Run

Chapter Fifteen

I've gone through close to ten pages in my sketch book. I needed a way to get all the fear and anger out of my head, a way to express how badly I want this over and how smothered I feel lately.

The pages are filled with charcoal images, images of Alex and me. Images of Alex with those painfully blank eyes staring at me as he keeps me trapped against a wall. Images of the Devil using Alex as a puppet. I use my finger to shade the final image of me trying to escape a box as I run out of air while Alex holds the door closed. I look at the images spread in front of me, taking them in before I pile them up and shove them into my backpack. My hope is Alex will never find these and I can have some part of my life that is just mine.

Flipping through my sketchbook I hear a knock at the door. Who would be coming up here? Front desk maybe needed to check something?

I quietly tiptoe over to the door to look out the peephole. I don't see anyone. The door pounds again causing me to jump back. The knocking gets louder and louder before suddenly stopping. I stand there, listening, waiting to hear something. A few minutes later I hear knocking next door, over the course of the next twenty minutes I hear the knocking go down the stretch of doors.

Stepping back I grab my backpack off the bed before darting into the bathroom and locking the door behind me. I pull out the phone, wishing I had some way to call Alex or call anyone to come help.

I hold my bag close and wait for Alex to come back. I shake on the cold tile of the bathroom floor, my bear legs pressing into the floor.

Almost half an hour later I hear the door open. I don't hear footsteps, and I don't hear anyone speak. I'm frozen.

"Jules?" Alex's voice rings out, "Jules, where are you?"

I feel my chest release as I stop holding my breath. I get up and yank the door open, when I see Alex standing a few steps away I jump to him and wrap my arms around him. He almost falls backwards.

"Whoa, good to see you too," he laughs as he places his hand firmly on my lower back, "What's going on?"

"I'm so glad your back," I squeeze him while I whisper quickly to him, "There was someone knocking on the door, but when I looked out the peephole there was nothing. The knocking kept going and eventually went to the other rooms. I didn't know what to do."

He pulls me back, "It's ok, there's no one out there. I promise you, you're safe. I won't let anything happen."

I see the Alex that took care of me after I was drugged, now I'm seeing the Alex who brought enough movies to marathon for days, I'm seeing the Alex that truly cares for others because he can.

I look down, embarrassed by how I jumped him. I watch his shoes and watch him dart to the TV stand before facing me again. I look up and see a little, pink cardboard box.

"What's this?" I give the box a confused smirk.

"I found a place, they have candy and soda and other stuff like that. They have really cool cupcakes and I thought maybe something sweet would make you feel better," He hands me the box before rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, "I wasn't sure what to get you so I went with the ladies recommendation."

I see the sticker reading Pinkitzel before opening the box to find a red cupcake with a huge tower of frosting on top.

"It's red velvet, I almost got you peanut butter cup but then I realized I didn't know if you had an allergy or not. I didn't want to risk giving you a reaction," he chuckles, looking away from me.

"Thank you, it looks amazing," I smile up at him, I decide to take a chance, "Maybe later you and I could split it?"

He looks shocked, "Are you serious," a smile appears when I nod, "Ok, yeah, I would like that."