Man in the Wall (Who is he?)

Chapter 52 - Flip of a switch

Steven's POV:

Hell cat, you're not okay... What the fuck am I doing? I don't give a rats ass about this girl.

She stares at me with wide eyes, shocked half to death by my statement. Which is rather ridiculous since it's pretty damn obvious she's anything but fine.

I notice my hands are placed firmly on her cheeks and quickly rip them away. Her head dips a bit as if they were resting in my palms and to say I'm currently mind fucked is an understatement. I don't know what's going on with me, but I sure as hell know that I don't like it one bit.

Within a matter of seconds her features change, eyes becoming lifeless before replying, "Does it really matter? It's nothing you haven't done before".

What the actual fuck?

I raise my brow for her to elaborate her accusation, a sign she best knows to understand loud and clear. There's no way I'm going to waste my breath begging her to continue.

A loud sigh escapes her. "The threats, the abuse. I've survived your torture so far. So anything this place has to throw my way, I'm sure I can-" she continues as she leans her head back against the wall.

"Well fuck you too." I reply as I get up, cutting off her words, not bothered to hear the rest of her shit. Looks like I've caught her off guard a second time. Her eyes bounce with shock before dimming back down.

Here I thought saving her life would place some gratitude in that skull of hers or at least place us both on solid ground. A truce if you would, but I guess not. This is why I don't do 'good deeds'. They get you nowhere.

"Why do you suddenly care anyway?" she questions while attempting to cross her legs, but fail miserably. Peggy mentioned she might need a few hours of physiotherapy. Not that I care.

Hell, she's the person I care for the least in this place. It's not my fault I ended up in her room. But that's something she doesn't need to know.

Or I could simply tell her and walk out, carry on with my day. Getting this over and done with is starting to sound more promising by the minute.

"Hello?", I notice a hand being waved from below, "You still in there?" 

It doesn't take much to figure I zoned out for a few seconds. Neither does it take long to figure out that I need to leave. I've spent more time than needed in her presence and any longer will make me sick.

"Steven?" hell cat continues, staring up at me with those dull brown eyes. She's not going to stop until I answer her.

So either I tell her or I don't.

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Vivian's POV:

Steven opens his mouth, yet words fail to fall from it. He looks conflicted as if battling to withhold himself from spilling his guts. 

"Listen, I don't think-"

"Hey I just got paged to help you with-... What's going on here?" Frank interrupts and I'm deeply tempted to strangle him.

"None of your business, his over there." Steven quickly interjects and points to Michael, giving me no time to think of a response. Which I'm relieved about since no believable reasoning came to mind.