Obsession (Dangerous Love #1)

CHAPTER 16

___________________________________________________

A REAL CHANCE

___________________________________________________

I spent the rest of the week obsessively avoiding Harris until he figured out something was wrong with me, but I asked for time. I didn’t know why I asked for time, but every time I saw him, I could not help but think of that horrible pool of blood.

Shane had called me the next day and told me that it was cow’s blood, probably from a slaughterhouse. He was on the case, investigating every slaughterhouse in the area and trying to get pictures from the cameras around my house, but he hadn’t found anything useful.

I hadn’t told him about the gray Range Rover. I told myself that I would tell him about it too if I saw it again, but everything had gone quiet. I tried to believe that his plan was working, but by the end of Friday, I realized how much it hurt.

How deeply Harris had burrowed into my head.

How it tore me apart to see every look he gave me, every silent plea for just a few minutes of my time so he could talk. He hadn’t been lying, he and Amber were over. He was destroyed and had lost her luster, she looked at me every step of the way like she wanted to suffocate me with her thoughts, but I had other things to do. With or without blood on my bed, I still felt like a bitch for ruining her relationship, for stealing her boyfriend. The details didn’t matter, all that mattered was that Harris had left her for me. She got revenge on me every practice and I let her, I kept my calm around her because she was heartbroken and I was the reason, no matter how toxic their relationship had been.

I knew that I would have been in his arms now were it not for that bloody message. I would have forgiven him, but fear held me back, and it wasn’t fear for myself, but for my father.

I couldn’t risk hurting him too, losing him too.

The pain in my chest sometimes spread its tentacles so much that I felt like it would swallow me whole. I’d shouted at Harris the last time he’d tried to talk to me. He sensed something had happened, my dark circles were proof of that, caused by the fact that I hadn’t gotten an hour of restful sleep in that bed.

Shane had been right; Harris would have done something reckless if he’d found out what had happened. I didn’t want to transfer that horror onto him, not when I could handle the situation on my own. After the recent events, he had lost control again and beaten Joshua, but the idiot laughed when he saw me yelling at Harris to leave me alone.

During the weekend I looked for the nearest gym and signed up. I’d found that physical exhaustion reduced my need for drugs, and in the last few days I’d needed them more than ever.

I had hoped that each day that passed would make me stronger, but it didn’t.

On Sunday night, he sent a single text message:

“Allow me to keep my promise.”

I cried the rest of the night in that damn bed until my nightmares pushed away the horrible reality.

Mondays were the worst, not because they were the worst days of the week, but because we had the most classes together. He had chosen the perfect time to stop skipping school. I mentally prepared myself for our psychology class, where we were still project partners. Last week, he had taken the doll and promised to take care of it. I didn’t know what that meant exactly, but I was glad to be rid of that whiny freak show, even if we were both probably going to get the worst grades possible. Today we had to turn in the work, and we had to sit next to each other for a long time again. I prayed to resist him, even though my strength was wearing thin.

I sat down in my seat and slammed my history book on the desk. I didn’t get as many looks as I used to. The last week had been pure torture, but now they were bored and realized that Harris and I were over. Whatever had been between us was over.

A lot of sexual attraction, secrets, and toxicity. I answered my own thoughts bitterly. That’s exactly what it was.

I tried to listen to our teacher, while he struggled to explain the main idea of “Mein Kampf”.

I felt really sick, the class seemed foggy, and a cold feeling ran through my body. I gritted my teeth and pressed my fingers to my forehead.

Not now, damn it, not now!

I hadn’t eaten enough at breakfast, I’d gone for a run, and I was late.

I cursed every dose of drugs I’ve ever taken.

“May I please go to the restroom?” I heard myself ask without even thinking about it.

The teacher paused mid-sentence and turned his attention to me.

“Of course you can! Are you all right, Miss Wrise?”

He looked at me as if he was scared. I could feel the sweat on my face; I clearly didn’t look well.

“Yes,” I replied, getting up from my chair and trying to leave the classroom as quickly as possible.

That wasn’t a good idea, because my dizziness threw me off balance a few times and caught the attention of everyone present, who were already too interested in me.

