♥Chapter 32: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ'ᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ♥

✿Kennedy✿

A strange feeling washes over me.

Like something is clinging to my back kind of feeling.

I turn my head and look around.

No one comes into view.

I turn back around and continue walking, following the GPS on my phone.

I try ignoring feeling and think of it as something like I'm a God's child and he's probably the one watching over me that's why I feel like someone's currently watching me right now.

If I feel like this right now then does that mean God was never watching me before? Maybe he might be watching me more intently this time. 'Where is this mysterious young lady going after all?'. 'Look how brave she is, I can't take my eyes off her.'

Nah, God has other people to deal with. He can't be busy watching me.

Fine, I'm gonna do this for the last time.

I stop, turn around and look.

God knows what I was expecting, everything is perfectly still, perfectly dark, perfectly empty, perfectly—My eyes catch a person leaning silently against a wall.

My eyes widen and I stumble a step back. How the heck did I not see him while passing by? 

It might be because he was standing completely hidden in the shadows. His hood is pulled up casting a shadow over his face so I can't really see the man's face.

I Ignore the feeling of his eyes in my direction and turn around, walking away.

I keep myself from acting as if I'm feeling uncomfortable or creeped out when instead I'm completely feeling all of those.

He might just be a guy enjoying the dark street and is shooting me glares for ruining his vision with me in his sight.

I turn around a corner as my GPS directs me and let out a breath of relief to be on a different street.

I walk a little more and the same feeling of someone watching me clings to my back.

I hope it's you, God.

My head turns around to peek behind me.

Dread washes over me when I see the same hoodie guy a little farther behind me, following me at his own slow pace.

I turn back around and pick up my speed a bit.

My feet clad in sneakers hit against the empty street.

Is that guy following me or are we just going in the same direction?

Is he coming to kidnap me?

Nah, he maybe wants the hot tea in my hand. He is wearing a hoodie so he might be cold and smelled the hot tea in my hand and now he's following me to get it.

I switch streets again.

I turn my head in the slightest way possible to peek at him again.

Yup, he's definitely following me.

I think of stopping and turning around to confront him or maybe throw the hot tea at his face.

That would leave some nasty red burns.

He'll need to buy Aloe for two weeks straight.

I think I'll attack him, then buy him aloe as an apology or something.

Wait, you're not supposed to apologize for defending yourself.

The GPS on my phone says I'm nowhere near home and the guy is picking up his pace too, nearing me slowly.

My hands shake slightly as I flip to the call log on my phone and hit Jake's name.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I wait as it rings.

Jake might be sleeping, and his phone is always on silent. I don't know if he'll pick up or not.

I hope he does but at the same time, I don't wanna ruin his sleep. His health is terrible right now but that doesn't mean I'm gonna let myself get kidnapped.

❆Jake❆

The ceiling appears blurry and my head aches like a fucking bitch. My back glues to the sheets with sweat even though I'm shivering and shaking like a fucking earthquake.

A small buzz of vibration reaches my ears, giving the already-pounding headache a nice fucking poke.

My head turns weakly to the side to see my phone screen lighting up with an incoming call.

The phone was quite a distance away from me.

My eyes droop just thinking about getting off the bed and walking over to get my phone.

Fuck, I sound like Kennedy.

Kennedy.

Shit!

My eyes fly open and my back aches as I heave myself up and off the bed.

The phone feels cold in my hands as I grab it.

Kennedy's name flashes on my screen.

Without another thought, I answer it, pressing the cool metal to my burning skin near my ear.

"Where the fuck are you?" My voice comes out strained and low, barely audible.

Fuck, am I getting a sore throat now?

"Jake." A small, terrified whisper.

My eyebrows furrow, "Ken? What happened? Where are you?"

Silence.

"Ken?"

More silence.

"Ken?"

My heart starts beating faster with a strange sort of panic gripping my chest.

"Kennedy!" I yell in panic.

