"Hey shorty, do you not know how to walk or something?" came a voice from behind me. My eyes widened at the words and I immediately turned around to face this mean beast who had the audacity to call me short.

I was all prepared to show my dislike to whoever the rude person must be but what I did not expect was a little boy, not more than seven years old looking at me with a raised brow and giving me a reproachful look. My jaw slackened as I hunched down to his level.

Adorning a navy blue overcoat with a dark grey scarf wrapped around his neck he was looking anything but what his height or the babyish softness on his face was giving away. He squinted at me challengingly.

"I guess I heard you wrong sweetie. Did you say something?" I asked genuinely curious, not believing the previously heard words.

"You didn't hear anything?" he asked slipping a hand in his pocket.

I sobered and ignored the look he was giving. "Excuse me- uh forget it. What is your name?" I asked still being as kind as I could.

"Mr. Carlton." he offered me his hand, my eyes were almost popping out of my head, "but my name shouldn't be your concern. What you should be worried about is to know that you can't hear." I shook his hand in a daze, which he retracted almost if interacting in a professional way.

He tugged at my beanie and pulled it off, making me gaze at him surprised.

"No, the size looks fine" he mumbled to himself. Only when I gave him a questioning look did he shrug and say, placing the beanie in my unsuspecting hand, "your ears, they look fine to me. I thought maybe short people had short ears too because of which they aren't able to listen properly. Anyway, now if you excuse me, I have places to be at, unlike you I don't have time to waste"

He nudged me out of his way while I stood there dumbstruck. What had just happened?

Looking backwards, I huffed and continued my way as I glared through the air every step I took until I reached the building. Kids these days should stop making fun of others. How bold was he to call me short despite me being average in the department of  height.

These little mandrakes should learn to not upset someone by calling them something as offensive as short.

The next big surprise awaiting my presence was Gabriel White standing at the entrance. Leaned again the pristine marble pillar with his eyes trained on the building's mail corner, he looked a few notches more intimidating then I've gotten used to him.

He was clad in almost the same shade of navy I saw that mean kid be in. His muscular form handsomely angled with his legs crossed.

While at the topic of mails, I couldn't help but notice how I haven't been receiving anything remotely close to flowers, gifts and partially concealed threats as I did before, on regular basis.

It is a relief but also a topic of question because a couple days back when I interacted with Eric on this -who Gabriel had employed back after my tantrums, an anger fit and incessant glaring (even though I believe he hired him more because he couldn't find someone more compatible for the job)- he looked at me in confusion,

"You're saying that you haven't been receiving the gifts but I -" Eric instantly shut his mouth when I saw him looking behind me, his face turned white and he haphazardly collected the envelopes, mumbled a small 'bye' before rushing out.

When I turned around it was Gabriel glaring at the place where Eric stood, I rolled my eyes facing him "would you stop scaring him?" I asked, my brows furrowed.

His glare mellowed and looked at me, in his smooth voice he muttered "I didn't do it"

"Yeah, sure you didn't" I mumbled sarcastically and walked away.

That subject wasn't brought forth because I had been busy and Eric was hardly seen on the floor and whenever I did see him, he raced from my vision before I could interrogate him. I didn't want those gifts, its just that I couldn't bring myself to believe that someone who was so religiously sending notes would eventually stop because Gabriel and I fought over them.

Ever since then I'd see Gabriel guarding the ground floor in the early hours of work nearly making people bump into each other from the terror. His motives mustn't obviously be concerned with the morning walk or a random survey on the floor, I can tell. There is more to it, but I don't want to get in it just yet.

There is one more pressing matter I have to worry about, my office room had been raided. There hasn't been the absence of important documentations. It must be an act of yesterday when I saw a shadow of a person escaping the corridors when I was about to walk towards the common room. I can assuredly tell that someone has been there because the drawer where I was shoving the threat notes to see to them later had been empty.

The thief took nothing but the notes. Surprising.

I was puzzled and terrified when I returned and saw the drawer half open and empty. I'd quickly rushed to check all the files and found all the them intact and not even touched in the slightest but all I couldn't find were the notes.

