Scarred Knight

I'll always be there for you

Three months ago…

Lake

“I real-ly don’t think it’s a goo-d idea.” I said, my words breaking, as Chase held out another shot for me to drink. I already felt hot and clammy with all the alcohol I had consumed.

“Oh, come on… It’s not everyday you turn eighteen!” Chase grabbed a shot for himself and downed it in one go.

“I think you’ve have enouph.” I said and giggled when I noticed how garbled my words came. I focused on Chase and noticed how his brown eyes were darkening by the second.

“Don’t bother, he won’t listen.” Liam said, his fingers curled around a beer mug. When he looked at me and saw my expression , he shrugged and added, “He’s in one of his moods.”

I shook my head more to focus on which of the two figures I was seeing was the real Liam and also for what he said. Sighing, I looked to my right where Asher and Trace had been standing, but wasn’t anymore. “Where did Trace and Ash go to?” I asked with a pout. “They can’t leave me, it’s mine birthday…” I hiccupped.

When I looked back at Liam, his gaze was fixed on the dance floor, I followed his gaze and saw Trace dancing with Ash, and they both were sexy dancing. Oh boy, my inner self acknowledged what was happening and even though I was mostly drunk, I didn’t want any of my friends hurting. “Hey, Liam… Liam.” I touched his arm to get his attention and gestured to his fingers around the beer mug when he looked back at me. “You’re going to break that,” I leaned closer. “And then they will throw us out, on my birrthdaayyy.”

With a curse, he put the mug back on the counter and put a smile on his face as he said, “I am sorry, I’m not being a good company.”

“No. It’s perfect. I’m with the people I love.” I replied, leaning down and kissing him on the cheek. “And, let’s not forget the gift you gave me.”

He cupped my cheek and I sighed at the cool touch of his fingers on my heated skin. “You’re drunk.” I shook my head emphatically. He chuckled softly. “And, it wasn’t only me. Asher and this prick contributed.” He said, slapping Chase at the back of his head.

It took Chase a few moments to turn and glare at Liam. “What was that for, mate?”

Liam rolled his eyes and then grabbed Chase from the back of his shirt, dragged him off the stool, pushing him away from the bar counter. “You’ve had enough.”

“No. I did so not.” Chase slurred.

I giggled and grabbed Liam’s shoulder to walk around him and go to Chase. “Come on, letsss go, I wanna use the washroom and you could use a walk.” I stumbled and laughed. “Me too, it seems.” I said aloud, grinning like a fool, moving closer to his side.

With a sloppy grin plastered across his face, he grabbed me from the waist and said, “My sweet Lake, you know you’re the bessst…”

“Uh-huh…” I said, almost staggering under his weight. “You are so wavy…”

“What?”

“wa— no, itsss… heavy…”

“You know, you’re the only girl I like. You’re not one of those airheaded girls, like… bitchy princess.”

I frowned. “Chase, is there—”

His phone started to ring before I could ask anything. He pulled out his phone, only to play catch with it when it slipped from his grip. I hopped on my feet, trying to catch it too and when it fell on the floor, I lunged for it. “Got it!!!” I shouted, with my arm held up in the air like I was holding a trophy. The people around me laughed and I stood up with the phone in my hand.

Chase clapped his hands for me. “Bravo!!” He was the best.

The phone was no longer ringing as I gave it back to Chase, after that little incident we slowly made our way into a narrow hallway as I tugged him along with me. “Hurry, I have to pee.”

“I am hurrying…” Chase grumbled.

When we reached the washroom, I told him to wait outside for me and went inside. I heard his phone ringing again and this time he answered. In my drunken haze, I went inside the stall, did my business and got out. After washing my hands and splashing the cold water on my cheeks, I felt a little better and back to myself as I came back out. But I didn’t find Chase where I had left him standing. I looked to my left and right as I searched for him, but he wasn’t there and further down the hallway was too dark so I just decided to go back the way I had come.

I only got to take four steps when someone grabbed me from behind and a hand clamped around on my mouth, not giving me a chance to draw in a breath to scream for help. I was dragged sideways down the dark hallway even as I scratched at the arm holding me and tried to dug in my heels to stop the person from taking me into the darkness. But it was all in vain, as I was too week against my assailant.

