I shivered to bones as his husky voice sounded. I looked up and saw his face too near to me. His face broke up in a vicious grin. 'Missed me?'

I stared agape at him. I just left that damn party to get away from him and here he was, so close—so disgustingly close. 'What the hell is wrong with you?' I asked him.

'I just wanted to let you know you can't escape me,' he said and leaned back a bit. I was relieved a little cause his breath was quite bad. 'Neither me nor him.'

'Did you not have enough?' I threw at him. 'Last two years of your games, didn't they fill up your appetite?'

He showed his teeth again. 'He still didn't get what he wanted,' he moved forth instantly wrapping his fingers around my throat and pushed me back at the window. 'But now baby, me and him, we'll have what we want. Get it.'

I tried to get any amount of oxygen in my body as his fingers were only getting tighter. Blood rushed up to my face. My hands were trying him to get his away from me. 'Did you get me?' He asked again and I grimaced as he moved me a bit to my left and something sharp dug in my forearm. my phone vibrated in my lap and I couldn't dare look down at the caller ID.

'Tell me did you get me?' A warm liquid prickled out of my forearm and my tries to bring it away from whatever that sharp thing was failed. Breath and freedom was what my body begged but both were taken away by Marcus.

I nodded. A satisfactory smile stretched on his lips. He leaned back, simultaneously releasing me and allowing me to breathe . He caressed his ragged fingers across my cheek reminding me to shower thrice once I get out of the grip of this monster. 'Good.' He whispered. 'I will meet you later with him.'

The bus halted at a stop and he got out. I could not muster up the courage to do so. My limbs were weak and my shoulders weighed down. Every ounce of my body he touched, were like a grimy knife stabbed in me.

My forearm bled and I twisted my neck to see what actually it was. A piece of metal that was there for decoration of the interior of the bus was sprang out cutting my forearm.

I yelped in pain as I hit my head at the headset for the driver drove that badly. I exhorted the universe to stop for the least of minute. To let me breathe.

The bus halted again at another bus stop and I figured out that staying in here would do me no good. I limbed out of the bus and sat on the cold seats.

I looked down at the caller ID as my phone buzzed again. It was Mia. I didn't attend it. I was mad at her because she didn't come at the right time. Mad at Ryan who brought me to the party. Mad at Ian to ever letting me go. Mad at myself for ever thinking things will be fine.

They say don't look back. They say the past is done and move on. But what do you do when past keep jumping in front of you? Killing you slowly, reminding you your mistakes. Tears glistened in my eyes but I decided not to cry.

I blew my breath as my phone buzzed again and again in my lap. I drew the jacket close to myself as the wind shrieked on my face. My bare legs were chilled and my feet were minus 50 degree Celsius.

I picked up my phone to call Ian to pick me up. Ryan's calls, along with 10 other missed calls, popped up my screen. I sighed and picked up the call.

'Hello? Âme? Where are you?' Ryan sounded concerned.

'You won't find me Ryan,' the lump in my throat thickened my voice. I pushed it down.

'Why? Are you in toilet or something?' I could imagine him frowning.

'No ... I'm ...' I trailed off. Should I tell him? But if not, then he'll be finding me. I gave up as I took a deep breathe. 'I'm going home Ryan.'

'Going home? With whom?'

'Er ... is Mia around?' I hesitated as I asked him. If I needed to lie, I needed to investigate.

'Yes, she's with me. Âme tell me where are you?' I winced with pain as I moved my elbow.

'I told you I'm going home.'

'I found her!' I heard Mia's voice from Ryan's phone and the call was cancelled in a sudden moment.

I heaved a sigh and called Ian. His phone was turned off and I was ready to throw my phone away.

I got up, ran hand through my hair, pushing the bangs out of my face as I did so. I drew the jacket closer to me, a wish I locked in my heart to feel ok. What would I do if Ryan and his friends reach here? Mia knew everything but I'd be the one under the spotlight. The questions, they'd all would be asked from me. What would I say to them about my injured elbow? The cut? The finger prints on my neck? How would I justify myself?

So many questions. No answer.

So many wounds. No ointment.

I tears prickled in my eyes, a threat they always possess to display me as an epitome of weakness. My eyes fixed themselves at the poster across the road. The poster of a talent competition with the picture of four celebrity judges.

