Chapter 6: He came

~Rose ~

This wasn’t real. No. It couldn’t be.

“Rose!”

One word.

Just one word.

And my chest tightened all over again.

“Tell me where you are, Rose.” Archer growled, his voice vibrating against my ear like a physical hand dragging me back to the past. “I’ll come get you.”

“No,” I said immediately. “I want nothing to do with you… leave me alone.”

“No, wait… Don’t hang up—“

I hung up, my thumb hit the red button before my brain could catch up. And then, I just stood there on the sidewalk, staring at the screen like it had insulted me.

The phone buzzed again.

The same unknown number.

I didn’t answer. This time, I held down the power button until the screen went black.

My hands were trembling so badly I couldn't stop them. I shoved the phone into my pocket and walked faster, and faster, until I was practically running with my breath almost gone.

How did he find me?! After this many years. Why now? Why is everything happening right now?

My chest kept rising and falling, my hands shook uncontrollably, I couldn’t even think straight as memories of the past kept flooding back in.

His mouth on mine, his hands on me. Then, my stepfather, the way he fucked me that night. God, I tried to shake the memory off my head but I couldn’t. And after that… the pregnancy.

Lucas. Oh my god, Lucas. I should never have left him.

My sweet little boy. He’s the best thing that had ever happened to me. If the Hayes found me, if they found him… They would take him away. No, no I can’t let that happen.

I thought of going back, thought of getting Lucas back but Archer might have had me tracked.

I couldn’t risk it.

I forced my weak legs to run faster, I needed to disappear, quick and fast before Archer destroys everything again.

Soon, I reached the motel, the neon sign flickering at me.

It wasn’t much. Just one of those cheap places you only noticed because the sign outside was missing three letters.

But I didn’t care.

I just needed a room. Somewhere to sleep until morning.

I clutched my wallet tightly and walked into the small lobby. The smell of cigarettes and stale alcohol hit me first. Men lounged around lazily, smoking weed and laughing so loud, it made my stomach twist.

I ignored him, hugged myself tighter and walked straight up to the man behind the counter. He was watching a game on the tiny TV and didn’t even bother looking up when the bell above the door jingled.

“Can I get a room?” I asked. “Just for a night.”

“Forty- five.”

My stomach dropped. “Forty- five?”

“Weekend rate.”

“But it’s Thursday.”

He finally looked at me. His eyes dragged down, then up, then down again, tracing every inch of my wet body. “Forty- five, lady.”

I pulled the bills out of my pocket. They had been folded and unfolded all day, and I counted them as if that might somehow change the number. Twenty four dollars. That was all. I smoothed them flat against the counter anyway.

“I have twenty four. I can bring the rest tomorrow. I swear, I work… I’ll have it by noon.”

I lied.

“Do I look like a bank?”

“Please… please. I just need a bed, I have nowhere else—“

“Not my problem.” He turned back to the TV. “The door’s behind you.”

I stood there for a second longer, my throat burning. Then I picked up my money and walked out.

“Rough night, huh? Sweetheart.”

I stiffened.

The men from the lobby had followed me, three of them surrounded me, all reeking of alcohol, their eyes raking over me like I was some dessert.

“We heard what happened back there.” The big one said. “Forty five dollars for a room. That’s robbery.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Look,” another one added. “There’s no reason for a pretty girl like you to be out here freezing. You could spend the night with us, we got a room and we don’t mind sharing.”

“You wouldn’t have to spend a dime.” The third one chimed in gently, which was much worse. He stepped closer, close enough that I could practically smell the alcohol oozing off him.

I felt like throwing up.

“Come on, sweetheart.” He went on. “Just have a little fun with us. We promised to be nice, really nice.

“I said, no!” I hissed, pushing him away.

“Don’t be like that.” The big one’s hand closed around my arm. “This could be the best night of your life, and you look like you could use it.”

I tried to jerk free, tried to run but he was too strong.

So, I bit him, my teeth sank into his fist, hard enough I almost felt my teeth shatter.

“Bitch!”

“Don’t touch me.” My voice came out louder than I expected. “Don’t you ever touch me.”

He doubled over, clutching his hand. Blood gushed through his fingers. For a second, nobody said anything, and I thought, stupidly. Okay. That’s it, that was enough, they’ll back off now.

But they didn’t.

They just bursted out laughing like I was some joke.

“Oh you’re gonna regret that.”

I bolted.

I got maybe ten feet before a fist grabbed my hair and yanked, and my vision blurred. I screamed, my bag flew off my shoulders and hit the gravel and my money spilled from my pocket and blew away like it didn’t matter.

“Please,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Please, let me go.”

But they only laughed.

I scrambled for my bag, for the little can of pepper spray I always carried. My hand found the zipper. Got it open.

A boot slammed down on my wrist.

I screamed.

“That’s enough fighting from you.” The big one crouched over. “We promised to be nice, all you have to do is corporate.”

His fingers trailed down my face.

And I shut my eyes. I knew I was completely helpless.

“Take your hands off her!”

A deadly voice echoed through the air, and everyone froze.

That voice. God help me. I knew that voice.

My breath hitched painfully. My eyes flew open searching for the source.

Oh God.

“Archer!”