Cure

FOUR

  I gasp, my right hand finding a path to his cheek with force. The slap echoes throughout the cave. He looks at me in shock and drops my feet to the ground, proceeding to push me against the cave wall. My head bumps against the cold stone. His forearm pushes against my collarbone and keeps me trapped. I push, but it's no use. He doesn't even move. I know that I cannot fight him off now that I know he's capable of snapping me in half.

  "Watch yourself, missy. I know these woods better than you and you're lucky that I'm even giving you a chance to live. The next time you try something, I will give your attack back threefold." He growls, his irises slowly turning black.

  Now I'm afraid. I swallow loudly and I nod, promising myself not to attack him again. Threefold. If I even do something to hurt him, he'll retaliate with the same strike three times. He growls again. I watch him as he shakes his head back and forth while screaming out profanities. He pulls his arm back from my collarbone allowing me to push myself off the wall. He grabs his head in his hands and turns away from me, walking to other side of the cave.

  "Fuck, fuck! Get the hell out of my goddamn head! Get out!" He yells out, the volume of the echo causing a couple birds to flutter out of a hole in the wall. I flinch and I'm instantly terrified when he punches the cave wall in front of him. He turns back to me and sees my expression of fear. He walks towards me and I flinch again when he raises his hand. His face softens and it's like he's come out of a hypnotic state. He realizes that his hand is hovering over me and retracts it. He eyes his hand in disgust, as if it is poison.

  "Oh God, I am so sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, I-I can't believe that I did that to you. Please, please forgive me. I-I-I couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt you." He rushes out, falling to his knees and pulling my waist against his head. I can't bring myself to touch him nor can I bring myself to move. I feel him shuddering and that is when I notice that he is crying. Crying.

  What in the hell is going on?