“Uhh.. mmm..” I tried to scream.

“Stop fighting…” The thick voice warned.

I couldn’t breathe properly, half of his hand was pressing against my nose, having no other choice I bit down hard on the palm pressed to my mouth, swallowing the urge to vomit. I had to get free first. “Bîtch!” His hand moved only for a mere second and even before I could try to run, I heard the door opening behind me and then I was grabbed from the back of my clothes and flung out into the cold night air.

I sucked in a breath as I staggered on shaky legs, finding my balance barely. I didn’t waste any time to look who was he or how he looked, I just ran. “Not so fast.” I heard the man, noticing his accent was different.

“Help!!” I screamed. “Help! Someone help!!”

The footsteps neared, closing on me so quickly and then a second later I was slammed down on the concrete floor of the dark alleyway behind the club. Another high pitched scream left my lips, but I stopped short, my heart stilled as I felt the cold and sharp pointed tip pressed at the back of my neck. “Shut the fûck up, or I’ll slit your throat open.”

“P-please… please. Please.. leave me.. please…” My words came out rushed and fearful.

The man laughed, settling his weight on top of me, pressing my body flat into the cold, hard ground, still wet from the little rain earlier. “I think, I might have some fun before I deliver…” He punctuated his words by pushing his hips forward against my back.

I felt my stomach bottoming out with terror as I got his meaning and what he meant to do. I shook my head violently. “No. No. No!!” I screamed as I thrashed under him and in an instant he grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me backward and flipped me, then slapped me hard across the face.

“I said shut up!”

My cheek felt like it was on fire as pain erupted with the impact of his palm across my cheek. It hurt. But, I forgot all about it as the tip of the knife, dug into the hollow of my throat and slid down, making a tear in my top as it went. My whole body went motionless as I felt the cool air of the night touching my exposed skin, now covered only in my bra. My pulse pounded so loud, there was a rush in my ears and I was left choking on my fear. No. This can’t happen. Lake, do something. Please.

“You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll always be there for you.” Someone said into my ear. “Just fight until I come.”

I opened my eyes and pushed the fear clogging my every pore as I gathered the courage those hushed words provided and wiggled under the weight of my assaulter. The knife slipped and I felt it piercing my skin, leaving a burning sting behind. “Look, what you did..” He said.

I ground my jaw and then with all my might I lifted my hips as at the same time I pushed him away with my hands on his chest. He fell backwards, and I didn't waste a second as I stood up. I didn’t know from where the courage came, but I stopped and as he began to stand up, I kicked him in the knee.

This time, I didn’t wait to see him crumple down on the ground, but heard his painful howl alongside my hammering heart that echoed in my ears like a trapped hummingbird as I made my escape. My legs cramped as I gave all of myself into running, my breaths came out fast and choppy as I gulped the cold air.

Just when I thought I had outrun the monster and was about to have my freedom, another dark form leapt out from the shadows.

“Not so fast, baby.” I was tackled down to the ground and all the air left my lungs, my chest so tight it refused to draw in a breath.

When I tried to stand up, the man from before had caught up to me and without sparing a second he kicked me hard in the stomach. “How does that feel, b***h?” He growled, crouching down and grabbing a fistful of my hair.

I wheezed for breath as my hands went around my stomach. I felt sick, as if my insides were bleeding and I was about to cough out blood. “Now, let’s have some fun, before we get our paycheck.” With that he started to unbutton my jeans.

I tried to slid away from the two men but the second one grabbed my ankle and pulled me down. I watched as he started to unbutton his own jeans, filling me a terror I had never felt before. I felt the darkness coming to surround me and silent tears escaped my eyes.

I thought to myself, that I fought, now where are you? Please come… I begged to the voice that had come to me, urging me to fight. Please…

And as if on queue, the second man who had jumped from the shadows whimpered and then crumbled to the ground, falling to his knees. He slowly turned and I followed his gaze while the first man cursed and turned around, standing in front of me. I saw a man, tall and hidden in the dark. It felt like the temperature dropped even more as that dark imposing figure moved closer.

