Anna's POV
Thomas dragged me out of the room still clutching my arm, though I managed to get one last look at Joey.
I was glad that I got to meet him and the other Starkids. My dream came true. Only the circumstances weren't ideal. Why did I think it was a good idea to bring him with me?
Before we turned the corner, I saw Joey step forward, like he was trying to go after us. But Joe grabbed his arm. Maybe for the best, because I wasn't sure that Thomas would leave him alone a second time.
I didn't struggle and let him led me towards the car. But as soon as we were outside and walked out of the street, he pulled me into the alleyway next to the convention center. The sun was already down, the lights on the parking lot shone bright yellow, but there wasn't a street light to be seen in the alley. This made me nervous.
"Thomas?" I asked carefully. He let go of my arm and I crossed my arms, clutching my chest. "Can we go to the car, please?"
He looked at me and the look he gave me made my blood run cold. It was like he became someone else, his lips pursed into a thin line and his jaw was clenched. He breathed heavily. 'My' Thomas was nowhere to be seen.
"I was ridiculous, right? I didn't have to worry, you said," he hissed through his teeth. "But as soon as I leave you alone, you just throw yourself at him."
"Thomas, no! It didn't mean–"
"Shut up!" he shouted. "You promised! You fucking promised!" He ran both of his hands through his hair.
"Thomas, I need you to calm down," I said calmly. I tried to keep a steady voice, but it was hard. It wasn't as convincing as I wanted to be. My eyes shot towards the parking lot, looking for a way out if necessary. He noticed.
"What? Do you want to make a run for it?" He stepped backwards and waved his hand towards the exit of the alleyway. "Go ahead, be my guest. But remember, you've got nowhere else to go…" He grinned, raising my bag in his right hand.
He was right. He had the keys to the car, our house. My wallet and my phone were inside that bag.
"Why are you doing this? You're not like this, I know you!" I tried. He laughed.
"Because I've had enough. That's why. The entire year I had to hear how wonderful Mr. Richter is, how talented he is, how funny, charming, … the list goes on! You stay awake the entire night just to see him on a computer screen. What about me, huh? And today!" Thomas took a step closer, I automatically stepped back. "Today you were all over him! You couldn't keep your eyes off of him, I didn't exist anymore. But no more! No, that's over now. Today was the last day you saw anything Starkid related. Ever! I'll make damn sure that you'll only think of me from now on!"
No more Starkid? Hell no. He didn't have the right to tell me what I can and can't do. I felt a rush of courage go through me. I could handle him. Maybe.
"Thomas, I understand why you are so upset. But honestly, I think you're overreacting. Your jealousy is completely misplaced. Really, he was just being friendly. Come to think of it… this isn't the first time you overreacted when another guy is around me. This isn't healthy. How could we work out when you don't trust me? At all?"
He took another step closer. I tried to step back but hit the wall behind me. Fuck.
"I trust you. It's those other guys I don't trust." He answered.
I snorted. "You showed me today how much you trust me. You hurt me, Thomas. Physically and emotionally." I pulled my sweater down at the neckline so he could see my shoulder. By this time you could see the print of his hand in bruises. "Does this look like you trust me?"
He looked at my shoulder, but there was no emotion on his face. He didn't even care.
"I want my bag," I said while pointing at it. He just stood there, so I stepped forward and tried to take it from him. He quickly raised his arm and held the bag over my head.
"Oh no, you're not. I'll keep this safe for now," he grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers, but it wasn't meant as a comforting, loving gesture. He squeezed my hand real hard, it was getting rather painful. "We are going home. Don't make a scene, alright?"
"No." I answered firmly.
He turned his head and stared at me. "Excuse me?"
I straightened my back and tried to free my hand. "I said no, Thomas. I'm not going home with you. If you're going to be like this, it doesn't feel like home anymore. You can't tell me what to do. You don't own me. Give me my bag so I can call someone to pick me up."
