Page 48 of Daddy's Muse
Out, out, out, out, out.
I didn’t even feel the cold at first—just the slam of my bare feet against the dorm stairs, the harsh fluorescent lights and concrete walls of the stairwell blurring past as I half-ran, half-stumbled down. My breath came in jagged gasps that scraped my throat, my chest so tight I could barely get air in.
The night air hit me like a slap when I shoved through the door leading outside. My skin prickled, goosebumps breaking out along my arms and legs, but I couldn’t stop. The pavementwas rough under my soles, each step jarring, almost painful, but it didn’t matter. I just had to get away.
I didn’t even remember taking my phone with me until it was suddenly in my hand. My thumb hit Bodin’s contact automatically. The line rang once, twice, then—
“Colby?” His voice was deep and alert. “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”
I tried to answer, but all that came out was a broken whimper. My vision was swimming, every breath a desperate fight.
“Colby,” he said, concern growing, “talk to me—are you hurt?”
“N-no—” The word cracked in half. I doubled over, gripping the phone like it was the only thing tethering me to the earth. “B-bed—I-I—hnnn.” My voice broke into sobs.
“What?” He sounded sharper now, but not angry—focused. “Colby, I can’t understand you. Where are you?”
“I—outside—” I was gulping air, trying to force the words out between shuddering breaths.
“I’m coming to you right now,” he said, with no hesitation. “Listen to me, baby. Look for one of those blue safety lights. Do you see one?”
I spun, dizzy, scanning the stretch of campus lit by scattered lampposts. A faint blue glow shimmered at the far end of the sidewalk, past the bike racks.
“Y-yeah—”
“Go sit under it and don’t move until I get there. I mean it, Colby. You stay put. And if anyone tries to approach you, press the big button on the side of the post. It’ll notify the police and give them your location.” His tone left no room for argument. “I’m not even five minutes away.”
I swallowed, tasting metal, my body still trembling as I forced my legs to move toward the blue light. It painted my skin acold, unreal shade, the world beyond it swallowed in darkness. I curled into myself on the concrete, my back against the pole, clutching the phone to my ear like I could absorb his voice straight into my bones.
“Good,” Pappa said quietly now, but there was still steel beneath it. “I’ve got you. Just breathe for me, baby. I’m almost there.”
The sound of tires crunching over gravel made my head snap up after I’d spent an unknown amount of time zoned out. A black SUV pulled to the curb, headlights cutting through the blue haze. Pappa was out before the engine even stopped, moving towards me fast, his expression tight with worry.
“Colby. Oh, elsklingen min. Er du skadet? La meg se.Faen.” His hands were on my face before I could think, thumbs brushing over my damp cheeks. “You’re freezing. Gods, you’re shaking.”
I tried to say something, anything, but my throat locked up. The sob caught halfway, and I just ended up making this pathetic noise against his chest when he pulled me in.
“Shhh,” he murmured into my hair. “I’ve got you, Colby. You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
My bare toes curled against the cold concrete as he guided me toward the SUV. He opened the passenger door, lifting me in and tucking me against the seat before shutting the door and jogging around to the driver’s side.
“Breathe,” he said once he was in, one hand on the wheel, the other reaching to squeeze my knee. “Slow it down for me, in and out.”
I tried.
I really did. But every time I blinked, I saw it again—black feathers, glassy eye, the stiff curve of claws. My skin crawled, bile threatening to climb up my throat. My hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped my phone.
Pappa’s gaze softened, but his voice stayed firm. “You’re not staying there tonight. I’m not sure what happened, but if it made you this way, there’s no way in hell I’m letting you go back in there.”
“B-but I-I have class tomorrow—”
“We’ll figure that out later. It’s not what’s important right now. You’re coming home with me. We’ll gather some of your belongings and head home. End of discussion.”
Some tiny, rational part of me knew I should argue, but I just nodded. It was easier. Safer.
I looked out the window, unsure of how far I had run from the dorm. It looked pretty far away. Pappa drove to the parking lot behind my dorm and parked the car, looking at me for a long moment before shutting off the engine.
“Stay here. Lock the doors when I get out and don’t unlock them for anyone but me. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
