CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: ATHENA
"I'm going to scream Dylan, let me go right now," I pleaded, my voice shaking with terror. "Go on, no one is going to hear you, Austin isn't around and lover boy is a little busy with James and Tom, so it's just you and me, little mouse" Dylan said, taking small steps towards me, I took steps backwards till my back met the wall, then he caged me with his hands when I tried to run,
"Get away from me, you sick bastard," I yelled, my gaze darting around the room, trying to find a way out of here.
"Has lover boy fucked you yet? I'm sure he has, I know I would have; I told you at the beginning of the year that you were mine, but you still let that idiot touch you, and that pisses me off" Dylan said, anger evident in his tone as he stared at me.
"Fuck you!"
"I'm upset little mouse and you won't like me when I'm mad,." Dylan murmured his hands slid to my neck, his enraged gaze never leaving mine as he wrapped his hands securely around my neck squeezing tightly. I struggled against him, but the more I struggled his grip tightened.
I tried to stay conscious, but he was cutting off my air supply, making it difficult to breathe, so I clawed at his face, scratching him in the process.
"Fuck! That hurt you bitch," Dylan said, letting off somewhat, so I took advantage of the opportunity and kicked him in the crotch, causing him to fall to the ground while moaning in pain.
While he was down I tried to run to the door but he caught my leg pulling me down to the ground with him, I tried to kick his hands off my leg but his grip was too strong, and despite my struggle, he managed to crawl on top of me, trapping my legs and arm with his huge body.
"Big mistake bitch, you just made your situation worse," Dylan said as he smacked me across the face. I attempted to get my hands free so I could block his hits, but it was useless. He was stronger.
He hit me again and shouted, "Why did you fight back, huh? It only makes your punishment worse."
When he went silent I heard heavy footsteps outside, so I screamed with all my might but Dylan caught off my screams by putting his hands over my mouth, so I bit his hands and continued screaming, which made him angrier so he punched me in the face, knocking the wind out of me but that didn't stop me.
"Help me!" I yelled again, causing Dylan to punch me again, but my efforts were not in useless because I heard a familiar voice yell, "open the fucking door, Dylan."
I looked up and saw an angry Austin on the other side of the door, trying to break it down. Dylan smiled up at him as he leaned in and licked my face, distracting himself and allowing me to head butt him in the face, breaking his nose since I heard something crack.
"Fuck!" he yelled as he slid off me, holding his bloodied and broken nose.
I pushed him off my body fully as I rose to my feet, but I wasn't done with him yet. I kicked him in the stomach a few more times, just like he had done to me in the past, and when I was satisfied I ran to the door and opened it, running into Austin arms in case Dylan got back up.
"Hey look at me Red, good job for fighting back, I got you now, I'm so fucking sorry for leaving you alone, I didn't know he'd come after you," Austin said as he wrapped his hands around my trembling body, running his hands down my back trying to get me to calm down.
Then we heard yelling from the other end of the corridor. I recognised one of the voices as Leo. He came around the corner and looked okay. Thank God, I breathed, relieved that they hadn't hurt him.
"Princessa, where is that bastard? Where the fuck is that coward? Leo yelled as he came towards us, followed by James and Tom.
"Leo calm the fuck down you are scaring her" Austin yelled, and Leo gaze met mine and I'm sure he saw the terror in my eyes which made him slowly calm down, I pulled away from Austin and ran to hug Leo then I felt his hands go to my face lifting it up so my eyes were on him,
"I'm so sorry Athena, I let him hurt you, I'm so fucking sorry" Leo said as he placed a kiss on my temple.
"It's okay, I fought back, he didn't hurt me," I said, reassuring him but our moment was interrupted by a very pissed off Dylan.
"Where the fuck is that bitch? You're going to pay for breaking my nose," Dylan yelled angrily as he stormed out of the room, holding his bloodied nose.
I didn't notice the marks on their faces until James and Tom rushed up to him to stand behind him. Did Leo do that? But he looked fine, was it a one sided beating?
"You fucking coward," Leo yelled as he tried to go after Dylan, but I stopped him because if he assaulted Dylan, he'd be expelled.
"You should take him away from us because it's taking everything I have not to fucking beat him to a bloody pulp." Austin growled at the three of them, his body tense. The last time I saw them this angry was when Shane was hurt.
"You can't touch me, I run this school, and who is going to believe that whore's word over mine?" Dylan yelled,
"You have no idea how far we will go for her, we don't mind getting expelled, there are other schools in the world to attend so far you don't walk again after we break your legs, so I suggest you walk away now while we're still being nice," Austin responded calmly and menacingly.
"You can't tell me what to do, jailbird," Dylan yelled, glaring at Austin as he tried to lunge for Austin but James tried to pull him back
"Let's get outta here! Dylan, if the coach finds out about this, you'll be benched, and your father won't be happy, scouts are coming to this game," James said, dread flashing across Dylan's eyes for a minute before it was replaced with anger.
