“Don’t worry,” Jaelyn said, pulling Raven along the halls of their high school. “I swear Biology isn’t that bad.”
Raven gave her an annoyed look. “I didn’t say it was bad, I said I would prefer physics.”
Jae looked to her then, raising her brows. “Who prefers physics over biology? Physics over chemistry? Okay. But biology?”
“I’m just used to physics, okay?” Raven said, shaking her head. “You know how I feel about new classes halfway into the semester… especially when—”
“Your parents,” Jaelyn responded. “I know. How’s your mom doing, by the way?”
“She’s good,” Raven responded. “After the attack,” her eyes darkened, “she managed to get away unlike my dad…” but her gaze went back to their usual amber again, “but the doctors said she’d be home by Tuesday.”
“So, you’re home alone until then?” Jae said.
“Yeah, I guess. I am sixteen, so I can take care of myself until she gets back.”
“I’m surprised CPS or the police haven’t moved you somewhere else yet.”
“CPS?” Raven echoed.
“Child Protective Services,” Jaelyn explained.
“Mom will only be gone until Tuesday, Jae. I doubt they’d butt in now. If she died, too…” she took a deep breath as something cold consumed her, “then I guess they’d move me to someone’s home.”
“Hey,” Jae said, still pulling her along the halls, “I’ll get my parents to get custody over you, alright?”
“Good luck with that,” Raven said, a sad smile forming on her lips. “I guarantee someone from my dad’s side would take custody over me.”
“Why not your mom’s?”
“Well… it’s complicated… She’s had a quarrel with her family… they kind of disowned her.”
“Odd.”
“Now a days,” Raven responded, “nothing’s odd.”
“True.”
They were silent for a moment.
“I’m glad you moved to biology, though, Raven,” Jae said. “I think it’d really help if you had someone you know in your class.”
“I moved because of overcrowding,” Raven said. “Not because the counselors are sympathetic toward me, okay?”
Jae only smiled.
But they made it into class, Jaelyn leaving Raven’s side and settling in her seat towards the back of the room.
Raven just stood awkwardly at the teacher’s desk, feeling all the student’s eyes on her, but tried to ignore it.
Where is he? she mouthed to Jae.
Late, she mouthed back.
Raven rolled her eyes.
She looked to the clock, seeing it five seconds before the bell rang…
When she exhaled a sigh, she looked to the board on the wall, noticing that it said, Studying human behavior.
This was biology, not psychology…
Did they somehow mix the classes?
Ugh…
She didn’t want to talk to anyone today.
Almost half-a-second later, the bell rang, the teacher rushing in the room with stacks of papers in his arms.
After setting them on the desk, he looked to the class… almost everyone was screwing around and talking… some boys were throwing balls of paper at others, though the teacher didn’t really seem fazed by it…
He rose his hands, clearly about to clap to get everyone’s attention, but he stopped, eyes fixed on Raven.
She attempted a sweet smile, but his expression didn’t waver.
“Umm…” he said, “can I help you?”
“She’s a new student!” Jae called from the back.
“Oh,” he said, “are you… new to this school?”
“I switched classes,” Raven explained.
“This late in the semester?”
She shrugged.
He only sputtered his lips, deciding not to question.
He looked around the room after, scanning for open seats, and his eyes caught on the front of the room, where a boy sat, leaning back casually in his chair.
“Go sit next to Malachi there,” the teacher instructed.
Raven looked to Jae, who seemed shocked for some reason, but nodded.
She then walked over to the boy and settled in the seat next to him, resting her arms on the table.
He had golden hair that was slightly wavy, and his eyes were dark enough to look black… though despite his bright hair, he wore a black T-shirt and grey jeans…
Great… she thought, he’s one of those.
His eyes moved to hers then, and before she could look away, he smiled.
Though not a kind one… a menacing one…
She stared down at the desk, heart pounding.
“Alright, class,” the teacher said, “today’s lesson is of course,” he pointed to the board, “human behavior. And I’d like to do a group assignment where everyone would have to write down traits of their partner.”
