Thorn University--Undying Love

   "What do you mean you aren't coming home for break?" My mother yelled from the other side of the line causing me to pull the thing away from my ear with a wince. I pinched the bridge of my nose and suppressed a sigh. This wasn't the first time she was hearing this, just the most recent..the closest to break--well, more like the day before.

  "Like I said mom, I have a job at the campus library, it remains open through Thanksgiving break for the students. Hence someone has to be there."

  My mother scoffed from the other end, "Momma I am not trying to upset you, but we need the extra cash."

..." I heard my own voice trailing off quietly. I didn't want to remind her of the financial position our family was in thanks to my dad.

   I had to work, any money I sent to my mother went straight to her and my siblings to help keep their heads above water. I could barely afford to eat by sending any extra cash I had home--there was never extra, but I felt too guilty not to send nearly every dime I made home with my younger siblings still there. Not that they needed to know that. Dad kept digging the families hole deeper and deeper. With Thanksgiving I sent more home than usual..which left me a meager amount, I wouldn't even have the gas to get home if I could. I wanted my siblings to have more than I did at their age.

My scholarship was a blessing, but that meant I was working my ass off constantly, between studies and work I could barely breathe.

There was silence for a beat.

"Okay." Was all my mom replied, voice defeated.  "I'm sorry Momma." My tone soft. I was sorry, I hated to make her feel worse.  My mother was sniffling, but trying to cover it up

"No sweet girl you're fine, promise me you'll have a nice dinner with some friends then."

Even though she couldn't see me, I pulled my face into a fake tight smile. Friends...my only friend was going home for break. I didn't have time to make any others with work and school but I couldn't tell her that. "Yeah mom,..Mia and I will have our own little dinner planned."

That seemed to appease her well enough.

After some more chit chat I ended the call with promises of making it home for Christmas instead. I tucked my phone into the side pocket of my leggings and pulled an over  sized baby blue sweater over my head. The v cut neck caused it to slouch over my shoulder dramatically , exposing a white lace strap of my bralette. My dark hair twisted back into a claw clip with little strands in the front free as I grabbed for my backpack.

This shift at the library should be easy with most of the students already off campus. The first time in weeks  would have anything similar to a break. Any hours I could get I took, so it was really my own fault. It would give me plenty of time to catch up on some much needed homework. I put my earbuds in, the walk to the library going by quickly, the cool November breeze brushing against my exposed collar bone and face. A shiver had me pulling my arms into myself tightly. The wind was unforgiving, like a cold gaze.

Should have grabbed a heavier sweater I guess.  My eyes grazed over the student parking lot, almost empty already. Soon everyone would be gone and home with their families. After tomorrow my shifts would be a peaceful breeze.

A few hours later

With the expectation of a few book returns/checkouts the afternoon was fairly uneventful. I caught up on homework pretty quickly. It had been sometime since my long to-do list had everything checked off. Well almost everything, I still had to map out how I was going to ration what I had left of my check to last a few more days. I'd managed on less, but something about the holidays and being alone made it all that much more depressing. Maybe I had some extra cash shoved away in my purse still..hopeful thinking.

I laid my head on the library desk, a deep sigh leaving me. Sitting here and wallowing in self pity wouldn't do me any good. I rised from my chair, taking the returned book cart with me as I made my way through the countless rows of literature. Putting books away and fixing them as I went.

Soon there was little left to do but read, I kept one ear bud in and the other out listening for any students that may wander in, the evening skys colors trickling in through the windows, making the library feel cozy and safe.

The orangey color of the sun slowly started to become muted, I hummed softly to myself. Just a few more hours, and I could close up. The book I was engrossed in one I had to read for another class.

Slam

My whole body tensed, but not a sound left me as my head snapped to the library doors, that had been forced open in some sort of frenzy. A flash of blonde hair was all I saw as a woman dived over and under my desk. I stared as she hid under my legs, she pressed a finger to her lips, her eyes were blown wide with fear I could barely make out the blue they once were, her shirt coated in blood.

Wait...blood...oh God what was going on?!

Before my body could catch up with the panic of my mind in bolted another. Someone I would consider a brooding beauty if it wasn't for the timing. His large chest heaved, all the muscles of his body seemed tense as his striking green eyes darted around before they  snapped to me. The closer her got the more that green seemed to glow. I stared up at him, keeping my eyes on him as the girl beneath me clung to my leg, as if begging me to protect her.

"Can I help you?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but the trembling of my lips betrayed me, causing me to feel more meak and panicked than before.

"Looking for a friend of mine" he smiled, trying to seem charming, but I saw the way his eyes lingered on my desk, and then I noticed it too, the streak of blood across it.

My breath hitched, but I was on my feet, pulling a Clorox wipe and rubbing down the surface. My eyes didn't meet his again.

"Sorry, my coworker must've forgotten to clean up after lunch"--god what a bad lie--"I've been so engrossed in my book I didn't notice." I tapped my one headphone and nodded down at my book.

His eyes narrowed "Ahhh.." was all I got back. God I was glad he couldn't hear how hard my heart was pounding.

"I saw a young lady head back toward the civil war history section" I pointed, it was right next to the emergency exit sign...maybe he would think she ran.

He didn't even turn, rooted in his spot.

His eyes looked me up and down, a scowl settling on his face. The doors to the library were shoved open again, causing me to jump, in walking another man, tall, red haired and hopefully a knight in shining armor?

That was a short lived hope as he strode right up to the first man. "Find our little companion yet Alexander?" He asked almost sweetly.

"Mhmm" Alexander responded --finger tapping on the desk, annoyance clear, shooting me daggers. Shit.

I went to step back, but the girl from before grabbed my wrist from under the desk, and then  something sharp slit my wrist, blood pouring instantly. "Ouch" I whined pulling my wrist up to see. 

"Sorry!" She mouthed.

Confusion, and fear made my mind swirl, why would she...

Before I could finish my thought I felt my body slam against the wall that was several feet behind me. My scream caught in my throat as the air was crushed from my lungs and several cracks of my bones rang out. I looked at my assailant with blurry eyes, I could feel my tears slipping down my cheeks.

A large hand wrapped around my throat, emerald eyes pinning me further in place. My hands shot up trying to pry his grip off of me. Whines tried to escape my crushed throat. My feet kicked, hoping to connect with something but stopped when screams echoed from behind him, my eyes looked past his large frame. The blonde from before being pulled up by her ponytail.  The man with flame red hair had her eye level off her feet. He tsked her, golden eyes swirling as he looked into hers. Her screams and fighting stopped.

I looked back at the man that held me by the throat. He had a vicious smirk on that sculpted face of his. With his free hand he forced my dripping wrist from clawing his hand and up to his mouth dragging his tongue over the wound, never breaking eye contact, his eyes got even brighter as confusion made me furrow my brows.

I wasn't sure if it was the blood loss, or being choked out but my vision began to spot, my body losing fight.

I felt my limbs start to go limp and eyelids droop. I lazily looked up at him one more time, the intensity of his gaze was going to be the last thing I saw...