hømetøwn

• : / thirty eight / : •

As darkness fell around me, panic set in. I was completely alone. My pockets were empty. My few belongings were either up in flames or left behind.  I was walking alone through an unfamiliar city, in the middle of the night, with no real plan or direction. Cold wind sliced against my arms. 

I didn't stop walking. I walked with my head bowed against the wind, shoulders hunched, forcing myself not to cry. What on earth was I going to do? I couldn't go back to the apartment. I couldn't go back to Brendon. But going home? Walking off in the middle of the night? This was insane. 

A shadow flitted at the edge of my vision. My heart rate accelerated. What if someone attacked me? I could be abducted. My mind spun with terror. Then a terrible thought occurred to me. Holy shit. Connor. He came here. He set Brendon's apartment on fire -- what if he's still here? 

My blood went cold. 

What if he's following me? What if he's watching me right now?

I walked faster, heart pounding. My legs ached. Were there any taxis out this time of night? And even if there were, would they drive me all the way home? I didn't have any money! What the hell was I going to do?

It was impossible to breathe. Every shadow made me jump. I sucked the freezing air in but there wasn't enough oxygen. Finally I wrenched to a stop, gasping, shaking. I didn't know what to do. Everything hurt. 

I heard him before I saw him. The rustle of fabric against skin. Two soft footsteps. I raised my eyes and he was there, standing like a ghost before me. 

"It's okay," he said.

I stood completely still, staring at him. The breath dragged in my throat. This was a nightmare. I was dreaming, I had to be. 

"You," I said. I meant for it to come out harsh, but my voice was a hoarse croak. I couldn't stop shaking.

 His red hair was pushed back over his forehead, face pale and glowing in the shadows.  

Connor's face broke into a smile. "LAKE! Yes! Yeah, it's me! Oh my God, it's so good to see you! I've missed you so much! Thank God you got out! Are you okay?"

A thousand words bubbled in my mind, leaping and smashing together. But I stood frozen. I couldn't say a single damn thing. 

He took a step towards me, arms outstretched. I wrenched away from him.

"Lake." He went still, staring at me. His voice curled soft around my name. "What's the matter?"

"What's the matter?" Finally the words broke through. "What's the matter?"

His eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Aren't you glad to see me? I've been trying to find you and save you ever since you -- why are you looking at me like that? I just saved your ass, aren't you going to --"

I launched myself at him. Rage blasted through my body and I was possessed by a blind strength as I smashed into him. He slammed to the ground and I fell on top of him, punching and clawing. My fists pounded against his skin.

"LAKE! WHAT THE -- LAKE! STOP!" he screamed, but I didn't stop. Every ounce of my pain and anger rushed into my fists. I was desperate to pummel every inch of him.

White hot pain cracked across my face. I fell backwards, elbows striking concrete. Connor leapt to his feet, his hands clenched. I crawled backwards, wheezing. 

 "Lake, what the hell?" 

I hurled myself into his knees, swinging him to the ground again. He let out a sharp yell and twisted to smack me. I scrambled to feel his pockets. Empty. Both empty. How could they be empty? His foot collided with my chest. I smashed back to the ground, the breath knocked out of me.