Page 20 of Unmasking You

I rush down the staircase and walk across the dance floor. That’s when a hand lands on me. I struggle against the grip, but it doesn’t budge. I turn around, hoping my stare will be enough to incinerate them, but I’m left with my mouth hanging open.

Shane is there.

I ignore his worried face and his pleading eyes. Instead, I struggle more to get free and he lets me go. At last, he lets me go.

I turn around, ready to abandon him there and take refuge in the toilets. It’s only then that I take notice of the fact I strode across the dance floor instead of walking around it. Now I’m surrounded by a crowd of bodies lost in the music and not aware of the walls closing around me, or my breath deceiving and disappearing on me, leaving me breathless.

I whip my head left and right, trying to find a way to get free, but the bodies close in on me. I bring a hand to my throat, willing my lungs to breathe and free me from these chains.

My body is out of control, frozen in the fear of being surrounded, until a soft touch has me raising my head up to meet ocean-blue eyes that stop my mind from spinning out of control.

I watch his lips moving, but I can’t understand what they’re saying. Then strong arms wrap around me, and I expect my body to recoil from the touch, but instead it sags against it as if the touch is my salvation.

My head is full of the same word, like a song on repeat…please, please, please.

I breathe in the alluring scent flowing from this body and let it fill my head until those walls push outward and my brain resumes its natural function.

At that moment, everything I thought I disliked is what’s keeping me sane.

“Are you okay?”

His voice reminds me of who I have in front of me, and I rein in all my fears to face the monster. But a sick part of me wants to keep him close because some part of me tells me I’m safe with him.

My brain, though, knows he’s not, so I push his arms away, standing tall in front of him. Knowing the music is too loud for him to hear me if I move away, I stand still.

I look up and meet his eyes. I don’t waver.

“What—“

“I promise you, I didn’t know you’d be here.”

I pause because his words ring true. Does it really matter? My brain supplies. What about all the other times?

“Would it have made a difference if you knew?”

“No. I would have wanted to come here even more.”

His words unsettle me, and I’m not sure if it’s because I refuse them or because I want them to be true.

The bodies around us get closer still, and I flinch at the idea of being touched and unconsciously take a tiny step forward. I stop myself from searching for his comfort and instead focus on breathing. I don’t have any intention of letting him see me broken.

“Leave me alone. Don’t talk to me, and above all…” I spell out the rest in the hope he’ll finally listen and finally believe what I’m saying, “Do. Not. Touch. Me.” I grit my teeth and move forward ready to pass, to be done with him for good.

He steps in front of me, and I watch his mouth move, but I can’t hear anything. The dam has broken, and everything I tried to keep contained is now dripping out, and it won’t take long to be a flood that will submerge me.

Please, don’t let him see me broken.

“What’s happening?” Alexi’s voice washes over me, and his large body encircles me, creating a cocoon I’m glad to have right now.

I try to speak, but nothing comes out.

“What did you do to him?” Alexi’s voice, once again so clear, even if the music is loud.

I need to run away, and I can’t do it on my own, so I force myself to speak.

“I want to go.” I believe I’ve whispered the words and no one is going to hear me.

Instead, Alexi turns to me. Only a glance, and I’m sure he knows. “Let me get you home.”

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