ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴠ

𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭'𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴

♛♛♛

Light hiccups emitted her moist, red lips. Her body appeared to be weighed down by all the uncontrollable sobbing and cries.

Unaware of how long she has been sitting in her car sobbing, crying, and at one point tugging and pulling on the hairs on her head from the distress of despair.

Being alone in the midst of the chaos has just increased her predicament. She had no idea how to deal with it or what to do.

Hazel needed to call someone.

Anyone.

Her eyes blurred as she opened her phone, but she didn't cry. Only a few people appeared when she tapped into her contact list.

The first two on the list were her parents, which was an automatic no. The next two names she considered hitting with her hesitant finger which is Trace'aline and Gracie, but then she spotted the name underneath theirs.

Julius.

Somehow her finger hadn't hesitated for even a fraction of a second after registering, and before she realised it, the phone was pushed against her ear, and the sound of a number dialling had muffled her ache.

Please pick up.

The girl nervously chewed her fingertips, a habit that had never occurred to her before.

The line went silent as she took another shaky inhalation through her nose, with no indication that it had gone dead or that he had picked up.

"Hazel,"

That breath was released just as shakily as it came, the sound of his rich, reassuring voice had her feeling nothing but relief, and she had no idea why.

"Juls?" Her voice astounded both her and him as she spoke.

"What's wrong Hazel?" His tone was smooth and commanding as he spoke. The background noises seemed as if he was distancing himself from a loud venue to speak with her in a more quiet area.

"Something happened," In the bunched up ball she had curled up in, she began twisting her frame to the side. She sank farther into her seat, her head buried in the side of her car door.

With the continual emptiness coming from his end of the line, Hazel was at a loss for words. She prefered to speak with him face to face, to watch his facial expressions and his soulless gaze, which has become a source of comfort for her.

"Tell me," He said it gently but with a strained tone. A gust of wind blew through the speakers, touching her ears. She assumed he was someplace outside, away from the previously audible crowd.

"Are you busy?" Her voice broke slightly, and she bit the inside of her left cheek to keep the sounds from escaping her lips as a result of the constant bubble rising up her throat.

"No." He answered bluntly. "Speak, Hazel." He spoke slowly, releasing a sigh from her lips as she prepared herself for the next wave of emotions.

So, with all the courage she could muster, she proceeded from considering confronting her teacher to the point where he had attempted to sexually assault her.

The man had remained completely silent throughout the story as if he didn't want Hazel to miss a single detail or nook of the most horrifying and traumatising experience she had ever had.

"While he was hyperventilating, I hurried out of the room, straight to my car, and here I am," Hazel exclaimed. "Here I am, panicking and throwing the situation onto you, Juls. The only person I seem to trust." She said those last words under her breath, not meaning for him to hear them.

She closed her eyes, sealing her lips closed and resting her head back against the car door. Everything felt so slow, her pulse, her breathing, time.

It was as if she was still processing what had happened to her.

And she was.

"Are you still at the college?" After a brief 5 minute silence, Julius finally spoke. And his voice sounded completely abnormal, which was unsettling.

It had taken her by surprise how dark and frightening it sounded as if he was possessed.

"I am," She said, now wary of what she said in case it had an impact on him."Hey Juls, if you're uncomfortable or anything—

"Go home and I'll be back in town soon." He said firmly. Hazel then frowned, remembering he was out of town for business. "No, don't come back because of me,"

"Be careful, Hazel. I'll see you tonight."

With those last dreadful words, the line ended and that left Hazel utterly perplexed. Tonight?

Hazel was able to pull herself up, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, and her frowning look never wavered.

Her entire body ached, including the flesh surrounding her bottom, her wrists, and her head—but most significantly, her heart.

She yearned for reassurance, for someone to hold her and assure her that everything would be fine. Her teacher would be suspended or even imprisoned, ensuring that he would never harm her again or anyone else.

Then there was the awful ride back home. She hadn't even considered the rest of her classes or calling the police to report her situation, which was the most sensible and factual course of action.

Instead, she drove home on the crowded roads with a mind just on the edge of innuendo and bloodshot red eyes that made you assume she'd been snorting illegal powder.

Maybe it was the grief she was still trying to swallow, or maybe it was the fact that she needed Julius' help, but she didn't feel compelled to tell anybody else about what had occurred today—not even the authorities.

When she got home, she parked her car outside her house rather than in the driveway, knowing that her parents would be returning later and would want their cars parked in the same location.

She hadn't bothered to take out her school bag or anything else other than her phone before laying her body inside the house. It was a senseless notion, or rather, a thought that had not been considered.

She discreetly closed her bedroom door after opening it and made sure it was locked. Hazel dashed to the bathroom and hurriedly scurried to the bathtub, turning on only the hot water.

♛♛♛

As if it were a soft whisper to her ear, a smile of a calming to her mind, the phone beside her rang loudly that broke the girl's daze.

She shifted her gaze away from the mirror and took the phone from the floorboard behind her.

"Hello," She greeted, going back to the mirror as a faint, light purple scarred across her cheek, the same area where her very own birth giver had hit her—yet this wasn't the doing of her mother.

