Page 74 of The Scars of Us

When class finally started, my pent-up frustration and stress still coursed through my body, making my muscles ache from the tension. I couldn’t completely push the thought of Kaleb being released from my head, probably because of how soon it was. If I didn’t expel everything soon, I was going to spontaneously combust.What better way to release it all than to take it out on the bag?

I began with simple jabs and punches, but after my fists connected with the vinyl, my moves intensified as fury took over my body. The bag morphed into Kaleb, and I completely lost it. Control was no longer mine as I cascaded into that abyss inside me, the source where all my demons lay.

My arms and legs flew as I pummeled Kaleb with elbows, kicks, and punches, making him hurt as he had hurt me all those years. Sweat drenched my face as I continued, unable to stop; if I stopped, he would only hurt me back, punish me for fighting him.

My chest burned as I struggled to breath, but I couldn’t stop. I had to keep going, had to protect myself. Dizziness settled over my body like a heavy weight as my vision blurred, and I felt my knees meet the ground.No.

Ringing filled my ears from the piercing scream of someone, and I covered them to drown out all the noise. I clenched my eyes shut as I folded into myself, wanting to conceal as much of my body as possible from Kaleb’s backlash.

Rough hands gripped my shoulders, causing me to strike outward. The hit was weak, but I still connected before slumping forward in exhaustion. I heard a familiar voice, but it didn’t sound like it normally did; it was frantic and laced with fear. “Look at me, Ky! Come back to me, baby.”

Trying to concentrate on the sound, I lifted my head slightly, but it caused everything to spin around me so I put it back down. My heart thudded as the voice urged, “Breathe, baby, breathe.”

Closing my eyes again, I focused on taking deep breaths, trying to claw my way out of the dark chasm I was buried in. That voice kept talking to me, saying soothing things that helped bring me back towards reality, helped me regain some control.

Some of the pressure constricting me lifted, enough so that I opened my eyes to try and focus on my surroundings. The first thing I saw was a pair of warm, brown eyes that were creased in worry.Ryker.

Some of the tension eased from his strained face as he forced a smile. “There’s my Warrior. I knew you’d fight your way back.”

I blinked a few times to combat my blurred vision and dispel the rest of the disequilibrium clinging to me.

Ryker pushed my sweaty hair out of my face before handing me an open water bottle. “Drink.”

Sipping the cool liquid, what had happened started to sink in. Embarrassment heated my already fevered face as tears stung my eyes. I glanced around the room, expecting to find a bunch of scared faces staring back at me, but there were none. The room was empty except for Ryker and me.

I gave him a confused look, and he answered my unspoken question. “I made everyone leave.”

Completely humiliated didn’t even come close to how I felt. I doubted that I’d be able to come to class ever again; Ryker would have to give me private lessons. If he still wanted to be with me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as a tear rolled down my cheek..

“Sorry? For what?” His eyes held a look of confusion.

“That I flipped out and totally lost it, that you had to stop class because of me, that I embarrassed you,” I bitterly replied as I looked down, angry for my lack of control.

Ryker gripped my chin and tilted my face to look at him. “I’m not embarrassed by you. Concerned, yes, but not embarrassed. And I don’t give a fuck about stopping class—you are all I care about.”

There’s that amazing feeling stirring.“Thank you. I think I’m okay now.”

“What happened?” He brushed his knuckles down the side of my face as his eyes met mine.

“I’m not exactly sure. I was trying to let my anger over Kaleb out on the bag, but I lost control. All I could see was him, and then I got lightheaded and disoriented. I can’t really remember too much after that.”

“You went crazy on the bag. You probably felt that way because you were holding your breath. When you fell, you scared the shit out of me—you were screaming so loud, and I had no idea what was wrong.”

I was the one screaming? This just gets better and better.“I’m sorry. That happens sometimes. I thought I had better control over it now, but getting closer to his possible release is starting to get to me.”

“That’s understandable, baby. Don’t stress yourself out about it.” He rubbed his hands up and down my arms before threading our fingers together. “You know you’re not alone in this—you have me. You don’t have to fight by yourself, Warrior.”

There was that feeling in my chest again—that one that made my heart beat faster and wrapped me in happiness. He was borderline perfect, knew exactly what I needed and the right words to say. I had no clue what the hell he saw in me—I was a hot mess.

“It’s not easy to talk about. It’s bad enough that I can’t escape him since I see him whenever I look in the mirror.”

“You look a lot alike? You and Kamden don’t,” Ryker commented.

Shit.I really didn’t want to go there, but Ryker had become my rock, my anchor when I needed security and strength. I’d already realized if things didn’t work out between us, there’d never be anyone that could take his place. He was it for me. If anyone deserved my trust, it was him. “He… he’s my twin.”

Ryker’s face hardened, his beautiful mouth being dragged down in an angry frown as he seethed, “What?”

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