Oh, great…
“And no,” he added, “not stupid crap like, favorite color or food. Something interesting. Like their interests, what they do in their spare time, what shampoo they like to use, alright? Get on with it.” He clapped, and every student started pulling out their notebook along with Raven.
She opened the spiral she used for physics to a clean page—other than a small sketch of a human face in the upper right corner—and set her pen on it, staring down at the paper like it’d start writing itself.
The boy was quiet, but she wasn’t sure what he was doing… so she just returned the silence.
This surely was… awkward…
Silence spread among them for a moment, the air growing so thick that she started breaking a sweat.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and spoke, “Hi, I’m Raven.”
Shock rattled through her when he shot up from his original position, stealing her pen and scraped down in his notebook, “And she can speak English!”
He dropped the pen, leaning back in his chair and looked to her, eyes glowing with amusement.
Anger burned her inside at his sudden sarcasm, but she said, “What’s your name?”
“Malachi,” he answered, lips tilting, “but my friends call me Mal.”
“Mmm…” she responded, purposely sounding passive-aggressive.
“You?” he said then.
“I told you,” she shot him a look, “my name is Raven.”
“No,” he said despite her sharp tone, “I asked for your nickname.”
“No, you just said ‘you.’”
He only looked to her, waiting.
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have one.”
“Liar,” he responded, smirking, “it’s ‘Ray,’ isn’t it?”
Something cold stirred inside her. “Only my parents call me that.”
“Your friend, too,” he pointed a thumb behind him where Jaelyn sat.
“Let’s get to the assignment, shall we?” Raven interrupted, shoving the questions she wanted to ask away.
How did you know my nickname?
How did you know my friend calls me that?
“Be my guest,” he said, gesturing to his paper.
There was an entire paragraph written, and her eyes widened when she stared down at it.
When did he?
How did he?
He didn’t even have a PEN.
But when she tried to read the first sentence, he ripped the page out of his notebook, folding the paper in half and stuffed it into his backpack.
Something inside her burned, but the other half grew cold.
“What did you write?” she demanded.
“It’s not your assignment, Raven. It’s mine.”
Her cheeks burned. “Is that all stuff about me or are you just messing with me?”
He only smiled.
“Fine,” she said, stealing her pen back and scraped Malachi, on her paper. “What’s your shampoo?”
“Using the teacher’s questions?” he said, making an impatient noise. “Lame. Be creative, Ray.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He didn’t respond.
“What’s your favorite artist?”
“Lame question, Raven.”
“Can you just answer?”
“I don’t listen to music.”
“I find that highly unlikely,” she said angrily. “Stop dodging the question and tell me what your favorite artist is.”
“You.”
Shock rattled through her. “I don’t make music.”
“You draw beautiful pictures,” he said, gesturing to a sketch that rested in the upper right hand of her paper.
She drew that two weeks ago.
And… why was he complimenting her?
“You know that’s not what I meant,” she answered.
“You’re also a good singer,” he said then, looking to her.
She could feel her cheeks burning. “I don’t sing.”
“And you just lied.”
“What do I sing then?” she said, testing him.
“Your favorite song is Tired, by Serenity.”
She blinked, heart pounding. “How did you know that?”
He didn’t respond, just looked her up and down. “You’re tense. Is something wrong?”
She managed to clench her fist under the table. “Who even are you?”
“I’m Malachi,” he said again, “but you can call m—”
“Mal,” she answered sharply, “I know.”
“Nope,” he said, making her look at him, and he tapped his wrist, “call me.”
She looked to her arm to find nothing there, and when she glanced up at him he slid a piece of paper to her.
His number.
The bell rang, rattling her ears.
She looked up to question him.
But the spot he once sat was empty.
What the… hell?
302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk34L3716BI
*****
It was two in the evening and Raven walked down their small town’s streets, staring at the sun-streaked sidewalks.
It was almost four in the afternoon, school ended at three, but it took almost an hour to walk home.
Yes, she could drive, but she didn’t really feel like it today.
It also would’ve helped if she had a car.
