The older man was now so close the hem of his T-shirt brushed against Joel's. Joel was now running out of floor space, bumping up against furniture, practically stumbling over his own feet.
"Walker-"
"I'm going to teach you a lesson, Joel. I'm going to, huh," Walker laughed softly. "Take you apart at the seams, put you back together. You'll have a lot to think of when I'm through with you."
"You're talking about rape." Joel said bluntly, his eyes roving the dim room, wishing Brendan or Cheryl, anyone, would just walk through that door.
Walker shook his head almost regretfully, his oddly graceful steps bringing him ever closer. "Rape is such an ugly word. Besides, no one said you wouldn't like it."
"And I told you, I'm straight!" Joel snapped, tripping on the bin in his effort to put as much distance between him and the other man as possible. Walker neatly sidestepped the object, stalking the boy around the cramped room in deliberate, cautious steps.
"And I told you, I don't believe you!"
Joel screwed up his face, desperation warping his features. "Why me?!" he shouted in frustration.
"Oh, don't take it personally," Walker said lightly. Joel's back hit the door. "I just figure you're in need of some discipline." He sniffed. "Brendan's been soft on you; I can see that now..."
While Walker had been talking, Joel had discreetly reached for the door behind him, trying to open it without attracting the criminal's attention.
"Nice try, Walker." Joel sneered, suddenly stepping to the side and flinging the door open. It caught Walker on the shoulder and he stumbled back, falling to one knee. Joel took the opportunity to dash through the door, pulling it shut behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief, leaning heavily on the door , hearing the staccato hammering on the other side.
"Something on your mind, Walker?" He cajoled with triumphant relief, the door shaking behind him. Then…silence. Walker had given up. Joel collapsed against the door, reluctant to move until he was certain he wouldn't get set upon the moment he opened the damn thing. He couldn't help but feel proud of himself- he'd stopped a thirty-something man from jumping his bones, and although he couldn't really compare it to any of Brendan's achievements, it was evidence that he didn't need babysitting, he could take care of himself.
That silence, though…
Without warning, a piercing shriek pierced the air. It was as shrill as it was inhuman. As the lights flickered, Joel realised what the ear-splitting noise was.
The fire alarm had been activated.
"Shit, shit!" he abandoned the door, running out of the building. The fire brigade would be here in minutes, and it wouldn't look good for him to be found next to an alarm that had been activated for seemingly no reason at all. He raced down the steps, a rush of cold air hitting him full in the face as he burst out of the building. He narrowed his eyes, looking across the deserted street to see if he'd been noticed. A hand clamped down on his shoulder and he jumped.
"Walker?" The man didn't reply, meaning Joel had to turn around to see if it was really him.
Walker's face was expressionless. "Now's the part where you run!" He said.
So Joel ran.
He raced across the street, still feeling a phantom brush of Walker's breath on the back of his neck. The wailing siren tore through the air as his feet pounded the pavement. He was heading for Brendan's. He'd be safe from Walker's unwanted advances there. When the front door was a stone's throw away, he almost laughed in relief, flying at the thing and unlocking it hurriedly, throwing the door open. As he pulled it shut behind him with a satisfying click, he released the breath he'd didn't even realise he'd been holding.
Joel looked around the room with new eyes- every cushion, picture frame and lampshade spoke of familiarity and safety. Far away from Walker.
"Brendan?" he called out, making his way into the kitchen. "Cheryl?" He put the kettle on. As he waited for the water to boil, he placed his hands on the cool worktop, leaning on it to take his weight. He felt weak, he realised with a jolt, actually drained of energy. He'd spent the last half-hour or so of literally fighting to save his arse, and now he was tired.
The front door clicked again, and he felt a grateful smile grow. At last- he could tell Brendan about Walker, how dangerous he was-
"Bren, you're not going to believe this," he said seriously, now intent on pouring the hot water into the mug as the footsteps grew louder, entering the kitchen.. He made a cup for Brendan too- he'd need one after he'd heard what Joel had to tell him.
"You won't believe what Walker did-"
"Now, Joel…" Joel whirled around to meet Walker's amused gaze. "I won't have you spreading rumours about me."
"You followed me home." Joel whispered.
Walker smiled and nodded, dangling a keychain between two long fingers. "Funny thing is, when Brendan issued me with these keys, I couldn't imagine myself having to use them. He's a smart man." Walker threw the keys onto the worktop in a decisive way. "So Brendan's out on a deal won't be back til' sunrise and Cheryl's spending the night with a friend. Which leaves me to…babysit."
This couldn't be happening.
"Let's go upstairs, Joel." Walker said, reaching for the mug of tea. He took a sip, eyes on Joel's face. "I think we need to go to bed."
As the older man place the cup back onto the surface, he extended a hand to Joel. Staring at the long, tapered fingers, the blue of the veins prominent through the pale flesh, Joel shuddered in horror. Perhaps he could manage to fight Walker off but the man was stronger, more experienced. He'd just have to wait for an opportunity to startle the other man, and overpower him. And just hope that Walker didn't have time to make good on his promise before Joel escaped.