was a scuffling sound, muffled grunting, and two thumps. 

The door swung open and the sound of heavy boots came closer to my bed. My breaths were coming too fast now, I couldn't control the way my chest was heaving in time with the suffocating breaths. 

Thick black boots stopped at the edge of my bed. He got on his knees, then his hands, then his head came into view.

"Lexi?" 

The view of a familiar head of curls flooded my body with relief and I burst into tears. 

It was Felix Tonelli.

***

Leo had draped a blanket around my shoulders and went to make me a cup of tea while I sat on my couch, in shock. Felix kneeled in front of me on the couch at eye level.

"Lexi, can you tell me what you're going to tell the cops?" Felix asked. Felix Tonelli was an older, taller, version of Melvin. Thick blonde curls cropped short over soft blue eyes. He had stubble where Melvin was bare-faced, but their concentrated expressions were the same.

I nodded, shakily.

"I need you to say it, sweetheart." 

"The r-robbers came in through the window, I heard the glass shatter. Then I heard a loud c-car engine outside, and I heard them get scared. Then I heard the front door open and close."