They weren't important to me not in the slightest but the fact that they were to someone else and to a point where they got stolen makes me invested in trying to find who is after me.

I had been worried about it the whole day but couldn't tell anyone not wanting to scare someone else by worrying them but I couldn't get rid of the thought even when I returned home and the endless calls weren't helping me sort out my thoughts.

I, of course got little to no sleep and had to walk more than half the way in the freezing temperature.

To put the cherry on my mood, I met that little brat while walking towards my office from the coffee shop and that too empty handed due to the congested environment and now Gabriel White was standing right in the pathway towards the elevators looking handsome as always.

His attention was now distracted and his eyes met mine. He pushed himself from the wall and stood straight, slightly trying to dust his black shirt.

He cleared his throat, his eyes in their painfully beautiful color and a strange delight got filled in them when they fell on me. Instead of feeling giddy like I used to, I was angry.

It irritated me, his beauty and charisma. It is so unfair how he can pull any look without any struggle whereas I must be looking like an abandoned donkey considering how my hair had been in a disarray ever since that kid had taken my beanie off, after how he sassed me.

There was frustration about the fact that my office had been trespassed and I couldn't even know the intruder. Of the fact how I had even less sleep than I usually get. Of how I couldn't even get myself a cup of coffee. Of how it has been so cold and I had to walk.

When the fact registered that the notes had been gone, the notes which were related with the gifts. The gifts which I have no idea about, because Gabriel wouldn't let me talk to Eric.

Of how he controls everything besides how he looks gorgeous all the time. Especially focusing on the fact how the shirt is stretched on his biceps and taut chest and is distracting me at the moment.

Yeah, that's it! It's Gabriel, he is the reason for everything

I plainly glared at him and walked past purposely pushing his arm a little.

"Good morning!" I heard him say in a hesitant voice and I froze. Hold on! Gabriel White hasn't been on salutation basis with anyone while holding informal conversations. Where did this greeting come from?

Choosing not to melt, I ignored him and took a step forward when I heard him say in the same soft voice, which if people close by hear they would probably double take to see if they are hearing it right. Some might get admitted to have them checked if they have lost their mind with the way they're hearing things.

Gabriel talking in the first place is what people crave to hear, let alone hearing him speak in a voice that could steal someone's heart away. But I've known for a while that he is allowing himself to show me sides he has kept barricaded from others and even himself.

"How did your day go?" His voice reached my ears making me close my eyes and suck in a breath. Why does you voice have to be so good, Gabriel?

"Good?" I replied, confused. What day is he talking about. Hasn't it just started?

He nodded, looking around. "So...are you okay?"

"I am but are you?" I was baffled. What does he want to say, why is he playing around words?

He chose not to respond to my question, I distractedly said, "I have to go work." I said in a voice that sounded mean to me too and turned around, sprinting towards my workplace.

***

My phone blared lying on the kitchen counter whereas I was sat on the lounging sofa curled up in my sweats, eating the remaining piece of sandwich, attempting to concentrate on the show playing on the television but failing miserably at doing so due to the deafening shrilly ringtone.

Here it begins.

I groaned, stretching myself almost to the point of falling from the sofa just for my fingers to grasp ahold of the devise which was far away from reach despite my elastic approach towards it. Glaring at the object as if would be a source to transmit my anger to the caller, I stood up huffing to receive the call knowing there would be none other than him on the line.

It was such a common occurrence for my phone to ring after every fifteen minutes that at this rate I'm amazed at myself for not chucking it out of the window.

Gabriel White has been calling me so often these days that its a task in itself to do basic activities such as going to the toilet and not rushing out at once because the phone wouldn't stop ringing or sleeping properly because as considerate as he claims to be while I'm asleep, he still calls me every two hours which changes from every fifteen minutes cycle, starting from midnight.

If I ignore the calls as I did two days back, he would come knocking at the door, impatient. Then he would yell at me for not responding to the call and would go back to being his rude self until I convince him that I wouldn't do it again and for whatever reason he calls, I would entertain him.