"I'm outside," Julius spoke through the speaker and she felt the atmosphere around her change drastically. Like some sort of breath of fresh air.

"Oh okay," Hazel managed to brace herself from the floor, voice above a whisper. "I'll come out and meet you."

Julius hung up while Hazel quickly tossed her phone onto the bed and slipped on her bunny slippers.

Looking outside her window, her eyes were wide as she came to realise how quickly the time passed. She also realised she had been staring at herself for about four hours on her bedroom floor.

She shook her head at those thoughts, her thoughts soon diverted by the reminder of who was outside her door.

Suddenly, the want for comfort returned, cutting straight to her centre. But, fortunately for her, Julius was around to provide that consolation right now.

Running down the stairs, the girl missed the fact that her house was empty, implying that she was alone. Putting everything aside, she dashed to the front door, and as she opened it, the dazzling sight of a man who was all too familiar flashed before her eyes.

The man was dressed in a black trench coat, black pants, and a typical black dress shirt with the few top buttons undone solely to make him more appealing, which had caused her heart to race against her body.

But her heart wasn't set for ogling right now.

She ran up to him, walking, well, more like running. Julius watched her every move, inching off of the car, Hazel hadn't thought a thing through as she collided her body right into his open arms.

All she could feel were tingles, strong muscles, and warmth. At the brush of his touch, it was as if electricity rattled through her body.

Hazel gripped him tightly around the waist, her head buried just below his chest, and her eyes were pressed shut to keep the tears from falling.

To say the man was shocked is extreme. Much to that, he glanced down at little Hazel, his face expressionless, his arms flat by his sides, and strangely Hazel hadn't noticed.

Julius' embrace was undoubtedly unlike anything she had ever experienced. As if she were inhaling the smoke from a cigar, his fragrance lingered in her nostrils and filled her lungs.

"Thank you for coming." The sound vibrated off his flesh and echoed throughout his body as she spoke in his chest.

Slowly, oh so slowly, his arms wrapped themselves around her. He let his arms hang slack around her waist, despite his lack of strength. It was as if her words compelled him to move them.

"Are you okay?" He also asked slowly and cautiously. The same deep tone brought another sigh of relief to her soul.

"Not really, but I feel much better with you here now." In the end, her voice trembled a little. Justifying the fact that her bare legs were freezing and her emotions were on the verge of bursting.

"Do you want to come up?"

She hadn't moved because she was still clinging to him. Hazel was worried that she was bothering him, but she simply didn't have the strength to let go.

Julius was the one to break the hug first. He peeled her arms away from his body with care and precision, not because he didn't want them there, but because he wanted to see the damage that had been done.

His sparkling grey eyes flickered from one area to another until the light bruise against her cheek drew his attention.

His jaw had obviously clenched, and his hands on the sides of her waist had tightened, kindling a flame within her belly.

"He did this?" Julius murmured softly, touching his thumb to her wounded cheek and gently brushing it back.

The unexpected contact caused Hazel to be conflicted. His thumb had shot sparks through her skin, and the warmth of his touch had seeped right through to her core, whether he realised it or not.

She made every effort not to close her eyes while taking in the gentle treatment. It was the most she'd received in years.

But for some reason it didn't feel like just some random care from another, it seemed to be only his.

She nodded slowly but firmly. His lifeless eyes sank into hers as they peeled away from the bruise.

She felt protected for the first time that night. It was strange in and of itself because she had just met Julius a month before. Hazel appeared to have developed a strong liking for him, perhaps even an attachment.

"Come on," Hazel muttered, breaking their tight gaze to take his hand in hers and lead them both towards her home.

Julius approached her from behind, his eyes ardent and his motives ambiguous. He did, however, begin to move as her desperate tugging became restless.

Hazel's subconscious began to query and realise where her parents were as she dragged them inside the house.

Normally, they'd be at home, but it appears that they've had other plans for the previous week or so. Either arriving late or not arriving at all. And if they weren't doing any of those things, they'd be as drunk as they'd always been.

When Hazel entered her room, she grimaced at the appearance of her surroundings and dropped his hand. "Don't mind the mess," She remarked referring to the clothes that were strewn across the floor and the empty mugs that sat on one side of her room.

Julius ignored her and followed the girl into the room, paying no attention to the mess she depicted.

Hazel sank to her knees on the bed, crossing her legs beneath her. She patted the place alongside her frame, motioning for him to sit next to her.

Julius's body appeared to be far too large for her modest room, which she had never considered to be small until now. His colossal frame was fully filling the room.

Without hesitating, he slowly sat down on the bed and kicked his shoes off, then proceeded to come alongside her as he sat back against the bed frame.

Hazel drew herself closer to him, shifting her body to face him directly. "Would you like anything?" She inquired, a little hesitantly. She's never had a friend over before, so she had no idea what to say, so she decided to simply be courteous and use her common sense.

He looked her in the eyes without shame, shaking his head once in answer. Slowly, the girl nodded and lowered her gaze to his covered chest.

"Hazel." He called tightly.

