Shattered

Chapter 2

-Theo's POV-

My shift had finally ended, it had been a long day and I was exhausted. Just as I was about to take my leave, a tall figure walked through the doors.

'Sigh'

I plastered a feigned smile on my face and simply greeted the man.

"Welcome, how may I help you?" I reluctantly said, only to be ignored.

"Umm... sir?" And was yet again ignored. I began to get annoyed but remained composed. I then gave up, walked behind the counter and stood at the register, waiting impatiently for the tall man to exit.

-Ryder's POV-

It had taken me about 15 minutes to get to the nearest convenience store. I walked in and was greeted by a small figure. Me being Ryder King, I simply ignored the brat and started looking for the milk. Through the corner of my eyes, I could see him getting annoyed. But to my surprise, he stopped trying to talk to me and returned behind the counter. I grabbed a gallon of milk and headed towards the register.

"Hello," Once again, the shorter man greeted. "Did you find everything you were looking for?" He questioned with a smile that anyone could tell was fake.

"I did," I replied emotionless. He was around the height of 5'6 and had a small frame. Dirty blond hair was neatly laying across his forehead and covering his eyebrows. He also had beautiful colored skin. His skin was like peaches and cream blended perfectly all over his body. But, I finally saw his eyes. His eyes were like kelp on the shore, speckled with splinters of driftwood and scorching amber sand covering parts of it as the sea washed upon it. He was -

'What..?' I interrupted my thoughts. 'Why was I checking out some stranger?' I enquired to myself.

I shook off the thought and got the money out of my wallet. Stretching my arm out to meet his, reaching out to receive the money.

That's when I saw it.

His exposed scarred forearm had dozens of cuts and old bruises.

I couldn't help but feel a wave of deep concern come tumbling over me. He noticed that I saw his arm and swiftly snatched the money from my hands, placing it in the register. Squinting his eyes shut and turning away from me, he spoke softly, "H-Have a good day, sir."

I walked out of the store, feigning to have left the building and went back home. I didn't know why I was doing this, waiting for his shift to be over so I could follow him home.

Maybe it was pity..?

Yeah, that's what it is... pity.

-Theo's POV-

The man that had picked up the milk jug was now strolling over to where the cash register was. Where I was.

I couldn't help but notice his masculine figure under his long-sleeved shirt. Also, his toned thighs, that were peaking through his ripped jeans, flexing when he took steps over to me. As I greeted him and asked if he found everything he was looking for, I glanced at his jawline. It was so sharp, sharp enough to cut steel. When he replied, his very noticeable Adam's apple bobbed up and back down as he spoke. And now that he was closer I could see more details of him and his face.

His hair was dyed the color of blood, the dark blood you only can find deep within, something I've seen ooze out from me in the past. His beach waved burgundy hair had been messily parted somewhat in the middle of his head and was resting sloppily over his forehead, covering his dark eyebrows. It was shorter on the sides like some type of undercut. He was around the height of 6'3 and had the skin tone of a bronze penny. I was amazed, but kept myself composed, when I noticed his eyes. He has eyes that were hardened but hid the softness underneath that I could clearly see, the exact shade of a latte. A ring of gold hung inside his iris adding another layer of depth into his already charming eyes. Even though I could sense the dangerous aura that surrounded him, his features looked close to perfect.

'Oh jeez' is what I thought before I saw him pulling out his leather wallet. 'I can't be thinking that he's appealing to me. He's a guy after all.' I reasoned to myself.

 'Nobody would like such a messed up person like me anyway.' I reminded myself, considering all the things both my mom and Sebastion had done to me.

As he was pulling out the money needed to pay for his milk, he reached out his hand holding the money. So I snapped out of my thoughts and returned the gesture, extending my arm forward. I then tried to make eye contact with his pale brown eyes, only to see them fixated on my forearm.

I wondered why he was semi glaring at my arm until it hit me like a bullet train. As quick as I could, I snatched the money away from his hand and put it in the cash register. I was ashamed of myself, being so careless as to show certain parts of my hideous body. I didn't want to see him anymore, shutting my eyes tightly together, I quietly stuttered out "H-Have a good day, sir." Which was required for employees to say.

He then stepped out of the store and left, leaving me alone in the store once again. "Thank god." I exhaled, realizing I was holding my breath. 

I remembered about having to leave work early for Sebastion and checked the time. If I left now, I would make it there around the time he got 'home'. But I needed to be there before then. So I hurriedly got changed out of the work clothes, that was provided for employees in the back room, placing it in my locker and exchanging it for my normal clothes. It was an oversized black sweatshirt that I've had for as long as I could remember and contains holes in it. I also put on my grey sweatpants that also had a few holes in it, primarily at my knees where I've tripped a lot. 

When I finished changing into my normal clothes, I walked back to where the lights were and turned them off after grabbing the keys to the store, locking the doors making sure someone doesn't break in. I hastened my speed when I got to the lights before heading towards the back door where I would take my early leave from work, not wanting an even worse punishment from Sebastion for being absent when he arrived 'home'.

-No POV-

Theo was walking at an inhuman speed, attempting to beat the time. He was then abruptly stopped when he was slammed into a cold brick wall. The pain in his head from the connection to the brick caused his vision to go blurry. He could only smell the strong aroma of alcohol and see limited glimpses of what was happening. In a quick second, his body gave out, dropping to the hard concrete ground. 

-Theo's POV-

I shifted my body until I was comfor-..... I shot my head up and began to panic. My clothes had been changed into a pair of silky pants and a matching v-neck shirt, it was black with white stripes, the only downside to it was that it's too big for my small frame. I was sitting on a king-sized bed with a mattress so soft and squishy you could just melt into it. I began to observe my surroundings, I was in a room bigger than my own 'home'. The walls were a light grey with some abstract paintings hanging on the walls, there was a black couch and two smaller white couches with a table placed perfectly in the center of all 3 couches in a corner of the massive room. On another wall, there were two doors about 10 feet away from each other each leading into another room. 

I rose from the bed only to feel a sharp pain running through my head and body. I began taking slow steps, wobbling to the door which I assumed to be the exit. As I extended my frail hand out to turn the handle, the door flys open causing me to stumble and fall on my bottom before I look up only to identify the last person I expected to see.