If Hell were any Closer

Nikki’s POV:

I’ve lost track of time since I last went downstairs.

By the amount of sunlight streaming past the blinds, it appears to be late morning by now, and the robbers still haven’t left from the ruckus outside of my door. From what I can hear, they haven’t manage to get past the barricade that I made in front of my bedroom door, but that bothers me more than anything.

There were four guys, all relatively fit and therefore should’ve been able to get past my weak attempt at a barrier fairly easily, so why haven’t they? If I could push all of that furniture that quickly, than they should have been able to move it like that. So why haven’t they? Are they waiting for something? Me?

Soon enough, the distinct siren of the police is heard rocketing in my direction and when I peer out the window, they’re just parking on the curb. Something deflates within me and I find myself relaxing at the thought of being rescued. I’m actually quite proud of myself nonetheless, seeing as I managed to successfully disarm several of my attackers, but the entire situation is still unnerving.

I strain my hearing when a loud bang rickets through the house frame, sending my to my feet. I inch hazardously towards he stiffly locked door, my makeshift weapons t the ready as I take calming breaths. I mentally count to ten before I hesitantly unlock my final source of protection and step into my dimly lit bedroom to find my barricade still holding.

It takes me a couple of minutes to push the obstacles out of the way, adrenaline helping me the first time and when I do I take a deep breath before opening the door. I freeze instantly, straining my hearing to listen in for any sounds of any more threats, but there are none.

It takes me a few minutes to realize that the police are indeed here, and that I am saved from those awful people who took pleasure in hurting me, in scaring the absolute shit out of me.

I dart down that stairs as fast as my legs will carry, and the distinct sound of phone ringing momentarily distracts me, but the idea of freedom and being rescued overrules any thought to answer my phone. When I burst out the front door, the blinding flashing lights take me off guar, and a grin settles over my lips when I see it, and my grin only increases when I see the three bastards locked away in the back of the police cruiser. Wait… three?

I do a double take, and sure enough, only three forms occupy the backseat, so where could the fourth be? Perhaps the officers put hi in another car? But that one is also empty, so where else could he be? Or did, he run off?

That thought breaks through my calm façade with ease, and sends a bolt of fear through me, giving me a reality check. I can’t stay in this house if someone is out for revenge against me. So where could, can I go?

My phone rings again, only this time, I do pick up, my voice shaky.

“Hello?” I questioned breathlessly, looking anxiously over my shoulder.

“Babe? Nikki? Are you okay?” He panicked, voice rising with every syllable.

I mentally sighed in relief, “no, I’m not okay. Andy- people broke into my house! They tried to, tried to-“ I broke off, a wave of fresh tears cascading down my tear-stained cheeks.

“Baby? Shh, it’s okay; I’m coming to get you, alright? Ill be there as soon as I can, I promise.” He soothed, although I already felt that his motive to come here was foolish. I had school, he had work.

I shook my head, “no Andy, you can’t just drop everything just because something happened to me. I’ll be fine,” I lied.

“I can tell when you’re lying, babe, and I just want for you to feel safe, alright? I love you.”

I nodded, attempting to utter back those three, simple words, but my body was giving up on me at the moment.

A police officer tapped my shoulder, and I glanced over at him. He offered me a sympathetic look, “I’m sorry, Miss, but one of the crooks managed to get away, but I assure you, we’ll do everything in our power to find him, as we fear he may be armed. Perhaps you could stay with a relative, or somehow contact your guardians?” He offered and my heart clenched.

“What!” Andy barked through the phone, “he fucking got away?”

I hush him and thank the police officer before I go back to our call. “I’m fine, “ I assure my boyfriend once again.

“You are not staying alone in that house, nor are you going to call those bastards you call parents,” he hisses and I wince slightly.

I sigh, “I have to, I can’t stay by myself, or at least I don’t want to. I can see if I can stay at Lily’s house maybe, and winter break is coming up anyways…”

“Come visit me,” he suddenly interrupts.

“What?” I ask in bewilderment, nearly choking on my saliva.

I can practically sense Andy’s grin as he speaks, “you said yourself, it’s almost Christmas break, and you can come visit, then you won’t be all alone. Plus then we can spend Christmas together instead of being alone.”

I chew at my lip, thinking his crazy idea through. It is one week until our designated winter break, and we don’t have any midterms this year, so I am practically done with school this semester anyways. But visit Andy all the way across the country? Live together? What about his roommate? This just seems way too complicated to even work out.

“I don’t know… I mean, my parents would have to call the school, and then where would I stay?” I ponder aloud, even though I can’t believe that I am actually contemplating this.

“You can stay with me, and yes, I do have a roommate, but I recently got enough money to possibly move out, so that could work. And you could easily fake a note or some shit to get out of school. Please baby? For me?” He pleads, but he already must now that he’s won.

I exhale loudly, my answer at the tip of my tongue, “alright. I will.”

Notes

Boring filler chapter because I am having a tiny bit of a writer's block at the moment tbh
Also, I know it is early, but how would you guys feel about a book 3? Yes, no?