Savage

Chapter 10: Wading

I couldn't get his words out of my head. His voice. That smirk. His fingers glistened. I felt my body ache with rage. The stinging hot tears soaked my pillow, and my head was wet from its damped fabric. It had been a week since the treacherous incident with Mr. Heinrich. I was wallowing in self-pity, anger, and disgust for being a fool.

"I shouldn't have let that happen to me," I sniffed.

I had my favourite ice cream, cookies n' cream, in front of me while I stretched out in my bed. Olaf decided to keep me company today, instead of going on his usual prowl in the alleyways. I thanked him countlessly and cuddled with him for days. Now I had orange and white fur all over my pillow. I didn't mind. The fresh linen scent of his fur was comforting and the fact that someone cared.

I sighed for the billionth time that morning. My phone was blaring Wicked Games by The Weeknd again and I knew it was Ronnie calling because of my absence from work for the past week. I was debating whether or not to answer this time until I envisioned myself throwing the phone into the wall altogether. I answered the call on the third ring.

"Hey," I breathed heavily into the receiver.

"I'm worried. Why aren't you answering your cell? What happened? I can't believe this!"

I could hear the exasperation in Ronnie's voice, and I couldn't keep blaming everyone any longer for my misfortune.

With an exhausted huff, I replied, "I'm sorry. I got fired. I should've told you sooner but I am a mess."

"I am so, so, so, sorrryyy. I guess it was true then, but for what though? That's what everyone can't understand."

"Promise you won't let this slip or else I'll hunt you down and gouge your eyes out," I threatened. There wasn't much weight behind my words.

"Okay."

"I'm serious. Promise," I said with a little more strength.

"I can hear the smugness in your voice," Ronnie stated.

"Come on say it," I said in a sing-song voice. Feeling a bit more like my usual self and forgetting about my circumstances.

"Fine. Promise. Cross my heart, hope to die. Girl scout's honour and all that crap."

"Good girl." The words rolled off my tongue before I could catch them. Bile rose in the back of my throat, and everything tasted bitter for a moment. "That wasn't so hard."

"Spill," Ronnie prompted.

With a long sigh, I recalled everything that happened a week ago. Reciting his words and my responses exactly. It was torture, and when I came to the end of the story I bawled like an infant. Ronnie didn't utter a single word, instantly sending me into panic mode.

"Are you there?" I sniffed.

Nothing.

I looked at the phone screen, and she was still on.

"Ronnie, hello."

"What?" Was her only response.

"That's all you have to say!" I exclaimed, still sniffling.

"That motherfucker! I can't believe this! I can't believe him! I just can't believe this shit!"

Something dawned on me as I pulled myself out of bed. I crossed the room to my window overlooking the street where I lived. I caught a glimpse of Olaf walking leisurely across the road to his girlfriend's house after I frightened him while I was shouting at Ronnie. He had jumped up and decided he couldn't stay in my presence when I got this excited. The obnoxious fiend he was.