Chapter 41: Mozzarella

I was frozen in my place with fear. I could hear my heartbeat beating erratically against my chest. I knew who it was. He's back. And he's in front of me.

I started going back and that's when I felt the back of my leg touch the bed and I dropped on the bed. "Sshhh Rose, its me. Of course you know who I am. I knew you were waiting for me".

"Drew.. How? Please don't...-".

"No baby I won't do anything to you. You know I love you... perhaps more than myself... that's why I went to jail for you.... I deserved it for what I did to you... I shouldn't have hit you that day.... it wasn't your fault. You were loyal to me but now", suddenly his gloomy expression turned into anger, he was fuming,"You have become a bad girl. We didn't even break up properly.... You had to....", his voice was shaky with anger. "He can't take you away from me".

All of a sudden he was on top of me. I couldn't breathe as he was pressing onto me. He pinned me down. I tried to fight him but I couldn't free myself from his grip. His fingers were digging into my flesh. He tried kissing me, but I turned my head, the tears blurring my vision wasn't helping me either.

"Please.... don't.... plea..", I cried but he didn't listen.

"I can't lose you anymore. This time I am not letting you-", I pushed him, my arms felt weak but I was able to get him off me and then I ran as fast as I can. I climbed down the stairs. "HELP HELP PLEASE HELP ME", I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"ROSE.....YOU BITCH.... ROSE", he screamed after me. "I WILL KILL YOU", then I felt an object hit me on the back. I realized it was something made of glass. I felt blood trickling down my spine. It hurt, the pain was too much for me to handle and I immediately collapsed on the floor.

He walked towards me with a sinister smile on his face. He is going to kill me. I cried. I screamed but no one came. He sat down in front of me in the shards of glass. I bet it was hurting him but he didn't care. I scrabbled the floor to find something to protect myself. I started moving away from him but I couldn't as it would send a sharp pain down my spine. He grabbed me by the hair pulling my face closer to him, "You don't want me, don't you?" His breathe fanned my face which reeked of alcohol.

"If you can't be mine, you can't be anyone's not even my stepbrother's", his hands traveled down my neck and he choked me. I writhed trying to break free from his hard grip. It felt like he was going to crush my neck. That's when I got my hands on a big shard of glass, I picked it up and stabbed him in his neck. He let go of me and started moaning in pain.

I took that opportunity to run, thank god the door was open so I scurried my way out of the house. My body was giving up on me but I still ran as the adrenaline rushing through me helped.

I ran till I couldn't anymore and the tears blurring my vision didn't help. My heart was beating wildly against my chest and I felt traces of blood on my top. I was losing a lot of blood. I stopped to catch a breathe but I was still skeptic about him following me so I frantically looked around. I didn't know where I was but I still didn't feel safe. I was started to feel dizzy and I was seeing black spots in front of my eyes. All I remember is that I passed out.

...........

"Em... Em", A familiar voice called out to me. I stirred in my slumber. I woke up to find myself lying on the hospital bed. There were pipes everywhere. The only voices I heard was the beeping of the heart monitor and someone sobbing in the background. I turned my head to see who that was. It was Hailey who was holding my hand and sobbing. "I didn't die or something", I said in a hoarse voice.

"Emma oh god", she sighed in relief. "You are... you are awake", she touched my forehead giving me a small smile. I could tell she had been crying for a long time. She looked miserable and I have never seen Hailey like that.

"Water.. I need water", I realized then that I was parched. She immediately poured me a glass. I tried getting up but my back was still hurting.

"Don't.. let me just feed you with a spoon", after she was done, Hailey left to call the doctor.

The doctor came with a nurse. After a brief check up and couple of questions later he announced that I just need to take some rest and then I will be going home in no time. I thanked him. He informed me that a police will come to ask me some questions.

After he left I started worrying and Hailey noticed. "You okay?" She asked clutching my hand tightly.

"No... what happened to... what happened to Drew?" It was hard for me to even say his name.

"He was arrested. Don't worry he can't do anything to you.... I should have told you everything earlier and this would have never happened".

"What do you want to tell me?"

"Leo wasn't cheating on you. Yes he was lying to you but it was for your own good. After you received roses covered in blood on your birthday he asked me what was going on as you wouldn't tell him anything. I told him everything about Jules and how Andrew treated you. He wanted to help. So he decided to pay a visit to Jules after talking to her. She didn't want to listen to anything but after much insisting she finally approved. When Leo got there he found out Jules stays with Andrew's stepfather and mother, turns out Jules is his step-cousin. He told Jules the truth but Jules didn't believe him first. But after much convincing she did as Leo made his stepmother say the truth to her. She's the one who has been hiding everything from her. In fact she made you promise to hide the truth from Jules. Later, Leo used to often visit Jules so that they can track Andrew together. But they failed now you and Leo...".

"Wait... Leo is Jules' step-cousin? But.. What happened to Leo? Is he alright?" I said frantically getting up but I couldn't as I felt a sharp pain down my spine.

"Leo was... He was shot".

..........

Thanks to @littletikiscorner for the pizza gif!