Chapter 35 Harper #2
“You’re a very beautiful young girl, Harper. I’ve thought that since day one. The way you sit in the front of the class, with your luscious body on display in your poor little dresses. But you know what you’re doing, don’t you?”
My blood iced over as he moved closer, towering over me, pinning me between himself and the table.
I was frozen, a strange tingling adrenaline running through me that locked me in place.
Hardly able to breathe and unable to move but for my heart that was kicking in my rib cage like a trapped animal.
“I’ve watched how you ogled Orion Mercer all year. He won the contest, you know.”
My breath froze in my chest. Shock and fear and dread all falling over me like an avalanche.
“His parents give too much money to the school for it to go any other way. Not to mention his chemistry pedigree. And you came in at a valiant second place. But I can change that. I can help you, Harper.”
His other hand came up, holding me by the shoulders, then he touched my cheek, cupped it, and ran his thumb over my lower lip, then down my neck toward my chest.
“Your project is the one that matters,” he said. “That’s why I’m trying to help you. I can sway Hargrave…if you cooperate. Because I believe in you. I can ensure that that prize money you need so badly is yours.”
“No,” I said, barely a whisper.
“Now, don’t be like that…”
“No,” I said, louder. “Stop touching me.”
I pushed his chest with both hands, but it was like pushing a tree trunk. The placid smug smile on his face instantly turned into an ugly, angry sneer.
“Do not say no to me,” he snarled, and then in the next instant, the smile was back. “You need the money. You deserve it. Why not just relax and let it happen?”
My breath was coming in short panting gusts, my thoughts racing.
Is this happening? Is this really happening? This cannot really be happening.
And it might’ve happened if one thought out of the blue hadn’t come to me: Dean Yearwood, smiling at me and holding out a clipboard.
Answer me these questions three…
My frozen panic snapped. I drove my knee into Langford’s groin.
He made a strangled sound and folded in half.
I shoved him back, drew my arm across my body, and snapped it out.
The back of my hand cracked against his cheek—my middle finger smashed between Orion’s ring and Langford’s jawbone.
Pain flared, sharp and heavy, but I barely felt it.
I shoved past him and bolted for the door.
“Harper, do not run away from me,” Langford intoned.
I had no idea where to go, or what to do. I ran in a blind panic out of the lab. I tried to call for help, but my throat had gone completely dry, and I couldn’t bring air any deeper than my throat.
The hall was empty and quiet, but behind me, Langford was coming, and my mind fractured in two. I was me in that hallway, and I was also ten years old, running from a drunk boyfriend of my mother’s. A monster who was bigger and faster than me, and who was going to hurt me. I had to hide.
Without thinking, I ran to the chemistry storage closet and keyed in the code with trembling fingers. I hauled open the heavy door, ran inside, and shut it behind me then shut off the lights.
The stupidity of my plan came at once, as the childhood memory faded, leaving me with the terrible now.
The darkness and smallness of the space closed in on me, adding to my terror and panic.
Surely Langford had seen me. I was trapped.
Cornered. My chest constricted until I thought I would pass out.
I huddled in the corner, pulled my knees to my chest. A small clank came from my side.
The brass coin Orion had given me with his constellation on it had fallen out of my pocket.
I snatched it up and rubbed my thumb over the stars over and over again, calling to him in my mind.
Find me, Orion. Please…
Nothing but silence. The darkness tried to swallow me whole. My bag with my phone was still in the auditorium, so I sat huddled in the corner, my face hot and dry, rubbing the coin, trying to breathe but remaining as quiet as possible. To make myself small. Invisible.
Finally, the adrenaline drained out, leaving me limp, wrung out, and then the tears came. Great hiccuping sobs. I tried to keep them muffled, but I couldn’t help it. I cried for Dean, for my mother, for Dash, and for me. For what had just happened… And then I screamed as the door opened.
“Miss?” A janitor stood there with a mop in hand. “I thought I heard something…”
I scrambled to my feet and pushed past him, back to the auditorium that was dark and empty.
I grabbed my bag and jacket and ran to the parking lot where I stopped short.
There were only two cars in the parking lot: mine and Langford’s.
And Langford was leaning against his and glancing around. Waiting for me.
The fear gripped me all over again.
I turned and ran the other way. To Atlas Hall. I tore past the gal at the front desk and pounded on Orion’s door.
He opened it, and I threw myself at him, clinging to him.
“Harper? What’s going on?”
I heaved several deep breaths to calm down.
Orion held me at arm’s length, studying me with growing alarm. “What happened?”
I raised my tearstained face. “Langford.”