I was almost tempted to tell him that he could stay angry for as long as he wants and it wouldn't make a difference, even though it was a lie but when I looked at his apprehensive eyes which were carrying a hope that I wouldn't defy him at least not on this, I had to agree. I blame the velvety green for that.

Even though there hadn't been many reasons since he has started calling for the past week. Just asking the same repeated questions every quarter of an hour. I don't know what has gotten into him that might be the reason of his continuous calling but I've noticed that how my little words of assurance makes him sigh in relief even if they are spoken time and time again.

"Pikachu" I said, just as I raised the phone to my ear.

Somehow the word 'Pikachu' has become a thing which I use in place of 'I'm fine' for his unasked question. He seems to understand the code too.

"I wasn't going to ask that." he answered, making my eyes go wide.

"Your pants will catch fire, you liar!" I muttered in a bored tone walking towards my room dimming the lights and placing the dishes to wash them later. Yeah, I am lazy like that.

"Are you sure?" he sighed.

"About your burning pants?" I asked, balancing the phone on my shoulder and pulling my hair in a ponytail. He groaned making me laugh. "Well, I'm talking to you so I guess that supports my Pikachu"

I laid on the bed flickering the lamp on and pulling the duvet over me. Involuntarily, a yawn escaped my mouth.

"You're tired...now you'll rest. Would you sleep?" he murmured making me laugh.

"Not exactly Gabriel. I was planning on hosting a vampire party just after getting off the call, wanna join? There would be free food and well a little blood because that is the best sport to do when people are tired. I mean seriously? Of course! I am about to sleep. What else do people do when they're tired?" I said, clutching a pillow to my chest.

"I don't immediately sleep when I'm tired" he responded, for the first time telling something about himself making me prop on my elbows to be in a sitting position as to get as involved in the conversation as possible. Hardly does he ever volunteer to share something about him and when he is, I'm forever in need to know him .

"Then what do you do, scare the tiredness away? Wait! I can tell how, by glaring at it for even thinking about coming close to you and then striding towards it until it blushes and starts taking steps back and when it refuses to step back and continues to-"

"Are you talking about my tiredness or yourself?" he asked in an amused voice and I inhaled a huge chunk of air. Blush filled my face and I got tongue-tied. Darn!

I offered a nervous laugh and spoke, "what? of course it's about tiredness. I don't behave that way..."

"Continue with your imaginations. I was having a good time." his voice spoke with humor and it filled me with elation. Happiness at the thought of knowing that he is spending the hours of his comfort talking with me unlike ever before, carefree and unguarded.

"Aren't you enjoying yourself a bit too-" I sat alarmed when I heard a sound of crash. I sat upright with a fear clouding me. The sound appears to be coming from my living room .

My heart thrummed at a bizarre speed paralyzing me for a while but I clutched courage and got off the bed. 

"W-who's there?" my shaky voice rumbled in now an odd silence.

I stepped ahead noiselessly, the phone lowered and I firmly held it in my hand. Gabriel had sensed trouble and I could here him trying to approach me to talk to him but my eyes concentrated on the door of my room when another crash resounded in my apartment making me yelp.

My quivering hand reached towards the wall, flailing helplessly to find the light switch, the lamp in my room was suddenly not sufficient enough. I wanted light and now I was panicking. Rubbing by hand over my face, I gulped.

"Jenna! JENNA? ANSWER ME DAMMIT!" Gabriel screamed from the other line but I was numb. My eyes darting towards the phone in hand which was held in an iron grip.

My breathing was uneven and cold sweat broke on my forehead. My nose stung with the emotional trauma. I backed away looking for light, my icy hands grabbed the sides of my face and flashes from past peeked in my mind. I heard thrashing sounds and crashes and a silent screech escaped past my lips at the familiarity.

I was building a snowman with orange pieces of clay. My little hands rounding the soft dough in balls to pile them over one another. Using the back of my hand I pushed away a tendril of hair that escaped from the pigtails and disturbed my vision .

Placing the smaller orange ball on the larger one, I drew my hands back. A pout settled on my face when it tumbled. Feeling upset I pushed it away and crossed my arms.

"Mommy its not working" I whined.

Mommy came back from the kitchen, placing the towel down she sat next to and collected the pieces I had thrown away.

