Page 22 of Tangled in His Game

Chapter 11

I’M HOME ALONE BECAUSEmy parents have gone out to get some groceries. All the doors and windows are firmly closed and locked, and I rechecked twice just in case. No one’s getting through my window now.

After finishing my homework and writing half of the paper I’m not even supposed to hand in anytime soon, I head to the bathroom to take a shower. I lock the door like I always do. Maybe it’s not perfectly safe to do that, but I can’t help myself.

One time, when I was staying over at Sebastian’s house, I decided to take a shower because I came there from school, all sweaty from my PE class. Sebastian sneaked into the bathroom, and I didn’t hear him.

Until he grabbed me from behind.

I screamed and thrashed, and instead of trying to calm me down, he clamped his hand over my mouth and held me tighter.

We almost ended up falling and getting seriously hurt. I banged my arm on the faucet. Had a nasty bruise for a while. Sebastian blamed the whole thing on me and said I was too sensitive. Because, who else would’ve come into his bathroom if not him?

He even made me apologize for freaking out on him and scratching his arm.

I start singing a random melody to get those images out of my mind. Why is it always the worst memories that surge and assault you when you least want them to?

I let the water run and close my eyes as I step under the warm stream. Maybe I should try meditating or getting a massage. Something to make me forget everything for a bit so I can relax and let go of all the stress.

Starting college is already stressful enough on its own, and with Victor and everyone else, it’s a million times worse. I need to avoid social media like the plague. Why is it taking them all so long to forget about me? Don’t they have their own lives? I can’t be that interesting to them.

A loud sound makes my heart jump. I freeze, turning off the water, and listen. Another loud cracking sound follows, as if something’s breaking. It’s coming from the front door, I think.

My heart beats like crazy in my chest as I grab a towel and wrap it around myself. But as I stand there, I’m unsure what to do.

Someone’s breaking into my house.

Victor?

Does he know I’m in here? The door is luckily locked, but that’s not going to save me. The front door was locked too, and I can hear footsteps just outside in the hallway anyway.

I stop breathing as I hide behind the shower curtain.

No. No. No!

What do I do?

My mind is like jelly as I hear more thuds and more noise. Someone’s going through something. Maybe it’s not Victor.

I look around the bathroom, but I don’t have anything here that I could use as a weapon or to protect myself.

I curl up into a ball in the corner of the shower, trying to make myself as small as possible. My fingers curve around the shower gel. If someone comes in here, I can surprise them and spill the gel into their eyes. Maybe.

I’m shaking all over, terror gripping my insides. The noise dies down, and I can hear footsteps again. They pause in front of the door, and I can barely breathe. My heart is so loud it’s the only thing I hear.

The footsteps move again. Something thuds.

I wait.

---