Though, Jae drove her own car to school, and because she lived a mile in the other direction—and that she had her club today—Raven knew she couldn’t drive her home.
She didn’t really feel bothered by the walk, though… Because her mind was occupied elsewhere.
Malachi.
He knew things… little things… that kind of rubbed her the wrong way.
He knew how to irritate her… which was actually really hard to do.
He knew her nickname… and she would’ve brushed that off because anyone named Raven would probably have that nickname, but… he knew her best friend called her that.
There could be a valid reason for that… Malachi and Jae could’ve known each other from the past… it could’ve been why Jae had a surprised look when Raven had to sit next to him.
Maybe she dated him in the past?
Wait… no… that wouldn’t make any sense.
She and Raven have been friends since they were born… and if she was dating someone as mischievous as Malachi, wouldn’t she have told Raven?
She didn’t seem to hide things like that from her.
That… and Jae’s expression wasn’t just shock… it had something dark in it… not jealousy, though almost…
Uncertainty.
It could’ve been that Malachi was one of those boys who got in trouble a lot… he seemed the type to get into fights or something… and Jae was wary about those types.
Another thing was edging at Raven’s mind, though.
The fact that Malachi knew her favorite song… and artist… and that he had a full paragraph of traits on her when they haven’t even spoken before…
It was odd and nerve racking.
Her favorite song wasn’t even known… and when she said “I don’t sing” he knew she was lying.
What the hell was going on?
A sudden thought crossed her mind.
Was he a part of the attack on her parents? The doctors said it was a mugging… but…
Her mom told her in her hospital bed…
You need to be careful… they’re coming after you.
Raven blew it off again because the doctors told her it was the meds her mom was on… they could’ve made her delusional.
She needed to stop brushing things off.
She pulled the paper with Malachi’s phone number out of her pocket.
And she needed to get some answers.
At school, she thought he was being an ass, so she was going to dump this in the trash can on her way out.
But deep inside… she knew it was a horrible idea… though she didn’t know why.
It was an instinct that popped up every-once-and-a-while.
Though she never questioned it because it was always correct.
So, she pulled out her cell and typed in his number.
Pressing her phone to her ear, she continued walking as the ring burned her ears.
Two seconds passed… stretching to ten.
Then the line clicked, and she was about to pull the phone from her ear—thinking it was a voicemail—when she heard a, “Hello?”
“Mal?” she said, hearing something loud echo from the background.
“Yes?” he responded.
“Where are you?”
“Do you mind telling me who this is?”
She was silent for a moment, questioning whether or not she should answer.
After a moment, she decided. “I’m the devil.”
He chuckled. “Ah, I see.”
“Here to take your soul.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And I’ll leave you be when you tell me why you’re stalking me.”
“I’m stalking the devil,” he clarified.
“Yep.”
He laughed again, something loud echoing through the other line again. “Tell me, Princess,” he said, making a chill slide down her skin, “does this devil happen to be Raven Magicae?”
“No,” she said on impulse.
Wait.
How did he know her last name?
“Hmm…” was his response, clearly playing her stupid game. “So… I don’t know why you think I’m stalking you, Lucifer, but I can assure you that I only have my sights out for a girl, okay?”
“Which girl?” she questioned before she could stop herself.
“I think you know the answer to that.”
She was silent for a moment. “What do you mean?”
“You’re the devil, yes? Can’t you see everything that happens?”
She shook her head. He’s playing my childish game better than me.
“Are you stalking Raven Magicae?” she asked then.
“Who’s asking?”
“Me.”
“And who is this?”
“The devil.”
“Alright, Ray,” he said, exhaling a chuckle, “enough with the games, what do you want to ask me? I can tell you have something edging at your mind.”
She was silent for a moment, debating whether or not she should continue the stupid act. “Umm.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“Mal…” she said then, deciding to end the game, “how do you know me?”
“Do you want to know the answer to that?” he said.
“Why else would I ask?”
“I’m a really good sightseer,” he answered.
“In other words, you’re stalking me?”