"I'm here! I'm here!" She whisper-shouts and I relax a little.

My grip tightens on the phone.

My head starts spinning until I grab onto my desk with my other hand to keep myself upright.

"Where are you?" I ask, squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt to relax my head.

Don't faint right now, you bitch.

"Jake," Kennedy says, her voice barely a whisper, "Jake, I think someone's following me."

My eyes fly open and my legs automatically move to walk out the door, "Where are you?"

"Jake, you can't come," Kennedy says, "Your fever!"

"Fever my ass," I grit out, clenching my jaw as my entire body aches.

I could barely make it to the door before my body decides to exhaust itself and my head to plant itself on a merry-go-round.

A groan comes out of my mouth as I place my palm on my temple.

"Jake, you okay?" Kennedy asks, her worried tone shifting to me, "Please don't tell me you're out of bed. You can barely walk."

"Barely walk my ass," I reply with my eyes squeezing shut and my hand gripping my head.

"Just be with me on the phone," Kennedy murmurs, "I think that guy will go away if he knows that someone is talking to me on the phone."

I couldn't stand any longer. My knees weaken and I slowly sit on the carpeted floor.

I can't walk out of my room.

How the fuck will I reach Kennedy?

"I think that guy is picking up his pace." Slight panic grips Kennedy's voice even though I know she's trying to hide it for my sake.

"Fuck." A groan comes out of my mouth, "Don't stop walking, don't walk into any narrow streets or streets that end in a dead-end. Find any crowded street and walk into it. And do not fucking slow down, got me? And don't suddenly try talking to him!"

"Okay." Her soft voice comes out.

Okay, so there's a creep following Ken who could either be a fucking rapist or a fucking kidnapper or fucking both.

I try standing once again nearly cry out in frustration when my legs feel too fucking weak to support my body.

I'm gonna fucking kill myself if I ever let Kennedy out in the middle of the night ever again.

I'm gonna fucking kill the creep.

I'm gonna fucking kill everyone!

"Jake, what's wrong? You're breathing hard." Kennedy's voice snaps me out of my angry bubble.

"Is that fucking creep still following you?" I ask instead of answering her.

Her reply comes a few seconds late.

"Yes."

That motherfucker.

An idea pops into my head that makes my eyes fly open.

"Kennedy," I say urgently.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Can I hang up? For just a minute?"

"Don't tell me you're gonna suddenly transform into Superman and come here to save me."

I would transform into anything as long as I'm able to save you.

"Okay." She replies after a while.

I quickly end the call and flip through my contacts lists.

My eyes blur as I scroll to find the number I'm looking for.

My eyes land on the name.

Without another thought, I press it.

✯✯✯

✿Kennedy✿

This GPS definitely wants me to get lost.

After Jake told me to avoid any narrow streets or streets with dead-ends, I've been walking into random roads and places and now the GPS seems to be flipping mad that I'm not following her directions.

I tap on my phone to end and reset the GPS.

When I press start on the GPS, it goes into loading—

The screen goes black.

My body freezes with horror.

No.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

My phone's battery cannot possibly decide to die right now.

Not right now.

Why?

Why?

Whyyy?

Is it a good time for me to have a panic attack right now?

Discreetly, I take a peek behind me.

During the most disbelieving moment of my life, the guy who was following me got closer.

Too close for me to make out the outline of his exposed face.

Smirking.

He was smirking.

And not the attractive kind of way Jake does.

My legs start again and this time, they take off in a small run.

Behind me, I could hear the guy's footsteps matching my pace. Maybe even faster.

My speed increases with panic gripping at my throat.

My phone's dead and a creepy guy is running after me. Wonderful night am I having, am I right?

My lungs start burning and any minute now they would heave, and I would crumble down, coughing.

My hand reaches into my pocket to grasp my inhaler, but I couldn't use it while running.

I've never had to run before.

Kennedy Kinsey never runs for more than five seconds.

"You know it's better you stop already."

