Thirty Nine

When the police arrived and dragged Vladimir away, I could barely stand. My legs felt unsteady, and I leaned against the nearest wall, my mind spinning. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling at that moment—relief, exhaustion, or just pure shock. But I was safe, and that’s all that mattered now.

Arthur was beside me in seconds, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. His face was tense, and I could see the worry in his eyes, but his presence helped calm the whirlwind in my head.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, his voice rough from the earlier fight. He had never looked so worn out, but there was a softness in the way he looked at me that made me feel a little more grounded.

I nodded, not trusting myself to say much. The events of the night were still swirling in my head, and my body ached from the struggle. Vladimir’s twisted words echoed in my mind, but I shook them off. He was gone now, arrested, and wouldn’t hurt me again. At least, not physically.

Arthur wrapped his arm around me, pul