The Dead Among Us

55. Big trouble

Fabia's POV

I'm on my hands and knees, sorting through a jumble of books scattered in the corner of the basement, when I'm jolted by the thunderous thuds of someone's footsteps pounding on the floor above me.

    My head snapping up, I strain to locate the source of the undeniably angry person until they eventually reach the basement door, which emits a spine-chilling creak as it swings open.

    The raucous thumps persist as whoever it is descends the steps, causing the floor beneath me to tremble.

    Before I can even attempt to rise, Sabin suddenly materializes at the base of the stairs, startling me.

    The sight of his crooked, angry eyes, his jaw twitching with barely contained fury, and his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides sends my heart pounding. He's still clad in his familiar leather jacket and rugged brown boots.

    His words erupt from his mouth, dripping with hostility, "Get your ass over here!" as he points right in front of him at the floor.

    I freeze, my eyes widening as I'm washed with simmering dread. I remain crouched on the ground, my hands pressed against the wooden floor, poised to bolt if necessary.

    "Now!" he bellows, his teeth snarling.

    I scramble to my feet at his harsh tone, cautiously inching closer to him while instinctively maintaining a safe few feet of distance between us. All I can think of at that moment is that the old Sabin is back.

    "Kneel," he grits from his throat, and I obey, dropping my head to the floor along with my bent knees.

    As he steps closer, my first instinct is to jump up and run. But like a good submissive slave, I find myself turning into...I stay... Or maybe I just don't want to make the situation worse for myself... I can't tell at this point.

    When I see his boots appear in my shaky line of sight, I close my eyes.

     "You lied to me, Fa," he accuses lowly.

    My head lifts, swaying fervently from side to side. "I didn't! What was it that I lied about?" The dryness of my voice betrays the fear that grips me as it escapes my lips.

    "So you apologized, and Jessica's lying?"

    As much as I want to throw the blame on her, my body language betrays me. My mouth opens to defend myself, but nothing spills out but silent admission. As hard as I want to bob my head up and down and proclaim, "Yes, she's a liar!" my head does the opposite; it subtly shakes left and right. 

    I kneel there in a trance. The pleas of mercy I'm only able to muster are solely shining in my eyes.

    "YES OR NO?!?!" he screams, and I flinch, dropping my head. I hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down my face until I caught sight of the droplets splattering onto the floor beneath me.

    "No," I confess, sucking in a breath of shaky air. "I'm so—"

    He reaches out, his fingers curling tightly around the nape of my neck, compelling me to rise to my feet. The pressure he's applying makes me immediately cry out, and my hands fly over his giant one.

    Dragging me like that, he treks up the stairs, and once he reaches the top, he shoves me forward, finally releasing his grasp.

    "Walk home!"

    I run.

    In the yard, I glance back. He's right behind me, walking at a steady but angry pace.