Page 91 of Rome: The Ballerina

Saint guided me inside, both of our legs still moving. Our speed was uninterrupted until we reached the porch. My hands pressed against my knees as I came to a complete stop. Sweat dripped onto the wooden planks.

“Shit. Let’s rest. You trying to kill a–”

Roof.

Roof.

Rooooof.

Roof!

I stilled, unable to move a muscle. Fear gripped my heart, immobilizing me. My body locked as I plummeted to the ground.

The awful and haunting smell of a canine’s breath hovered over me. Thick, bacteria-infested saliva dripped on my chest as the chubby, saggy face of my aggressor became clearer.

“Leo!” Saint yelled.

“Back– now! Leo.”

He wrestled with the massive chunk of force, trying to rid me of his presence. However, he was on a mission to establish his dominance. Saint’s efforts only enraged him.

Fow.

“Urrrrrrrrr.”

The furry ball of aggression retreated, instantly.

“Urrrrrrrrr. Urrrr. Urrrrr!”

He fell over, right beside me, yelping in pain.

“Fuck!” Saint’s hand ran down his face as the whimpers of his pet filled the air.

“It’s in his back, barely. He’ll live.This time,” August expressed with a shrug.

“It’s not him I’m worried about,” Saint confessed, extending his arm.

I used his strength in collaboration with mine to lift myself from the ground. The towel that hung from Saint’s pocket the entire run was now pressed against my skin. I exhaled, silently thanking God for keeping me. I reopened my eyes to find Saint’s eyes burning holes in my cheeks.

My forehead.

My neck.

My ears.

My shoulders.

He left me riddled. And, when his eyes finally met mine, he threatened to burn them to ash as well.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded with a sigh. I propped a hand on my hip and shifted my weight, nervously. Shame tried having its way with me, but something wouldn’t allow it. Someone wouldn’t allow it. Saint wouldn’t allow it.

“Yes,” I breathed out, barely above a whisper. “Yes, I’m fine.”

My hands were trembling. My breaths were shaky. My thoughts were running rampant.

“I apologize, Rome. He gets excited and doesn’t quite know how to contain himself. It comes off as aggression sometimes, but it’s his way of greeting us. All of us if he could.

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