Fight Men Not Love

Chapter Five

I woke up startled, when I felt a hand shake me gently. A low whimper escaped my lips as I pulled back from the hand, clutching the blanket to my chest.

"Please, I can't take anymo-" tears gathered in my eyes.

"Hey, it's me," I heard the familiar voice of Randy. "It's me, Randy," I looked up at him and let out a shaky breath. The look on his face was enough to make me choke a sob.

"Randy," my voice was barely audible.

"f**k, come here," he said. I bit my lower quivering lip and crawled to him. He instantly wrapped me up in his arms, rubbing my back soothingly. It wasn't long before I cried all over again. Randy held me tighter, if that was even possible. It was almost like he was squeezing the tears out. I clutched his sweater, crying hard.

"I don't w-want to live like this anym-m-more, Randy. I c-can't," I said, shaking my head in between sobs. I couldn't speak properly with how bad I was crying. "It h-hurts. It hurts so bad," I rest my head on his shoulder as I cried.

"I know," Randy said, his voice grieved. "I know. And I'm so sorry this has to happen to you, Phoenix," Randy's voice broke and I thought he was crying. "You deserve so much better,"

If anything, his words made me cry harder. I was in so much pain. Randy sniffled and pulled back slightly to look at me. "Listen, I can get you out of here, okay?"

"W-what?" I asked, confused. Seeing the determination in his face, accompanied by his words, I shook my head. "N-no, you can't, Randy,"

"Why not?" He frowned at me.

"He's going to hurt you. Worse he'll k-kill you. Randy, please, you can't,"

"Phoenix, listen to me. I'm done listening to you, okay? I'm going to get you out of here. One way or another. What happens to me, doesn't matter-"

"No, please," I sobbed, fresh tears clouding my vision. "Avel is dangerous. I can't let him hurt you, Randy."

"Phoenix, it is so hard for me to see you like this. You have no idea how much it hurts me. I can't take it anymore. I'm going to get you out of here and you're going to be okay," I was crying. "Don't cry," he moved to wipe my tears, even though one slid down his face. "I have been a coward for too long and I watched these men...hurt you. Break you. No more. You don't deserve this life,"

I didn't know I had the capability of crying so much. "What if it doesn't work? What if your plan doesn't work? What then? He's going to kill you a-and I'm going to be left, all alone with that m-monster-" my voice changed at the end, going higher.

"Shh, I know it'll work. You have to trust me, Phoenix. It'll work," he said lowly.

"You'll come with me, right?" I looked at him. I saw the uncertainty and I wanted to cry all over again. "Randy, say you'll come with me," my eyes shifted between his.

"Yeah," he said hesitantly. "I'll come with you."

"No, you're lying to me Randy," I pointed. He sighed, his eyes closing.

"Whatever happens, you'll be gone by then. It'll be okay," he said.

"No," I shook my head. "Don't say that. Don't talk like that,"

"Uhm, okay, here's the thing, I can only go once I know he won't come after you. I have to watch him out, Phoenix. Once I'm sure, I'll quit this place once and for all, and come find you," he said instead.

"Or we could leave together and hide from him. We could go to another country. I have the money, okay? I've been saving up a-and we can use it to get away," I rambled on.

Randy smiled at me. "Or we could use my money." He suggested. I blinked at him. A teary smile broke through my face.

"You'll come with me?" I asked him. He smiled and nodded. I've never felt so relieved. "Really?" He let out a light chuckle, nodding his head.

"Yes,"

"Pinky promise?" I held out my pink for him. He ducked his head, quite amused at that. He linked his pinky with mine.

"Pinky promise," he said softly.

"Okay," I said quietly and hugged him, more tears spilling. I was relieved to know that he'd come with me. I was so scared of what Avel would do to him if he remained behind. He'd seen our friendship grow before his eyes. He was wary of Randy and it's only a matter of time before he kills him as well.

And anyway, Randy never liked this place. He was just as stuck as I was.

"We're going to be okay," I nodded against his shoulder, allowing myself to relax. Randy held me for some time. Some people had questioned our relationship, saying we were secretly dating. I knew that Randy was bisexual and that he wasn't particularly interested in me. I wasn't looking to be in a relationship with anyone for that matter. I wouldn't call my involvement with Avel, a relationship.

"Phoenix, I brought you some pills and food. You haven't eaten since this morning," he said after some time. I frowned, sitting up.

"What time is it?" I asked him. He fished out his phone.

"21:23," my eyes widened.

"Did Avel leave me here?" I asked in disbelief. I can't believe I slept the whole day.

"Well, he'll probably come back. But he's gone," Randy said. I took the pills that he got for me and had to eat by force. He even fed me, because I refused to eat. I didn't have any appetite after today.

"What's your real name?" He asked me after a moment of silence.

"Evelyn Benedict," I told him. I have never revealed my name to anyone. Even Randy. People know me as Phoenix.

"I'd have expected something like...Scarlett or something," he teased.

"Why? Because of my hair?" His green eyes looked up at my hair. He twirled a curl around his finger.

"I swear sometimes I think you're burning. How is your hair this...orange? This has got to be dye or something," he said. I pouted at him. He chuckled at me. "How cute," he said pinching my cheek. I swatted his hand away, hating how he was babying me.

"Mine's Randall Lopez," he told me.

"You changed your name too?" I asked. He nodded. "Are you related to Jennifer Lopez or something?" He quirked an eyebrow, smiling.

"Are you being serious? This is South Africa. She probably doesn't even know that this country exists," he said chuckling lightly. "I'd know how to sing if I was her sister," he said.

"Well I do," I blurted out.

"You do what?" His brows furrowed.

"Well, I-I can sing," I admitted quietly.

"Really?" He was surprised. I nodded. I thought of a song to sing for him and started humming. He watched me in awe as I belted out each note to the song by Dido and Kendrick Lamar, Let Us Move On. I only sang the chorus though. "Wow, Evelyn that was amazing." He breathed. "You kept this from me for 3 f*****g years? I'm wounded," he feigned hurt and I just about lost it. I giggled as he went on, rambling about how I wasn't a loyal friend.

"Don't be dramatic, Randy. It's not that big of a deal," I rolled my eyes. Randy and I talked some more, about things we didn't about each other. I found out that his parents weren't in the picture as well and that he stayed alone. I told him that my father was from Brazil and hence, I knew a bit of Spanish, which is weird because people in Brazil mostly speak Portuguese.

I shifted on his lap, feeling the need to pee. "What's wrong?" He asked me worriedly.

"I have to pee," I said quietly.

"Do you want me to take you to the bathroom?" He asked, probably already seeing the discomfort. I was too sore. I don't think I can walk. I nodded. He stood up, cradling me in his arms and walked to the bathroom. He set me down gently on the toilet seat and left.

I did my business and was about to call out for him when I heard shouting. Panic streaked through me as I heard Avel's angry voice.

"No," I limped to the door, wincing with every step I took. I was a shaky mess and I was a second away from collapsing. I opened the door and saw Avel holding an angry Randy by his sweater.

"I asked why the f**k are you here?" Avel growled in Randy's face. Whilst I was shaking to the core, Randy wasn't fazed.

"You f*****g left her. What the f**k did you think she was going to eat?" This made Avel even angrier. He shoved Randy back.

"Get out. This is not what I pay you to do," Avel glared at Randy. I pleaded with Randy to go as he stood his ground. The anger rolled off of him in waves. He was seconds away from hitting Avel.

I didn't want to know the outcome of this.

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UNEDITED