“I meant what I said, Ray.”
“Can you answer with an actual answer?”
“I did,” he said.
“You’re dodging the question, Mal.”
“I know.”
Her anger sparked. “Can you just—”
“Raven,” he interrupted, making her jaw lock, “ask me the other question, alright?”
How did he?
“Fine…” she said, “do you know that my parents were attacked a couple days ago?”
“I do.”
“We’re you involved?”
“Depends.”
Something cold consumed her. “What do you mean by that?”
“I answered,” he said. “And now I have to go.”
“Wait,” she said, taking a deep breath, “can I ask one more thing?”
“Shoot.”
“Do you want to hurt me?” The words made her skin crawl.
“No,” he said. “Not really.”
What did that mean? “Not really?”
“I’ll see you soon, Ray, alright?”
“You mean at school?”
“Bye.”
“Wha—” but the phone line clicked.
She lowered her cell, staring at the call ended screen before pushing her phone into her pocket.
After looking around to see if she was being followed, she then ran the rest of the way home.
302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZtC0eOa4o
*****
It only took ten more minutes, but Raven ran up her driveway, shuffling through her pockets until she found her house key.
After jamming it in the lock, she pried open the front door, shoving her keys back into her jacket and walked inside.
She had finally returned to her childhood home… everything was the same… the white walls that her mom repainted last year… the family portraits along with the hardwood floors.
Everything was the same, yes… normal.
The grandfather clock… the man with the bright yellow eyes sitting on the sofa—
Raven double-took, staring back at the sofa with wide eyes.
To find nothing there… not even a dent where the boy sat...
Her heart pounded against her chest… but she managed to calm it by taking a deep breath.
God… she was so terrified that she was hallucinating.
After shaking her head, she turned to the front door to close it.
And screamed.
“Chill,” Malachi said, brows raised. “Jesus Christ.”
She pressed her hand to her chest, gasping. “You scared me!”
“Don’t have a heart attack, okay?” he said then. “I don’t feel like waiting in the emergency room for twelve hours.”
She looked up then, eyes widening.
He stood on her doorstep; feet pressed onto the welcome mat as his large frame filled the entire porch.
“Hold on…” she said, putting a finger up, “how did you know where I lived?”
And was that him on the couch earlier?
No… no one could be that fast.
He only smiled, making something cold wash over her. “Gonna let me in, Princess?”
“No.” She caught the door, almost shutting in his face, but his foot shot out, catching the wood before it hit the frame.
She opened it again, glaring despite her entire body growing cold.
“Come on,” Malachi urged, sticking his lip out like a child. “Don’t be rude. I came all the way here.”
She peered behind him to see if there was an unfamiliar vehicle on the driveway.
There was nothing.
Did he walk?
But she still said, “My mom’ll be home soon.”
He smiled. “Lies. I know she’s in the hospital until Tuesday, Ray.”
She swallowed, though narrowed her eyes. “I don’t trust you, Mal.”
“You want to.”
“No, I don’t.”
He was right… she wanted to, but she knew it was a horrible idea to trust someone like him.
She mainly wanted to trust him because she didn’t really like feeling terrified… especially of someone her own age.
And especially when she knew somewhat that he was maybe involved in the mugging or whatever it was.
“Get your foot out of my door, Malachi,” she demanded sharply.
“Come on,” he whined, faking a pout. “Pweeeease? I can make French Toast,” he bounced his brows, “your favorite.”
She didn’t know how he knew her favorite food but didn’t mention it.
She had to accept by now… he knew a lot about her.
And it was unsettling.
“No, Mal. Get out.”
“Come on,” he said, a half-smile lurking on his lips. “Just have me over for an hour, alright? And if you’re not happy, I’ll leave.”
She stared for a moment, knowing she had limited options because he would probably stay there until she complied.
And she knew if she got out her phone to call the police, he wouldn’t have that… same with shutting the door harder on his foot until it’d hopefully break off.
She exhaled through her nose, looking at the grandfather clock on the right of the door.
4:10 pm.
