the devil who chases the demons away

CHARLOTTE

The car ride back to the mansion is purposefully silent, other than the hum of the air conditioner and my shaky, unsteady breaths.

I don’t think, I don’t move, I don’t speak, and I don’t let go of Taide the entire car ride. Not when we get out of the car, and not when he carries me up the stairs to my room.

I cling to him like he’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. And I tell myself he is because I have a sinking feeling that if I let go, I’ll be tossed back into that room with the cigarette smoke and the hard bed, at the mercy of Anton and his friend’s vile intentions.

I don’t realize when we’ve entered my room, but I do notice when Taide slowly starts to lower me onto the bed and pull away.

I let out a small sound of protest and keep my fingers buried in the skin of his arms, desperate to maintain any form of physical contact.

Taide pauses and stares down at me with an unreadable expression on his face. Even though my mind is still half gone, I realize how aw