"Behind Closed Doors"

Breaking Point

Kayla's POV:

Chapter 21:

Kayla sat at the kitchen table, staring at her phone in disbelief. She had just read Devin's message, and the words felt like a punch to the gut.

Devin: You can't run from me forever. You know where you belong.

Her hands shook as she stared at the screen, her heart pounding. She thought she had gotten away, thought that maybe after Isaiah and Jordan confronted him, Devin would finally back off. But no—he was still there, lurking in the shadows, refusing to let go.

Kayla's stomach twisted with fear, but more than that, with anger. She was tired. Tired of being scared, tired of feeling like her life was no longer her own. Every time she thought she could breathe, Devin found a way to drag her back into the darkness.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was Lena.

Lena: You okay?

Kayla sighed, quickly typing out a response.

Kayla: No, not really. He sent another message.

Lena's reply came fast.

Lena: What?! What did he say?

Kayla hesitated before responding, not wanting to drag Lena deeper into the mess. But she knew she couldn't keep this to herself.

Kayla: He said I can't run from him. That I know where I belong.

She stared at the message, feeling her heart race. Devin's words echoed in her mind, making her feel like the walls were closing in.

Lena replied almost instantly.

Lena: That's it. We need to get the cops involved, Kay. He's crossing a line now.

Kayla bit her lip, the fear and doubt swirling inside her. She had thought about going to the police before, but every time, something held her back. What if they couldn't do anything? What if it made Devin even angrier? She didn't want to provoke him, but at this point, she wasn't sure what else to do.

Kayla: I don't know, Lena. What if it makes him worse?

Lena: He's already getting worse, Kay. You need to protect yourself. This can't go on.

Kayla's breath hitched as she typed back.

Kayla: I know, but I'm scared.

Lena: You don't have to be scared alone. You've got me, Isaiah, Jordan. We're not letting him get to you. But we need to take the next step.

Kayla knew Lena was right, but the thought of escalating things with Devin terrified her. Still, she couldn't keep living like this—looking over her shoulder, waiting for him to show up, wondering when he would finally make good on his threats.

Kayla: I'll think about it.

Lena's next message was simple but filled with the support Kayla needed.

Lena: Whatever you decide, I'm here.

Kayla set the phone down, staring at it for a long moment. She had been holding off on making a decision, but now it felt like she was running out of time. Devin wasn't going to stop. He was going to keep pushing, keep coming after her, until something broke. And she didn't want to wait around to see what that would be.

Isaiah and Jordan were sitting in the living room when Kayla finally walked in, her body feeling heavy with the weight of what she was about to say.

"Zay, Jay," she called, her voice soft but steady.

Both of them looked up at her, concern written all over their faces.

"What's up, Kay?" Isaiah asked, his tone gentle but alert.

Kayla took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she held up her phone. "He sent me another message."

Jordan shot up from the couch, his eyes flashing with anger. "What did he say?"

Kayla handed her phone to Isaiah, who read the message with a tight jaw. His face darkened as he handed the phone to Jordan.

"'You know where you belong?'" Jordan read aloud, his voice filled with disgust. "That's it. We need to handle this now."

Isaiah stood up, his eyes focused on Kayla. "We need to go to the cops, Kay. This is harassment. He's not gonna stop unless we make him."

Kayla felt her heart race, the anxiety clawing at her. "But what if it makes things worse?"

Isaiah stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "It can't get worse than this, Kay. He's stalkin' you, threatenin' you. You can't keep living like this."

Jordan nodded in agreement, his anger barely contained. "Zay's right. We can't wait for him to do something crazy. We gotta shut this down now."

Kayla's chest tightened, the fear overwhelming her. She had never wanted to involve the police, but now... now it seemed like her only option. Devin wasn't going to stop on his own, and the longer she waited, the more she risked her safety—and the safety of her family.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Okay, let's go."

Isaiah placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes softening. "We got you, Kay. You're not alone."

A few hours later, they were at the police station, sitting in a small office as Kayla told her story. She could feel her hands trembling as she recounted everything—how things with Devin had started off good but had slowly turned dark, how he had become controlling, obsessive, how she had tried to leave but he wouldn't let go.

The officer taking her statement listened carefully, nodding as he jotted down notes. "You're doing the right thing by coming in," he said gently. "We'll open a case and issue a restraining order. But you need to be careful, okay? If you feel unsafe at any point, don't hesitate to call us."

Kayla nodded, her heart still pounding. Even though she was doing the right thing, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end—that Devin wasn't going to back down just because of a piece of paper.

As they left the station, Isaiah and Jordan flanked her on either side, both of them silent but watchful. Kayla felt a little better knowing they were with her, but the fear still lingered.

Devin was unpredictable, and she knew he wouldn't take this lightly.

But at least now, she wasn't completely helpless.