𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄

ᴇɴᴛʀʏ #55 | ᴅᴇᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ

055 | Deplete

When the night of the art show rolled around, (Y/N) and Amar were able to use Shreya's car to drive themselves to the school since she already had something prior to do, apologizing profusely that she couldn't make it. They both kept reassuring her that it was alright, but Shreya still had a guilty expression on her face when they left.

"You have your keys and license?" Amar asked as he slid into the passenger's side.

"Yep," she answered as she started the car, making sure to adjust all the mirror and her seat as need be. "By the way, can we stop somewhere real quick?"

"Yeah, sure. Where?"

"Kana's. She just got discharged from the hospital yesterday, and before we have to go to school, I want to see her," she said while backing out of the driveway to then accelerate down the street, missing the way Amar quieted at her suggestion. "That's why we're leaving the house so early and why I brought that gift basket."

Amar glanced behind him in the backseat where (Y/N) had gestured with her head, his brows furrowing the longer he stared.

Since he was being a bit more quiet than usual to (Y/N), she resorted to turning on the radio to fill the silence. It wasn't long before she reached Kana's house by traveling the familiar road it took to get there, unbuckling her seatbelt and grabbing the gift basket before running up the porch and ringing the doorbell. Fidgeting with her hands, her heartbeat quickening since she was excited about seeing her friend again, she smiled warmly when Kana's parents opened the door.

"Oh?" Kana's mother seemed surprised to see her there. "(Y/N)? What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Philípe. I just came to check on how Kana's doing... and to give you this," she answered whilst handing the woman the gift basket, watching as she exchanged a glance with her husband. "She was discharged yesterday, right?"

"Y-Yes, and I don't think now's the right time to see her," Mr. Philípe mumbled as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Sorry, dear," his wife agreed with a tight smile. "Maybe... maybe next time..."

With that, the two closed the door behind them, leaving (Y/N) in a quiet stupor. She had always known Kana's parents to be joyful people, but right then, it was obvious that something was bothering them. That something included Kana, her friend, and that worried her. But she'd have to wait before investigating. Letting out a small exhale of breath, she walked back down the front steps and toward the car, getting in and gripping the steering wheel tight. She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling about the night to come, and the way Kana's parents were acting only fueled that feeling.

"Were you able to see her?" Amar asked quietly whilst looking out the window.

"No," she mumbled in answer. "It's fine, though. I guess I was too hasty in wanting to see her again."

I hope she's okay...

I really, really do...

Starting the car, (Y/N) and Amar continued their drive toward the school with the radio once more being the only noise in the silence stretched from between the two. When pulling up into the parking lot, getting out to then enter the building, they immediately saw Mr. Möller frantically running around setting up chair, decorations, checking snacks, informing students on where they would be and how they should present their project, etc. He looked like a headless chicken, yet he didn't once slow down.

When Mr. Möller saw (Y/N) and Amar standing there, he instantly swept them up in helping him, separating the two, and leading the former to the rather empty art room in hopes of grappling with some larger supplies to bring back to the auditorium. Grunting from the effort, she was just about to give up and go find help when someone stepped in and lifted the rather heavy material.

"Thank yo—" she cut herself when seeing who it was. "Oh... Nicolai."

"It's no problem," he muttered as he started tying the pieces together.

She was a bit hesitant to stay in the same space as him, especially after what he had confessed to her, but since she needed the help with Mr. Möller running around everywhere, she decided not to dwell on past subjects and instead focus on her work. With Nicolai helping her, she was able to get through what Mr. Möller had asked of her ten times faster, and when they finished, a sense of accomplishment washed through her.

It was nice.

Relaxing.

Peaceful.

Then that peace was broken just as quickly when she turned toward Nicolai and saw the way he was staring at her—as if she were something special that only he could lay eyes on.

"You look beautiful..." he mumbled out as he took in the simple black dress that she had chosen to don that evening.

"Uh, thanks..." she trailed off, uneasy.

"Do you know the courage that I worked up to see you today?" He asked as he took a step closer, his jaw tightening when she in turn took a step back. "Do you know the lengths I would go for you? The things that I'd do for you? Even now, I can see that you're scared... but you don't have to be since I absolutely adore you, (Y/N)."

Thoroughly unnerved at that point, (Y/N) moved to leave only to be stopped when he roughly grabbed her by the arm.

"The fuck do you think you're doing?" He harshly demanded, his grip on her seeming to tighten.

"Let go of me!" She snapped back, her eyes narrowing into a harsh glare that made a pleasant shiver run up his spine.

He loved such a look on her.

"And tell me why I have to listen to you?"

With her other hand curling into a fist, she socked him across the jaw, startling him and making him drop her wrist. With that, she ran away from him, but not before hearing his last words that made chills upon chills run through her body.

"I will have you, (Y/N)!" Nicolai bellowed. "Make no mistake of that! You're mine."

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To be continued...