Broken Souls

Chapter 7 - Bailey

My heart raced the moment he began lifting my shirt, but I was so utterly exhausted that I couldn't muster the energy to stop him. The scars are a constant reminder of why I must avoid being caught; I despise them as they cover my body. "You are mine and nobody can take you from me," his words keep echoing in my mind, and I know he won't stop until we're both dead.

I don’t understand why I’m allowing him to do this when I don’t even know him. For the past five years, I’ve kept my distance from others; I haven’t been in a relationship or allowed anyone to get close. My life was shattered in an instant, and I can’t let anyone get close enough to be hurt; I simply can’t handle that. I’ve been so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize I was lying in bed, under the covers, until I looked up and saw him watching me, as if I were a puzzle he was trying to solve. “Logan?” I closed my eyes because I can’t bear to meet his gaze; I feel so ashamed. “Yes, Angel.”

"Thank you,” He remained silent for what felt like hours but was probably just a few minutes. I felt the bed dip behind me, and my body tensed for a moment before his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close to his chest., "Get some sleep, I'm right here." he whispered in my ear, I don't remember when I fell asleep, but for the first time in a long while, I felt save.

("Why are you doing this?" I kept screaming at him as I felt another sharp pain. He had been at this for hours, and there was so much blood that I was sure I would bleed out soon. But I couldn't give up; I had to get myself out of here. "Because I've been trying to get your attention for three f*****g years, but you're too much of a b***h to realize what's in front of you". What was he talking about? Sure, we had been in a few classes together in high school, but we were never friends, never even spoke. He wasn’t a bad-looking guy, but he wasn't my type. "God, you're a self-centered asshole. Just because I didn't give you the attention you craved, you killed my parents. If you want attention, go back to your mother and fix your f*****g mommy issues," I screamed. He turned around and punched me so hard that all I saw were black dots.)

I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart racing. These dreams are going to land me in a mental asylum for sure. When I glanced at the other side of the bed, it was empty—Logan must have gone home after I fell asleep. I owe him; despite being a stranger, he went out of his way to help me, and I’m truly grateful. Then, everything came back to me in a flash—he saw the scars, the panic attack I had. I hope he doesn’t ask any questions because I’m not sure what I would say, but it definitely couldn’t be the truth.

I dragged myself out of bed and forced myself through a quick shower, needing to keep my hands clean to avoid any infections. Once I was finished, I got dressed and headed out to meet Leila for breakfast, despite feeling completely drained. I knew I needed to eat. As I walked to my car, I was stunned to see Logan standing there. I couldn’t help but admire him; he looked hot. He just stared at me as I approached. "Morning, what are you doing here?".

"I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd check in and see how you're doing." Noticing the surprised look on my face, "How are your hands?"

“Oh, they’re okay—just a bit sore, but I’ll manage. It’s not the first time this has happened.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better. I need to head out have a good day” he got on his bike, and our eyes met.

"Thanks again for everything; I truly appreciate it." He nodded without saying a word and then rode off on his bike. Honestly, I can't deny how sexy that is.

I got in my car and drove to the diner to meet Leila. As soon as I walked in, a high-pitched scream greeted me. Turning to my right, I saw Leila rushing over and pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you came,” she said, looking down. “Oh God, what happened to your hands?”

“Got hurt at work, but it's nothing serious, so don't worry. Let's grab a bite before I starve,” with a small smile, leading me to our table. Once the waiter brought our coffee—something I desperately needed after last night, “Can I ask you something? Since it's a small town, I figured you might know.” She looked at me with a puzzled expression. “Of course, ask whatever you need,”

“Do you happen to know anyone named Logan?”

"Yes, he and his brothers run the bike repair shop.” she said with a grin. All I could do was shake my head, "No, I’m not looking for a hookup. I just want to send him something to express my gratitude for helping me out of a tough situation last night."

She tilted her head, her expression turning serious. “You want to send him something? Sure, he might be attractive, but I'd rather keep my distance if I were you.” I looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “I’m not inviting him into my bed—just sending a small thank-you. I’m not interested in relationships.”

We finished breakfast, and I went to the bar. As I walked in and began restocking the fridge, I heard a serious Jeremy ask, "Why are you here today?" I froze for a moment, turning around to look at him, "I'm working. Why do you ask?"

"After last night, I think you deserve a day off. Shaun can manage the customers and we have the students to help out."

“It really isn’t necessary; I can still work,” he walked closer and gestured toward the door, signaling for me to leave.

"Alright, but I'll be back tomorrow, and you won't send me away. Is that a deal?"

"Deal," he said, heading back to his office. I glanced at Shaun, who gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. He takes care of his employees. He might come across as a jerk sometimes, but that's his way of showing he cares."

I said my goodbyes and left. What am I supposed to do now? I sat in my car for a while, then decided to send Logan a message and get some sleep because I'm feeling really exhausted.

After I did what I needed to do, I was back in my room, lying on the bed. I closed my eyes, but my restless mind wouldn’t settle. I kept thinking about Logan—his eyes, him helping me—and what Leila said. How dangerous could he really be? Sure, he might be intimidating, but I doubt he’s genuinely dangerous. It’s strange; we are strangers and yet he makes me feel safe, I just don’t want him prying into my life. Yes, he saw my scars, but he doesn’t know their story, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.