The man standing in front of me palmed his knife and I stifled the urge to warn the stranger about it, instead I started to shift backwards, putting distance between the men and myself. I stilled when the stranger stood only a few feet away and drawled, “What do we have here?”

“Nothing of your interest, you can go from where you came.” The first man replied to the cold voice.

“When I have what belongs to me.” The stranger said.

I stiffened. s**t. He wasn’t here to save me. I stood up and made a lot of sound as I tried for another escape with my bruised and battered body. But before I could turn around the first man with the knife, snapped, “Stay.”

I froze. My eyes wide as I looked from my assaulter to the new man, I still begged the stranger for help. I watched as he slowly stepped forward and I got my first look at him as the moonlight fell on his angelic face. His green eyes were cold and they told me they were more prone to tortûring than helping. He walked to the man still on his knees and my eyes tracked his every movement as if transfixed. I watched as he grabbed the hilt of the knife— that he must’ve thrown in the first place, and drew it back from where it was lodged in the back of the man.

And then, just before my eyes, as fast as he took out the knife, faster than that he grabbed the man’s head and pulled back to slit his throat. I screamed, a hoarse sound that disappeared somewhere in the night as I watched, my eyes wide in horror and… amazement. The man slid sideways on the ground. Dead.

The other man with the knife of his own lunged for the stranger and another scream left me, this time to warn the beautiful stranger. I stared, frozen in place as the two of them grappled and fought. I should run. Go back to safety. But my feet didn’t move. For whatever reason, I didn’t want to leave now, and not know if the stranger comes out alive and okay. It ended in just a minute and there he stood, the cold stranger with colder green eyes, breathing heavily and with two knîves in each of his hands.

Dripping with blôod.

And then he looked up at me and I took a step back. He started to walk toward me and for every step he took toward me, I took one back. He stopped. I did too. “Don’t move.” He said.

This time, I didn’t move as he came closer. I swàllowed and looked up at him when he stood just before me. His hand came up and I stood still, as he touched my cheek. It was almost like a caress, before he withdrew and his eyes turned vacant as he dragged those glass green eyes down my body. I followed his gaze, and only now remembered that my top was torn. With a gasp, I grabbed it and tried to cover myself.

“What does it matter now?” He questioned. I stilled. “I watched you drinking and laughing, pulling everyone’s attention…” He stepped further into my body. “It’s like you wanted it.”

I gasped in outrage and pushed at his chest. “What the f**k!!”

I turned around from him. My legs shook and my body felt like it was hit by a truck as all what had happened caught up to me, along with the stranger’s hurtful words. Tears filled my eyes and spilled forth as I walked with my arms wrapped around myself. But then suddenly I was grabbed and lifted up into strong arms, and then cold yet soft lips were pressed to mine.

I whimpered and pushed at him, only to succumb into his embrace when he made a soothing hum and caressed the back of my head. I gave in, knowing I shouldn't but I still did, and kissed him back as his tongue licked my lips apart and entered my mouth. I sucked in a breath as the taste of coffee beans exploded on my tongue and I felt the heat of the kiss chasing away the cold fear.

“Mmm…” I murmured as my arms went around his neck, the man who came out of nowhere like my Knîght and saved me. And, I rejoiced in the safety and comfort he was providing after the ordeal I just had. I forgot for a moment that he was just a stranger I met only a few minutes ago as I lost myself in his heady taste.

For a moment, I didn’t want to think about what could’ve happened as I enjoyed my first kiss with this cold and sexy stranger, with the glassy green eyes. I was still clinging to him when he pushed me away and looked down at me with dark eyes and mouth sat in a hard line. “Just as I thought, you just wanted attention. Was I wrong to save you, then?” His words dropped of with disgust.

I blinked up at him. Momentarily stunned. “W— You…” I shook my head, lost for words. How dare he?!! I don’t know if I should thank him for saving me or slap him for implying what he was implying.

“Lake!”

“Lake! Lake!!”

I heard Asher and Liam calling out for me and I turned around to see them entering the alleyway. My shoulders slumped in relief to see them. When I turned back around to face the stranger, he was already gone.

.

To Be Continued...