"What is it that my baby is making?" she asked, placing me on her lap.

My mood suddenly lifted, "a snowman" I said, wrapping my arms around her neck and sniffing her scent.

"An orange snowman?" she chuckled. I nodded happily forgetting my failure and enjoying the warmth of my mommy's lap.

She kissed my head and taught me how to put it together, making me giggle in happiness when I saw it stand.

"It looks amazing" I said using my hands to express the happiness I felt at the accomplishment.

"Absolutely" replied mommy.

 We were making so many more things together when a sound of something breaking reached my ears, making me jump and look towards mommy, her eyes widened when she looked towards the door and for the first time she looked scared.

"What is the sound mommy?" I asked in a little voice, scared but at the same time knowing that nothing could go wrong because Jenna had mommy and she wouldn't let Jenna get hurt.

She lifted me up, turning her back towards the door after gently shutting it. She looked at me and I saw her eyes filled with fear, my eight year old self was stunned. I knew something was wrong for my mommy was upset. She looked at me and I could see that she was terrified making me hold onto her tighter.

Tears filled my eyes when I looked in hers which were filled with them with a few trailing down her cheeks. I have never seen her so scared. I didn't want mommy to cry, mommy always makes Jenna happy, she cheers her up when Jenna is sad. Mommy can't cry.

A sob raked though me when I saw my mother in pain. I raised my hand and placed it on her face, "don't cry mommy. Jenna is sorry."

She sobbed when she heard me, shaking her head and wiping my tears away even though hers were constantly streaming.

"No baby, it's not your fault" she kissed my forehead, my eyes, my cheeks and then hugged me close to her, making me breathe in her scent.

I could feel her tears on my shoulders and I clutched her neck tighter. The sound of voices became louder and louder. I could hear someone running on the stairs, mommy pulled away  alarmed, looking around. 

She spotted a place and started taking me towards the cupboard. She opened the door, moved the clothes to one side and made me sit inside.

I looked up at mommy with teary eyes. She fumbled through her Sheriff uniform which was hanging on the side and pulled out a black shiny object . She placed it on the floor before she grabbed my face with both my hands.

"Listen to me baby, promise me Jenna that no matter what happens right now you will not walk out of this cupboard until I come and get you and don't make any sound, okay?" she asked me and I nodded, my lips quivering.

Wiping her tears she said, "I want you to know that you are the most adorable little thing and very precious to me. You are a very strong girl Jen! Always know that I'm proud of you. Be brave. It would be hard but you'll never give up. Don't ever let the smile go away."

"Mommy you can come inside, we can both hide. Don't cry. Who are they mommy?" I offered holding her hand. I didn't want to let her go. She shook her head.

She wiped her tears harshly and kissed me on my forehead, "They are bad people baby, they are monsters. Don't worry Jenna, they won't ever get the satisfaction to see me cry"

"Mommy, I'm scared" I said, my lip quivering.

"No Jenna! There's nothing to be scared of. You're my brave girl, my super girl. Let mommy see the smile, her baby's beautiful smile" I shook my head. "Come on Jenna, one last time" I shook my head.

All of a sudden I heard pounding on my door, mommy stepped back, I reached for her she sternly refused, "remember what you promised me"

She took my hand that was grabbing her sleeve and kissed it, "I love you Jenna" and the door was shut. All that filled me was darkness.

Darkness just as how it was back then, my hand let go of whatever it was holding only for it to shatter on the ground. I sucked in deep breaths but I couldn't breathe.

My throat was clogging, my insides churning. A daze filled me and I couldn't see. I struggled, searched for something but I couldn't find anything. The darkness was completely surrounding me, I screamed grabbing the lamp, shaking it for it pour in light but it did nothing.

My eyes looked everywhere, to find light. Mommy did say she was coming back. Why is she not opening this cupboard. I want to go and hide in her arms. I can hear her talking to someone and she sounds brave. I know mommy would kill all the monsters and when they will go away Jenna and mommy would play again.

My body sagged against the wall on its own looking for any sort of darkness. I heaved and started to cough. Why would the air not get in my lungs? I grabbed and pulled strands of my hair.

