Jenalyn: Daring to Defy (#1)[Complete]

Chapter 104: Jenalyn

Monday, 2:38 A.M.

It's been a little over an hour since Harper brought me back to the hotel with her, and a little under an hour since I left my mind completely- leaving behind what I could only imagine to be the shell of a person.

It's not that I don't like Harper- because I do! Opposite of her sister, the one person I've actually looked up to and admired for a majority of my life- Harper is actually really cool. Really down to Earth.

-and for some reason... she cares about me.

I can't help my mind from trying to protect itself from the havoc that the monster's awakening caused though. 

And I can't help the things that I let slip out when it does.

"Who is it, Jena? Can we please report this so we can get him off of the streets?!" Harper asks with wide eyes despite the tiredness I can see written all over her face.

I shake my head, the little emotion I feel over her words amused, if anything. "There'd be no point to that..." I say, my voice distant as I lay beside her in a pair of her pajamas that's probably worth more than my life at this point. "He knows people... like, everybody... no one is going to do him wrong."

Harper sighs, her tone frustrated ever since I basically admitted to being abused- but also informed her that it's nothing I don't deserve at this point, especially after what I did with Rob...

"Jenalyn, someone has to do something. They're not just going to let this go on!" she almost yells, turning to me with a serious expression clear across her face. "I know people, too, and I'm pretty sure I'm at a better standing than this asshole. Please... just tell me his name- I'll do all of the work for you! They'd just need you for questioning and pictures."

I can't help myself from laughing- though it's the most unfeeling, and emotionless laugh I've probably ever let out in my life. "Harper, you don't understand." I find myself saying, "I don't want to turn him in, I don't want to get away from him, I don't want to do anything except take back what I did!" 

Harper almost looks hurt for a moment, her expression blank before she lets out a small but resigned sigh. "I can't force you to come forward about this..." she says, her voice a lot less forceful and pressing now. "I understand if this is all you know... all you think you have. I even understand if you love this guy!"

She pauses, seemingly searching her tired mind for the right words before continuing.

"-but I promise you... you deserve so much better than this. Okay? You do... and you need to realize that. Is whatever you did so bad, it's worth giving this guy your life?"

She pauses again, expecting an answer from me that I'm unable to give her. 

I had sex with Rob... that's probably about as bad as it could get. I've slept with other people- more than just the clients Dane ships me off to, too.. and Dane is pretty quick to catch me almost every single time it happens. He gets mad- of course he gets mad! But he doesn't ever really get homicidal over it...

I've witnessed Dane under the impression that Rob and I had something on the side though. I've seen him inches from not only taking Rob, his best and most loyal man's life- but my own too if he suspected it was something I wanted or enjoyed in any way... 

I think at this point... to Dane? It would be worth my life. 

I leave too long of a silence, and Harper is suddenly filling it again with her soft yet concerned voice. "It's not worth your life, Jenalyn." she says, "I- I can't believe you had to question that... If you won't let me get him off the streets... at least let me get you away for a little bit... please? I have to do something..."

I can hear it in her voice, that it means a lot to her. I can see it on her face that she's not going to give up unless she feels she's helped me.

"You're going back to L.A. tomorrow..." I tell her, "You could get me a room if you really need to- but believe me... he'll find me."

Harper shakes her head, an excitement growing on her face I don't think she means to display. "No, come to California with me!" she exclaims. "I'll get you a ticket! My mom is in Texas dealing with my dads shenanigans- just come for a few days! Clear your head! And then we'll see what we can do to... fix your situation!"

Dane would kill me... but you want to know what? He's going to kill me if I stay, too- especially if he finds out about Rob...

Maybe the space would help everything seem a little unreal so that it'd be easier to deal with when I have to come back?

"Okay..." I sigh, trying to force a smile on my face despite my inability to even feel it. "I'll go. I'll go to California with you."