Chapter 25

Two days in New Mexico of doing nothing. Alex wanted me to wait to start doing portraits to maximize the amount of time we can stay. I'm almost glad mom and I don't watch TV, because I'm pretty bored with it. I've entertained myself with the occasional reality show or documentary, story telling show but all in all I've found it pretty much a waste of time.

I've tried to humor Alex, tried to stay inside and keep hidden, but I can't for much longer.

Alex comes back into the room with food for us, I've forgotten what it was he got until he puts the McDonald's bag in front of me.

"So their soda machine was being wonky, so I got you Coke instead of Sprite, I hope that's ok."

I nod as I take the food from him, "Alex, do you think... Maybe I could start doing my portraits again? I'm getting sick of just sitting around again."

He looks unnerved, "I don't know. I want to let you but I don't want you out too much. I consider us lucky that we didn't run into anyone else who's made a deal while in Texas!" He looks upset, like he doesn't want to talk about this, like it hurts to tell me "no".

"If anything, that should be a good sign, we were out in the open and nothing happened. Please, Alex, please. I just want to do something. I want to help my mom, I want to make people smile, I don't want to sit inside all day," I put my hands together and scoot closer to him.

His expression goes unchanged, his sagging face begs me to let it go. Eventually he lets out a sigh, "Alright, tomorrow we'll find you a spot. But no drawing tomorrow, the day after you can. Three days of drawing, then we leave. Alright?"

"Of course," I nod my head, furiously, "Of course, whatever you say! Thank you!"

He doesn't seem secure in agreeing to this, but he lets it go. We sit, eating in silence as I try not to bounce around in excitement. My food is gone faster than I thought I could ever eat, and immediately I jumped in the shower afterwards.

Stepping out, I was squeezing my hair in a towel, thinking maybe for once I would let it stay down. I find Alex standing at the window by the door, his fingers barely pulling the curtain to the side. I jump, surprised to see him there, and drop the towel I was using on my hair.

"What are you doing?" I pick up my towel in a huff.

"I thought I heard something, I wanted to make sure no one was out there," he drops the curtain and faces me, "Sorry if I startled you."

I toss the towel back in the bathroom, I feel almost insecure with how he's starting at me. His eyes are soft but they never waver as he looks me up and down before meeting my eyes. I feel exposed and like there's nothing worth staring at so I slowly break eye contact and make my way to the bed.

"I'm going to get some sleep," he follows me with his eyes, though not as intensely, "G--goodnight."

I lay my head down and close my eyes, begging sleep to take me and remove this feeling from my stomach.

"Night, Jules," I hear his footsteps head away from the door and to the bathroom. Within a few minutes I hear the shower turn on, and I'm able to calm myself into sleep.

When I open my eyes again, I don't see Alex, but I hear movement in the bathroom. Thinking nothing of it, I hop out of bed and prepare for the day. I pull out some clothes and my shoes while I wait for the bathroom to open up. I drop my shirt next to my jeans as I hear the door open.

I turn around, expecting to see Alex, but instead my heart drops in my chest and I fill with fear. In front of me, with a wicked grin, is Robert.

"Last night was fun," he bites his lip and smirks at me, "You definitely made it interesting."

He gestures to my body, and looking down I'm suddenly made aware that I'm wearing nothing but my underwear and I'm covered in bruises and cuts. Most of the bruises are shaped like hands. I start shaking, I can feel tears run down my face.

"No, no, no," I start sobbing as Robert laughs.

"Well, I had my fun," Robert steps to the side to look at someone in the bathroom, "She's all yours."

While I thought I was afraid before, nothing could prepare me for the terror I feel at the sight of that pale skin and those red eyes. The devil.

"Good work, now find that boy," He whispers to Robert, they watch me panic and back myself into the wall, "I'll take care of her."

His voice sounds like a deep growl. He watches me with hungry, evil eyes as he stalks over to me. I cry and sob as Robert leaves and the devil stands before me.

