she huddled into the corner of the bathroom, as far away from the door as she could force herself.
her knees were drawn up against her body; she wished for the ability to shrink back even further.
tears slipped down her pretty face.
a light thud.
she knew he was leaning against the door. she could almost sense him. she could almost...
hear his breathing. his heartbeat. the blood in his veins. the pulses that twitched his neurons and activated his muscles. she could hear it all, every minute facet of it, it was invading her mind, she couldn't hear anything else, it was there, overtaking, every part of him in her...
"get out, GET OUT!" she wailed, unleashing new tears. "get out of my head..."
"Not until you open this god damned door." the words were muffled, but not beyond recognition. she shook her head wildly, hugging herself.
"i won't, i won't..."
"Then you're only going to make this worse for yourself, pet. You're digging a deep hole. Will you be able to climb back out?"
"i'll kill you," she whimpered. "i'll kill you, you'll see, you'll..."
"I don't think so, pet."
she screamed senselessly at the top of her lungs.
to just feel his neck in her hands again...
"Open the door, Medli."
she screamed again and began to pant.
the door and its frame shook as he slammed his shoulder against it, trying to force it open. it did not budge.
"just leave," she whispered to herself. "just leave, just leave, just leave..."
silence. she wiped at her eyes.
five minutes passed. there was no more sound.
another five minutes and silence still reigned in the small room and in the room beyond the door.
she ventured to stand; her whole body shook as she slowly moved towards the door. she pressed her ear to it and shut her eyes.
she listened.
the cool metal of the doorknob was almost...soothing.
the door swung open.
her bedroom was empty again. she dared to let her muscles relax.
cautious steps. she looked around. no one. he was gone.
free.
she smiled and moved towards her bed, wiping the last of her tears away. she would be better now. he was gone. he'd given up. now, now she could just relax, she could...
something snatched her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. she cried out in pain and terror; a hand had already closed around her other wrist.
she knew better than to struggle now.
"You should have listened to me, pet." his lips were right beside her ear.
she shivered.
"I told you, pet - you will learn. And I think that tonight is a good place to start."
she began to cry again.
"Tonight will be your first lesson," he murmured with a dark pleasure. "Shall we begin?"