I barely managed to get out of class without falling on my butt. I took a deep breath as I closed the door behind me.

I leaned against the wall and fought the ringing in my ears. It wasn’t real, but I could have sworn it hurt my eardrums.

Our history class was on the second floor, and I was struggling to remember where the hell the restroom was.

I started walking slowly, keeping close to the wall to avoid falling. My feet gave way and the images around me blurred.

Fuck you, Harris, and the day you drugged me.

My meds were in my backpack, but it felt impossible to reach my locker.

“Well, well, what do we have here? An injured little bird?”

I stopped and turned my head, but I couldn’t see anything. For a moment I thought I was hallucinating, that the voice wasn’t real, but then I sensed his presence.

I gritted my teeth and rubbed my eyes, trying to regain my damn vision. My throat was scratchy, I was sweating, then I suddenly felt cold. I switched from one feeling to another with dangerous speed.

When my vision cleared, I winced.

His sadistic smile made it clear that he was very real.

Joshua.

His face still showed the bruises Harris had given him. My breath caught in my throat as I realized I was alone with him, and now more incapable than ever of defending myself. I could barely stay on my feet.

His face blurred again.

Scream! Get rid of him as soon as possible.

“What happened, doll? Didn’t you take your energizers today?” he spoke with macabre amusement, grabbing my wrists and pinning me to the wall, pressing his body against mine.

“Let go of me,” I whispered, my throat dry, unable to recognize my own voice.

“Hmm, what if I tell you I can give you what you need?” he whispered back, lowering his face to my neck and smelling my skin.

I couldn’t believe my mind was actually thinking about accepting his offer. How desperate could I be? Considering the situation where I couldn’t even feel my body anymore, I could say extremely desperate.

“Go to hell,” I growled, facing the dizziness and temptation.

“I’m not going, but you are,” his voice became serious. “Someone really wants you.”

“What…?” was all I could say, I couldn’t ask him what he was referring to.

His whisper felt poisonous in my ear:

“You know, Katherine, when you start playing with a demon, you attract the devil’s attention.”

I couldn’t protest when I felt my wrists being pulled and I was dragged away on the corridor. I tried to scream, but my voice was gone, I couldn’t see anything and everything around me seemed to be swallowed by a thick fog. I felt Joshua’s arms around me as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a carcass. I started to cry with fear, unable to do anything to fight back. My instincts were frozen, even though I could feel my arms flailing aimlessly against the air as I couldn’t see which way they were hitting.

I couldn’t believe he was actually thinking of abducting me from school like this. I could only hope that someone saw us and rescued me, and that someone was Harris.

“Stop fucking moving like that or you will have blood coming out of your nose.”

He laughed, and I stopped suddenly.

Blood.

“You did it,” I said so quietly I didn’t think he’d heard me, but I didn’t need his approval.

He was the bastard who’d thrown the blood on my bed. I could have bet my life on it.

Anger exploded in my temples. I started to stir again and wanted to scream, but I heard another voice.

“Hey, let her go!”

Joshua stopped, I wanted to shout for help, but my stupid voice wouldn’t cooperate while my head throbbed with pain.

I prayed it was Harris, but that voice didn’t seem to be his…. or maybe it was my dizziness.

“What the hell do you want?” Spoke Joshua, his anger vibrating on my back.

It clearly was not Harris, or his head would already be connected to the wall.

“I want you to let her go,” the unknown voice replied.

His tone was serious, angry even, but not as harsh or thick as Harris’, which exuded a sort of deadly calm that I could recognize anywhere, no matter how dizzy.

“She’s not well, I’m taking her to the nurse,” Joshua lied, trying to escape.

I wanted to scream in despair, to struggle against his grasp, but all I could do was cry. The tears fell unintentionally and uncontrollably from my eyes, and I hoped that they were enough for the stranger to save me. I was so weak that I couldn’t even lift my head. I hung heavily over Joshua’s shoulder, like a dead animal.

“And that is how you treat someone who is unwell?” the man wanted to know, “What’s wrong with her? What happened?”

“You know what? What the hell is your problem, toad eyes?” Joshua growled and turned.

