Say Your Prayers, You're Really Gonna Need Them.

★ ★ ★ - Indicates point of view change.

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★★★

When I woke up, I wasn't straight away sure where I was.

But in the next instance I didn’t care because the painful twinges in my abdomen where taking too much of my attention.

Running my hand down my skin, I placed them on the skin between my hips, trying to put enough pressure on it to relieve the pain.

That’s when I took in the full extent of nakedness my body was in, the realization instantly bringing back memories of last night.

I stood up slowly, before all but running to the bathroom, whilst still naked.

Once at the mirror, I ran my hand over the left side of my throat before wincing slightly.

They were almost healed, now a slight fuchsia colour, but never the less you could still see that they weren’t just little punctures, these were rips, angry and violent in their manner.

I sighed, before turning on the shower and stepping in, letting the hot water run over my body in a desperate attempt at relaxation.

But it didn’t work; the incessant niggles in my lower half still going strong.

When I wrapped a towel round my body I paced back through to the bedroom and slipped on the shirt that had been so avidly tossed off and dug through my bag for some clean underwear.

Glad that I carried such a big bag in moments like these.

Once the towel was hung back into the bathroom, I carried on downstairs only to discover it was empty aside from me.

My clothes were folded in a small pile in the kitchen, clean and ready.

I only opted to pull on my tights, the shirt acted like a dress anyway so it didn’t make much a difference aside for my own comfort.

Sitting myself down on Harlan’s couch I pulled out my phone, before dialling Ellen’s number and waiting for her to pick up.

“Hello?” I heard a groggy sounding Ellen ask.

I frowned, before checking the time; it was only 10, so it explained it.

“Hey.” I mumbled weakly, before hearing a rustling on the other line.

“Ruse! Thank God, I was worried.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Ellen... I just got a little caught up.”

“Well where are you?” she asked.

“Harlan’s.”

“WHAT?” she shouted, causing me to wince.

I didn’t go into details, as usual, just gave her loose inklings until she was able to speak properly again, he over exaggeration making me laugh.

Once I’d hung up I went back into the kitchen and started making coffee.

Just as I was putting sugar into my cup another twinge caused me to double over in agony, gasping as I clutched onto the side.

Taking a deep breath, I stood upright, causing something to stir inside my body and a wetness to form between my legs.

Inhaling a sharp breath I placed my hand on the upper leg of my tights, my fingertips finding the damp patch almost instantly and as I pulled away I couldn't help but hold my breath.

“Shit...” I muttered, before trying to debate what to do.

But it appeared I didn’t have time, the door was being unlocked and a cold breeze fluctuated over my body as Harlan began walking towards me.

“Listen we need to talk about some—” he paused almost instantly, his face shocked as he clung to the door frame.

We stood in a silence for a few moments and from where I was standing I could noticeably see his pupils dilate before he shut his eyes and breathed in deeply.

I didn’t know what to do, the blood was seeping a lot heavier than normal and I needed to get to a bathroom and fast.

But I didn’t dare speak, or even breathe. I just waited, watching Harlan with pure panic, knowing that what was about to transpire wasn't going to be good and all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart as it slammed against my chest.

When Harlan opened his eyes again, they held something that I could only describe as a thirst, that which was lustful and terrifying.

He didn’t move at first, only watched. Holding my eyes with his own.

He dropped his gaze for a second, only to stare at what could only be describe as my lower half before returning to my face.

“Har—” I began, but stopped when he began to move, keeping his back against the wall with slow and marauding steps.

He was watching me, and I couldn't move, and when I felt the tug on my brain, which began to make me feel unable to think I realized what he was doing.

“Stop...” I mumbled, as I began to sway, my stomach still cramping in a sheer painful fashion.

For a single second he did stop, my brain was free and that’s all I needed to run.

I didn’t go out the door, just because of the state I was in, I ran straight up the stairs, locking myself in his room.

Did he let me go on purpose?

It was an almost comforting thought, but one that was shattered when I heard the thump on the door, causing me to jump almost three foot in the air.

This whole thing was almost absurd, surely Harlan knew what to expect when it came to girls.

But the way he was acting was making me think otherwise, he was like a predator.

The thumping continued, and I sat, still not knowing what to do.

“Ruse... let me in.” He called from outside, for a single second his voice sounded calm, soothing and almost inviting.

I shook my head a little bit, clearing my mind.

“No.” I shouted back, my voice cutting out halfway through and sounding a lot less in control than I had wanted it to.

“Okay fine, have it your way.” He growled, before a very large crash made me scream.

The door was now wide open, and Harlan walked through, locking his eyes onto mine.

“What the fuck?” I shouted.

“I was giving you a chance to open it of your own accord; a locked door won't actually keep me out.” He replied with a menacing smile before crouching down a few paces in front of me.

I was frozen on the floor, fear coursing through my whole body like an infection.

“Harlan, please.” I whispered as he leant forward and breathed in deeply.

But it was as though he couldn't hear me, watching my body with an almost shocked interest.

And I was just as fathomless when it came to what to do, that was, until he put his hand on my leg.

I watched as it travelled upwards, towards the bloody patch, knowing that if he reached it I
wouldn’t be able to stop him.

“Stop it.” I mumbled; my voice somehow not able to gain enough volume to sound daunting.

When he didn’t stop I couldn't help but let my next instinct take over, as my palm collided with his cheek.

It probably hurt me more than him, but it triggered enough in Harlan for him to stop and look at me.

But it wasn't the eyes and expression I was hoping for.

His face contorted in anger, his mouth opening just enough for a snarl for rip through his whole body and penetrate the air.

Harlan knocked me down onto my back, still snarling at my face which was now only inches from his own as his weight pinned me down.

I thrashed and tussled, anything to try and get him off me as angry tears stung my eyes.

But my attempts were truly futile, knowing that as angry as Harlan was he was still only toying with me and I was becoming desperately tired, my arms aching from the effort of holding Harlan’s mouth away from my neck.

I was losing, I knew it, and Harlan defiantly knew it. There was nowhere for me to escape to, nothing left to do but give in.

But if I was about to give up the fight, I would at least try to get one last final punch in.

So desperately trying to keep Harlan’s head up with one hand, I pulled back my other and hit him square on the jaw.

My knuckles exploded with pain; so much so that I was too busy noticing its delicate disposition to realize Harlan had stopped trying to maul me to death.

When our gaze suddenly met, I watched as the last of Harlan’s voracious demeanour drained away from his eyes, leaving what could only be described as his normal one.

I sat up quickly, still cradling my bad hand with my good one and watched him with wide eyes.

He pushed himself back stealthily, putting a distance between us, before his face collapsed with a guilty anguish.

“I’m so sorry—” He whispered, “I don’t know what came over me, I’ve never been so...” he trailed off.
I continued watching him, not saying a word as the tears dried up on my face.

“I'm going to go out, can you clean up? I just— have to go...” He stammered in a daze before exiting out the door and leaving me in his wake.