CHOKER

Volume 22: Are We Serious?

(edited)

*Ana's P.O.V*

          Warm smiles and caring glances quickly reduced to frantic movement and impulsive paranoia. Seconds bled into minutes which morphed into days and then weeks. He slept like a baby and snored lowly, tossing and turning occasionally. I let him sleep in the room with me because I could feel his loneliness, just like how he felt mine. He slept below my bed, sprawled out onto the clean floors with his head buried in a striped pillow. I arose prematurely, the dark greeting me in quiet volumes. Our relationship grew from me falling from grace, into the hands of a monster that I once loved. He tore the skin from my cold body and feasted upon my naive flesh, just like any predator would. My feelings towards existing remained static, I had none at all. The hole that burned through me, I no longer felt. I was pitied by the things that were done to me, it made me feel weak and naked. I can no longer touch myself without the poisoned thoughts of that early morning burning my mind. 

    Xander's snores grew louder, causing me to slightly smile. He twitched before his deep breathing became known. His breathing grew quicker before his tossing and turning grew more frequent. 

Was he having a nightmare? I thought, getting off of the bed.

   Sweat coated his neck and his arms as a grunt escaped his light parted lips. I came beside him and crouched, running my hand through his damp hair. "It's okay," I whispered, petting him softly. He quieted down before a moment of silence passed. He rolled over to his side, moving the pillow with him. Suddenly, his blue eyes fluttered open, catching ahold of me beside him.

"Do you think I fucked up, Analise?" Xander asked, looking sad. I shook my head before letting out a sigh. 

"I think she's lucky to have someone that cares about things other than solely her," I voiced honestly. I was grateful to have him as a friend and to know that he somewhat cares about me. 

     Xander sat up, looking into my eyes. He leaned forward and embraced me tightly. 

"I will help you take down Adam if it's the last thing I do," He said seriously. He slightly pulled away, taking his arm from around him. He held out his pinkie, waiting for mines to wrap around his. 

"Your devotion to helping me is as solid as a pinkie promise," I said before adding, "You don't need to help me, I can figure it out."

"I would be like every other asshole if I didn't insist on-"

buzz buzz

My phone had gone off.

I've been using it so rarely that I forgot that I had it. I retrieved my forgotten phone from my desk and switched the screen on, taking a look at the message. 

From: Unknown ID

Don't trust Xander or Stephan

                                                                         3:46 am

I rose an eyebrow at the message before typing my reply.

From: Analise Woods

Nathan, is that you? You have a lot of explaining to do.