I leaned against the bedframe, looking at the two sentences I wrote on the first page of the notepad:

_ Nancy was my friend (?)

_ Tales Of Two Cities

“That’s all I got, huh.” I looked at the ceiling, thinking about all the things that happened this week. “Tattoos, Secret organization, killing. What is going on.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath until exhaustion took over me. " What the fuck!” I feel someone poking my ear. “What was that for!” “Don’t sleep in your shift, young lady, and stop swearing you’re scaring the customers,” Suzy said, both of her hands on her hips; she sounded like a teacher who caught her student cheating. “Customers? Our break ended?” “Ten minutes.” I almost fall off my chair. “Ten minutes and you didn’t wake me?!” “Excuse me?” she raised her eyebrow. “Sorry...Sorry I didn’t mean to yell.” I sigh, closing my eyes; when I open them, she’s gone. “Suzy?” I looked around me; Everyone suddenly disappeared. “W-What.” “Suzy?” I called again.

I walked toward the entrance before I touched the handle; someone forcibly grabbed my shoulder. “Why didn’t you save me? Why did you leave me, Emily?” Suzy stood in front of me. Her face was pale. she looked like a ghost; her chest was full of blood, a pile of crimson blood on the floor. Drop after drop. I”m screaming, but nothing is coming out. My eyes snapped open. “Oh god...Oh god.” I can’t stop shaking. Like someone threw a bucket of ice water on me. I’m covered in sweat. I’m in my room, not the bookstore. Bookstore. Suzy’s bookstore. Suzy. I remember her now. I remember everything. Every. Thing. My so-called parents. My friend. The high school I went to. Where I live. “N-No...N-No.” I can’t stop sobbing; My ears are ringing. My heart is racing. I feel...sick. I tried to stand, but I ended up falling on the floor. “Why didn’t you save me?” stop “Why did you leave me, Emily?” “PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!” I screamed, blocking my ears; shutting my eyes. It didn’t stop it. “Emily! Emily!” “No... please... Stop.” Two pairs of hands held my cold ones, slightly removing them from my ears. I slowly opened my eyes. “Elliot? Wha- What are you...” I hiccuped. “Hey. It’s okay. I’m here.” He whispered while wiping my tears. “I...I.” I started crying again. Two arms wrapped around my shivering body. He’s so...Warm and safe.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I couldn’t understand how someone’s embrace could make me feel this calm as if nothing happened. Elliot got on his feet, offering me his hand. I didn’t move. “Why are you here?” “I was about to go to work when I heard you screaming.” “Why didn’t you ask John or Ashley to check on me?” He sighs in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We are not having this conversation.” “My closest friend died, and I was saved. This is my fault. All of this is my fault.” “Stop blaming yourself I understand what you’re feeli-” “No, you don’t.” I stopped him. “You have everything. I have nothing.” “You have...Us.” I couldn’t help but sneer at him. “You talk like we are one big family.” “I lost my family too.” He said Harshly. “At least we have something in common.” Shit. That was out of the line. “Excuse me?” he stepped closer. “Nevermind,” I murmured, avoiding his icy look. My temptation to escape by going to the bathroom failed. As soon as I turned around, He grabbed my elbow. “Répéte ça.” (Say that again) “What?” This was the first time I heard him talk in french. “Say.That.Again.” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. “Don’t talk about my family. If you don’t know nothing.” I pushed my arm out of his grasp. “Oh yeah? I lost my family too. Since I was A fucking kid. Can you imagine that? Not being loved. Being the ‘Mistake’. Remember when you told me your dad was the reason why you love reading? I wonder what that felt like. Because I clearly don’t-” Before I comprehend anything. his lips were smashed into mine. “Mm!” I tried to push his arms, he's tall. I'm short. His arms were too strong for my weak hands. I was so shocked I almost forgot what happened or why we were yelling at each other. The ‘Kiss’ didn’t last long; he parted his lips, still holding my cheeks. “How about this? How does it feel like?” I immediately slapped him in the face. The sound echoed around the room. “Fuck you.”