Chills run down my spine at the voice of the guy, cold and amused.

"Don't tell me what to do." My reply comes automatically. 

"I've been following you for fifteen minutes now and I don't think there ain't a way this night's passing without you and me getting it on."

"Getting what?" I couldn't help but ask, confused.

Does he mean getting on Halloween costumes or something? He was following me the whole time to try on costumes?

Obviously not, you idiot. Be smart for once. He's following me for something bad. Stranger Danger.

The guy who's a few paces behind me now, chuckles, "I'll show you."

"Where?" I ask. I don't see him holding any costumes now. I really hope he's talking about costumes and not the other thing I'm fearing about.

"Anywhere." He answers.

He carries his costumes everywhere?

"You carry your costumes everywhere?" I ask.

He doesn't reply.

I turn my head around to look back and see him still following me, but this time, there was an irritated look on his face.

My chest couldn't take it anymore.

My legs abruptly stop, and my lungs burn, my chest heaving painfully up and down. I put my hand on a wall nearby to hold myself up while I try forcing steady breaths through my mouth.

My chest aches and I'm sure it's gonna combust and blow up.

A low whistle gets my attention and I strain my eyes to look up. The creep was only five feet away from me now.

The guy's smirk widens as he looks at my heaving chest with a look of satisfaction, "You've got great tits."

I force myself to regain my breathing and stand up straighter, "You're jealous."

He moves closer to me, and I fight myself from coughing or wheezing at this moment.

I don't use my inhaler otherwise it would come off as a distraction from my side.

I mean using your inhaler in front of a kidnapper is gonna make you seem weak. Although I'm really strong. I can probably fling this creep into outer space.

"I can fling you into outer space," I warn him.

A smirk comes on his face, and he takes another step forward, not really quite close to me yet but enough for me to suck in a breath with the realization of how big and strong this guy looks under his dark hoodie.

"You're childish," The creep states, disappointment in his tone.

Why do people keep saying that?

"Eh never stopped me in what I do." A smirk lines his face and this time, in one large stride he was in front of me, seizing the front of Jake's hoodie.

With a gasp, I tried jerking back but his grip was firm, and he was pulling me towards him.

"Let me go, you freak!" I yell, digging my heels into the ground while trying to unlatch his hand from the hoodie.

I remember the hot tea in my hand and without another thought, I pop open the lid and throw the tea, aiming for his face.

His hands loosen on me with a cry. I waste no second and dash off, hoping to run away before he can catch up to me. My heart beats wildly, terrified. He was really going to take me away? I don't stop running and hope for the life of me that my body can keep up. At times, like these, I really wish my body wasn't so weak.

Don't stop running.

Don't stop running.

Don't stop run—

A scream escapes my lips when someone grabs the back of Jake's hoodie. My body comes to an abrupt halt.

I don't stop screaming while trying to detach the guy's arm from my hoodie. I try swinging my fist, kicking him, and doing anything to get away from him. He's much stronger.

A hand connects with my face.

The shock of it immobilizes me for a while. I stop screaming. Pain burns through my cheek where he slaps me.

His other hand comes to the back of my knees to swoop me into his arms. That gets me into action again. With panic gripping my chest and alarms ringing in my head, I thrash around in his arms, trying to slip free but he's holding me too tight. Something tells me he's done this more than once and that thought terrifies and saddens me at the same time.

My fists hit his chest with my legs swinging around trying to throw him off balance.

"Hold still, you bitch!" The creep hisses.

"Try me, motherlover!" I hiss back.

With another thrash of my legs, I get successful in weakening his hold on me, which leads to my body dropping harshly to the pebbled ground.

It knocks off my breath, making a series of coughs erupt from my chest. Scratches appear on my palms and knuckles with my chest spasming with the inability to take in air. Rolling over onto my back, I blindly reach for my inhaler with black spots clouding my vision as a heavyweight presses down on my chest. I can't breathe. I can't breathe at all.

