21

A/NHey guys!Sorry for leaving you all in doubts. (If you wanna have more, just scroll down a bit. You're welcome.)Also a warning for this chapter: I haven't written anything for maybe months, especially not in English so the whole thing might sounds weird.Enjoy:)

***

"Are you cold?" Scott wrinkled his forehead.Mitch shook his head. He was sitting in the corner of the couch, his arms wrapped around his knees. He felt unsafe.

His mind was weirdly fuzzy and numb from the meds he took in the morning. He hated it but there was no way he could survive another day with his thoughts racing and literally eating him up inside. There was no escape. They were haunting him in his hours spent awake and even in his dreams.

Something touched his shoulder and he jumped."Sorry," Scott mumbled as he fixed the soft blanket on his back. "Mark went out grocery shopping," he added causally but Mitch noticed the curious look in his eyes. After silent seconds Scott spoke again, quietly. "Do you wanna talk about it?"Mitch's breath sped up. He shook his head again. It felt impossible to communicate in any other way. Words took so much energy.

Scott sighed. "Can I hug you?"

Mitch didn't know how to tell that he appreciated Scott's effort but he didn't want to be touched. He only shrugged and Scott took it as a sign to move. He cautiously put a hand on Mitch's knee, waiting for a response. Nothing came so he took the courage and scooped closer. He held Mitch in his arms loosely, giving him a chance to escape if he wanted to.

Mitch closed his eyes and took a breath.

It was just Scott. Nothing to be scared of.

However, his friend's body type was quite similar to his stalker's. Tall, broad shouldered and Mitch felt so small in his grip. His breath hitched. He tried to concentrate on Scott's steady breathing but suddenly everything felt too much. His brain was already working full-speed and now that his senses were used in a way they weren't two minutes before, he felt overloaded. Scott's touch, his smell, the sound of his breaths, they didn't mean anything bad but pressed his panic button anyway.

He gasped out for air and Scott immediately pulled away. "Mitchy?"

"I'm sorry," he forced out through his clenched teeth. He wanted to explain everything so he won't hurt Scott's feelings but his mind was fighting against it. He doesn't believe you, no one believes you. Take your space, he'll hurt you. The voices were tearing him apart. "I need another Xanax," he choked out."You can't, you just took one." Scott was concerned. He bit on his lips. "But I can make you a tea?"

No, he didn't need that stupid tea. He needed a pill or more, something, anything that numbs his brain enough so he won't feel a thing anymore.

He lost everything. His house nearly burnt down, he had no privacy, no safe place, no safe people, nothing. It felt like he just stopped crying and yet he was in tears again."Mitchy, I'm so sorry but you know that you have to stick with the advised amount. Otherwise you could easily overdose yourself and that's- I can't allow that. No one wants that." Scott was using a tone as if he would've been talking to a child. Obviously, he couldn't keep up with Mitch's thoughts, he couldn't know that he wasn't crying for the meds. He was desperate for safety. Peace.

His phone buzzed. Mitch was startled by the unexpected noise and Scott noticed it. He reached for the mobile on the coffee table and handed it to Mitch who was reluctant to take it. He couldn't handle another message. After some seconds staring at the screen, he looked up."Umm...""Yes?" Scott jerked his head up immediately. This was the first time in forever that Mitch himself was about to start a conversation and Scott wanted nothing but encourage him. "Could you- I mean- Nevermind, forget it," Mitch mumbled. He looked completely mortified and Scott's heart was aching for him.

A minute passed.

Then two.

They were sitting in complete silence, all they could hear was Mitch's ragged breathing. He eventually wiped his face with a hand and unlocked the screen. He was shaking.

Until 2 a.m. or even todayYou'll be mine

***

Mitch didn't remember how it started. All he knew was that now Mark was there, too, kneeling right beside Scott who was on the phone with Beau. Scott had a hand on Mitch's knee, he realized. The whole world looked fuzzy for his mind."I don't know, could you maybe come over? No, I don't think he's responsive, I've been talking to him but- Yeah, it was a message. Or actually, two," Scott explained.

Some time after the first one Mitch got another SMS saying:

And I'll get your heart in my hands

All Scott did was taking his phone away and the rest of the time until this moment was a blur. He finally hung up the call and put his own phone on the coffee table next to Mitch's."Just- Just call the police," Mitch forced out, only to earn a sympathetic look from Scott."Mitchy, how would he reach you? You're at our place. You're safe, alright? He's just trying to make you feel threatened, that's all." Scott took a breath. "Anyway, Beau will be here soon."

No one took him seriously. Mitch didn't understand why. Like all those years he spent building a strong friendship with Scott would've meant nothing for the baritone. He always brushed away Mitch's concerns from the very beginning and Mitch didn't feel it was love. It wasn't the Scott he knew. The old Scott would never do this to him.

Mitch felt like he lost his mind. That was the end of everything.

Maybe dying would've been easier than waiting for his stalker to catch him. He was so desperate that if he had the chance to be alone for some time, he would've taken those pills. Sadly, Scott knew better. There was no chance he would've left him alone for a single moment.

Mitch didn't want to be alone but there was no way he could put up with Scott anymore. Or with anyone.

He heard Scott and Mark talking."Cause you were away for how long?!" Scott whispered but there was a weird tone in his voice Mitch wasn't sure he's heard before."I'm terribly sorry that you didn't buy a house next to a fucking grocery shop," Mark responded.

Were they arguing? Were they mad at Mitch?

"I'll make some food." Mark stood up. He was definitely angry. Scott huffed but he turned back to Mitch, forcing a smile."I have to go to the bathroom," Mitch mumbled.Scott nodded and reached out his hand to pull him up. After they were both on their feet, Mitch took a step but when Scott followed him, he stopped."I don't need escorting, okay? I know where the bathroom is."

So for his surprise, Scott let him go. He was distracted.

And about two minutes later Mitch was gazing at the bottle in his hand. His heart was pounding but he could still hear the conversation filtering through the door."Do you really think this is the right time to discuss that?""I literally can not believe you.""Yeah, blame it all on me, please."

He didn't have much time. Was he supposed to send a message before so that guy won't try to look for him in Scott's house? His phone was still on the coffee table.

He needed to be strong. For the last time. For everyone he ever cared about.

He was terrified. His hands felt like they weren't even his own. He looked into the mirror and the face looking back at him was unfamiliar. He didn't know those eyes. He thought he saw shadows but there was no one in the bathroom except him. He couldn't decide if those muffled words were still Scott and Mark arguing or if his brain was messing with him. He felt dizzy.

"Now or never," he whispered.

Now or never.