Broken Luna

Feel Something

 This was supposed to be my escape. Even if I'd always gotten a bit of the creeps from Mr Larkin I never thought I would have to deal with anything beyond the suggestive leers from the man. He didn't look like a monster.

 He stood about six foot one to my five foot frame. He was a healthy weight. Had light blue eyes, and dark chestnut hair that was slicked back. It wasn't that he was bad looking. He was decent. But there had just been something about his eyes, how they lingered, it always just made me  weary of him.

 But I never thought that the teachers - even the ones that snapped at me - would actually cause me further suffering. Would actually force me to confront and face what I really am. Happy birthday to me, right? 

 “I know what you do,” he sneered, alone in his office, “you’re a prostitute.”

 Why had I sat down - why had I let him circle behind me - blocking the door to freedom. My heart hammered in my chest. Swallowing. Panic because someone knew - he knew. 

“I- I don’t know what you’re talking about Mr Larkin…” my voice lacked conviction. I hated how I could hear the tremor - the fear. 

“Don’t deny it, slut,” - the word slut caused me to wince as if I had been slapped. His tongue slid over his bottom lip. Prowling closer, my eyes dart to his hand that starts to undo his buckle, “I saw you. Now unless you want me to fail you in my class when you’re oh so close to graduating… Well.”

 I shouldn’t care… How many peoples hands have crawled over my skin? How many eyes have seen me naked, how many people f****d me? I shouldn’t care. It shouldn’t matter anymore…

Fight…

 A voice I hadn’t heard in years whispered in my mind. I’d shut it out so long ago. But I learned - I’d been taught - fighting made it worse. It always made it worse. I’d seen other girls who fought - saw them die because they hadn’t just submitted. 

“Please… Don’t do this…” I tried to plead. But he continued to undo his pants. Getting closer. I felt a sense of paralysis. Feeling helpless. If I fought and got damaged, Matthias would blame me for damaging what is his. He wouldn’t care if I was assaulted. It would be my fault. 

You’re stronger than them all. Fight!

 Clearly I’m going mad. I am not strong… I am helpless against the monsters in this world. Monsters like Mr Larkin. 

 I felt sickened by his hand moving under my shirt. Closing my eyes and willing this to just be over as a tear escaped one of my eyes. I hated crying. Showing weakness. But I had hoped so desperately that school would remain a place free of this kind of hell.

 I didn’t think I could win. I would only end up hurt worse and in more trouble if I fought.

 A growl resonated loudly in my mind. Causing me to frown. It felt as if my body was no longer mine for a moment as he reached to grab my throat, my knee jerked slamming the pervert in his exposed junk before bolting around him to the door.

 I could feel him grasp for me. Desperate to stop me from escaping. An angry yell. But I managed to fumble with the lock and throw open the door and continue to run. Fear as finally I found myself feeling more in control again. Thankful and confused at how I’d found some sense of fight to possess me. 

 Fearing what he might do. Telling myself there was no way he’d actually fail me… After what he tried. I knew I could get him fired - if I could prove it. But if anyone looked at me too closely - they’d know. They would realize I was just a w***e. A nobody. 

 Whores lie. Nobody believes them. A bitterness filled me. I walked away. Apparently what Mr Larkin didn’t realize was technically I had all the credits I needed to graduate. I didn’t need his class. It was an extra class for me. f**k I could technically stop going to all my classes and skip the finals and still have extra credits to graduate.

 There was no way I would go back to his class again. Looking behind me as I walked quickly away, I found myself colliding into a solid form. I swallowed and felt my heart rate jump again. Sparks lit up along my arms as whomever I ran into stopped me from falling. 

 I couldn’t bring myself to look up because honestly it was bad enough I could feel my cheeks colour in a blush - “Sorry…”

“Mate…” the masculine tone rumbled, causing goosebumps to form. Never - and I mean never - has a voice turned me on. But damn did his. 

 Still having resisted looking up to his face, the intimate, possessive tone had distracted me from what he had actually said. Until it echoed in my mind in that little voice in my mind. 

Mate…

 Dumbfounded as to what the f**k sort of context was missing surrounding the simple word ‘mate’ - on it’s own really really made no f*****g sense. 

 Also why did his touch make me feel like a lusty b***h. And his voice make me want to jump his bones? With the life I’ve had - well. I don’t exactly seek that sort of activity out.

 Finally I lift my eyes to his. I can honestly say I have never seen him here before. And he looks a little old to be in high school. High school boys usually don’t have such filled in facial hair. His beard was neatly trimmed. 

 His hair was a dark blonde with lighter streaks through it, pulled back in a messy bun. And he was just - to built to be a high school boy. That was when I noticed the tattoos along his neck. 

 Nope. He definitely did not go here… “H...hi…” I finally stuttered. Still so confused about what was happening. Considering what I was running from… Honestly what the f**k was wrong with me? 

 This stranger towered over me, as I took note of how far back I had to crane my neck to look up to his face. Though I think I forgot how to breathe for a moment as finally our eyes connected. Steely blue grey that seemed to consume me.

 “What’s your name?” the man spoke again and I felt a shiver of pleasure run through me, and I swear I saw his nostrils flair and breath quicken at my reaction. 

“...Jude…” was all I managed. I felt struck dumb.

 A frown then creased his brow as one of his large hands lifted to brush one of the tears that had been sliding down my cheek from before. Demanding, protective - it should make me afraid but instead it makes me want to sink closer into his warmth - “why are you crying?”

 Still I gave an anxious look behind my shoulder, instantly clamming up. “It’s nothing,” I insisted. 

 That was when another voice broke through, “uh… Jem? Whatcha doing brother?”

 He didn’t look away, but blushing my own gaze went to the new arrival. He had the same colour of hair. Dark blond with streaks. But it was shorter. The same eyes. But clearly younger. He lacked the broad masculinity. More lanky. 

 I felt the needed break from whatever trance. I needed to clear my mind. I felt overloaded… “Uh nice to meet you… sorry for running into you-” my words had been rushed before I bolted again. 

 Not daring to look back up to catch his gaze I took my chance to escape the weird moment. 

  He’d made me feel something. And that was dangerous.

I ran faster when I heard him call after me.