Chapter 9
ISABELLA
“Mommy!” I yell, trying my best to wake her up but she stays still.
I need to get them out.
How will I get them out?
They can’t die.
I need them.
I can’t be alone.
Who’s going to take care of me?
“Mommy! Please wake up! I need you. You can’t leave me,” I cry, holding mommy’s hand while trying to pull her out of the flipped car.
Daddy is on the driver's side, his head against the wheel. I don’t even remember how I managed to crawl out of the tiny space.
I have cuts all over my knees and hands and there is no one out on this road that can save us.
Someone save us.
Please.
“You’re going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay and we’re going to go back home and I’m going to get help. I promise. I’ll get help.” I lean down and kiss her forehead, saying I love her before I stand up. My jeans and shirt are a mess from blood and dirt.
I try not to look back at mommy and daddy as they rest in the car. My eyes go to every detail around me. There is a gas station down the street.
Maybe if I run I can get help?
“Shame,” a voice says, making me turn around.
My eyes meet bright blue ones.
He stares down at me, no sympathy in them whatsoever.
“Can you help me? My parents, they need help. I need to get them help before they die. Please help me,” I say while crying.
The guy kneels down and tilts his head slightly, almost in a mocking tone. “Now why would I do that?”
His voice sounds haunting, as if he is a bad guy.
Mommy told me never to talk to strangers.
He doesn’t seem like a nice stranger. His eyes look like death even though they are the color of the ocean. They just scream bad news.
I need to run.
As if he can read my mind, he grabs my arm and I flinch, letting out a cry. “Let me go!”
He pulls me closer to him, his breath smelling like cigarettes.
“Be careful Isabella, because I might leave you alone right now. But one of these days, when I find you again, I’m not going to stop at anything to destroy Richard Rossi’s life.
He’ll be up there watching his beautiful little girl die at my hand.
” he says, gripping my arm harshly, making me let out another cry.
“The grand finale will be you, little Rossi.”
He tilts his head down giving me a sinister stare before his lips form a creepy smile.
“Please,” I whimper, shaking my head and shutting my eyes so he can’t see me.
If I can’t see him then he can’t see me.
“Be ready, Isabella.”
I scream.
I jolt away, screaming uncontrollably.
Hands are on me but I can’t see them.
All I can see are those sinister blue eyes.
The same blue eyes that destroyed my childhood.
“Isabella,” I hear someone say. “Listen to my voice. You’re okay,” he says, trying to calm me down.
I blink away the blue eyes, desperately trying to erase him from my mind. My eyes focus on the person in front of me.
Slade.
I look around.
We’re in my room and he’s sitting on the side of my bed with his hand on my face, stroking my cheek. I feel hot and sweaty from the nightmare.
“Slade,” I whisper.
He scoots closer and moves hair away from my face, staring at me intensely.
“I’m here, you’re okay,” Slade assures. I haven’t had a nightmare like that in so long.
Most of the nightmares I’ve had lately have just been about what happened in the alleyway.
But then the shadow from earlier today must have brought back memories.
I lick my lips and Slade watches me as I try to calm down and keep my heart from exploding. “What happened?”
Blue eyes flash in my head making me flinch. “It was a nightmare o-or a m-memory. I don’t know.” I shake my head lightly.
“A memory?” Slade raises an eyebrow.
“Yea, just something that happened in my past and I guess I still think about it sometimes.” My bedroom door is open and I can’t help but feel like something is out there.
Slade turns his head, looking at the door and back to me. “What’s wrong? You want me to close the door?”
I shake my head. “No, but would it be weird to ask you if you could look around the apartment? And make sure that nothing is in here?”
He nods. “I know there’s no one here but I’ll check for you.” Slade lets go of me and holds out his hand for me to take.
I grab it and get out of bed while he stands up. I watch him as we walk around the apartment. He looks through every corner and opens every door, except his own, in the apartment. When he’s done we go back to my room and he closes the door behind him.
I get into bed and pull the duvet to cover me while he sits on the side of the bed, facing me.
“You don’t have to worry about anyone coming in here and hurting you.
” Slade pushes a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I will always be the thing you should fear the most in this apartment. No one other than me is allowed to hurt you.”
I can’t help but smile. “You could never hurt me.”
Slade’s eyes go down to my lips, licking his own before meeting my eyes. “What did you mean by memory?”
“It was a memory of my parents' death. They died in a car crash,” I say but not explaining it in detail. He’ll think I’m crazy if I tell him the whole story. “Do you have nightmares?”
Slade nods slowly. “Everyone does. You just have to overcome them, avtor.” He strokes my hair a few times before he stands up.
My anxiety creeps up my body and before I stop myself I grab his arm making him stop. He glances down at my hand on his arm before looking up at me. “Can you stay? Just until I fall asleep?”
Slade licks his lips before nodding.
I move to the other side of my bed and he gets in, under the duvet.
We’re facing each other, not saying anything. I see his eyes tracing over every detail of my face while I do the same to him.
I’ve never been this close to him. I can feel his body heat radiating onto mine.
And I know if I move closer we’d basically be touching.
I'm not sure why all of a sudden, after not being interested in guys for so long, I’m interested in this one.
“Close your eyes, Isabella.”
I smile, hoping he can’t tell because it’s dark.
But I listen and close my eyes, letting him be the last thing I see.