She glanced back at him. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“And you won’t try to kill me?”
He blinked. “Why would I try to kill you?”
She shook her head, opening the door.
“Thanks, Ray,” he said. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“If you try anything,” she said, pointing an accusing finger at him, “I’m calling the police.”
“I won’t,” he promised. “I’ll be a kind house guest. Who will make you the best French Toast you’ve ever had.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine… the kitchen’s on the ri—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Malachi had already made it to the kitchen, shuffling through the fridge as if he lived here.
Was it him on the couch?
She stared for a moment, hoping she didn’t just make a horrible decision… and if it mattered if she made the decision or not.
She continued watching him from the doorway while he started the stove to the exact temperature that her mom taught her how to cook… level four.
Mainly because their stove was stronger than most.
Malachi only split two eggshells, dumping the eggs into a bowl he found with no problem, and somehow found the exact spot where the trash can was… sliding out from the cabinet under the sink and tossed the shells in there.
After getting the bread from the fridge, he poured spices in the batter… cinnamon, ginger, vanilla.
And he found all of them without even looking.
He knew where they were.
Raven’s breathing became strained… and she turned to shut the door, picked up her backpack and looked back to Malachi.
Who had a knife in his hand… though he was still in the kitchen.
But he was examining it carefully.
She backed away a step… the light glistening off the blade burning her eyes and chilling her bones.
Malachi looked up at her at the movement. “What’s wrong?”
She stared for a moment… hearing no malice in his tone.
But by the way he was looking at the knife… she knew very well that he could’ve been hiding it.
He looked down to the blade for a moment, then back at her.
“I’m just using it to cut strawberries, Ray,” he explained.
Before she could answer… he went back to cooking, doing exactly what he said he would do and slicing the strawberries skillfully.
“Mal…” Raven said, watching him look up at her curiously, “I’m gonna go get something, okay?”
He nodded and went back to cutting seconds later.
So, she ran up the stairs two at a time until she met the top floor, starting to her room on the left.
She shut the door behind her, dropping her backpack on the floor and took a deep breath.
She didn’t really need to get something… she just needed a breather.
He terrified her… and she hated it.
But now that she thought about it… it wasn’t a good idea to have him roaming around her house armed with a chef knife.
So, she needed to be quick.
She stepped up to her mirror, face breaking in a sweat, though she couldn’t understand why.
So, she decided to pull up her long, black locks into a ponytail, hoping that the air would cool her neck and calm the heat flowing through her.
But a sudden sharp pain struck her side… and she winced, staring down at her black T-shirt.
She thought for a second that Malachi snuck in here and stabbed her, but she knew what it really was.
Raven drew up her shirt, sucking in a breath when the gauze on her side was darkening with blood.
Crap… she almost forgot about that.
It was hurting all day, but she managed to ignore it… but now if felt like daggers piercing her skin.
She cursed under her breath, running over to her nightstand despite the wound burning and shuffled through her top drawer.
After pulling out a box of bandages and antibacterial ointment, she sat on the side of the bed, holding up her T-shirt with her teeth and winced when she peeled off the bandage… the gauze sticking to the wound.
Her room door opened, and she heard a curious, “Raven?”
She shot her head up, dropping her shirt and stared wide-eyed at Malachi when he gazed at her with dark eyes.
“What are you doing in here?” she squeaked. “GET OUT!”
He only walked to her despite her words, setting a plate with layers of French Toast on the nightstand. “Let me see.”
“Mal, get ou—”
He shoved her down onto the bed, pressing a hand on her chest to keep her down when she tried to sit back up.
“What are you doing?” she questioned.
“You’re sweating,” he noted, “and you're trembling. You’ve been pale for the whole day. How long has it been bleeding?”
She stared. “What?”
He was a doctor now?
“Why do you care?” she said then.
“Answer,” he demanded.
She parted her lips at his sudden stern self… it took her a moment before saying, “I got it… this morning.”
“It’s been bleeding since this morning?” he questioned.
A small nod.
His eyes somehow darkened more… with an emotion she’d never thought she’d see.
