Her room was completely dark, it was pretty quiet in the hotel and everything seemed to be fine in general. Yet, Chloe still couldn't sleep. She was lying in her bed, blanket pulled up to the brink of her nose and her eyes wide open.

She had long lost count of how many times she had tossed and turned around on her sheets already to try to find a position in which she was able to rest. But it was no use. Her entire body was on hight alert.

She couldn't stay still with the knowledge that Thomas was possibly only a few feet from her room. Who knew, maybe he was even wandering outside her bedroom door, waiting for the right moment to bust in and take advantage of her weak status.

No matter what she did to attempt to calm her nerves, she failed miserably. She sighed deeply, her mind spiraling into all sorts of possible nightmare situations. She didn't want to think about what would happen if he actually came in this night. There was no way she'd be able to defend herself. Not even the last times she had been able to do that. She had always been completely unprepared and caught of guard. Then again, how in hell would you prepare for such a horrid thing? Even with preparation, you wouldn't be able to go through with your plan because in such a situation your brain just shuts off and you're left with only blank fear.

Among an early, ungodly hour, Chloe did manage to fall into a very troublesome sleep. It didn't have the effect, sleep should normally have - which is to relax yourself. It was more the contrary, because she had never felt more tired and at un-ease than now.

To top her already low mood off, she had to sit at the breakfast table with not only her father but -you guessed it- Thomas as well. She spent most of the time, pushing her food with the fork than actually eating it. Every bite felt like it was fighting its way right back up.

''Chloe, I must tell you something. I have some news!'', her father piped up at one point.
She slowly raised her head to look at him.
''You surely know that our good friend Thomas here normally only stays for one or two nights. Well, he decided to arrange a change of plans because he's less busy with his work than he first expected to be.''
Chloe's heart started pounding heavily against her chest. From these words, it was easy to guess what was following and even though, she knew it would have no use, she still silently prayed that he would not say it. Please no.
''He's staying for two weeks this time! Isn't that great?"

The sentence cut her like a knife and she unknowingly dropped her fork in shock.
She tried to hold her breathing under control. At the sight of her father's beaming face and shining eyes, she forced her lips to a smile.
''Wow, amazing.'', she pressed through gritted teeth.
Mr Bourgeois nodded enthusiastically.

She went through several minutes of silent suffering until she spoke up again.
''If you'll excuse me, I'm going upstairs.''
''Of course, of course.'', her father said quickly.
Chloe hastily stood up and walked straight to her room where she instantly ran to her bed and threw herself on top of it, burying her face in a pile of pillows and her arms.

There were no tears.
Instead there was a racing heartbeat like she'd just run a marathon, heavy almost hyperventilating breathing and the feeling of getting her chest crushed.
It felt close to what one might imagine dying to feel like.
And the fact that she'd have to go to school in less than an hour, all the while having this scenario replay inside of her mind and feeling so hopeless and terrified, didn't make it much better.
Although, she had never been more happy to get to school. She would do and endure anything to avoid being close to Thomas. If school was the only way to do that, so be it.

Sorry, the chapter's pretty short! I didn't have much time today. I'll try to make the next one longer again, promise! :)