Chapter Sixteen.
Dimitri has to go to work and I…
I don't know what I have to do.
Worry wells up in me, and I think Dimitri sees it in my eyes, because he offers to take the day off work.
But I turn him down, politely.
He's already done more than enough for me. And I know guardians don't earn huge salaries, I don't want to cause his to dip even lower.
Besides, he has no reason to have to suffer for me.
I'm nothing to him.
The thought makes me slightly bitter, and I'm reserved when we say our goodbyes.
Chapter Seventeen.
I feel irrational.
I know it's because I'm in my house, alone, and that's why my fears are getting to me, but that knowledge doesn't help.
Instead I find myself rethinking and replaying every moment we've shared.
God, I sound like a cheesy romance novel.
I sound like a naïve teenager.
And look where that's gotten me so far.
Curled up in my bed, hidden underneath the covers. All the lights switched off, with the dead bolt, and the safety chain locked shut on my front door.
Because I'm scared and alone and hurting, with no one to help me.
Chapter Eighteen.
The phone rings, but I don't answer it.
My house phone rings, and I leave that too.
Then someone knocks on my door, and my fear grows tenfold. They knock steadily and persistently, like they know I'm here, and nausea creeps up my spine.
Have they found me and come back to finish what they started?
To have another go?
I whimper and curl up even tighter, sobs wracking my body as I silently pray to anyone who's listening, to make them go away.
"Roza?"
My head lifts, my ears straining to hear his muffled voice.
And I feel okay.
There will be one more update for tonight in an hour's time. I should have had the whole fic posted today, but my time management has been terrible, so you will have another 6 updates tomorrow.