Chapter 8: Survive The Night Katarina, Survive!

Katarina's POV - Liam's Apartment

"What the hell!"

I slammed the bathroom door so hard the walls trembled.I pressed my forehead to the cold wood, squeezing my eyes shut, trying not to break.

 I just needed to wash it all off the dirt, the blood, the smell of my father’s betrayal still stuck to my skin. And here he was …Liam ….. He  had been watching me. I'd felt his eyes on my body while  I was in the shower. Burning and staring, even when I ducked under the water. Even when I turned away, hoping he would leave, I caught him peeking through the crack of the door.

He just stood there watching me through the crack like some twisted predator.

My hands shook as I grabbed the thin towel from the rack, wrapping it around my naked body.

I could still feel the sting of soap against my raw skin.

Bruises bloomed across my thighs. My legs ached deep from running, falling—from everything that had broken me in the last 24 hours.

I rubbed my arms roughly, trying to scrub off the feeling of his eyes, but it was too late. It was under my skin now.

I limped to the mirror, legs shaking.

That's when I saw it—a jagged gash on my elbow, raw and red. The skin was torn, blood crusted around it.

It Must've been from when I fell running from the cartel. Or maybe when Liam grabbed me too hard earlier.

The pain pulsed, sharp and hot under the fluorescent light. 

I needed help. I needed to call Selena. I needed to get the hell out of here.

I was still wrapped in the damp towel when I cracked the door open, peeking out into the hallway.

There was no sign of Liam.

I moved fast, my bare feet slapping against the floor. The towel barely stayed up around my chest, barely covering my breasts as I ran toward the kitchen where I'd seen a landline earlier.

The apartment was too quiet silent in that way that made your ears ring. Like the building was holding its breath, waiting for something awful to happen.

The landline hung crooked on the wall in the kitchen the ancient, dirty kind that you had to punch the numbers into.

My fingers shook as I snatched it up. My heart was pounding so loudly it filled my ears.

I had no clothes and  shoes, just a growing certainty that I wasn't safe here. Not even for another hour.

I had to remember Selena's number from memory.

Think, Katarina. THINK. Come on.

Sweat dripped down my back as I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my brain to work through the panic.

My mind went blank. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely think.

Numbers, numbers—what were the numbers?

Finally, they came to me. I punched the numbers in.

Please work. Please work.

The line clicked. A dial tone.

I clutched the towel tighter around myself with one hand, holding the phone with the other.

Each beep echoed loudly in the empty house.

Come on, come on, come on...

And then her sleepy voice crackled through: "Hello?"

I nearly collapsed with relief.

"Selena," I gasped, the words falling out of me in a rush. "Selena, listen to me. Something's wrong. Something's really, really wrong."

"Katarina?" Her voice sharpened instantly. "Where are you? What happened? Talk to me!"

I gripped the sticky plastic receiver so hard my fingers ached. The smells in the house made me want to gag: cheap cleaner, sweat, something burnt.

"I'm at Liam's," I choked out. "But he's not... he's not right, Sel. He's not who we thought he was."

"What do you mean not right?" she demanded, voice rising. "And why the hell are you at Liam's house? Kat…are you hurt?!"

"No…I mean….not yet," I stammered. "Selena, one minute he's sweet and nerdy, asking if I want tea, telling me to sleep... and the next.." I shuddered. "The next, he's someone else. Cold. Angry. Violent. His eyes... God, his eyes don't even look human sometimes."

The words tumbled out fast, messy.

Selena's breathing sharpened on the other end.“Kat... that sounds like DID. Dissociative Identity Disorder ,,,you remember that from class?The personality disorder? It’s real, and it’s serious. He could have... more than one side.”

I squeezed the phone tighter, my nails digging into the dirty plastic.

"I know. I know, Sel. I saw it. I saw it happen."

My legs were shaking so hard I slid down the wall, clutching the receiver to my ear.

"Listen to me carefully," Selena said, voice low and fierce. "You need to get out of there. Now. Come to my house. You're not safe."

Tears blurred my vision. My body wanted to run, but my brain screamed no.

"I can't," I whispered. "I can't, Sel. It's not just him."

My voice cracked, the truth bursting out of me: "My father... he sold me, Sel. Sold me to the Mafia."

Selena didn't breathe. I could feel it. The silence stabbing through the line.

"I managed to escape, but... they're out there. Hunting me. The Cartels... they're waiting for me."

I heard a small, broken sound escape from Selena..her heart shattering right there.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "Oh my fucking God, Kat..."

I wiped my eyes roughly, fighting the sob building in my throat.

"I can't leave, Sel." My voice cracked. "If I run now... they'll find me. They'll kill me."

Selena finally found her voice, and it broke into a thousand pieces. "No, Kat, no, you listen to me. I'm coming to get you. I'll find you. I swear to God, I'll tear down the whole fucking city if I have to!"

Her voice cracked on the last word, thick with tears. "You're my best friend. My sister. I can't lose you."

My throat closed up. "I know," I whispered, voice shaking.

Selena's breathing was ragged, panicked, furious. "Kat, please. Just hide somewhere. Stay locked up until you can run. Don't trust him. Not any side of him."

"I know, I'll try," I whispered.

I wiped my eyes roughly with the back of my hand, swallowing the sob building in my throat.

I had to find Mateo. I had to get away. Somehow.

I opened my mouth to say more…

But the floorboards creaked behind me.

My blood turned to ice. I turned my head slowly.

Liam stood there. His body was stiff. His fists clenched at his sides. His brown eyes were darker than I'd ever seen…cold, hollow, dead.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

His voice wasn't Liam's. It was low and  dangerous now.

"Who said you could use the phone?"

My whole body locked up. The receiver slipped from my hand and clattered against the wall, the call with Selena cutting off instantly.

The sound of the receiver hitting the wall…the sharp crack of plastic..seemed to snap something inside Liam.

He stumbled back, hands twitching, chest heaving like he couldn't breathe.

I watched in frozen horror as his whole face shifted. His body sagged. His eyes softened. He looked... confused and scared.

"Katarina?" His voice was high, nervous. "D-did you hurt yourself? I heard a noise. Are you okay? You need to be careful. I can get you tea... I'll fix it..."

He stepped closer, concerned now.

"You fell when you were running earlier," he said softly. "Scraped your elbow."

I froze.

I hadn't told him that.

Tears prickled behind my eyes. I didn't know which Liam I was talking to. I didn't know which Liam was standing in front of me…the boy who made tea or the monster who might snap my neck.

I forced a smile so tight it hurt. My fingers dug into the towel.

"I'm fine," I lied, my voice barely a whisper.

Liam's head twitched to the side..a sudden jerk…something inside him breaking loose again.

I stood there, barefoot, half-naked, with no way out.

If this Liam slipped away... I was dead.

I smiled wider, teeth aching.

Survive the night, Katarina.

Or die trying.