“Toads have round eyes, mine are not like that,” the stranger clarified, unfazed by Joshua’s anger.

“Oh, really? I’ll make them for you.”

Suddenly I was thrown off his shoulder and onto my feet, but the idiot hadn’t realized I couldn’t stand up straight, so I lost my balance, fell, and hit my head, almost bringing me back to reality from the trance and unreal pain my need for drugs was causing. Two arms grabbed me by the waist but quickly disappeared, followed by sounds that must have come from powerful blows. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to get back to normal. My headache was still there, but I could control my eyes and see what was happening around me.

I turned my attention to the stranger fighting Joshua; I didn’t recognize him, but his features were unique. Either that, or I was having really bad hallucinations. He seemed bigger than Joshua, not very muscular, but with enough muscle to beat this asshole to a pulp.

He was wearing a brown leather jacket, and Joshua grabbed it to immobilize him, but he got punched in the face before he could do anything else. The sound of his teeth chattering was pure satisfaction.

Their agitation was soon heard by the students who came out of the classrooms to see what was going on. I didn’t know what was more shocking: their fight or me lying on the floor.

I felt some arms around me and heard unknown voices calling my name

When I turned my head, I noticed Kristen and V next to me. They probably had class on the same floor, which is why they reached me first, but soon the whole school would be rallying around us. I really was a magnet for trouble.

“Oh, God, Kath, are you okay?” Kristen asked, and her voice sounded scared.

I noticed V’s gaze turn to Joshua.

The fight was over, and I sighed with relief when I saw Joshua lying on the floor, even though I didn’t like the fact that my savior would get in trouble for it.

I looked at him as he turned towards me and only now realized what was so striking about him. I knew him, we had two classes together. He was the new guy; the Japanese guy Kristen had fallen head over heels in love with. I had hoped that he would get out of it as easily as Harris had.

As a reflex to my thoughts, I heard that voice I already knew I’d recognize anywhere.

Harris’ voice, calling my name.

I didn’t have time to turn my head before I felt him beside me as he dropped to his knees, took my face in his palms and fixed me with his eyes. Those eyes that had remained green and were now full of fear and confusion.

“What happened?” he asked quickly, touching my tear-stained cheeks.

Without waiting for an answer, his face turned to the two boys and saw Joshua struggling to pick himself up. I felt his arms tighten around my face and his body tensing. An animalistic snarl left his throat, his eyes darting to me, then back to Joshua.

He stood up faster than I could ever have reacted to stop him, then grabbed Joshua by the collar and pulled him to his feet, only to push him against the wall.

“I’m really going to kill you this time,” he growled, spreading fear through my body.

I had seen him angry many times before, but never like this.

Joshua opened his mouth to say something, but he didn’t get the chance. Harris’ fist made even his neck crack under the pressure, even though the blow only hit his face. The sound of broken bones was stronger than before, and I thought he’d decapitated him with a single punch.

He was instantly unconscious, hanging by his collar and being held up by Harris, but the blows kept coming.

I stood up, startled, supported by V and Kristen. Joshua seemed to be dead already, and Harris…. Harris seemed possessed.

The evil side of Harris Hawk … just like he had told me.

He growled like a beast, his jaw clenched and his entire body tense with rage. His fist was covered in blood, just like Joshua’s face. I hated the bastard, but I didn’t want him dead, and it wouldn’t be long now if Harris didn’t stop.

The agitation around us grew. No one dared to step in and stop Harris, not even the teachers, who only threatened him and did not have the courage to intervene.

“Harris, stop it!” I shouted at him and looked around frantically for Jay

He didn’t seem to hear me, and Joshua was now hanging on the wall like a piece of bleeding meat.

The one who had saved me before was standing right next to them and finally decided to intervene, grabbing Harris by the shoulders and pulling him off Joshua’s inert body.

“Let go of me,” Harris growled angrily, wriggling in the man’s grip and on the verge of punching him too.

“Calm down, man, you don’t want to kill him like this. Not in front of her…” the guy spoke calmly, his tone serious as he turned his gaze on me and brought Harris back to reality.