The creep above me looks down at me in disgust and anger.

Short wheezing gasps leave my body with tears blurring my eyes.

I can't breathe.

I can't see.

What's going on?

Sudden bright flashes of a car headlight fill the street.

The creep looks up and swears. Without giving it another second, he's running away.

My chest tightens with discomfort and heaviness making it even more difficult to breathe.

The sound of a car door opening and closing reaches my ears through my violent coughs.

"Kennedy!"

Two pairs of arms grab me by the shoulders and lift me up into a sitting position.

"Deep breaths, Ken. Take it slow. Come on." Alex guides me calmly, rubbing his hand lightly up and down my back as he crouches beside me.

My coughs don't stop but I still try taking in deep breaths.

"Good, keep doing it," He urges then takes my inhaler and connects it to a spacer device.

I don't get to ask him where he got the spacer device from-I could barely breathe, let alone talk.

He holds the spacer mask to my face and pumps my inhaler letting me breathe in the medicinal mist.

"Slowly," Alex soothes while continuing his gentle rubs on my back.

Alex's here. I let my body sag in relief into his arms.

My eyes close as I take in a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds then let it out; continuing this ten-fifteen times. Alex gradually pumps my inhaler six times into the spacer device.

When my chest seems to simmer down into relaxation and relief, I open my eyes. Alex removes the spacer from my face, and I let in a final deep breath.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?" Alex inspects my face, worried and tensed as if I'm going to die in three seconds. He suddenly looks up as if searching for someone.

"Goddamnit." He mutters in defeat when he doesn't find anyone. 

I lick my dry cold lips.

My body's still trembling from what happened a few seconds ago.

But Alex is here now. I'm safe.

"I was going to die," I breathe out.

"You were going to get an asthma attack," Alex's face twists into apprehension. "Where were you going all alone in the middle of the night?"

"Jake's medicines got over, so I went to buy more," I say then remember the medicines fell out of my hand along with the coconut water I was getting for Jake.

Alex spots the packet of medicine a few feet away and reaches out to take it in his hand. The coconut water got saved thankfully.

"You could have called me to get them." Alex's hand rests on my head before his fingers caress through my hair, moving it behind my shoulder.

"You were at work so I thought I'd get them myself." I shrug. "But then th-that guy started following me out of nowhere. Where did he go?" I ask, looking around.

Alex's face twists into a hard livid look, "He got away. What he do?"

"Except following me then luring me out to see his costumes, calling me childish, then trying to pick me off the street, then dropping me to the ground." I rant. "Nope, he didn't do anything other than that."

Alex's fist tightens, "I'm gonna find him and get him arrested."

I pat Alex's hand, gesturing for him to chill. "Later. Right now we need to get home cos my phone ran out of battery and Jake is probably giving himself a tumour trying to get out of bed with his fever to come find me."

"He called me to go find you and get you home." Alex's hand rubs the back of his neck.

My eyebrows raise, "He did?"

The surprise wasn't that Jake called someone to find me, it was that, that Jake called Alex.

Alex nods before standing and helping me up too.

He guides me to his cop car and buckles me up in the passenger seat.

"So where's the button to the flashy lights?" I ask, inspecting the various buttons in the car when Alex gets in.

"Why don't you just hold on to this for the moment?" He suggests, handing me the bottle of coconut water and Jake's medicines along with my inhaler.

Yeah, let me carry all those heavy things while he just drives his stupid awesome cop car.

✄ ✄ ✄ ✄

I was gonna make this chapter more intense and more serious but I thought it wouldn't exactly fit the theme of this book...idk. 

Q) What's your favourite Kennedy line? Like one of her dialogues or thoughts or something?

Alsooo...

♥Jake's Kennedy hit 8k views!!! In two months!! That's literally making me so emotional right now. None of my other books hit 8K views that fast! I'm so thankful to all the people who read my story!!! Thank you so much!!♥

Words: 3,070

Date of publishing: 25th May 2022