“Do you have gauze in here?” he said then.
“Why are you—”
He looked to her. “Raven.”
She stared for a moment when she noticed the warning in his tone. “On… the nightstand.”
He pulled the box off the table next to them, tugging out a bandage and ripping it open with his teeth.
He reached for her shirt when she pressed her hand to the hem, staring at him worriedly.
“Move you hand, Raven.”
She shook her head, heart pounding.
How do I know if you're planning on hurting me instead of helping?
“Would you rather bleed out and faint? Maybe get an infection or sepsis and die?” he questioned. “Or would you rather let me help and be awake for it, hmm?”
She watched him for a moment. “Faint?” she echoed.
“Yes, Raven,” he said sharply. “Faint. You’ve been bleeding out for the last twelve hours with only a thin layer of gauze on the wound. It’s a miracle that you’ve even lasted this long without fainting.”
She moved her palm off her shirt then, staring down at his hand when he lifted the blood-stained fabric to the bottom of her chest.
Another sharp pain struck her when he pressed the gauze to the wound, and she cried out.
“I know,” he said sympathetically. “But I need you to hold it there, alright?”
She listened despite the pain burning her inside-out.
“Apply pressure,” he instructed, “we need to stop the bleeding.”
A small nod.
She tried to take deep breaths when tears brimmed in her eyes, hearing Malachi rip open another gauze pad.
“Press this on top.”
She did as he said, lifting her hand when he put another layer of gauze on the wound, letting her hold it down again with a choked sob.
“Do you have tape?” he said.
“Drawer…” she whimpered.
He ripped open another gauze pad. “Jesus… why haven’t you gone back to the hospital already?”
“I thought it was normal.”
“It’s not, Raven,” he said. “If the wound reopens—especially one this bad—it’s not normal. Especially when it reopens bigger.”
She nodded, sweat glistening on her forehead.
“This one on top, too, okay?”
She lifted her hand, letting him place another gauze pad on her side, and then he pressed down, making her cry out.
“I know…” he whispered. “I know it hurts.”
She gripped onto his wrist tightly, hoping he’d loosen the pressure just a little.
“Didn’t the doctors tell you to come back if it reopens?” he said.
She shook her head. “I didn’t go to the hospital.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I didn’t go… They had to take care of my mom… and my dad… and I have school, too… I patched it up myself.”
“God, you’re an idiot,” he muttered.
“Hey!” she almost yelled. “Don’t say that… I’m trying, okay?”
“Trying to what?” he questioned. “Kill yourself?”
She only pressed her head back to the pillow. “I don’t need you to scold me… alright?”
“Who else is going to?”
She was silent… but thought, I already do… It’s my fault that my parents are in this mess.
He was silent.
“Mal…” she said then, holding onto his wrist tighter, “that hurts.”
“I have to do this,” he answered. “To stop the bleeding.”
“Can you be gentler?”
“No, Princess.”
She turned her head into the pillow again.
“What hurt you?” he wondered.
“I don’t remember…” she answered.
“Where was it?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know that either… but he had blonde hair.”
Malachi’s eyes darkened.
“Why are you doing this?” she questioned then, shaking slightly, though she wasn’t sure if it was the blood-loss or not. “Are you involved in this?”
He was quiet, but released the pressure, making her gasp, and taped the gauze to the wound, getting up from the bed.
“It should be better,” he said then. “It’s slowing.”
She only stared. “That fast?”
“If it reopens again, tell me, okay?”
“But… it doesn’t scab over… that fast.”
“No more questions,” Malachi said.
She only blinked, staring down at the gauze that wasn’t covered in blood yet.
“What did you do?” she said. “Why isn’t it bleeding through?”
And why wasn’t it hurting anymore?
“Come on,” he said almost sadly. “Eat your food, Ray, okay?”
Before she could respond, he picked up her plate from the nightstand, lifting it.
But a steak knife slid off the ceramic, clattering the ground.
Raven stared at it with wide eyes, watching Malachi pick it up and eye it for a moment.
