𝘊𝘩.9┌𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦┘

We were now on the street. Moments later we walked in silence. The mother introduced herself and her son to me once more. She seemed to know Damian. We were on the way to their house. Miss Holly and her son Peter came and hugged me. I still was under poor circumstances. Bloody lips, running blood from the nose, stomach probably bruised. I felt their warm appreciation which helped me cool down. Of course, I didn't show that to any of them. To be truthful, I was a ticking bomb. I could explode to just anyone who dared anger me more. So it was a good thing the three of them were talking and didn't notice my state.

They thanked Damian too. He shook his head, implying that he didn't do anything. While we were taking them home, I didn't say a word. I just smiled at everything and everyone, shaking my head and agreeing with everything. They didn't seem to notice I had lost it when fighting. Even if they did understand something was wrong, they couldn't know what. I was angry about thinking like that again. But I had made peace with it a long time ago. It will always be like this, hurt, hate, pain, and fear. I need to control myself.

We were now reaching their house, and as we walked on the porch, I felt Damian staring at me, but I ignored him. Miss Holy welcomed both of us warmly,
"This is our house. Please, come in," she said. She invited us to her house. It was as well-decorated as the others around it. "Come on, little guy. Let's go and play!" I announced, and little Peter was happy hearing my words, "Yes!" he replied, and I followed him into the living room.

I decided to play with the boy while Holy and Damian talked since they seemed to know each other. They need to find a solution to this situation. I was observing the two of them,mother and son, and how happy they were after all that happened; It was like they forgot
about everything when they were together. While playing with the boy, I had time to observe Damian again. He has black, long hair that makes him seem warm, and his eyes are green.
No dark but not light either; it looked like they were grey from afar. To me, they felt cold. I don't dare look at him directly in his eyes. He seemed to have noticed that, but who cares.

I decided to give my attention to the little boy instead. "Well, that is a nice car you have there!" I said playfully, and little Peter beamed at me, "That one is my favourite!" he brought it up like a shining prize. "I like it too!" I nodded, smiling at him. It was kind of uncomfortable for me to sit there because I didn't want to scare the kid with the injuries and blood that was all over me. I hid my face from everyone because I knew it hurt badly. I touched my face slightly, wanted to know how bad the situation was, "Oh, shit." I cursed as low as I could, wincing after I touched a bloody spot on my face. Little Peter stood up immediately, "Mama! I am worried about Aunt Beth. She seems to hurt." he told his mother as he looked
at me sadly. I just smiled at him reassuringly.

Miss Holly was on my side by the second little Peter glanced at her. They were in the kitchen, which was, fortunately, far from the living room. "I am okay, truly." I smiled once more, wincing at the cut on my lip, but tried to hide it as
much as I could. Miss Holy sounded panicked. Damian's voice sounded then, and I wanted to hide. "Where is she?" His voice, instead of cold, was now furious for some reason. I wonder if this man is well in the head. Okay, I had no right to wonder that I was probably way too fucked to be compared. But, somehow. It felt like he understood me way better than I did; it scared me. It made me want to run away from him as far as possible. Miss Holy then came up to me, searching my injured face.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" She glared at Damian harshly for some reason. She softened up when looking back at me.
"I... I'm okay. What happened?" I answered, but Miss Holy didn't seem to buy it. "Oh, no. You are not okay. Look at your face. I am going to get the aid kid right now!" When I heard that, I stood up immediately and said I was okay.
"No! I am okay." I said, panicking now. I did not want to make them uncomfortable. My hair had covered most of the cuts and bleeds, so it was easy to convince them. Damian turned his head to me warningly, "Like hell you are okay. Look at your face." he growled at my hesitation in getting help. I ignored him and said I would go to the bathroom and fix everything. Miss Holy gave me the first aid kit. Then I went to the bathroom. As soon as I closed the door, tears started pouring down my cheeks.

"Shit. Not again." I gritted my teeth. I reached for the bathroom sink to steady myself. Scenes from the past appeared in my mind like flashbacks, and a stinging pain shot up to my brain as I hissed in pain. "Stop! Please stop. Please stop." I growled slowly, not wanting anyone to hear me.

I couldn't control it much anymore. I wanted to scream, it hurt so bad, and I just wanted to let go, but I knew I couldn't. "I- Fuck. How do I make it stop, how-"  A mess. I was a mess right now. Blood and tears were all over my face. My knees were weak, I probably couldn't stand anymore. "Stop this!" I should've thought about the consequences before getting into that fight. I wasn't in my town. If I was, I could go back.Back to the warehouse and scream all I wanted. I looked at the mirror, the reflection of my most unwanted and hated self.

