Chapter Text
“The professor misses you alot, you know?”
That's all the new kid needed to say to stir up a storm in Anya’s mind. Anya cursed herself for letting her guard down so easily. Just because she was able to escape the laboratory doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t try to get her back. She should have recognized him the second he stepped into their classroom. His distinct red hair with a strand of white hair should’ve been more than enough to identify him. He had been in the lab with her. He was a test subject as well.
“Shawn? What are you doing here?”
She tried her best to put on a brave face and a confident voice but her voice came out more like a squeak. Shawn just smiled at her, stepping in way closer to her than she would’ve deemed comfortable. Anya took a few steps back only to find herself now trapped against the blackboard behind her, his hands pinning her shoulders down.
She could have easily pushed him back. She was far stronger than an average person. She could have… but she couldn’t. Fear struck her like lightning, her legs left like jelly now. All she could do was look at him, trying to read his mind, figure out what he was planning to do with her.
“How very unkind of you to not even ask me how I've been these days. I am here because the professor needed some help with the latest experiment.”
She- she couldn’t read his mind. She tried, she really tried but she couldn't.
“What kind of help requires you to come here?”
“I am here for you, my dear! We actually needed your help!”
His smile grew wider and wider, his grip tightening on her shoulders. Anya couldn’t breathe. They are here for her. They are going to take her away from her friends and family and-
Ok Anya, this is the part where you punch the bad guy and boldly tell him how he can’t put as much as a scratch on you. Do it. Just do it.
…
At least say something!
Anya looked down at her feet. She wasn’t brave enough to say this to him while looking him in the eye.
“I am not going back. Can’t you see? I have a family now who cares for me. Friends who will worry if I just suddenly disappeared. You can’t possibly think I will go back to that horrible place. You can’t make me even if you tried to.”
Anya let out a sigh. That really took a lot out of her to say the entire thing. Feeling a bit more confident now, she lifted her head.
…
Shawn’s smile didn't seem to have fluttered even once. He slowly loosened his grip from Anya before stepping away from her. It should have made her feel better now that he was away from her but it only made her more uneasy.
“Well unfortunately for you, that's for me to decide whether you are pointless enough to be left here or not.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been sent here to test you. Professor wants me to check if your… skills are still as good as they were in the past. You fail, and you get to stay here. Though if you pass, you will be coming with us young lady!”
His laugh snapped her out of her shock.
She shivered.
His laugh…
The way he laughed sickened her. It was not a laugh of joy or anything remotely nice. It was a sound that promised her nothing but pain.
She can’t breathe. It's as if someone was grabbing her neck, making it harder for her to breath.
He won’t stop laughing.
Breath Anya breath.
She needs to get out of here. Fast.
She sprinted to the door, half expecting him to chase after her. He didn't move an inch from where he was standing. His smile was the last thing she saw before she was out of the classroom.
The afternoon rays of the sun colored the hallways into its shade. Everyone had already gone back home. Anya couldn't hear anything except for the sounds her shoes were making as she ran for her life. Ran from her past, her secrets. She wanted to get back home and hug her mama as she ran her fingers through her hair. She wanted her papa to put her to bed, promising her that he will keep her safe. She wanted Bond to get into her bed, his fur keeping her warm.
Anya held back her tears. She couldn’t lose them. Not after everything she’s been through to finally find a family that loved her. No, she absolutely can’t afford to lose them.
She ran and ran. She thought that’s how it would go on until she reached home.
That’s when she bumped into something, or someone.
“Why are you running without looking ahead? Are you trying to get yourself killed or something?
It was Sy-on boy.
Anya tried to say something. All that came out was the delayed tears that she had been holding back for so long.
Damian was definitely not expecting that.
He was panicking. What was he supposed to do?
Damian tried to hold her shoulders, trying to comfort her.
She flinched.
She very visibly flinched.
Damian hesitated before bringing his hands away from Anya while clenching his teeth. Though it hurt to see her react to him like that, it was not his concern at the moment.
“An-Ayna? What’s wrong? Are you sick? Did you get hurt-”
She can’t stay in this place a second longer. She is feeling so lightheaded.
“I- i am so-sorry-”
And off she went running, leaving a very worried Damian behind.
…
Shawn, who had been watching them the whole time, smiled gleefully, watching Anya slowly getting out of his sight.
“I hope we will get back together soon enough. Our family is not complete without you Anya.”