His face went red. I really made him angry now. My eyes shot towards the parking lot again but there was no one there. My mind was racing, trying to find a way to end this peacefully.
He let go of my hand and for a moment I felt relieved. But then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me with him, which made me almost trip over my own feet.
"Thomas, no. Let go!" I yelled, while I was trying desperately to free my arm. He'd grabbed my right arm, so I couldn't struggle since my shoulder still hurt. I could just go with him and call someone when I got home, but I wasn't sure he was going to give me my phone back anytime soon.
"You are with me, and you're going to listen to ME!" he roared. My hand started to tingle, that's how hard he was squeezing my wrist. I tried to remove his hand with my other hand. He didn't bulge. So I scratched his arm.
He immediately turned around and grabbed my other arm as well.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you," he hissed.
"Then let me go!" I shouted.
"Will you stop screaming?"
"No!" I answered. "Let me GO!" I kicked his shin and surprisingly he let go of my right arm, while he tried to reach for his leg, cursing heavily.
Now I had to act quickly, so I grabbed his other arm – which was still holding on to my left arm – and put my teeth in it, biting as hard as I could. As I expected, he let go, screaming in pain.
I didn't hesitate one moment and started running towards the parking lot, hoping that someone was there or that I could make it into the convention center again if it wasn't closed yet. It was getting really dark now, but I could see enough to find my way around the things in the alley.
But Thomas was fast. Too fast. He was with me in a flash and shoved me aside, straight into one of the dumpsters. With a loud crash I hit my head against the dumpster and my right shoulder took another blow when I slumped against the ground.
Everything was blurry and I felt nauseous. I saw a silhouette coming towards me and I panicked, I tried to crawl away but I was completely disorientated because of the pain in my shoulder and the blow to my head. Thomas grabbed my hair in his fist and pulled me upwards. I screamed in pain.
"You don't deserve me," he whispered into my ear. He then dropped me to the ground.
I heard someone yelling in the distance. Then footsteps, followed by Thomas who ran away. Good. I couldn't see clearly; my vision was still blurred but I could see silhouettes rushing by me, heading in the same direction Thomas went.
They were immediately followed by two other silhouettes that went after them, but stopped as they saw me on the ground. I heard one of them gasping.
"Oh my god… Anna!" The voice seemed strangely familiar. I felt something warm trickle alongside my cheek and I closed my eyes. I was so tired. I wanted to go to sleep.
But the silhouettes didn't leave me alone.
"Anna, can you hear me?" Another voice asked. Just leave me, I thought, I want to sleep. But when someone touched my cheek, I nodded. "I am… tired…" I whispered.
I heard voices in the distance, I slowly opened my eyes and instead of silhouettes I could see beige blobs now.
One of the blobs came really close, and I panicked. I tried to crawl away but my body wasn't listening. When I tried to move again, a pang of pain shot through me and I cried out.
"No, don't move. Just… try to stay still, okay?" The blob hushed. I closed my eyes again.
"We got to call the authorities. She needs to go to a hospital," one of the other blobs said.
No, no hospital. Then they'll want to know what happened, or call the police. I didn't want that, I didn't want to be weak. I wasn't a victim.
I opened my eyes again and to my surprise I could see them almost clearly now. The blurriness was slowly being replaced by a throbbing headache. I groaned.
"Anna, talk to me. Where are you hurting?" The person kneeling beside me asked.
"My head…" I croaked. "Shoulder…"
"I am so sorry, Anna. This is all my fault."
"Joey, Brian already called an ambulance. Clark and Joe are heading back to the bus to tell the girls what happened. I will stay here with you until the ambulance gets here, okay?"
Joey… Brian… Clark… Joe… it somehow sounded familiar but I couldn't put it together. If that headache could please just go away so I could think clearly.
I heard sirens… someone touching my cheek, holding my hand… I'm tired… so tired.
Flashes of blue and red lights came closer, but it was all overshadowed by darkness. Finally I could get some sleep.
