I managed to escape him.
I didn’t know how, but I did.
And I had been running through the streets as the icy rain showered down upon me, making me feel the pain of my decision.
It was cold, and icy, and dark… and I just kept going until I found a dry hiding place.
Dante saved me, I know he did. But I was scared, and nervous, and I didn’t know if I could fully trust him.
So—when he left to retrieve something—I ran…
And I regretted it immediately.
It was dark here… too dark.
The cold wind bit my skin, tearing through my veins as I sat behind an air conditioner in some alleyway.
The rain sliced into my skin, sending shivers through me as I buried my face in my knees.
I was shaking, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was scared or if I was cold. I didn’t know what to do… I was so… numb.
I remained there for God knows how long.
But… where would I go after this? Would I go home? Would I go to school?
I wasn’t safe. I wasn’t safe anymore.
I didn’t know who I could trust.
I huffed out a shaky breath, watching the cloud puff from my lips and into the cold night.
My face was cold and sticky from the rain, and I felt something hot slip down my cheeks.
Tears…?
I didn’t know.
As I buried my face further into my knees, I clutched onto myself tightly, trying to retain my body heat and wait this storm over.
I stared at the ground for a long moment.
But then the rain stopped hitting my skin, and I heard it beat onto a fabric above me—a hollow sound—so, very hollow.
I gazed up then, still shivering.
My eyes widened.
Dante stood above me—a small towel draped over his wrist—and his other arm held an umbrella over my form.
Half of him was covered, and I watched the rain lightly pat onto his hair.
I stared at him for a long moment, trying to read his expression.
But it was gone, emotionless.
Why was he so good at hiding his emotions?
I breathed shakily, shivers racking my body.
He just knelt down to my level, and I didn’t draw back like I screamed at myself to.
“You need to stop running off like that,” he said gently. “You’ll get sick.”
I looked away then, tremors spreading through me.
Dante sighed then, setting the umbrella skillfully against the windowsill so I was still covered, and he pulled the towel off his arm.
I blinked when he draped it over me.
The warmth bled into my skin—as if he just took it from the drier—and he lightly pulled it over my hair, rubbing the strands.
I just closed one eye, cheeks squishing when he dried my face.
He smiled a little, making my body heat slightly, and he just pulled the towel fully over my shoulders, so I was warm.
He then scooped me up, and I gasped a little.
As he held me with one arm, he lightly caught the umbrella with his other.
And he started walking.
I sunk my body against his, trying to get warm.
“You’re so small,” he joked as I curled up with him. “It’s adorable.”
“Shut up,” I said then, still huddling up with his chest. “I’m thirty-two.”
He just gazed back down at me with a small smile. “I know.”
“Then stop teasing me.”
“But it’s fun,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I was cursed by the angels,” I stated then. “None of that is fun.”
His smile remained. “Let’s get you back home.”
I stared blankly down at his chest as he held the umbrella over us both, and he continued forward for what felt like miles until we met the street his house resided on.
After going through the street, down the stairs, and into the abandoned mall, I sniffled a little and held myself closer to him.
“I don’t have a change of clothes…” I whispered.
“You can use mine,” he answered swiftly. “I’ll buy you more tomorrow.”
“What about my clothes? The ones I wore before?”
“Your apartment was raided by those half-wits,” Dante said almost cynically. “It’s too dangerous to go back there.”
I continued to stare down at his chest, cheek pressed to his neck.
We entered his apartment then, and I let him carry me to the bathroom before he set me onto the toilet.
“I’ll go get you a new shirt,” he stated then. But he just gazed down at me, eyes glowing in warning. “And now, if you try that again, I will take some privileges away, understand?”
I just glared. “You’re not my mother. And I’m thirty-two. I can do whatever I want.”
“Mm…” he said then, shaking his head. “Nope. Not in my house.”
“You won’t let me out of your house!” I hissed then. “This is kidnapping!”
“Indeed, it is,” he responded, stepping out from the room. “You know… when you think of someone being kidnapped by a demon, you originally wouldn’t think that they would be provided with a full bed and bath, three meals a day, and full hospitality. You would think they would be locked in a dungeon or something.”
I just glared.
He smirked at me. “Keep this up, and I’ll lock you in one of the abandoned stores. One of them was a bank with bars closing off a vault. Would you rather be my prisoner than a guest?”
Something cold swelled inside me, and I swallowed something hard when his eyes glowing a dangerous red.
I finally manage to challenge him. “You’re bluffing.”
His face cracked a smile, and he laughed.
My lips thinned when the cold swelled deeper.
“You’re right, I am,” he said then, calming to chuckles. “I scared you shitless, though.”
The cold inside shattered like ice.
Wait… what?
“I would never do such a thing…” he said then, smirking, “to you.”
“The hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re lucky.” He winked. “I’ll be getting that shirt now.”
And he walked off.
I fisted my shirt in my hands as my body shook slightly with the cold.
Almost a minute later, he stepped back in.
I gazed up as he set the shirt on the counter and stepped over to me. “Do you need help changing?”
“How old am I?” I demanded.
“Well… you have small arms, so….”
I threw the towel at him. “Get out.”
He caught it and smiled, exiting the room.
I watched as he closed the door behind him, and I suddenly slumped against the wall.
Something deep inside me was heating and coiling dangerously, and I tried to breathe through it.
After a moment I closed my eyes, recuperating my emotions.
*****
I stepped out from the bathroom, glaring forward as I stepped over to the living room where I guessed Dante was seated.
I circled around the couch and stood in front of him, and he gazed up from his phone.
The shirt he gave me hung down to my knees, the short-sleeves looking like long-sleeves on me.
God… he was some giant.
Dante smiled when he stood up. “Ah, you look so cute.”
I glared. “Shut it.”
“It fits you well,” he said then.
“It looks like a dress,” I snapped.
He circled around me and went down the hall. “Still… looks good on you.”
I just grumbled in protest and sat onto the couch, crossing my arms over my chest so I could sulk in peace.
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