"Finally, I have you," He pounces me, reaching to grab me.

Suddenly I shoot up in bed, sweating and shaking. I could still feel the salty sting of tears on my cheeks. I feel the entire bed shaking with me, violent sudden jerks under me.

I jump at the sudden feeling of a hand on my shoulder and a shift in the mattress.

"Hey," Alex reacts swiftly as I try to lash out at him, he grabs my arms and holds me still until I can grasp that it's him in front of me, "Calm down, it's just me. It's just Alex, I'm here, calm down."

I feel like all the air has been ripped out of me, I start trying to take in air only to get hit by a coughing fit. I keep coughing and shaking as Alex pulls me close, resting my head on his shoulder.

He cradles the back of my head, gently placing his cheek against the side of my head, and his hand applies light pressure up and down my back.

My knuckles turn white as I grip his shirt in my fists. He's warm against my icey fingers. His shirt soaks up my tears, making my entire face hot, salty, and painfully itchy. The heat and pain only frustrate me further, causing me to sob and cry more and more.

"Breathe," he whispers into my ear as he tries to rock me, "You're safe, I'm here, it's ok. Try to take a deep breath. What happened?"

"He was here," I cry out between my sobs, "He was going to hurt me and he, he was--"

I start hyperventilating and feeling sick.

"Calm down, no one's here but us, no one will hurt you... Breathe, you're going to hurt yourself, take a minute to just breathe."

It hurts but I try my hardest to just get air in and out. I start shivering as the heat from fear and crying goes away. I'm left with nothing but sweat and tears drenching me, shivering in the cold room.

"Get under the blankets, I'm getting you some water," Alex starts to pull away and get off the bed.

"No! No, no," I reach out frantically, he grips my hand.

"I'm not leaving, I'm coming right back, I'm just getting you water. You get under the blankets, get warm, I'll be back in just a minute," he doesn't let go of my hand until he has to.

I pull the blankets up around me. Seconds feel like hours, I jump when I hear the faucet turn on and off.

He comes back with a small plastic cup of water and sets it on the nightstand. Slowly, he sits next to me again and pulls me close.

"Here," he gives me the cup, "Drink something."

I take the cup in my shaking hands, hoping it won't spill. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and gently runs his fingers down my arm. He whispers gentle comforts in my ear as I sip the water. Once I've finished the water and stopped crying, Alex asking questions.

"What happened?" He asks quietly as he takes the cup.

"He was here, he, he wanted to--"

"Who, Jules, who was here?" His voice got firmer.

My breath and voice were shakey still, "Robert, he was here, he," I feel tears coming again as I think of all the bruises over me, "H-he did things and he wasn't alone. The devil was with him, he was going to hurt me and find you. H-he almost had me, he wanted to hurt me."

Alex pulls me close as I start to panic again, "It was just a dream, I promise, Robert won't get you and no one is going to lay a hand on you so long as I'm here."

I nod slowly, I start to lay back down while Alex gets up and moves back to the window.

"Maybe we should leave sooner," I mumble, "You've seemed a bit paranoid tonight, and now with my dream... Maybe we should leave."

"Maybe," he peaks out the window before turning back to me, "How about tomorrow and the day after we get out. Find you a spot, let you draw for the two days, see some sights and get out of here?"

I nod, "I'd like that. Ca--can you sit with me? At least until I fall asleep again?"

He smiles, "Yeah, I can do that," he makes his way back to the bed and sits in the spot next to me, "I won't go anywhere until I'm sure you can a good night's rest."

Hesitantly, I give a shy smile and close my eyes. I don't fall asleep, but instead try and calm myself into feeling safe while I sleep. I jump slightly when I feel Alex's hand reach out and carefully start petting my head. After a few moments of his reassurance, I relax to his touch. My breathing calms, and within the hour I can feel myself relax into the mattress. My eyes get heavy and my limbs felt weighted and sluggish. Slowly, I finally am able to fall into sleep.