We’ll Go Wherever You Want

Aurora Brooks POV

That cursed room. The chains and whips hanging on the walls make it a torture chamber in every sense of the word. The smell of insects and rotten vegetables chokes the air. I will not enter it. Not even over my dead body. 

I grabbed his hand and dug my nails into his skin as hard as I could, because I had no idea what else to do.

He let go with a groan of pain. The sound of it made me feel a strange relief. While he checked his hand, I pushed him hard on the stairs. My mother shouted my name, but it did not stop me. I ran outside. I grabbed my shoes and sprinted away from the house with everything I had.

I must have looked terrifying. My thin legs ran wildly. My tears would not stop. Small stones tore into the bottoms of my bare feet without mercy.

"I do not want that room. No."

A voice I knew well cut through my hysterical words.

"Aurora!"

His steps behind me were fast. But my mad running kept me meters ahead. I kept repeating the sentence carved into my heart since childhood, my voice breaking apart.

"I do not want to sleep in that dark room. The whips. The cockroaches."

His voice burned behind me. His breathing echoed close.

"Stop!"

I did not stop. I kept walking fast, talking to myself like a mad girl.

"Auro."

He grabbed the back of my head and turned me toward him.

Hearing my name shortened like that, sharp and rough on his lips, terrified me. I was so close to his bright eyes. Thick smoke with the smell of cigarettes poured from his mouth.

"You bring out the worst in me."

My gaze moved across the dark beauty of his face. My voice came out tight.

"Why do you people only understand violence?"

His eyebrows were drawn together in a frightening way. He threw away his cigarette while still gripping my hair.

"How many times did I call your name and you did not stop? Answer me."

I pushed him with all my strength. He did not move.

"I do not want to. Stay away from me."

For a moment his expression softened. I thought he felt pity.

"Do not pity me. I do not need your mercy."

He answered with pride.

"I pity no one. Not even you."

I sniffed proudly. He asked in a quieter tone.

"Where were you going? What is going on with you?"

My voice trembled.

"To the sea. I ran away from that room."

A faint smile touched his lips. God. He is smiling.

"Is it not far?"

I shook my head.

"No. I can run from that street to the last point. From there I will stand on the cliff above the shore. Then I go down a rocky path to the sand."

He cleared his throat quietly. His eyes moved over my face.

"Aren't you afraid of falling?"

My eyes filled with tears.

"I have fallen a thousand times in that house. Falling on rocks will not hurt me."

Surprise crossed his face. Slowly, he loosened his grip.

"Let's go."

He wiped my tears gently. I looked at him in confusion.

"Where?"

"We will go where you want."

He walked ahead with quick steps. His dark figure pulled me after him. He said nothing the whole time, smoking three cigarettes one after another.

When we reached the cliff, he looked at me.

"You are actually smart. But you love danger too much."

I smiled lightly.

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

He blew smoke into my face.

"And you are strange too."

"Why do you think I am strange?"

His face stayed cold, giving nothing away.

"A moment ago you were hysterical. Not even ten minutes later you started smiling."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You do not know what I live through. The people who suffer the most are the ones who smile the most."

He jumped over the rocks and reached his hand toward me. I hesitated, then took it.

"We hide our pain behind real laughter."

He held me firmly while I jumped beside him. He exhaled roughly.

"I am not like that."

I asked with curiosity.

"Do you suffer? I actually felt that."

Our feet touched the cold sand. I grabbed his arm, shivering.

"Oh God. It is cold."

He looked at me and pushed me slightly away.

"Stay back."

I punched his shoulder playfully, as if I had just found a new friend. He clenched his teeth in annoyance.

"Sorry. I will not do it again."

When we got close to the water, he spoke quietly.

"Do it again and you will see what I can do to you."

I asked foolishly while staring at the stars.

"What can you do to me, Captain?"

He adjusted the butterfly clip on the side of my hair. His voice sounded tight.

"Nothing. Except reshape you."

I turned my eyes to his.

"What do you mean?"

He looked away toward the waves.

"Nothing, little one. Now be quiet. I hate women's chatter."

I walked toward the foam of the water and said loudly,

"So that means you have had many experiences with women, you liar."

His fingers wrapped around the back of my neck until I almost choked.

"I am not a liar, little one."

When I groaned, he released me and brushed his hand softly over my neck.

"I do not have time for relationships. They are not even my passion."

I moved my neck casually.

"I did not ask about your life. Why are you telling me all this?"

Then I noticed his hand shaking again.

"Your hand again. What is wrong with it? Do you have some illness?"

He pulled it away from me. His answer shocked me.

"Heart and nerve problems."

My eyes lifted to him, full of hot tears.

"You have heart disease?"

He nodded.

"Strange, right?"

I wiped my tear quickly.

"You do not look like it at all. Honestly, everyone has heart problems. Some ugly. Some kind."

He exhaled heavily, like a rock had been lifted from his chest.

"Sorry. I talk too much. Philosophy is my specialty."

He glanced at my face.

"That is obvious."

He moved his hand away and spoke with quiet mystery.

"Let's go."

He turned back, and I ran after him like a child.

"Where?"

"To my house. It is not far from here. It is on the beach."