"This isn't over yet, little mouse," Dylan said before letting James pull him away.
Tom took us one last look and said nothing before leaving with his friends.
"Are you okay?" I asked Leo because I could feel him shaking in anger while he was in my arms.
He didn't answer my question but he pulled away from my hold and turned towards the lockers and started punching them repeatedly.
"Leo, please stop hurting yourself," I screamed, but he didn't listen so Austin intervened by putting his hands on Leo's shoulder pulling him away from the lockers, preventing him from continuing to hit them.
"Bro, I know you're pissed; I'm upset too, but she needs you now, so I need to calm down," Austin said as pulled him into an embrace.
"I'm so sorry Princessa, I wasn't here, if Austin didn't get here when he did, I can't even think about what he was going to do to you," Leo said softly as he stepped away from Austin and towards me his hands moved to my face to caress my bruised cheeks.
"I'm glad I fought back for the first time in my life, Leo," I said as he smiled weakly at me.
"You should have seen the way she headbutted him and kicked the shit out of him to get away, our girl isn't weak, you should know that," Austin added with a sad smile as he watched me.
"I know Austin, but she still got hurt, I should have been there,"
"You didn't know Leo, we both didn't know he'd go to this length, stop beating yourself up,"
"Thank you man, you don't know how grateful I am," Leo said, pulling away from me and hugging Austin again,
"Come on dude, she may be your girlfriend, but she is also my best friend; I'm just glad I arrived on time," Austin said as he ruffled my hair, causing me to stick my tongue out at him; I know he was trying to lighten the mood, and I appreciate it.
"What brought you back? I thought you were going to the hospital," I asked Austin.
"I forgot to give Leo the keys to the apartment, because I didn't know when I was going to return so I wanted to give him so I wouldn't lose it, I heard someone scream and I found you guys in the classroom" Austin explained.
"Oh! I see"
"I still want to beat the shit out of him," Leo said.
"You and me both, Leo," Austin added.
"You guys, I'm okay really, I just want to go home, take some aspirin, sleep and forget today," I said.
"Let me get my stuff, Austin, stay with her, I will be right back," Leo said to Austin.
"After that she is not going to leave my sight," Austin said.
Leo came a few minutes later, and we went to his truck to go home, but first we dropped Austin off at the hospital; he was reluctant to leave, but I persuaded him that it was fine because Leo was there to take care of me.
I fell asleep as Leo was driving me home, then felt someone pull me, which woke me up.
"Leo?" I said, my voice hoarse.
We went into the complex, Leo with Leo carrying me in his arms, Sophia was not at home when we got to the apartment, so I assumed she was either at work or with Stephen.
"My face hurts," I moan as he places me on the bed.
"I'm going to change you now, Athena, can you stay awake?" Leo asked, and I nodded. He walked into my closet and took one of my huge shirts, then returned to the bed and peeled off my jeans and top before pulling the shirt over my head.
I saw him leave my room as I tried to stay awake, and then I opened my eyes when I heard him return with a pack of frozen peas in his hands.
He took a seat beside me and placed the frozen peas on my face. It was freezing against my face which made me wince in pain. He looked at me with a guilty expression on his face, as I placed my palms on his cheek.
"I'm sorry" he said
"It's not your fault, Leo, you couldn't have known"
"I'm sorry," he repeated once more.
"I'm going to smack you if you say sorry one more time." I said as I smiled at him, attempting to lighten the mood and he cracked a little smile at me.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep, Princessa," Leo murmured as he laid down beside me on the bed, and I smiled at him, allowing sleep to overcome me.
I found myself back at school, and as I walked through the dimly lit hallway, Dylan, my tormentor, appeared out of the darkness.
His eyes are burning with hatred and disgust.
After staring and saying nothing he leaped at me, his hands twisted into hideous claws, and I felt a quick rush of panic. I try to scream, but nothing comes out of my mouth.
Each punch he delivered reminded me of what had happened earlier, shattering my sense of security. Desperation grips me as I try to defend myself against him, but I couldn't this time.
"I told you I'd make you pay," he says.
And the next thing I knew, I was screaming my head off, with Leo's terrified gaze on me,
"I saw him, I thought I was back at school, I was so scared," I whispered into his chest as I cried.
"I knew this was going to happen, you were too calm about it all, it's okay to cry, he's not here, you're safe with me," Leo replied, continuing to murmur soothing things in my ear till I calmed down.
"I'm sorry I freaked you out, I must have scared you"
"It's all right, Princessa; can you go back to sleep?"
"I think so, but will you stay with me?"
"I will stay for as long as you need Princessa," Leo said as he kissed my forehead.
"Thank you," I replied as I nestled back into his arms.
He began humming a calming song, and I gradually felt myself drifting asleep, and the last thing I heard was Leo say. "There's no need to be afraid, Princessa; I'm here."
