Chapter Text
My hands still tremble as I lock the doors to the place where I almost died today. While thinking of Vanessa I know that I would've regretted it in the afterlife that I'm not alive anymore, if there even is something like one.
The blonde helps me to get to the police car, her police car. I totally forgot she's a cop, doesn't matter anyway. Intuitively, I wait for her to open me one of the back doors which makes her eye me confused. This all reminds me of the times where I ran away from home because I couldn't bare being there anymore. Of course, the police is confused when a 14 year old girl is out alone in the middle of the night, so they always brought me back home...
I plop down on the passenger seat, my foot aches from standing on it, even though I only put weight on it for a few seconds. Shit.
Vanessa looks at my pain-marked facial expression concerned, but doesn't say anything.
She turns on the car and I see my car getting smaller and smaller as we drive away. Vanessa told me she will bring me to my next shift and stay with me there to "help" me. She probably means helping me not get killed.
A comfortable silence fills the car, the only noises we hear are other cars driving past or the wind hitting against the car, sometimes lightly moving it as well.
Vanessa clears her throat: "Where do you even live around here?"
Her asking me makes me feel a little afraid. When I was younger the police, well... Let's just say they knew my mother and I more than I'd like to admit.
"Not far away from Freddy's.", I avoid her gaze by continuing to watch houses and trees and cars pass by, "It's only like a five minute long drive."
In my peripheral vision I see the blonde nodding, then I turn to her: "What about you?"
Her eyes are fixed on the red light at which we're standing still: "Uh... A little further away. Right behind the local police station is where I own a small house. My mom and I used to live there before she died. She left it to me in her will. Anyway, because I'm right at the station I can just park at home."
I just nod.
Vanessa drives up her driveway, in the lights of her car and the few rays of the already rising sun, I can see her house. Like she said, it's not big, but it's cute and definitely enough for one to four people.
The cop gets out the car, walks around it and opens the passenger door. Then she helps me to walk up the front porch.
My foot still hurts as I plop down on the sofa in the living room. Vanessa stands in front of me, intertwining her fingers which each other and fumbling nervously.
Her bun, which is normally very sleak and tidy got messy throughout the night. A few strands now frame her face. Her eyes dart around but then she settles her gaze on my face. A smile almost creeps up her lips, then she looks away and walks into a room to her left. Only a few seconds later she's back with what seems to be a stack of clothes.
The blonde drops half of it on my lab: "I'll be in the bathroom to freshen up a little and get into something more comfortable. You can have some of my things, if you'd like... They should fit you."
And with that, she heads to the bathroom, down the corridor and then right. I watch her walk away, leaving me to sit here on my own. Suddenly I get a little nauseous. I don't want to be alone again.
I shake my head to try to get the thoughts away. Focus, y/n. Put on you big-girl-pants and then put on some real pants.
While getting out my clothes I make a big mistake. I check my phone before I put it on the small table in front of the sofa and in front of me.
*7 missed calls from mom*
*1 new message from mom*: Y/n, where thke fuckk are youd?
*1 new message from mom*: Answet me, you fuvkihg ppiece of shtit!
*1 new message from mom*: I will fidns you, you onow that!*
*incoming call from mom*
I stare at the display not knowing what to do, shaking, I just put throw my phone on the couch. Then I try to put on some new pants. Getting out of my old pants is pretty hard, it takes a few moments but then I'm out of them and already in the fresh one. With a painful whimper I pull my shirt over my head - It hurts as the fabric brushes the bruises on my neck.
As I sit there, now changed, I check my phone again.
*incoming call from mom*
With a sigh, I swipe the green button and answer the call. There's no way around it. Better get it over with.
The line crackles. "Y/n?", her speech is slurred, "Where the fuck are you?"
"I'm... with a friend.", I explain, trying to ignore the shaking of my hands and the heartbeat echoing through my head.
She laughs. A mean laugh. "We both know that you don't have friends."
I bite my lip, my throat feels like it's closing up, but I push through even though my voice breaks. "I know her from work."
Mom huffs irritated. "Come the fuck home. Now."
Tears brim in my eyes. "No. I'll stay here."
That's when it starts. Her screaming fit. She shouts and shouts, calling me every sort of names. Tears now stream down my face. That's when I notice her, Vanessa stands in the corridor, watching the scene unfold. Her hair is now open and if I weren't crying, I'd probably gawk over her.
I continue to listen to my mom, shouting and screaming, but my hand lowers and puts my phone down besides me on the sofa, still hearing her screaming. Even more tears stream down my face, small sobs escape my lips. My heartrate picks up even more and my breath comes out in ragged gasps.
Vanessa moves closer with big strides, taking my phone and hanging up. She kneels in front of me. "Y/n... Talk to me..."
But I can't. Everything hurts. My head spins and I continue to spiral into the panic attack. I shake my head.
The blonde takes my hands and studies me intently. "Y/n, you need to breathe."
It's hard. I feel like no matter how much I gasp, my lungs don't feel like they get enough air.
Vanessa breathes deep and loud, hoping that I will mimick her.
I take a deep breath. Well... At least I try to.
"Good,", she praises, her voice soft as if she's talking to a scared puppy, "Continue that. You are safe. Your mom can't reach you here. I won't let her. Everything is alright."
"I- I- I-", my voice shakes as I try to form a coherent sentence, but my head is just too full.
Vanessa squeezes my hands and softly grazes my knuckles. "It's alright. Just breathe, can you do that? Focus on my breathing."
Together, we take deep breaths. It's hard and my emotions are overwhelming, but I try to focus on her. A few moments pass and my breathing slows down, the tears now come slower as well.
"Good. You're doing good. Good girl...", she praises. My breath catches in my throat at her last two words, but I'm too exhausted to pay mind to it.
Now, Vanessa sits down besides me, wrapping her arms around me, pulling me close. My body relaxes even more, besides my quiet sniffles the room falls quiet.
"Shh... It's alright... Relax...", the cop whispers against my hair.
Within minutes, even the sniffles subside and I relax in her embrace. My head resting against her shoulder, I let her lull me into calmness.