I stuff a piece of cloth in my mouth to not scream and make any noise. Mommy asked Jenna to keep quiet. She would be hurt if she hears me crying. Forcing the fabric in my mouth, tears trailed down my cheeks and I slapped my hands on my ears when I heard them scream at her.

A chill ran down my spine when I heard footsteps and sounds. I want to block this out, I want to go away. My nails dig in my palm but my fingers feel cold and numb. I put more pressure as I've been told but nothing happens.

"Where is your daughter?" asked the monster.

"She's not here" mommy replied. I heard a sound of slap making me shiver and cry more. I pulled the cloth out. I want to help mommy.

"You lie! WHERE IS YOUR DAUGHTER?" another sound of beating is what I hear before I put my fist in my mouth.

"I told you she's not here"

"Well if she isn't then it's bad for her. For she won' t know what happened with her mother" he said in a voice which mommy has forbidden Jenna to speak in.

I suddenly remembered what mommy told me whenever I felt bad. 'No Jenna it will be all okay. Everything will be fine.'

'Everything will be fine, it will all be okay. Jenna relax' I felt my mom saying this to me from my memory, but she must be lying like she did all that time back. My chest was constricting in pain, I forced myself to breathe but my efforts were fruitless.

I saw a light sparkling from a little object, my cold fingers reached for it and without registering what I was saying, words came out of my lips,

"C-can you come and get me?" I whispered in a shaky voice.

The phone slipped from my hand and I curled in a corner, clutching my heart for it was paining badly. I felt dizzy, I couldn't see anything just an orange snowman and nothing but darkness.

They were yelling, everyone was whereas I was looking for light. This darkness was worrying me, it was blinding me. I wanted to see something, I wanted to go into light. When the screams got insufferable, I ducked and put my head in my knees. I didn't want to see, the darkness was scaring me.

My body was shivering, it was shaking but I knew that if I kept my promise, mommy would keep her promise too. She would come and open the door as she said she would.

Then I heard a gunshot.  

"MOM! Help me mommy. Please" I whispered, curled against the wall. There were swirls of black searing my soul from inside. It was all in a daze, black dots filled my vision and I slumped against the wall with short puffs of air escaping my mouth.

My droopy eyelids forced in trying to focus on the commotion near me, the insistence, the despair. Someone was asking me to do something, begging me.

"HEY, JUST LOOK AT ME. BREATHE!"

My mouth was parched, my eyes adjusted and I could see a little. I could see a pair of green eyes. As hard as I tried concentrating, I wasn't able to. All I had moving in front my eyes was the dark cupboard.

"Turn on the light. I-I cant breathe" came my hoarse reply, barely audible.

"Lights are on, Jenna. Please, look at me, it's okay. I've got you" I closed my eyes for I couldn't bear to look at him, "you're trembling" he uttered in pain as if he was feeling what I was.

"They w-wanted to kill-" I stuttered.

"NO! Noone's here Jenna they are gone. They won't hurt you. I won't let them" he growled, he grabbed a glass of water making me drink it. I was astounded, I couldn't hear or see anything. It was invisible to me, only the painful sounds and despair surrounded me.

I was on auto pilot, shocked and dissolved in the gruesome memories, the helplessness. It was coming back, it was clawing my insides and just as always I was unable to do anything.

"Jenna" he probed, his voice in such deep anguish that it was hurting to hear someone care about me so much. I inhaled ragged breaths, my bloodshot eyes darted towards him.

His face was so deeply morphed in pain as though someone as shoving a dagger in him, just as horrible as I was feeling.

"Talk to me?" I don't know if it was the way he spoke it, with so much emotion so much pain, if there was a splitting point but I threw my arms around him.

My head nestled in his shoulder and his arms tightly wounded around me as though understanding their need and the use of his presence.

For the first time in so many years, I cried. I cried in his embrace.

***

Sup?

Guess who got inspired?

It was very emotional for me to write this part obviously so it took me time and still its not as I wanted for it to be.

*unedited.

If it confuses anyone the part in Italics are the flashbacks.

Make sure to vote and share

next update soon.

Love, S