Trapped

Chapter 7: Lambs and Monsters

"Finally free" thought Julian as he stood in line at the counter of the police station waiting to receive his belongings. He was still wearing his orange pants and gray tank top, and as much as he didn't want to put back on his black sweats and hoodie he figured it wouldn't be smart to waltz around outside in a prison uniform.

"Four years and I'm finally out" he thought angrily as he stomped down the jail entryway. He had no family, or at least none that would want him back; no job, no friends, nothing. Nothing except Anastasia. She had visited just the one time, Julian assumed Eric had been keeping her away and feeding her lies. He would fix all that. He had taken a life once, and he would do it again. Anastasia would be his.

Over the last four years his thoughts had been consumed with anger, and nothing had changed now that he was free. He pulled out his phone, dead, obviously. His wallet carried only a couple twenty dollar bills, and he had no cards to his name. He wanted to get to Anastasia's house as quickly as possible but he knew he couldn't waste the little money he had on a taxi. He'd have to find a dark ally to hang out in later.

So he began to walk, letting his anger fuel him, moving him step by step toward Anastasia's house. He didn't have directions but he knew which way to start, and that was all he needed for now.

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"What day were you thinking?" December struck up a conversation with Anastasia.

"Hmm" Anastasia answered dreamily, clearing coming out of a daze.

"For the wedding? Did you guys pick a date yet?" December and Anastasia were hanging around the apartment that Eric and Anastasia had been sharing the past year. They would be enjoying the summer sun but they had dedicated one day to prepping for school activities. Anastasia realized she had zoned out and tried to focus her attention back on the list of classes available this semester versus the classes she needed to graduate.

"Not a set date yet but we were thinking summer wedding. With the Montana weather it's too risky really to do anything but" it was frozen all winter and was cold all fall and spring. Even after three years she wasn't used to it.

"Where did you live before here again?" December asked innocently, but it sent alarm bells ringing in Anastasia's head anyway. Mainly because she had forgotten where she had told December she was originally from.

"Texas" She jumped to, it's hot there.

"Oh, ok" It seemed like December was going to drop the subject for a second, but "Do you think you'll go back home for your wedding or stay here with all of us?"

"That's honestly a good question" she admitted, letting out a deep breath. She honestly wasn't sure what she wanted, and would it matter what she wanted when her safety was at risk? "I'm taking a break" she said and walked out onto the balcony to escape. December didn't think anything of it, passing it off on the stress that comes from senior year.

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Julian knocked on the all too familiar red front door in front of him. He heard movement from the other side, saw a shadow appear on the other side of the peephole, then the door opened to reveal a red faced middle aged man; Anastasia's father. His hair had gotten grayer, but his stern narrowed eyes had stayed exactly the same. Julian was convinced he always saved that "you couldn't be far enough away from me" look for Julian personally.