If No One Else

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ²

2.  n e w b l o o d
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"Hey, get up!" I shake out of the slumber I didn't know I had fallen into as a loud, baritone voice pierces through my ears.

My eyes scrunch close, then spring back open as I feel warm hands grab onto my shoulders and shake my body until he was sure I was awake.

I instantly jerk my body away from his firm hold as I send him a dark glare.

He just shrugs, like shaking me awake was the only logical option. I roll my eyes and turn my gaze toward the door, looking out at the dark  station beyond it.

My body's still heavy with exhaustion, but I blink hard, trying to shake it off.

A few seconds later, I finally pull myself together and push out of the worn seat of the squad car.

As I rise, I feel the officer's hand close firmly around my cuffed wrist, guiding me as we start walking toward the front of the station.

Any other time I'd fight against him and the unneeded support, but tonight I welcome the added level of stability— maybe he knows I needed it, too.

We walk in silence toward the entrance, and against all odds, I feel a strange sense of unease at the thought of being released from his abrasive presence.

I didn't like him—his personality grated on me—but my need to be around people, even unpleasant ones, was stronger than my distaste.

Loneliness was worse.

I just wished I didn't have to spend the night here. But with parents like mine, I'd be lucky if they actually showed up tomorrow like they promised.

I want to believe they'd come through for me, but they haven't for the past twenty years. Why would tonight be any different?

The only thing I can focus on now is the miserable fact that I didn't drink enough to knock myself out. Which means it's going to be a long, restless night.

"You guys can't afford a cleaning crew or something?" I question as my eyes wearily search around the dusty enclosure.

He doesn't respond as he fiddles with his waistband, unhooking the keys from his utility belt before using them to quickly unlock the cell's door.

"I'm sure you'll feel right at home considering what you just did in the middle of the road," he says as the lock finally clicks. "Now, go inside."

His hands motion towards the entrance of the small cell as he swings the door open.

His Adam's apple bobs as he stares down at me, expression blank, clearly just waiting for this interaction to be over.

It hadn't changed one bit. The cold air clings to my skin, wrapping around me like an icy shroud until goosebumps bloom across my arms and every hair stands on edge.

I can't move. The stale scent hits my nose, thick with the weight of every mistake I've made, dragging my thoughts back to every bad decision that led me here.

My legs feel rooted to the ground. My heart pounds so loud in my ears it drowns out any command my brain might send to move. I've forgotten how to walk.

"Go!" he snaps, irritation sharp in his voice.

I glance up at him and force a tight-lipped smile, trying to hide the way my teeth chatter. "Imagine how peaceful our night could've been if you had just taken the money," I mutter, voice low, finally working up the nerve to look into the cell standing open before me.