Run To Me

Chapter 3 - Loralie

The night just seems to drag on. Sleep comes in fragile pieces, easily broken by every creak in the floorboards or the wind whistling outside. I’m stuck between awareness and exhaustion, my body too tired to stay awake but too on edge to fully let go. Finally, exhaustion wins, dragging me under—but it doesn’t take me gently.

And then, I’m standing in a dark room.

The door explodes open. The sound cracks through the space, and I whip around toward the light. There, in the doorway, William’s hulking figure stands before me. Then—fast, heavy footsteps come rushing toward me.

My body locks, every muscle tightening as something instinctive screams at me to run, but I can’t move.

William grabs my arms. His nails don’t feel right, digging into me like a beast’s claws.

“How dare you leave?!” he practically snarls in my face, his hot breath reeking of cheap beer and cigarettes. His words scrape through the air, barely human.

I try to pull away, but it’s useless against his grip.

“You think you can run? You think you can get away from me?” His face twists, shadows cutting too deep into his features. His eyes are darker than they should be—empty and furious all at once. His mouth curls into something almost animal, teeth bared. “You belong to me. I own you!”

The words slam into me, tears now flowing down my cheeks.

“No.” The word barely gets out.

My hands push against him, but he doesn’t let go. Panic surges, my chest tightening so hard I can’t breathe.

“I didn’t… I just…”

His grip tightens.

“You don’t get to leave, Lori. I’m the best a fat b***h like you will ever get!”

And then—

SLAP!

The sudden movement. That sharp, snapping jolt.

I gasp awake.

The office snaps back into place around me, dim and quiet, the glow of the security monitors flickering across the walls. My breath comes fast, uneven, like I’ve been running. Sweat clings to my skin, and for a second, I can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t. My hands fly to my arms. Nothing. No marks. No claws. No grip. But I can still feel it.

My eyes dart to the door. Still closed, still locked up tightly, still… Safe. For now, anyway. The thought settles heavily in my chest. For now. I sit up slowly, dragging in a shaky breath, trying to steady myself, but the fear doesn’t leave. It lingers, coiled tight inside me.

What if it doesn’t stay a dream? What if next time, it’s real?

My stomach twists, sharp and sudden. No. I can’t stay here waiting for that. The thought cuts through the panic, clearer than anything else. Thomas’s proposal, his friend who is a cop… I need to disappear. A new place. A new life. Somewhere he can’t reach. Thomas’s plan doesn’t feel too big anymore. It feels necessary.

“I’m going,” I whisper into the empty room, my voice shaking—but certain.

A soft knock taps against the door. I flinch, my body reacting before my mind can catch up.

“Lora?” Cali’s voice follows, gentle but steady. I exhale, tension easing just enough.

“Yeah,” I call, the door opens slowly, light spilling in behind her. She steps inside with two cups in her hands, her eyes immediately finding mine. I must look atrocious; Cali’s eyes tell me she knows I had a rough night.

“You didn’t sleep,” she says quietly.

I shake my head, wrapping my hands around the cup of coffee she offers like I need the warmth to stay grounded. “I had a nightmare.”

Her expression softens, and she doesn’t push the subject. She just steps closer sitting on the couch next to me. “I’m here.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m going,” I say, the words coming faster now. “With Thomas’s plan. I don’t want to stay anywhere he can find me.” For once, there is no hesitation in my voice.

“Okay,” she says.

Relief hits sharper than I expect. No questions. No doubt. Just okay.

“We’ll call him,” she adds, already reaching for her phone.

Thomas is there within minutes. He steps into the office, his eyes moving over me quickly, not invasive, just checking. “You alright?” he asks.

I nod, even if it’s not fully true. “I want to do it,” I say before anything else can slow me down. “The plan. I want to go.”

Something in his posture shifts. “Okay, I’ll make the call.” Cali wraps her arms around me on the couch in a soft embrace. Thomas pulls out his phone searching for his friend's number. He pauses, thumb hovering over his phone, and looks at me once more. “You're sure? There is no turning back after this. I gave him a call last night just as a heads-up that this was a possibility. He told me if I called again, he could get everything set, but we would be moving fast.” He said, worry clear in his eyes.

I took a deep breath and swallowed, nodding my head. The decision was made. Thomas nodded and placed the call. My chest tightens again, but it’s different this time. Not in panic but anticipation. The phone rings.

Once.

Twice.

And just like that, everything begins to change.