The only thing good about that poster, was whoever will win, would get a prize.

In contrast with this completion of life, no one gets a prize. You keep on competing with an anonymous participant.

A faint sound of grunting of wheels grew louder until the car skidded to a halt in front of me. Ryan and Mia got out of the car instantly and ran towards me. Mia hugged the life out of me and her sobs shook my body.

'I'm okay.' I told her hugging her back.

'I'm so sorry I shouldn't have left you,' Mia held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, 'but Yang was in the bathroom and Noah was unable to be found so I grabbed Ryan and came to get you.'

I looked at Ryan whose eyes were, to my fear, fixed on my neck probably already done with the job of detecting those finger prints. 'Thank you.' I murmured to Ryan who merely gave me a nod. I could already depict the lava of questions forming in his eyes.

'Did you tell him?' I whispered to Mia but she shook her head no. I gave her a half smile.

'I told him that you were here to buy some necessities.'

Ryan furrowed but his eyes were on the floor and then they trailed back up. 'Âme, could you show me your elbow?' Ryan outstretched his hand.

Mia gasped loudly as I brought my elbow forward and placed them in Ryan's. There was a twitch in Ryan's jaw. He glared at my hand for a while and calmly took out his handkerchief and began wrapping it around my elbow. I watched him how his fingers gently clutched around my forearm, as if he was afraid he might break it if he'll hold me a little harder. He didn't look up at me, but there was a constant twist in his jaw.

'Jane! How did it happen?' Mia resisted her urge to ask me more as Ryan was finished with his job. He gently placed my hand back where it was.

'It was just a metallic piece that was sticking out ... ' I pounded over the next half of my lie, 'and it slashed my elbow.'

'Oh god, do we need to go to hospital? Oh Jane I'm so sorry I shouldn't have left you. I'm such an idiot!' She blamed herself that wasn't even her fault.

'It's totally fine Mia. Chill.' I placed my hand on her shoulder.

'I don't think there's any need to go back to party. If you ladies wish,' Ryan looked at me, 'I can drop you home.'

Mia nodded her head. 'Yeah, the night's destroyed anyway.' Mia pouted. 'Jane would you go back to the party?'

'Home's better.' I told her and chose to sit at the back seat of my Ryan's car clutching on my forearm.

I looked at the houses that swished past us. My ear faded out all the noises, inside the car, which was probably of Mia's, who was trying to give directions to Ryan to her home and the ones outside.

I cranked my neck up at the rear view mirror and watched Ryan's eyes already fixed on me. We both held our gaze before I dropped I looked away.

He can't fix you Jane. I told myself.

The car halted in front of Mia's home. She waved me bye, asking me again if I need any help and when I said no, she went in her house. Ryan looked at me through the rear view mirror, gesturing me through his eyes to come forward in the passenger seat. I did.

Ryan didn't turn the ignition on. I knitted my eyebrows until realisation drew upon me and I immediately wore my seatbelt. Ryan started his car and drove off.

There was silence. The kind of silence you want to crush under your feet cause it's that awkward. I simply stared out of the window with the scenes of Marcus rushing vigorously in my mind. A constant fear of him being back.

What if Logan come along with him too? I won't be able to survive this attack anymore. But Marcus was, as rumoured, out of the country along with his friend. I didn't hear from him since then and I was glad. I didn't want to either. Ian, What would I tell him about it? Would I lie?

Lost in my thoughts, I was unaware of the unfamiliar road that lead me somewhere but not my home. 'Ryan? This isn't the way to home.' I told him.

'I know.' Was his reply.

'Then where are you taking me?' I asked him urgently. Ryan was trustable but I hadn't give him yet. Panic plastered in my mind and I clutched my phone to make emergency call if necessary. 'Ryan!' I exclaimed when he didn't reply so I picked up my phone to dial Ian's number but Ryan snatched the phone from my hand and ended the call.

'We're here.' He said calmly. I looked in front of me and relief settled in me. It was a garden. The one where I met him the first time.

'Why did you bring me here?'

'Time to board the Wandering Train again.' He said.

Hey lovelies! What do you think Ryan's question would be?
Would like to have a Ryan PoV? If yes, do tell me.

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See ya soon,

love 💕 huz