Something dark washed over his expression; something she didn’t like.
She scooted toward the headboard, breathing shallowly. “Put it down, Mal.”
He looked to her then—confused—then back at the knife, then back at her.
The dark look in his eyes was still there. “I’m not going to hurt you, Ray.”
She was silent, just watched him carefully.
He lightly set the knife on the nightstand, gazing back at her with his black eyes. “See?”
“How can I trust you?” she demanded.
“Good question.”
A cold fear erupted inside her when he dodged the question. “Get out.”
“Wha—”
“Out.”
“Ray—”
She thrusted a finger to her door. “GET OUT!”
He threw his hands up innocently, turning around and stepping out of the room, making his way down the hall.
“I meant my house!” she called to him.
He peaked his head in her doorway. “No.”
Shock rumbled through her.
“When you’re ready, meet me downstairs, alright?” he said.
And he disappeared down the hall.
She took shallow breaths.
He lied.
He lied about leaving… and she knew it was highly possible that he lied about not wanting to hurt her...
He probably was a psychopath… pretending to be something he wasn’t.
The only reason why he helped her wound was to give her a false sense of trust.
She couldn’t trust anyone… not when there was someone out there who hurt her parents.
It could’ve been Malachi… it may not have been.
But he was involved… somehow.
She looked to the knife on her nightstand.
And she needed to protect herself.
Raven shot off the bed, grabbing the knife off the table and started out her door.
She made it down the stairs, turning to find Malachi lounging on the couch and watching the TV like he lived here.
“Get out of my house or I’ll call the police!” she threatened, keeping the knife by her side still.
“I’ll get out,” he said, raising is brows at her tone, “if you answer my question.”
“What?”
“How did you get wounded?”
So, he knew it wasn’t out of random circumstances… he knew it was planned by someone who she didn’t know.
He was playing her… playing her mind.
“None of your business,” she answered.
“Then I’m not leaving.” He sat back on the couch, clearly testing her.
“Why do you care?” she questioned.
He looked to her. “Answer my question, Ray, and I’ll leave.”
“I was attacked,” she said vaguely.
His eyes darkened, though she wasn’t sure if it was anger for her vagueness or anger in general. “By who?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “They keep on coming.”
“Where are your parents?”
“You know,” she answered sharply.
“So, you’re alone?”
She started trembling, clenching the knife at her side. “I answered, now go.”
“Are you safe, Raven?” he said, brows raised.
“Go.”
“Ray.”
“Yes, I’m safe.”
“Are you lying?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve answered more than one question. Now leave.”
“Raven,” he said, clearly waiting to get an answer he wanted.
“GO!” she screamed.
“I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe, Raven.”
“Leave!” she said, shaking harder.
“Ray.”
She pulled out the knife then, pointing it threateningly at him when he shot up from the couch, holding his hands up.
“Whoa, there,” he said, stepping backward while the hand that held the knife shook, “let’s calm down, alright?”
“I can take care of myself!” she shouted.
“Ray…” he whispered, starting to step toward her.
She thrusted the knife at him, making him freeze. “GET BACK!”
“You’ve been bleeding out for a while, alright?” he tried to explain. “You need to rest. I can take care—”
“I’m FINE!”
“Raven,” he uttered.
“Leave me be!” she yelled. “Get OUT!”
He raised his hands higher. “Alright… I’m leaving.”
She shoved the front door open, the wood slamming the wall next to it. And stepped back, still pointing the knife at him.
He backed out of the door, watching her carefully when she stood at a distance.
When he left her house, she shut the door behind him, locking the bolt and checking around the house to see if all the other doors were locked.
They were.
So, she looked out the window to make sure he was gone… and when she was in the clear, she shot up the stairs, shoving piles of clothes and junk into her sleepover pack and dialed Jaelyn on her phone.
“Yeppers?” she said on the other line.
“Jae, I’m coming over to your house, alright?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” Raven responded. “I’ll be there in about half-an-hour.”
“Alright, see you then.”
She ended the call, threw her bag over her shoulder and darted out of the house.
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