He knew exactly what to tell him, because I saw Harris’ breathing quicken and his eyes grow fearful as he looked at me.

He let go of Joshua and his body collapsed at his feet.

He came back to me and hugged me so tightly I almost lost my breath.

“Are you all right? Did he do something to you?” he spoke quickly without pausing to breathe.

I tried to look as calm as possible, even though I was still terrified by what I had just seen. Harris really was a demon, one who could not control himself, who could kill without remorse.

He still seemed unfazed by what he had just done to Joshua, he was only concerned that he had scared me. If I hadn’t been there, he probably would have killed him.

Harris touched my face again. I flinched when I saw his palms were covered in blood and I pulled away without meaning to. He looked at me dumbfounded, his hands in the air. When he saw them, he cursed through his teeth and tried to wipe them off on his T-shirt.

“What’s going on here?”

The principal’s voice broke through the sea of students.

I glanced back at Joshua’s motionless body and gulped as I saw the new guy pick him up and drag him into the first room in front of them, which was the damn restroom. I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard him groan in pain, so he wasn’t dead.

Harris was covered in Joshua’s blood on his hands and shirt, and so was I, because I could feel the thick liquid on my cheeks after Harris touched me.

The principal was speechless when she reached us and looked at us with wide, horrified eyes.

***

The rest of the day was chaos. We all went to the principal’s office, but we got lucky with the new guy who cleaned Joshua up and helped him get back on his feet. Of course, he didn’t say anything against us because he was the guiltiest of us all, and if he kept his mouth shut, I decided to do the same. Of course, there was the rest of the statement and the footage on the surveillance cameras. We all got an hour detention after class, every day for the next two weeks, and we were also burdened with the task of cleaning the football field. I was still shocked that Harris wasn’t expelled or at least temporarily suspended.

All that included, Joshua was in bad shape, and the other guy – whose name, I found out, was Ken – didn’t come out of the brawl without bruises. So, the principal had to call the police, who arrested all three of them immediately.

I couldn’t avoid a visit to the nurse, because the whole thing started because I felt faint. But luckily for me, the nurse wasn’t that prepared or interested because she didn’t figure out what was causing my nausea. After an ice pack and a painkiller, she let me go and advised me to eat more.

I still needed drugs, but the anxiety I had felt earlier helped me cope somehow

When I came out of the nurse’s office, the students were already in their next class, so I went into the first restroom and immediately called Shane. I waited for him to answer and tapped my foot anxiously, I had to tell him what I had found out.

“Kath, I’m a bit busy…”

“I know who was in my house,” I said before he could finish his sentence.

“Hang on a minute.”

I did and sighed. I moistened my hand and placed it on my neck, the cool feeling felt good.

I could only hear muffled sounds through my phone. He was talking to someone, but I couldn’t make out anything.

“I’m listening.”

“There’s this guy at my school, his name is Joshua. I had problems with him the first week, then Harris beat him up. Today he attacked me again.”

“He attacked you? Are you okay?”

I brought my cold hand to my forehead.

“Yes, I am now, I was lucky. I wanted to tell you something else. He, Harris, and another guy were picked up by the police twenty minutes ago. Harris beat him up pretty bad again.

“What’s his full name?”

“I don’t … I have no idea,” I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“I’ll find out but are you sure he’s the one who was in your house?”

I stared at the ceiling, trying to gather my thoughts.

“There’s something… frighteningly strange about him. He keeps trying to take me away, I have no idea where, but it’s like he’s trying to kidnap me. I’m sure he wants to hurt me, and he hates Harris.”

“To kidnap you? Did he try that at school?”

“Yes. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the second time something like this has happened.”

“Hmm,” Shane’s voice rang out, and his tone told me he didn’t like what he was hearing. As we spoke, I could hear him typing. “Joshua Wallard?”

I frowned.

“I have no idea what his last name is.”

“Yes, that’s him, he was just brought into the station and is being questioned now. I know him pretty well, he’s been through here before.”

It seemed to me that his tone had suddenly changed.

“You were right, Katherine, he does have reasons to hate Harris.”

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine and leaned against the wall.

“Tell me what happened.”