"Cry it out. It will stop. It will stop." I convinced myself as I slid down next to the bathtub, now crying. I felt empty, alone, and hurt. I hated myself so much that I couldn't breathe. Anyone could easily kill themselves in that kind of situation I have been in. If I wasn't strong enough, who knows what evil monster would have been out to take me with these kinds of memories? I was never afraid of others seeing me snapping. I didn't want this town to get dirtier than it already was because it was just as beautiful. After a few seconds, I tied my hair and tried to stand up but couldn't as I felt the same pain in my head. A few moments later, someone came into the bathroom. Damian's voice sounded then, making my head spin. I looked intently at the bathroom door as if I could burn it. I did not want to look into his cold eyes in such a state. It would destroy
me.

"Beth," he called out to me in a velvety voice, and I felt my inside starting to burn at the way he called out my name. The door opened as he came in and closed it behind him. When I saw him, my brain couldn't handle it anymore. I felt as if everything was his fault. It was hard for me to control my emotions. I was left in a daze before he spoke up, "Are you alright?" he asked in a firm voice. He sounded concerned.

My mind couldn't take more questions, and I gritted my teeth, trying to hold myself together. "Out. Get the fuck out." I voiced without looking at him. I was barely able to hear myself, but he got the message because, instead of leaving me alone, he locked the door and leaned against it. He was now staring at me with a burning fire in his darkened eyes. Somehow, I wanted to blame everything that had happened to me on him. His familiar scent, his emerald eyes. I know I have seen them before. But every time I tried to recollect my memories, my head would spin, and my heart would beat so fast; that I was scared I would die from an attack. He stood at the door, looking at me. His stare was cold, unreadable, and full of nothingness. "Are you alright?" he asked once more, and I cracked my knuckles to make his voice disappear from my head. "I am fucking fine. Now, get out." I hissed as I shakily breathed in.

I looked at him after a moment of no movements. I blinked as I felt a stinging pain in my head once more, and I stood up, trying to throw him out of the bathroom. But he grabbed my wrists in a firm hold. I couldn't do much.
"Let me go, Damian," I warned, looking down, avoiding his eyes. My feet didn't hold me up, and he yanked me toward his body. I couldn't do anything but fall into him. "Let go of me!" I tried my best to hit him with my hands. But he seemed unaffected. "Stop fucking moving!"
"You-" but before I could finish my sentence, he leaned into my ear and bit my earlobe, making me instantly shut up as I took another shaky breath. "What? Why did you go up against six guys? Are you insane?" My breath caught in my throat at his tone, and I whimpered in fear before replying. "What's it to you?"

I bit back, making him glare at me even more, "You have no right to die if I don't say so, do you understand?" he warned as he sounded like what he was saying was reasonable. "You're crazy! You don't own me!" I looked up at him now. He was still glaring at me. His brows furrowed, trying to control his emotions. He took a step forward, bringing me closer to him, chest to chest, as he leaned at the door of the small bathroom. I tried to stand up again but failed. I grabbed the sink next to me and stood straighter. "Go outside so I can clean my face and leave you alone once and for all," I warned, scared about what was happening.

My anger was the only thing holding me up; He seemed to notice it. He continued making me angry. I didn't know if it was on purpose or not. "You are insane, aren't you?" he asked in a low voice as he breathed into my neck, shaking his head in disapproval. That made me furious. Who the hell is he to ask me such a thing?! I have been through hell.

I am still holding up by a thread! How dare he question me like this?! He knows nothing about me, about all the shit I've been through! "No, Damian, I am not insane! You are!" I gritted my teeth, but he ignored me and continued talking to me like I was a baby. "I knew you weren't smart but didn't think that you were this stupid," he said, and I started crying then, hitting him with all the strength I had left. I wanted to blame everything on this man. I wanted him dead! "Why does it matter to you? Just leave me be. Go away. Just leave. I will go back later." I was trying not to yell too much because outside had arrived Peters, grandparents had. "Stop moving, witch!" he had enough now. He had turned us around. I found myself pushed against the bathroom door with a loud thud. "Let me go! Now!" I cried softly. I knew he wanted to help, but I did not want him to! "Stop fighting me," he ordered. He tilted my chin up to look at my beaten-up face.

He leaned on my ear and whispered, sending shivers down my body.
"Don't make me hurt you, Beth. I said stop." It was the first time he talked to me in such a firm and cold tone. At the same time, it warmed every inch of my body; as if recognition swept me up. I was taken aback. It was a tone I had heard before.

No. That can't be! I can't remember anything! Why is his voice so familiar? Why?! I shook my head furiously, not wanting to remember anything, but it hurt. It hurt too much. My head was going to blow up if this continued if HE continued tormenting me. He pressed his body against mine. Leaving me no space to flee.