Safe Haven

This immediately follows A Helping Hand. If you haven't read it first, do so!( Go here for this story's Playlist!)

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I crashed into the taxi the second it drove up. I slammed the door shut and was breathing heavily.

The driver had already begun to drive away almost as fast as I had wanted him to, if not faster. "You alright?" He used a kind voice peering at me in the rearview mirror.

"I'm-" I started, but my thought was interrupted by a sudden chill that shook my whole body. I moaned slightly and wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the goose bumps covering my cold skin.

"You seem like a very nice girl, so I don't know what business you have in there, but it's good that you called. We'll be far from there in a minute."

"Thank you." I sighed as the shivering became less violent and I gave him my address.

I continued to shake steadily the rest of the way home, the driver didn't comment, but checked on me every once in a while.

I couldn't get it out of my head. The devil, Satan, the epitome of evil had kissed me! And I was sure he had wanted, and was capable of, much more. It had been so strange how it felt, more like a daydream, or a wish, than a physical sensation. But it had been no wish of mine.

I rubbed my eyes. I just needed to forget about it. I wouldn't be seeing him again and I needed rest.

We got to my apartment complex and before I even thought of anything, the driver spoke up.

"Missy, don't even think about paying me." He held his hand out to the back, a card in it. "This is my card and it has my personal line on it. You call me whenever you need me, okay? Free of charge."

I took the card gingerly, touched by his kindness. "Are you sure?"

"Hey, don't give me the chance to change my mind." He warned sternly.

"Alright!" I started to hurry out of the car.

"Oh!" He stuck his head out the window. "I'm Frank."

I smiled. "Thanks again, Frank. I'm Amy Grace."

"Well, Miss Amy Grace. Take care of yourself." Frank's round tough-skinned face stretched into a genuine smile.

"You too." I called, finally hurrying into the lobby.

The door swung to a close, cutting out the wind.

"Miss Grace!" Stan, the lobby man, called to me from behind the desk. "There you are! It's so late, I was starting to worry! Are you alright?"

"I'm alright Stan. I just fell asleep on the bus and missed my stop." I continued to walk toward the elevator.

"Oh. Well it's good that you got back okay." He sounded timid.

"Yeah. I'm going to bed so it doesn't happen again." I barely grinned, I was suddenly too tired.

I pressed the button for my floor just before a yawn escaped.

"Alright, have a good one, Miss Grace." Stan called as the doors closed.

I never understood why he was so formal with me. It was a side note thought, something I only bothered to notice after speaking with him, but right now it seemed especially strange, suspicious almost.

No, it was what had happened making me wary. I really needed to go to sleep.

The elevator opened to my floor and I walked as quietly as I could past the few doors before mine, and then I reached for my keys…in an invisible bag. I hadn't taken one to school today since I'd only needed a pencil. So I'd had my wallet and keys in my coat…that I was no longer wearing.

I realized in horror that it was still on the floor of The Styx where Nick had taken it off of me. With clarity, I remembered locking it this morning, but I still tried the door, not wanting to have to go back downstairs to Stan.

The door opened under my hand.

I went into the dark apartment and gently shut the door behind me. I knew that this complex wasn't one for crime, but the odds that someone had entered my apartment without criminal intent were very low.

Why I still entered my apartment knowing this? I couldn't say, but it somehow still felt safe.

I reached to flip on the light.

"Amy Grace, huh?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin and threw the light on. Nick was lounging on my sofa, shirtless, beer in his hand, my coat across his lap. He was studying my license in the light, then tossed it, along with the rest of the contents of my wallet, onto the floor.

"The Beloved Grace. It's very fitting for you actually."

I wondered how he'd gotten here so fast, but I didn't need to ask how he'd gotten in. To confirm it, Nick dangled my keys in front of him.

"Was kissing me so bad that you forgot your coat and everything in it, Beloved?"

I glared at him, "I didn't kiss you."

He frowned for a split second, it was so fast that I'd almost missed it, though the anger remained in his eyes. "That's right. You didn't." His smile widened. "But you wanted to." He said with confidence.

"No, I hadn't." I corrected.

"Yes you did." His tone of voice sounded so immature, like a teenager. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from retorting in the same tone.

"And you will." He turned his head and took a drink.

"No-"

He interrupted me. "If you want your coat back, that is."

I gaped then regained myself and grimaced instead.

Nick watched me a moment as I stood my ground. He sighed then stood.

"I knew you were stubborn." He mumbled.

I watched him carefully as my coat fell to the floor and he walked toward me.

I didn't even see it, but Nick reached out and grabbed hold of my face, too close again, and tilting my head so that I was looking him right in the eyes. I didn't flinch, my defiance clear in my stare.

Nick sighed again and licked his lips.

"Alright. I won't collect tonight." He released me and began to walk away.

I turned to make sure he was leaving. His hand paused on the door. "You will come to me eventually Missy Gracey." He winked. "They all do."

The door opened with a squeak. "Oh." He turned back around, fishing my wallet out of his back pocket. "Thanks for the beer." He tossed it at me and before I could catch it, my door closed and he was gone.

I couldn't help myself; I immediately began cleaning up the mess he'd made.

My pulse was racing and I felt something unclenching in my stomach that I didn't know was clenched in the first place.

As much as I'd tried not to look at his bare chest, I'd had. And when he had been so close I'd wanted to know if it'd felt as defined as it had looked and if he would still feel like a dream.

But I had been stronger than him and I would be again.

Something was telling me that I would see him again; I prayed that I wouldn't, but it seemed inevitable. I knew that he was determined to "collect."

I couldn't sleep that night, scared of the possible nightmares that Nick would inhabit. I tried not to think of what my payment would be or of the consequences the choice of repaying him or not repaying him would entail. 

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