Chapter 14

I was in the alley again being held by chains and suddenly Gary was there. Forcing himself on me again, fear ran through me, my heartbeat thundering in my chest, tears streaming down my face and I screamed as I tried to get free. The chains gripped tighter and tighter to my skin, causing my arms and legs to bleed. It was getting harder to breathe and I heard Gary's laughter.

"Marina! Marina!"

I woke up covered in sweat and breathing hard.

"Marina, hey hey. It's okay. You are okay." Erik was sitting on the bed and had his hands on my arms.

"You were screaming in your sleep. Are you okay?" He looked concerned.

"I was? I'm sorry" I sat up and wrapped my arms around my knees.

"Yes, screaming in pain and saying not to do it. Don't be sorry. What was it about?" He asked.

I told him about the nightmare and now I'm afraid to sleep. I am afraid but I don't want to be. He was a very good listener and I was oddly comfortable around him, being as we just met.

"Will you teach me how to fight?" I randomly asked.

"Really?" he was shocked.

"Yes, so I can defend myself and not have that ever happen again"

"Yeah I guess. But it won't be easy" he warned me.

"Nothing is ever easy" I chuckled. I stared at the blanket for a minute.

"Are you hungry?" He seemed like he didn't know what to do.

"A little but I feel really dirty. Could I take a shower?"

"Yes of course. Le me see what shower stuff Sophia has since she's back already" he left and I sat there hugging my knees. Wanting the events to be erased, I wanted to see my girls and to not be afraid. I go out of the bed and walked over to the window. I looked out into the darkness.

Then Erik came back in the room. He was holding clothes and some shower stuff that obviously came from Sophia.

"She said here's some better clothes and some shower items" he held them out to me.

"Oh I see. Thank you" I laughed.

"I will be downstairs if you need anything"

"Okay" I smiled at him. Went into the bathroom and took a hot shower. Letting the hot water rain over me, trying to wash everything away. Willing it to go down the drain and leave me alone. I washed my hair and scrubbed every inch of my skin.

When I got out I picked through the clothes form Sophia, there were dresses, skirts, a few cute tops and jeans. I grabbed the jeans and a top that made me feel like a fairy. It was a tank top with thin straps, under the bra line it flowed out like a dress and it was a sky blue with design patterns on it. I brushed my hair and did my hair in two French braids.

I sat on the window sill with my iPod and turned on "Broken" from the movie Broken Bridges. I quietly sand along with it and when the song was over I felt like I was being watched so I turned around. Erik was in the doorway just staring at me.

"In some places you could be considered a stalker" I pulled out my headphones.

"Other places it would be gazing" he said as he stared at me.

"What are you staring at?"

"Nothing" he said.

"Wait, Erik" I said getting up.

"What?" he said.

"Do you have a guitar by chance?" I asked feeling a little odd. My question took him by surprise.

"Uh yeah, I do but it hasn't been played in ages" he walked over to his closet and grabbed a black guitar case. He opened it and I gawked at it. It looked brand new and was beautiful.

"Could I play it?" I asked looking at it as thought it was gold. He smiled at me and took it out of the case gently handing it to me. I ran my fingers over the wood and started tuning it.

He watched me play and we both were smiling like crazy. I noticed him lookin at me up and down. It wasn't in a creepy way but it was sweet and I felt my cheeks turn pink. I continued playing.