A Falling Sky

Chapter 16

I tense up like a rabbit in the presence of a predator. I slowly turn to look at him leaning up against the pole and smoking a cigarette. He looks ten times more menacing than he did in the bar, but maybe it’s just the streetlight shining down on him that casts dark shadows on his eyes and cheeks.

“Stay away from me.” I warn.

“Aw, Sugar. Don’t talk like that.” He says mockingly, taking a drag from his cigarette.

“You look mighty cold in those little shorts.” he flicks it onto the ground and takes a step towards me. I am closer to the door than he is, but I feel like if I run right now, that will cause him to chase after me which is my worst fear realized. No wait, what he might do to me is my worst fear. Instinct takes over and I bound for the door, screaming the first thing that came to my mind.

“HARRY!”

Lightning flashes, like in every clichéd scary movie, but this is real. I reach the steps and bang on the door, forgetting that it is locked. I don’t know if the guy is right behind me or not. My head swivels between the door and the man with my heart pounding in fear. He’s not chasing me but he has moved only a bit closer, which is somehow scarier in my mind.

Harry swings open the door and I am knocked backwards.

“Oh shit, Skylah!” he says and lets the door shut behind him while he flies to me on the ground.

“What’s wrong?” he says as he lifts me up. I point a shaky finger at the man who hasn’t moved from his place. Harry pushes me behind his back with one arm still over my body.

“You need to leave right now or we will call the police.” He says dangerously, lifting his other hand to the man.

“Calm down. I didn’t even touch her.”

“Yes, but you are on private property. Leave and we won’t call the police.”

“What are you gonna do about it, huh? We’re outside now.” he says and takes a few steps towards us.

“I’m warning you. Take another step—”

“Or what?” the man interrupts Harry. “You gonna call the police?” he taunts.

Harry pushes me even further behind his back to where I can’t even see the man over Harry’s frame. I can still hear the man’s voice though.

“What are you, her boyfriend? You don’t like it when I talk about her sweet ass? You get jealous because she was enjoying me dirty talkin’ to her?” he says.

Harry growls and I can feel it rumble throughout his back.

“Stay away from her.”

“What are you gonna do?” Now the man closes the distance and is in Harry’s face. “Huh, what’re you gonna do?”