His Precious Flower

Chapter 17

The door is just as rusted and the paint is just as chipped, but it is still my apartment door.

I didn't bring the key, but this place is so run down, I don't always need one anyway.

Knocking on the door, I wait for a good minute. Nobody comes, so I assume this place hasn't

sold.

I put my hand on the knob and throw my shoulder into it four times before it juts open. Good

thing no one's actually tried to break in or I'd have been dead a long time ago.

I frown seeing alot of new furniture mixed in with some of my old stuff. Is this because they

wanted to make it look better for selling or did someone actually move in?

After a good ten minutes of walking through the rooms and checking drawers, I come to the

conclusion that either somebody moved in, or there's a stowaway with very few personal

belongings hiding out.

I need to get out of here.

Amidst grabbing my ballet bag and exiting the bedroom that holds my fluffy pink rose

comforter, I hear footsteps. They are inconsistent and I think it's due to the amount of stomping

I'm hearing. It must be more than one person.

Back tracking into the room again, I stand in the middle of the room looking for an escape route.

The only other place to go through is the window, but I've tried for months to get that sucker

open and it's jammed shut.

Deep voices mutter to each other down the hall and I can tell they're getting closer.

I could hide, but then I'd be stuck here for who knows how long!

With no other option, I decide to tell the truth.

I wait patiently for the voices to come around the corner and when I do, my smile falters.

Two men. Both rugged looking and one of them has... Oh. An EMPTY gun holster.

"Ayeee Bennay! We gotsta chick in her!"

This comes from the more lanky one with a funny goatee.

I wave shyly and notice the two struggling to keep their balance. Drunks.

"So, this used to be my apartment and I just came to see if I left anything, but I don't want it

anymore. You can keep it! I have to go though, so..."

I start walking towards them awkwardly, but stop when I notice they aren't moving out of the

doorway.

Oh no. What have I gotten myself into?

"You think she'll give us a strip show," the thicker one husks while eyeing my body sickly.

I scrunch up my face and take a step back as the two continue to step forward.

Eventually, the backs of my knees hit the bed and I unwillingly sit to look up at the men.

Good God, please help me.

My plea however, is in vain.

A hand covers my mouth as another pushes my shoulder to the back of the bed.

I can't stop the tears from falling out of my eyes, half due to the bad breath and alcohol smell

these men emit and half out of fear.

I know I'm mad at him, but I wish nothing more than for Dimitri to be here.

Struggling is useless as my small limbs are held down easily and I wonder if dancing my way out

of this would do any good.

Of course not.

It just when I start to hear what sounds like a belt buckle that there's also a jerking of my body

and a slam.

Hearing continual thumps and grunts, I sit up quickly to see Dimitri beating the absolute crap out

of the two drunks.

I'm happy to see him of course, but I haven't forgotten what he did. That asshole. I glare daggers

at the back of his head for a minute before I know what I need to do.

Take advantage of the situation of course! With him busy, I can escape his lies freely and find

somewhere else to live.

Or... Not.

Ivan stands in the doorway with his arms crossed at raised brows. He doesn't move to help his

brother, so I know that his only purpose is to make sure I don't get away.

Standing between the bed and the forever jammed window with Dimitri finally standing above

the bloodbath below him, I do what any sane person would do.

I escape my crazy ex.

Before the men can react, I do a side leap into the air with all my might and shove the side of my

body through the glass.

I don't register it breaking or myself falling, but the sound of shattering shards flying and hitting

the sidewalk plays over in my head like a song I should dance to.

Then of course there's the finale of nature's music. The crescendo to my freedom:

"FLAVIA!"