Shane sighed.

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll…”

“Fuck that, Shane, tell me,” I shouted.

“Harris killed his brother.”

***

The rest of the class I was like a ghost. Sometimes I just stared into space and repeated in my head what Shane had told me.

He had also told me that there hadn’t been any evidence that Harris had covered up his crime and tampered with the evidence, which was why he was still free, but everyone knew it was him.

I tried not to believe him, I needed not to believe him.

Harris wasn’t a murderer.

No, he wasn’t.

He wasn’t!

I kept telling myself that, like a broken record.

Shane had promised that he would take care of Joshua. If he was guilty of the scene at my house, he’d find out and punish him for it, but that wasn’t so important now.

The other problems Harris had with the police were none of my business, but he was there now because of me. Joshua wouldn’t have caught me if I hadn’t been wandering the halls half passed out. I tried to figure out how the hell he knew that. It seemed like he’d been waiting for me in the corridor.

I couldn’t forget the look on Harris’ face when I pulled away from him, that wasn’t the face of a murderer.

Ken was risking trouble too, and I didn’t even get the chance to thank him for saving me. And as if all that wasn’t enough, I also had trouble with the lock on my locker and had to be moved to another one. I had barely learned the combination for the first lock. If someone loved me as much as bad luck does, I would be the happiest woman in the world.

“Kath, you with us?” I saw a hand waving in front of my face and turned my head to notice Zac. I hadn’t even realized I was in the cafeteria, having lunch with my friends. They all had their eyes on me.

“Yeah, sorry,” I quickly apologized, shaking my head, and looking at the empty tray in front of me.

I hadn’t eaten anything, a good idea considering how sick I still felt.

“So, are you coming with us?” Continued Zac, who was the only one looking at me normally.

“Where to?” I asked, trying to get back into their world. I hadn’t been paying attention to anything they were saying.

“To the movies. I’m not in the mood for school anymore. Then I have football practice and you have cheerleading practice. I’m sure you don’t want to see Amber’s face now, do you?” he added with an amused smile.

Zac was right; Amber was the last person I wanted to see, not to mention I had detention afterward too. I tried to imagine what it would be like to clean the sports field with Harris, Ken and Joshua… my imagination turned into a horror movie.

I was still debating whether or not to tell Harris about the blood thing.

This time, Kristen was the one waving her hand in front of my face.

“Sorry, I’m all mixed up.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely coming to the movies with us, you need a distraction.”

I sighed and propped my head in my palms. What I needed was… Harris. And to know he was out of there. To talk to him. To hug him.

***

We all sneaked out of the school because we were quite a big group. All the football players, some cheerleaders and Kristen. Chris and Candice had refused.

I was expecting us to go straight to the movies, but it wasn’t like that. We drove around the city in five cars, visited many fast food restaurants and parks, and even planned to go to a club after the movie.

After the first twenty minutes, I realized that accepting the invitation had been a bad idea.

Not only did I feel really uncomfortable thinking about the fact that I was – theoretically - having fun and Harris could be behind bars, but Zac didn’t exactly help matters by stepping closer and closer to me and holding my hand in a way that made me feel quite embarrassed.

“Way to go, Ortega,” one of Zac’s friends whistled as we entered the movie theater.

His eyes were fixed on our hands, he stood up and walked towards us with a cheeky smile. He was the silliest of them all. Max Woltson. My instincts hadn’t been wrong about him.

“Shut up, Max!” Zac scolded the brave blond.

But he didn’t really seem to be affected by his words. Quite the opposite

My lips pressed together into a thin line as I struggled not to make a scene

“What? Kath, you look much better next to Zac,” he winked at me. I seethed with anger when I saw Zac smiling and I pulled my hand out of his, pretending I needed it for the popcorn.

If I had known he was going to bring his own personal cupid, I would have stayed at school.

I didn’t pay any attention to the movie at all. It was a cliché comedy, but my mind was still on Harris. It was late enough, and I wondered if he’d come out yet. He hadn’t called, and I resisted the urge to call him because I was feeling more and more guilty about going to the movies. I planned on going home right after and actually fake a headache just to get rid of these people, and then call Harris if he didn’t before I got home.

