Łひㄅ㈦

PART THREE

The next day was pretty normal. There was no Chase or Isla. I found out Isla was at a music festival in Pomona, enjoying her time there. Chase on the other hand, disappeared mid-class. There was a prospect that he could've gotten into trouble for something. 

By the time I got home, I helped my mother with dinner and we sat down and ate... alone. It was a nice, petite dinner but our dinner banter couldn't end. After dinner, I offered to clean up but my mother said I should get some sleep. I understood what she meant.

But, I didn't want another day to end.

"Can I check on Isla? Maybe bring some food over?" I proffer my mother. 

Her smile is bigger than my whole existence. "That would be lovely, honey. Would you like me to drop you?"

"I want to walk,"

My suggestions always make my mother happy, maybe because she wants the best for me. Now, I'm walking the empty streets of Junewood, making sure I don't lose the way to Isla's house. I've never done this before, if so it'd be at daytime. My mother would tell me to drop little cakes at the bakery usually, but that's near our house.

I'm taking a big risk.

After three minutes, I feel as if I won't get there. Not in this pitch black. A street lamp is slumped alone, bugs swarming around the bulb. I lost my way. "Hi there, pretty girl." A few men advance toward me, belts in their boney hands.

One man has a needle, scaring me the most. My breathing becomes faster, my eyes tightening around my stomach. "You scared her, Bill." The man with the needle growls.

"Oh yeah? Let's continue with that!" It takes me time to see what actually happens. The four men jump on me, gripping my hands tightly. I scream for help, or even someone to scare these men away. It's ten o'clock at night, who would hear me? Be invincible, Serena.

My sister's necklace is ripped off my neck, so is half of my dress. I scream louder as I feel the men's hands trace up and down my thighs. This is worse than ever expected. "Get off!" My voice finally squawks. The man with the needle licks my palm, slowly digging the needle into my skin.

I kick and squeal every time he'd hollow out a piece of skin. Be strong, Serena. Tears overhead me and before I know it, the man is magically pushed to the ground with a growl. It takes me time to realise that the man is being hammered up by a tall figure, punches over-taking him. As for the other three geezers, they try rescuing him from the stature.

Chase Lane pushes the man to the ground, walking up to me with a cut on his forehead. "Come on-"

"Get him, Bill!" The man breaks off Chase mid-sentence. Bill, I suppose, jumps on top of him... making him land on top of me. I scream even before Chase falls on top of me, but is cautious about touching me. His back is above my body, struggling to keep off the ground.

"Move over," I him grunt.

He triggered my nightmare once again.

I roll toward the side, my head hitting hard against the concrete. Chase has come to save me once again. He's now damaging the men with his fists, blood trickling down them. "We'll let her go! Sam, Frank and Luke! Let's leave." The devastation in their voices leave Chase pleased.

They run away into the dark, limping with fear. My tears are dry, stained on my skin like pigment does to your clothes. "Oh my God," I take a few deep breaths to comprehend on what just happened. My dress is ripped, making my under-robes visible.

Chase doesn't stare at least.

His fringe is still swept to the side and his green eyes shimmer under the light. But, they're dreary. He bends down, sliding off his black coat which matches the dark night. Chase throws it over to me, a white shirt making his abs manifest. His bloodstained hands shake as he reaches for my headband, the one I decided to wear this morning for the remembrance of my father.