Chapter 10

She was running as fast as she could. Then suddenly, a force tugged her hair, flinging her to the floor. She groaned in pain as her back made a forceful impact against the hard floor. Her body ached as she tried to get up. She felt an excruciating pain on her head, touching it, she gasped as she saw blood. She tried getting up slowly with her legs hurting and probably even bleeding also.

She continued her mission of getting out of that place leaping on one foot, she wasn't going to give up, she was too young to die. The thought of death, made her shake. Her legs were hurting but she she continued leaping not minding the pain she felt. 

She felt something rushed passed her again, this time she dropped to her knees. She knew she wasn't strong to fight the being or even fast enough to run. She had no other choice than to do what the person probably wanted.

Hattie was sure of two thing. This person wasn't a normal human being and he obviously wants her dead. She held her shaky bleeding hands together. She felt she was going crazy, she had never experienced something like this before. How absurd. The psychologist going psycho. She looked around the empty street, hoping for someone to come and save her from this trauma, she found none.

"Please don't hurt me" she said in a raspy voice, she couldn't even recognise her own voice. Fear can do a lot of things. No response came, only total silence. For about 5minutes, she knelt there. She decided to keep on walking, as it was no use. She leaped on, with her injured leg, she could barely move fast. The impact she used in hitting the wall was too much.

Something rushed past her again. Very quickly. She knew this thing was out to torture her. She looked around as beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.

"Who are you?, what do you want from me!" She screamed on the top of her voice 

'Dont fight it, Hattie dear" she heard a faint whisper, it almost felt like the voice was coming from within her. How did this person even know her name. It could be that this person also knew a lot about her. At this point, she knew she was going crazy. The wind that had stopped before started blowing again. The wind was so strong, that it ripped a tree branch that was behind her off. She was lucky to have dodged that, or it would have been the end of her story.

Hattie felt helpless as hot tears flowed down her cheeks, she could barely move her legs. Running wasn't a good idea, she wouldn't get far anyway. She collapsed to the floor and awaited her fate. Her head bleeding profusely, as it stung even by the slightest contact. Tears came rolling down her cheek as she sat there helpless.

"I would like to see how much pain you can endure" a voice said from behind her. She turned around with glassy eyes. She stared blankly at the person now standing in front of her. His hand were streching toward her. She was already too weak. Her energy started draining out. Her vision became blurly.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" another voice shouted angrily. That was the last voice Hattie heard that night, but why did it sound so familiar?. 

*******

Hattie groaned in pain as she tried to get up, her back ached, her heard throbbed, her eyes was dizzy, she fell back into the bed in defeat. She tilted her head to the side, she noticed a cupboard with medications on it, she looked forward. Something wasn't right. She thought. This wasn't her room, what was she doing here.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back. She remember how scared she was and she even thought that was the end of her life journey. But what was she doing here. She did not remember coming here. Who brought her? The door opened and she immediately pretended going back to sleep. She kept her eyes shut, words could not explain how nervous she felt.

"I know you are awake Hattie" the voice said.

That voice, it could only belong to one person. Javier. She also realised that he was also the same person that could have saved her. His voice was the last thing she heard. But how was that possible. That being was the strongest and fastest thing she had ever seen. How was he able to save her?. 

She still kept her eyes shut, unsure whether to open it or not. She felt the bed move as he sat down on it. Her heart was beating so loudly that she could hear. She was pretty sure that he could hear it too. She felt his hands on her arms. She flicked her eyes open at the sudden spark. Her cheek flushed as her eyes met Javier's.

"I thought you were fast asleep" he smirked. Hattie wanted to smack that smirk off his face. Is he just going to have a normal conversation with her and pretend like nothing happened?

"What am I doing here?" she glared at him, she wanted him to feel how angry she was, but truth be told, she wasn't angry a bit, she was hurt, deeply

"You were badly injured, I decided to help"

"Can you brief me every detail about what happened last night?" she said as she held her head in confusion

"You were attacked by bandits" he lied. He didn't want her worrying about anything.

"that can't be true" she scoffed

"And why is that?" He asked, Hattie didn't know how stupid it would sound if she told him exactly what happened. She was sure of one thing, that person wasn't human.

Yesterday night was surely the craziest night she had experienced

"Trust me Hattie, it's was all in your head" he said with his eyes peering into her.

Maybe he was right, it was all in her head, but she should most definitely get rid of her phobia

Javier looked at her, he hated that fact that he had to manipulate her into thinking it's nothing. The fact that he even used his powers on her. Andrew was playing with fire and he would get burnt, sooner or later.

Javier remembered how restless he was yesterday night, he couldn't fall asleep, No matter how had he tried. He knew something was off. He could feel her heartbeat in his head. He could feel how scared she was. It did not take him long to realise that Hattie was in danger.

"Don't you dare lay your hands on her" he shot dead glares toward Andrew.

