✧

"What's wrong, Viola?"

Joseph's voice makes me jump out of my skin. I whip my head to face him as I lounge in the art room at the back of the house. My hand presses to the centre of my chest to feel my thundering heart.

"Don't do that," I rasp.

He arches a brow. "Why are you so jumpy?"

"I'm not," I dismiss his idea and turn back to the canvas.

Art isn't my forte but I like to come here and pretend I can paint to help the clouds in my head disappear. Right now I feel like I'm caught in a storm and I cannot get out of this head space for the life of me.

Haze is the lightning in said storm. The reason why I cannot trust any sound or intrusion.

He's been here in the house, in my bedroom. How? He crossed borders without being caught. I should have told Nate but I kept it to myself. I can't guarantee he'll come back, he didn't last time and I don't believe a word he says.

It'll be good riddance when he doesn't but I have my walls up in case. A shiver rushes down my spine as Joseph inches closer, his brows pressing together with suspicion.

"Vi," he sighs. "Is this because of what I said to you in bed the other day?"

My eyes roll and I turn back to the canvas and raise my brush. "When you basically shamed me? Yeah, that did kind of annoy me, Joseph."

"It's because I don't want to hurt you, babe."

I grimace at the nickname. We're definitely not there and hearing it fall from his lips is alien.

"What else is going on?"

He perches on the chair beside me but I refuse to glance his way. I focus on my painting strokes and attempt at creating a pretty wave but with him right beside me, my shoulders tense. I hate being watched. I don't like the idea of being judged but he's not looking at the painting, he's burning holes into the side of my face.

"Nothing," I mumble. "I'm fine. I just want some time to myself."

"You've had a lot of time to yourself this week."

"Oh, Goddess," I slam down the paintbrush and turn towards him. "Joseph, I'm allowed to have time to myself without anything being wrong. Yes, what you said to me annoyed me. But I'm over it now. We don't share the same interests and it's fine."

Joseph flicks his eyes between mine, jaw clenching. "I meant what I said when I told you that wanting those things isn't normal, Vi. Why would you want me to hurt you? Or anyone for that matter?"

Despite already hearing the words once, I flinch. Normal. I'm not normal? So I must be deranged. Great. A lump develops in my throat and I shake my head, attempting to calm my breathing.

"If you're not going to understand, then don't ask the questions."

"Because I'm trying to get you to see it how society sees it!"

I stand from the stool and press my paint splattered fingers against my washed out jeans.

"Viola, come on. Let's talk about this."

My head shakes. "No. I'm done with this conversation."

"Because I'm telling the truth?"

I stop walking and inhale a deep breath before glancing over my shoulder, tears stinging the backs of my eyes. "Stop shaming me, Joseph. Stop making me feel like a weirdo. Stop making me feel like I'm disgusting because that's exactly what you're doing. Please leave me alone."

Without looking back I head upstairs to my bedroom and slam the door with my built up anger and hatred for him–for myself? Maybe I am broken. Maybe I shouldn't want these things and it is sick. But I can't stop it.

I want more. I want the thrill. I want to feel alive.

What's wrong with that?

I slip into my bathroom and turn on the shower before shedding my clothes and slipping beneath the warm water and shutting the shower door. I roll my fingers together with soap to remove the blue and white paint beneath my nails, then I move onto my hair.

The glass walls steam up around me as I scrub my head and wash my body from head to toe. I try not to think of Joseph but his words run around my head on a loop. That... asshole.

When I'm clean I turn off the water and wrap my hair up in a towel, then wrap another around my body. I step out onto the bathmat and twist to the mirror. A gasp falls from my lips and I scurry backwards, almost slipping from the wetness I'm dripping on the floor.

I stare back in horror as words are written across the mirror through the condensation. Despite the temperature in the room, I shiver with intensity. I clutch the towel close to my chest as my eyes roam the words.

Hello, sweetness.

My fists tighten and I shake my head. "No, no, no." I chant. "Hell no."

I swipe my hand across the letters and a jolt of electricity rushes through my palm and into my heart. I jump back like I've been shocked by a wire. A strong scent of spice invades my nose and I whip my head around the bathroom.

"I know you're here," I call out. "Where are you, asshole?"

My fingers latch onto the bathroom door handle and I rip it open. I creep into my bedroom and let my eyes roam but I cannot see him. "Come out," I say through gritted teeth. "Don't be a coward now, don't–"

The door to my bedroom opens and Nate steps into view with a creased forehead. "Who the hell are you talking to?"

I swallow and shake my head, wrapping my arms around myself. "No one," I exhale and force a smile. "Just talking to myself."

"Talking to yourself? You called yourself a coward?"

"Can you let me get dressed?"

Nate throws his hands up and turns around to leave. I grab a bunch of clothes and pull them on before dragging a hairbrush through my dark hair. I glance in the mirror and frown. I miss the blonde. I despise myself for giving into temptation and dying it. What did I think it would achieve?

"Can I come in now?"

I quickly glance around the room to see if he's left any other notes but thankfully there is nothing. "Yeah."