Somehow Zac managed to take my hand in his again as we walked out of the room. His smile was so genuine, almost as if he was asking, “What’s so bad about what I’m doing?”. The satisfaction on Max’s face as he looked at us almost scared me. The guy was really weird, and that just told me that he probably hated Harris, and if I accepted Zac now, I’d destroy the demon’s reputation. I hated nothing more than feeling used, and even if Zac didn’t seem to have the same evil intentions, his hand tangled with mine didn’t offer a pleasant feeling. Every time I pulled away from him, he found a way to grab my hand again. I was going to hit him if he didn’t stop.

We left the movie theater, our loudness disturbing the other people around us.

It was already dark outside, fucking hell.

Maybe bad luck truly loved me, but I was also asking for trouble. It was a birth gift.

My daring partner opened the door for me, then grabbed my hand again. Max howled like a wolf when he found himself out in the fresh air.

“Zac, this is getting…”

I was about to tell him off for his intrusive gesture, but suddenly everyone was quiet.

Instinctively, I turned my head to what had caught everyone’s attention and froze as a demonic gaze met me, on a face I knew all too well, one that was unrecognizable at the moment. A mask of rage settled over it, freezing the blood in my veins.

He’s here.

I whimpered slowly.

He looked scary, but I couldn’t suppress my happiness when I saw him and suddenly wished to run straight into his arms and hug him.

But something stopped me: his anger-filled gaze. He was a few feet away from us, leaning against the car, which I could barely see in the darkness. His fists clenched and I noticed the creases on his tense arm and his muscles bulged.

His scowl made the hairs on my arms stand up.

He straightened his back and walked towards us. Nothing good was going to happen, and I’d had enough for today.

“Harris,” I whimpered, breaking contact with Zac’s hand and stepping in front of him.

I looked into his eyes and just wanted to hug him, despite the anger that flashed in his gaze.

He looked disheveled. His T-shirt was wrinkled, the same one he’d worn this morning. He still wore Joshua’s blood and had miraculously escaped the police. All that included, here he was, coming for me, and the look on his face told me he didn’t care if he went back to the station after what was about to do. I couldn’t let him.

His eyes were fixed on Zac; he had seen him grab my hand, probably why he was so angry. His friends gathered around him, and I noticed Max’s macabre expression. He wanted Harris to attack them.

He was outnumbered. When I realized that, I got scared. He was alone.

“Harris, let’s go,” I whispered, placing my palms on his chest, my eyes pleading with him.

He looked at me, his face devoid of anything other than anger.

“Please, you’ve been through enough today,” I continued, praying he would listen.

I felt his breathing quicken. I raised my arms to his neck and slowly stroked his skin with my fingertips. I knew he liked that, and I hoped it would soothe him.

“Please…” I begged again, able to cry if necessary.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then took my hand from the back of his neck and pulled me to his car. He was tense, fighting with himself to do it, to forgo the confrontation.

“Running away, Stone?”

Max’s mocking voice made him stop. This blond asshole was pissing me off.

“You want to look like Joshua, Max? I’d like to see if you’re that confident on your own, without your pack behind you.”

After my words, Kristen let out a short laugh, and I pulled Harris to his Ferrari.

I had never been so happy to be in that car with him. He started the car and accelerated quickly, sending me flush against my seat. I hurried to fasten my seatbelt.

Max jumped onto the sidewalk and the others followed him. A smart move, Harris would probably have run them all over.

He was driving faster than I’d ever seen him before and anger coated his face. He was clearly upset with me.

The green lights on the dashboard made him scary, and by scary, I meant demonically beautiful. I had read pure jealousy in his eyes when Zac had grabbed my hand.

He was having a terrible day because of me, and he probably wanted revenge.

The car flew across the highway so fast that I could barely make out the outlines of the other vehicles. He did nothing but push buttons, and the feeling was getting scarier and scarier because he never reached that speed with me in the passenger seat.

“So you want to have fun, huh? I’ll show you fun,” he said with dangerous seriousness as he floored the gas, letting me know that my problems for today were just beginning.