"That was fast" Andrew said "now if you would stand back, I would like to finish this. You don't want to a kill joy, do you?" Andrew stretched his hand toward Hattie in an attempt to flip her over. Javier could feel his pulse quicken as his blood began to boil in anger. He rushed towards Andrew and flinged him toward the wall. The impact of him hitting against the wall made Andrew groan. He stood up and rushed towards Javier. Javier didn't have time for fight, he needed to tend to Hattie who had already passed out but Andrew had really gone too far. Andrew hit him with full force making him to stagger. He got a hold of him self as he forcefully placed his hands on Andrew's neck and pinned him against the wall. His nails dug inside Andrew's neck as he kept on pushing them in. The veins in Andrew face became very visible. His eyes became blood red. He overpowered Javier and pushed him toward the floor. Javier groaned in pain as he landed on the hard floor. He couldn't give up, for Hattie's sake. He stood up again. He looked at Andrew who was just a feet far from Hattie. Javier felt adrenaline kicking in as he rushed towards Andrew. He ran towards Andrew and flung him to the floor. He held him to the floor. Javier smashed Andrew's head against the hard floor repeatedly. He was going to end Andrew, right there and now. He didn't care about the consequence. Andrew had gone too far. This was the only way to stop him. His nails dug into Andrew stomach forcefully. Javier smiled at the amount of pain he was inflicting on Andrew. Nothing felt better than inflicting pain on a victim. He held Andrew neck with the other of his hand. Javier watched how Andrew gasped for breath. He smirked, How satisfying. 

Andrew knew he would be dead if he did not get out of there. He felt pain all over. He looked at javier's eyes which held wrath and satisfaction. Andrew managed to gather his last strength as he vanished. 

Javier groaned out of frustration. He wanted to watch Andrew suffer, he wanted to see him draw his last breath, he wanted to see him go through pain. He turned towards Hattie who was badly hurt. The sight of Hattie made him curse inwardly. He was sure of one thing, Andrew was going to pay with every single blood in him.

Javier staggered towards Hattie as he bent over and picked her up slowly. He took some time to look at her. He couldn't help but stare helplessly at her angelic face. How beautiful she looked. His heart ached at the thought of how scared she was. She was deeply hurt, taking her to the hospital would arise many questions, the best thing was to take her home and tend to her injuries. He looked around to see if anyone was watching, when he found none, he vanished slowly with Hattie in his arm.

********

Now here she was glaring at him with so much resent. It was all his fault. He abandoned her for two months. He had no choice, he was only trying to protect her. He knew she was in much more danger now that that Andrew was triggered. He was surely going to protect her. They already had a strong bond, that was why he was able to feel when she was in danger. He already felt like she was entitled to him. He didn't know about love, but he was sure he was really connected to her. This was what he feared. He didn't want her to see him as a monster when he starts being possessive because that was what was coming. He couldn't help the feeling, the sudden bond he felt with her. The way his body heated up when she was around, the way his pulse quickened even by the slightest skin contact. He looked at her big eyes as she stared at him. She sure had a way of trapping him with those eyes. 

"I would like to go now" she blurted out

"Why?"

"Because we don't have any business together"

"You have not even had breakfast"

"And why do you seem to concerned if i have had breakfast or not. Look Javier, you made it clear the last time, we  can't be a thing, so why are you bothering me?" she half yelled

"Hattie calm down, you shouldn't stress yourself too much, you are badly hurt" 

"I don't care, I will walk

To the hospital"

"Hattie can you stop being stubborn and let me help you"

"I don't need your help"

"You do, Hattie calm down and let me help you"

"And since when did you become the doctor"

"I haven't been the one tending to you"

"Who was then?"

"I arranged for a home service doctor"

"Well tell your home service doctor that I can take care of myself"

"Hattie stop all this childishness"

" Javier i dont care what you think, I am leaving"

"And you think I would let you?"

"You better, or else i would fight you, even if I die trying"

"You can barely even sit up" Javier pointed out. Hattie scoffed as she tried to sit. She was going to proof him wrong. She felt a throbbing pain in her back as she winced. Javier was right. She was too weak to move.

Javier felt angry. He hated the fact that she was badly hurt and the culprit was still walking freely. He wouldn't feel at ease until he ends Andrew. 

"Can i get some pain relief?" she asked in defeat

"Sure" he walked over the cupboard by her side and took out a medicine which he gave to her along with a bottle of water that was also sitting by her side. She took the pain relief as she held her head up. She could feel the excruciating pain in her fore head it felt like there was a disco party happening in her brain. She didn't even try to get started with the pain she felt in her back. She looked at Javier who had a very worried look in his face. His eyes were red and dark circle were formed under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep in ages. 

"Let me go and get you breakfast, You must be famished"

"I don't even have any appetite to eat" Hattie admitted.

"Well you must eat" he said 

"Can I skip"

"You can't"

"And why is that?"

"I don't want you to skip breakfast" he said. 

"You can't tell me what to do"

"You have to eat, to get better. Am sure you enjoy laying on that bed"

"Fine, I would eat a little" she said with defeat. 

Javier stood up as he headed for the room door. He walked into the kitchen and dished out the food he had prepared, he prepared It even before she had asked. He didn't want her to go hungry. He placed the plate of scrambled eggs on the plate and bacon on a tray. He took the tray to the room and placed it on the table opposite Hattie. 

Hattie looked at the food, she really had no appetite to eat but thanks to Javier, she had to eat it. 

"Why are you doing this" she couldn't help but ask. 

"Doing what?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what am talking about. You said I should stay away from you and now you are doing this?

"Truth be told, I dont think I can stay away from you any longer" he said, her heart began to race, she felt goosebumps on her skin. She pulled up this tough girl act but deep down she couldn't help but feel hurt. She looked into his eyes as she felt the walls she had been building for months crumbling down. She didn't know why he had this effect on her. She hated the fact that she was not angry anymore. She knew she was falling for him again and she couldn't help it. She felt safe In his presence, as if all her problems vanished into thin air.