Hidebound

Chapter EightyThree

"Police, please" my voice shakes as I speak and I hope she doesn't make me repeat my words.

"Address?" My mind short circuits for only a second as the address of our apartment rushes back to me. I rattle it off and a second later she ensures me that the police are on their way.

"Rose!" I flinch at the scream. I have no doubt that our neighbours are awake and looking out their windows now, some may even be on the phone with the police too.

I attempt to call Hex again and drop my phone on the couch as it rings.

I pull back the curtain for a second time and Ace is still there, his fist above his head, ready to bang on the wooden door. I see the small specks of blood that splatter his knuckles and I wonder how much had transferred onto my door.

I pull the curtain back into place and check my phone, hoping Hex had answered but he had failed to do so. I pick it up and wonder if I should call the police again. What's taking so long?

The door rattles with the force of Ace's fists, weakening it with each hit.

And when he punches it again causing one of the hinges to snap, I race to my bedroom, locking the door behind me.

His screaming is muted behind two doors now but I can still make out his words.

"Motherfucker!"

I still can't hear the police and I pray that someone who lives in a neighbouring apartment will step in and attempt to calm Ace down. I don't know what I will do if he manages to break in.

Teddy runs when he sees me and hides under my bed, his hair stands tall on his back from fright and I contemplate getting under there with him.

I self-comfort and hold my face between both of my palms as a couple of tears escape.

My body yearns for Hex, wanting nothing more then his comfort but I know deep down there's no way I'll receive it.

"No, no, no" I mumble as I look around and realise I had left my phone in the lounge room.

The banging on the front door begins to echo in my skull, getting louder as the door becomes weak and I hear the wood crack.

It rings in my head well after the banging stops and I pull my hands from my cheeks, realising I can't hear Ace anymore. No more shouting and no more banging.

I hear myself breathing as I lean my ear against the bedroom door. Is he inside?

My heart rate picks up and I hear it in my ears. Its the only thing I can hear, there's no noise inside the apartment. Had he given up? I didn't hear the front door open or give way.

I unlock the bedroom door and it echoes in the silence. Teddy remains hidden under the bed and I don't try and lure him out.

My bare feet pad silently along the hallway and when I stick my head around the corner to view the front door, its still closed and the broken hinge lays where it had fallen.

He's not inside the apartment but now that only one door separates me from the outside, I can hear something.

Familiar grunts and the sound of bodies being knocked to the ground can be heard and I say a silent thanks to the police that have finally arrived.

I run to the window and notice that there are no red and blue lights.

Instead, I see Ace on his back in the driveway, struggling against a furious Hex above him. It takes me only seconds to grasp what's going on.

A scream tears through my throat, hurting my vocal cords as I run to the front door. It falls off its hinges when I unlock it and I have to step out of the way. It lands with a big bang but not even that distracts Hex.