Divisions

Part 2- Chapter 6

"Somebody please help me get out of here!"

Jarred was about to walk to the bathroom when he heard a shriek. He paused, wondering if he had just imagined the sound, before he could hear a few bangs and more screams. 

He rushed to where he thought the voice originated and found himself outside a room with the lights turned on, a room he remembered Camilla had introduced to him as the Missions' room.

The voice had died down, and for a split second, Jarred contemplated leaving.

He placed his ear against the door, wondering what was on the other side.

He heard a slight, soft whisper.

"Please," the voice said.

 Jarred knew automatically, instinctually who owned that voice. It was as if he had memorized the sound, could recognize the voice from miles away.

"I'm here, I'm coming in," Jarred yelled, banging on the door to open it.

After a few tugs on the door, it finally gave way and Jarred burst through the room.

On the floor was an unconscious body.

Near the body, crouched in a ball on the ground, she looked up, mortified.

Jarred knelt down in front of her and placed a hand on her back.

"Natalia," he whispered.

She looked at him, her eyes red and swollen, all the fire Jarred had seen in them before extinguished.

Jarred opened out his arms to her and she flinched at first, but then closed her eyes fell into them, sobbing. They stood there, him gently enveloping her in his arms, for long enough that, Jarred knew he would spend the rest of his  life protecting her.

She did not need to explain to him what had happened. Jarred could tell from the glass shards on the floor, the jacket flung across the room, the buttons left undone on her shirt.

Jarred knew that when the man on the ground woke up, he would kill him. He would destroy him. He would not let Natalia see  him do it.

"We need to go," Jarred whispered gently, as he slowly, agonizingly let go of Natalia. She got up and retrieved her jacket, covering it over her as a child would with a blanket.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, as Jarred lead her to the door of his room.

"What for?" Jarred asked, concerned, as her eyes stared back at him, his expression blank.

"I can leave," she added. "You shouldn't need to fight my battles for me,"

"Natalia," he whispered, turning to her, "Listen..."

Camilla opened the door, wearing Jarred's hoodie, and saw the two of them from outside the door. Her face softened.

"Natalia..." she began, pulling Natalia into a hug.

Jarred watched as Camilla gently let her into the room, and he walked in, fetched his backpack from his room and walked to the door again.

"Where are you going?" Camilla asked him, her face concerned.

"To teach that son of a bitch a lesson," he said, seeing red.

"No..." Natalia began.

"Be careful," Camilla said, looking up at him.

Jarred walked out of the door and stormed in the direction of the office, sure as day; the man had begun dusting himself off.

"Get up!" Jarred yelled