Secret Torture (Student/Teacher) - COMPLETED

Chapter Forty One: Wake Up Call

"Hello?"

As his voice rang in my ears, my own disappeared. I didn't know what to say. 

"…Hello? Who is this?"

I swallowed my fear, all of it.

"It's Allison."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Allison Rousseau," I added.

"Allison?" he asked, his voice alert and noticeably anxious. "Allison, is everything alright?'"

For the first time in a very, very long time, I answered that question honestly. 

"No," I said. 

"What's wrong?"

A sudden pain seared through my head. I shut my eyes tight and pressed my hand against my wound, willing the pain to end. When my hand withdrew, it was stained red.

"Allison, can you hear me?"

"Yes." 

"Are you alright?" Mr. Wilson asked, his voice still on edge and thick with worry.

"I'm hurt," I admitted. 

"Where are you?"

I looked up, taking in my surroundings. It was dark, but I still recognized the street.

"Henderson Avenue," I told him. 

"Are you by yourself?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Listen to me - there's a small coffee shop at the top of Henderson. I want you to go there and wait for me outside. I'm not too far away, I'm coming to get you. Okay? Did you hear that?"

I nodded my aching head, even though it didn't make a difference.

"Yes."

"Okay. Allison, I'm going to hang up now," Mr. Wilson said. "I'll only be a few minutes - ten minutes, max. Is that okay?"

"Yes," I said. "Okay."

He hung up then. The line rang dead. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and began to walk. I felt weak and defeated and completely helpless. I wasn't even sure if I was going to make it to the top of the street. It seemed so far away, and with each step, something in my chest seared with pain and my eyes were clouded by tears.  

The second I arrived at the coffee shop, I felt my knees cave in. I slumped down against the wall and sat on the cold pavement. My every movement caused deep aches throughout my body. Even breathing inflicted a sharp, stinging pain throughout my chest. And I felt tired. So tired.