should break up with him? You wouldn’t be disappointed in me if I did?”
Serenity looked her in her blue eyes and said, “Anna, I think you should make that decision for you. If you break up with him then here I will be to help you in whatever you need, and if you stay with him, then I will tell him that should he hurt you, that he will have me to answer to. I will be your friend and support you no matter what.” Anna just smiled and hugged Serenity, and then they got down to the business of nursing school.
Serenity placed her hand on Anna’s shoulder and said, “Anna, sweetie, this may get bad. I need to know that you can keep a level head. We have got to be prepared for anything. You follow me?”
Anna took a deep breath and nodded. Serenity released her shoulder and stood slowly. She placed her hands against the wall and began walking allowing her fingertips to find any way out of this “cell.” What seemed like hours but were probably just minutes, Serenity felt the small imperfection that signaled an exit. “Anna, I think I found it. But, we need to figure out how to open it.” She said as she turned to her friend. Anna was staring at Serenity her face drained of all blood as she stared in what Serenity could only describe as horror. It took her many seconds to realize that it wasn’t her that Anna was looking at but beyond her.
Serenity turned slowly then looked up into a stranger’s face. His skin was a ruddy reddish color. He stood tall. Serenity never was good at gauging size, but she knew she and Anna were around 5’ 3’’, and he was tall. If she had to guess, she would say 6’ 4’’ or taller. He had the lean muscles she associated with swimmers or basketball players, which meant for her his reflexes, were pretty damn fast. He looked human, but she had never seen such a skin color. His golden eyes were studying her, as if waiting for something. When she realized that she had been staring with her mouth open she slammed it shut. She did drool on occasion which was quite embarrassing.
She flinched when he reached for her, but to her amazement he just placed his fingers under her chin and raised her gaze to his once more. She just stared at him. She wasn’t sure why she wasn’t freaking out. Maybe it was because he hadn’t moved to hurt her. He released her chin, and spoke. She didn’t understand him, but she did think his voice was nice, soothing even. She finally found her voice when he stared at her expectantly. She cleared her throat, “I’m sorry, but, I didn’t understand what you just said. I mean, I speak English, and some passable Spanish, I even know a song in French.” She finished lamely. He appeared amused. She had a nagging suspicion he was trying not to laugh at her. She tilted her head to the side and studied him for a few seconds. When he reached behind him as if to grab something, she jumped backwards and tripped over Anna who apparently was scared stiff. She fell backwards and landed on her rear with an“oomph.” She looked over at Anna and asked, “Are you okay?” Anna looked back at Serenity like she had lost her mind and just shook her head no. Serenity got to her knees and gave Anna a hug, stating, “It’s gonna be okay, Anna Banana.” She looked up and finally noticed the male had come closer to her. He looked at them from a short distance away. He had crouched down. In his hand he had a thing that looked suspiciously like the IO drill at the hospital. She thought to herself, “He better not be thinking about drilling a needle into Anna’s or my bones. I’ve been pretty docile so far, but I’ll turn on the hellcat before he can blink.” She must have delivered one hell of a look because he just held the thing out to her. She hesitantly let go of Anna, and reached for it. When she placed her hand on it, he moved like lightening and grabbed her wrist, jerking her from the floor and holding her plastered against his chest. She flailed her legs because