"Yes, Juls?" She replied softly, eyes now down to her hands that she absently played with.

His cold hand was suddenly dragged under her chin, carefully elevating her head to meet his gaze once more. Even while seated, Hazel stared up at him, his height remaining a mile apart.

Julius remained motionless as he assessed her frail state; an unknown fog began to cloud her head, and she became oblivious to everything but the touch against her chin and the dark eyes that bore into hers.

"Where does it hurt?"

His question had brought her back into place, reminding her that she was indeed in a lot of pain, inside and out.

Slowly, she lifted her bruised wrist, the bruising was visible as her skin was as white as snow. Truly it looked like she had painted the bruise on with makeup.

The colouring was almost rounded around her wrist like a bracelet. The hand under her chin left and had now reached to her palm.

Making sure to not touch the affected area, he grazed his tatted thumb along her palm to calm her.

"Should we call the police?" Hazel didn't leave her eyes from his, and neither did he. His thumb continued to rub circles along her palm.

"I've already taken care of it." He told her. Hazel's eyes lit up and her body seemed to have stiffened.

"What do you mean? You've already called them?" She waited for his response, which took some time.

Julius merely gave her a blank expression. Knowing very well if he said the reality it would only scare her into a living paralysis.

"I have." He moistened his lips and gazed gravely into her eyes. She frowned and raised her head higher. "I'm not too fond of how it works. Will I have to appear in court and have a trial, or will he be taken away immediately?"

Hazel felt stupid asking the question. She knew one part of her query was true and the other was a blunder based on what she'd seen on TV and in movies.

He almost let out a chuckle, but he restrained himself. Hazel's friend lowered his gaze to her damaged wrist before raising it again, his look hardened.

"Remember my job?" He darted his gaze down to the contact of one of his trusted men as he grabbed his phone with his other hand and opened it.

"Mhm. You're a businessman, yes?"

"That's right," He whispered darkly, sending the three worded message he typed at the speed of lightning.

Hazel saw him toss it back into his pocket, her gaze returning to his, which was now fixed on her.

"Normally, you'd require a hearing. But I was able to confine him without it." His tone had been softened, and he was no longer as odious, but he was still potent and dominant.

"R-Really?" She stuttered, her eyes wide with surprise. She didn't realise how powerful he was. Hazel had no idea he was that important—to the point where he could simply brush off a crisis like this with the officials.

"Mhm," He hummed, tilting his head as his motions on her palm still hadn't halted—thankfully. The young girl couldn't help but be grateful, grateful enough that a small smile was threatened to leak.

But instead, teardrops fell from the angel's eyes.

Without a sound, they fell directly down her cheeks, dropping onto her palm that he caressed.

They melted under the flesh of her palm, spreading and absorbing into her skin.

Julius had expected her tears to flow tonight. It was only a matter of time since the girl had been through so much. He never imagined he would be engaged in such a situation with a human, much less that he would be here.

But he was and he was glad.

As his other hand attempted to wipe the tears, his thumb didn't stop. She raised her head and looked him in the soulless grey eyes.

"You're always crying, angel." Hazel sniffled and wiped the back of her hand over her nose. Julius spoke softly to her, or as softly as he could given his circumstances.

His voice was quieter, still deep and blank, but it had care—something you couldn't tell if anyone else was hearing it, but Hazel could.

As their gazes were locked, the doorbell rang and it abruptly startled Hazel. She frowned, knowing it wouldn't have been her parents.

Wordlessly, Julius removed his hands from her and stood up. His powerful strides lead him out of the room and that leads Hazel to be more confused.

A few moments went by, Hazel was close to getting up and checking if he had left, but right on the dot, he had come back through—this time a plastic bag in his large hand.

She frowned, even more confused.

Sitting down, they both didn't speak a word or a hum as Julius took out the contents.

A packet of what appeared to be cream landed on the bed beside him, and what happened next shocked her even more.

"You got me my chocolate?" She let out a gasp of surprise. Her favourite milky chocolate bar, from her favourite chocolate store, rested on the bed in front of her.

His eyes were drawn to her, and her timid and shaky smile elicited a mental sigh of approval. "Give me your wrist," He demanded quietly.

She did what she was told despite being distracted by the chocolate bar. Her attention was drawn to the cream as soon as she heard the box open. She realised it was cream for her bruises, possibly to alleviate the agony.

"You tell me where else it hurts Hazel." Quietly, he ordered. She inhaled deeply as she saw his ringed fingers travel in gentle, light strokes around her wrist as the chilly cream made touch with her flesh.

"Probably my cheek," She tapped her finger right below her cheekbone, disclosing the bruise. "My other...cheek is also hurting. But I'm certain I'll be able to handle that one." She whispered in humiliation and his head launched up, eyes glowing with unspoken rage.

"What's the matter?" She inquired warily, observing his eyes change to a distinct shade of grey.

Shaking his head, he continued to rub in the lotion until it was fully dissolved around her purple hand. "Juls," She called out, a frown etched on her forehead as she watched his jaw tick, something she's noticed he does when he's angry.

"Hm?"