I can see in the doctor’s eyes he wants to touch me, comfort me in some way. He tells me with his body first, then his words.
“Let’s start with something simple. I’m just going to check your pulse. Is that okay?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. I’m frozen.
He hesitantly reaches his hand out, and his fingers press against the inside of my wrist.
I jump.
I can’t fucking stand the touch. No matter how comforting he intended it. It feels like he’s trying to stab my body. To ruin and torture me.
/> My body springs up like a scared cat, my body on alert, my claws out, and a hiss from my mouth.
“Miss Miller, I’m sorry. Come back to—”
I can’t hear the doctor’s words. I can’t be here a second longer.
I spring from the bed, feeling the tug of the IV trying to keep me in.
Fuck that.
The pain of the needle barely registers as it pulls from my hand. But I feel free as I leave the bed. The covers no longer trapping me, and my body safe from being touched.
I don’t know where I’m going. Enzo started the tour of the house yesterday, but he never finished it. Instead, I collapsed like a pussy. Enzo will think he can take whatever he wants from me—that I won’t fight back. I won’t be surprised if he comes to my room tonight and takes whatever he wants from me.
I can’t think about that. I’ll figure out how to protect myself soon enough.
I run to the stairs.
Fucking stairs.
I’m so tired, but the adrenaline from needing to get away from the doctor is stronger than the weakness and dizziness I feel.
Down the stairs I go, half running, half falling.
When I stumble down the main floor, I keep moving my legs, still not sure where I’m headed or why. My fight or flight has kicked in, and I can’t stop until someone slows me down.
I keep going, sweat soaking my body, chills shooting up and down my spine, panic weighing down my legs.
Keep running, flee, escape.
Those thoughts play on repeat through my head.
I can’t stop.
I can’t get a reprieve from the exhaustion I’m feeling. Nothing will stop me.
“Stop,” a deep, authoritative voice echoes in the walls.
What? Stop? I can’t.
“Stop.”
I feel my legs slowing, although I don’t understand why.
“Stop, Kai.”
My legs come to a halt as if I hit a brick wall.