Nate walks in and folds his arms over his chest behind me. "What's going on, Vi? Joseph is worried about you."

A deep groan falls from the back of my throat. "Nothing is wrong. I'm fine."

"Does this have anything to do with Haze?"

I freeze and twist to look at him.

"Because he hasn't come back?"

My lungs release a quick breath. He doesn't know.

"I'm over it," I shrug simply. "Everything's fine."

Nate hums softly. "Okay. Sure. We're thinking of going out tonight, you up for it?"

I shake my head. "I'm kinda tired. I wanna take a nap and watch Gossip Girl or something."

"Okay," he sighs. "Sure. I'll see you later."

When he's gone I curl up on my bed and stare out of the window. Haze's scent is nowhere to be seen but I don't trust anything. I should feel more scared but somehow I can't find it in me to. If he wanted to hurt me he would have done it already–it seems like he likes playing games.

My wolf is screaming at the chance to see him again, especially his impressive wolf.

I tut to myself and close my eyes. This needs to stop. I release a yawn and tuck myself into my pillow. After a long run this morning, I'm ready for an hour's rest. I deserve it, even if I have an inkling Haze could still be hanging around.

"There you are, sweetness."

The sounds of crashing waves echoes in my ears. I glance over my shoulders but I'm alone on the beach front. There isn't a single person in sight. I frown at the itching inside my head and the imprint of his voice on my nervous system.

"I'm right here."

I gasp and press my hand to my neck, clutching at the hair on my nape.

"Where?" I call out pathetically.

The waves become louder and louder and louder until...

"Here."

I scream out when an arm wraps around my waist and tugs me backwards until I'm falling. Everything moves in slow motion until we hit the water and his arms are still secure around my body, refusing to let me go.

Water suffocates my chest as I go under. I'm sinking and sinking.

I thrash against his hold but I can't reach the surface. I'm drowning. I can't get back up. I gulp through the water until I'm choking and sobbing and screaming. Nothing helps. Pain swarms me and I can't escape.

Then I'm gasping for air. Liquid escapes my throat as two hands cradle my face.

"Sweetness," he exhales sharply. "Sweetness. Look at me. Look at me."

I roll to my side and let my eyes crack open slowly. The hand now strokes back my hair as I taste the salty water in my mouth. "W-why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Hurt me."

His fingers pause for a moment until he tilts my head towards his, silver eyes gleaming at me beneath the golden sun. "I'd never hurt you, Viola, and you know it. You said so yourself. I'd never hurt you. Not unless you wanted me to."

"What?" I cough. "Why would I want you to?"

The corner of his lip twitches. "Don't act all innocent, sweetness."

My cheeks burn red. "Stop."

"Stop what?

"You shouldn't be here."

Haze's fingers graze my cheek until he cups the base of my neck. "But I am."

"Go."

He tuts and wraps his arm around my waist until we're falling through the water again. I gasp but my lungs fill with water and I'm swallowing it, my chest growing tighter by the second. Oh Goddess. I'm drowning. I'm drowning and I'm–

I shoot up and press my back into my headboard frantically. A hand presses to my sweat covered face. I can't breathe. A chill runs over my arms and I'm filled with dread and agony.

"It's not real," I whisper to myself. "It's not real."

I push the covers from my body and stand on jelly legs. My eyes flick to the window to find the sun setting and the sky becoming darker by the second. I fill my lungs with oxygen and grab my bottle of water from my desk.

The tightness of my mouth is drying out for dehydration. I drink and I drink until I'm gasping for air and wiping the droplets away from my chin. I place down the bottle and lean onto my desk with my pals.

"Just a dream," I whisper as if I can still feel the waves lapping at my chest.

After a few moments my eyes start to become blurry. I raise my fingers to rub them but it only makes it worse. I sway, my legs quivering as I attempt to continue standing. A ball of nausea creeps up my throat.

Something is wrong. Something is wrong.

I twist but everything moves in slow motion. There is ringing in my ears. My vision spiralling as a wave of something foreign coats my insides. I swipe my hand out to grab the desk as my knees completely give out and then I'm falling.

There isn't time to brace myself but I expect to hit the hard floor any given second.

But I don't.

Instead strong, warm arms catch me and gently lower me to the floor. I force my eyes open to find silver ones staring back at me. Haze. Haze. Am I still dreaming?

His fingers push back my strands of hair and I open my mouth but all that comes out is a pathetic groan. "Shhh," he whispers as I fall in and out of consciousness. "Go to sleep, sweetness."

I try to fight but my limbs feel like lead. I'm weak. I'm spacing out. I'm not functioning.

"I've got you," he says again gently but I spot his primal grin through my blurry eyes. "I told you you had to make this difficult. But now you're never getting away from me."

Then everything fades to black.

✧

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Author's Note

Ooop Haze finally taken the plunge and kidnapped Viola🫠

What did you guys think of this chapter?👉🏼

She's going to be fuming😭

So glad Viola stood up to Joseph too!

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Love Savanna x

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