Shadows In Durango

Screaming loudly, | begin to kick my legs around, feeling the person attempt to restrainin their hold as my

head pounded in a flashing panic.

"Shhhh... Sofia stop it... it's only me... shhhh." | hear the masculine voice flooding whispers into my ear before

slowly melting down on to the floor with me.

Winding up in their lap with their arms securely wrapped around me, | don't have the energy left to fight back

and instead | just give in and continue to cry.

| feel their hand drawing soothing circles on my back as | tremble, with their soft hushes following each motion,

as my breathing began to even out and | close my eyes over.

They weren't going to hurt me... their touch was too soft and gentle for that... I'm ok...

"Calm down, they are here now, I'm going to take care of it all..." | blink up through my lashes when hearing

smore people enter my space, looking up to find Vincent to be the one holdingin his arms. | hear some

commotion, before he forces my head into his chest, holdingto him and tellingto breathe and to ignore

jE

"W-What's going on?" | whimper, as he all but hushesonce more and returns to rubbing my back.

It doesn't take long though, before our surroundings grow silent, causingto peak up once more.

"Ok let's go." Vincent comments, his face looking softer than usual as he speaks now, his tone surprisingly

gentle.

"Where?" | whisper, as he makes a move to stand up, helpingup with him.

"I'm taking you back to my house." He confirms, to which I don't even fight him.

Knowing that it was for the best, | allow him to guideout of the apartment, glancing towards the area in

which my two neighbours once lay - with it now being empty.

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"How much money did you have?" Vincent questions as we head down the stairs.

"Roughly $1400." | breathe out shakily, knowing that | was now jobless and broke as another tear threatens to

spill.

We get to the bottom of the apartment building, where sof Vincent's guys who | recognised from the bar

stood waiting on us.

It must've been them that he called to help out and | had no idea where my neighbours went...

| find myself tucking away behind Vincent out of view of their curious stares, as Vincent thanks them for coming

so quickly.

"All of her stuff from the apartment is in the car, there wasn't much." One guy updates, as | cringe at the

statement feeling ashamed once more for my lack of possessions. At least they got what I still had for me, right?

"We've taken care of it, you can see them tomorrow when they are sober." The next speaks quietly, as Vincent

doesn't speak on that and instead turns to take my hand, pullingtowards his car. | felt numb, embarrassed,

cold, tired and emotionally drained.

| didn't care what happened next, | just went with it.

"Cold?" Vincent questions climbing in to the vehicle beside me, as | nod once and turn to stare out of the window

feeling overwhelmed.

In seconds, the car began to blow out hot air, warming my bare legs and arms in seconds before the seat itself

began to heat up too.

Vincent drove in silence towards his home, as | felt the headache begin to settle in causingto whine and hold

my head.

"What's wrong? You're going to be ok..." Vincent's tone breaks out into the silence as | sniffle and nod.

"Head hurts." My words cout groggy, as he stops for a second and | realise that we were at the gates to his

street.

"I'll get you something to help that." Vincent confirms, before they open to allow us through and he pulls up to

his place - the sh| had stayed in only days ago after the party.

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He wasn't all bad, lettingstay here once again...

"Sofia, before we go in, | just need to know one thing and we can discuss the rest tomorrow..." Vincent trails off,

cutting the engine as | grow tense.

| knew he probably had a million questions but what | feared most was that | didn't think | would be capable of

answering even half of them.

"Y-Yeah?" | push for him to go on, bracing myself for whatever it could be.

"There is no brother that you live with is there? You've lived there alone since you cto town?" Vincent turns

to stare atknowingly, as | feel the heat in the car begin to now suffocate me. He hasfigured out... there

was no use in lying.

"Yes." | swallow, the single word coming out as more of a breath.

He rubs the back of his neck, dropping his head forward as though he was trying to process the whole night.

So much had happened in only a few hours...

| was told to dance at the bar, watched Vincent beat up Reid, got dragged out of there, was fired, forced to show

Vincent my home, was robbed and broken in to by my neighbours who were high on my floor and now | was

here, back at Vincent's place.

I wish | could tell Emma all about this... but I feared that she wouldn't understand...

"My phone?" | suddenly ask him wide eyed, realising that amongst the chaos | had misplaced it which was

extremely inconsiderate after Emma had so kindly gave it tofor free in the first place.

"It's here." He twists to pull it out of his pocket, as | take it back feeling relief flow through me.

Out of charge... damn!

"Let's get you in to bed." Vincent offers, as | suddenly feel grateful that he had stopped with the questioning.

He knew | was a liar, a fraud, and yet he still offereda bed for the night.

Vincent Walker wasn't all bad... Daryl was right.