Page 4 of Within Shadows

Maeve

A loud bang has me peeling my eyes open with a groan, and I slowly sit up, realizing I’m not in my bed.

The television is casting an eerie glow, asking if I’m still watching, and I check my phone to see I’m still on a call with Garrett.

A six hour call was a new one for me, and I have to bite back a laugh when I can hear his soft snore carry through the speaker.

“Goodnight, Garrett,” I whisper, about to hang up when another loud sound rattles my entire house. I let out a startled shriek and drop my phone when I leap to my feet.

“Maeve? Are you okay?” Garrett is wide awake now as I snatch my phone up and crouch on the ground, trying to peer over the back of my couch and through the dark window.

“Something just slammed into my front door. Somebody's out there,” I whisper, my voice shaking.

“Maeve, don’t go to the door.” His voice is deeper, more commanding without its usual soft tone.

“Considering what we were watching before I dozed off, I’m not going anywhere near it.” Another bang, and I crawl across the ground to get to my kitchen. I quickly grab the largest knife I own and stand on trembling legs.

“Go to the furthest room, somewhere with a window you can climb out if they get in. I’ll be there soon.” He’s trying to calm me, and thankfully some reason returns.

“Wait, no, what if they’re dangerous? I need to call the police,” I hiss through my teeth.

The sound of an engine revving nearly drowns out his voice, but I catch what he says.

“Go fucking hide, Maeve. Don’t hang up.” His tone is sharp, and I curse under my breath when the front door groans, the entire thing ready to break.

My feet slide across the smooth floor as I rush for my room and slam the door shut, locking it behind me.

“I’m in my room,” I whisper, backing up until I hit the wall and slide down. A disgruntled meow comes from outside the room, and my eyes widen.

“Atticus is out there!” I jump up, running for the door just as a horrific crash comes from the living room. The front door slams off the wall, and I know whoever it is, they’re inside. I fumble with the door, and Garrett shouts through the phone.

“Maeve, don’t open the door! Who is Atticus?”

“My cat!” Tears are streaming down my face as I finally open the door, and Atticus dives through the opening.

I look down the hallway and see the figure of a man striding through the entryway, turning to lock eyes with me.

I can’t make out any features with his hood pulled up, casting him in shadows, but I can feel his stare.

My body is locked in place, frozen with terror.

I finally slam the door shut as he rushes towards me, screaming as I twist the lock into place when he barrels into the door, bowing it with his weight. My phone falls from my hands, but I don’t stop to pick it up.

Atticus yowls beneath my bed, and I scrabble to drag him out as he fights me.

“We have to go, don’t make me flip this damn bed!” Tears have fully blurred my vision, and the man fighting against my door is going to break it down before I can get my cat and escape.

Tires squeal, and I can hear the pounding of feet. “Maeve?” Garrett’s loud shout carries from my phone and through the front door at the same time. Garrett is about to come inside—and run right into whoever broke into my home.

“Who the fuck are you?” A familiar voice right outside my door sends ice through my veins, and I yank my window open before diving beneath my bed.

My door snaps, and a pair of feet races past, stopping only to spin around the room before leaping through the open window as he tries to find me before escaping.

Garrett storms into my room, chasing the other man, and I reach out to grab his ankle. I narrowly avoid my hand being stomped, and Garrett drops to grab me. He yanks and pulls me out, looking me over as I sob against him.

“You’re okay, Maeve. I’m here. I’ve got you.

” Garrett holds me as I collapse against him.

He gently grasps the knife I’m clutching, pulling it away before I accidentally hurt one of us while holding me tight to his chest. He easily lifts me, grabbing the blanket off my bed to wrap it around my shoulders as he sits and pulls out his phone.

Atticus is growling threats from beneath the bed, and Garrett frowns. “Guard cat, that’s new,” he mutters.

He calls the police, explaining everything as numbness wraps its cold hands around my body. Somebody broke into my house, and I know exactly who it was. I never thought Oliver would take it this far, would go this crazy. What was he going to do? What if Garrett didn’t get here in time?

“Maeve, do you have a cat carrier?” His question slightly draws me from my spiraling thoughts, and I nod once, pointing towards the top of my dresser without looking away from the floor.

My hands tremble, but I clench them tighter, trying to hold back tears while Garrett drags an angry Atticus out, gently putting him into the carrier.

“Maeve, they’re asking if you saw who it was.” He gently grabs my chin, turning my face up to look at him. I blink, realizing we’re no longer alone. An officer is frowning down at me, stepping aside when a paramedic pushes past.

“I didn’t see his face.” I shake my head once, and Garrett frowns.

“What about you, son?” the male officer asks, pulling his hat off to scratch his head.

“I didn’t get a good look at him. Like I said, he ran as soon as I got here. I was going after him, but she was hiding under the bed, and I couldn’t just leave her.” Garrett leans back when a paramedic tries to take my pulse. I rip my arm away and get to my feet, stumbling away.

“Don’t touch me, please. I’m fine. He didn’t find me.” I pull the blanket tighter around me as Garrett stands, protectively wrapping an arm around me, and I lean into his embrace. It’s almost funny that he’s still a stranger and yet I feel safest with him.

“You can’t stay here tonight. Is there anyone we can call? You shouldn’t be alone,” the officer says, and I shake my head.

“I’ll get a hotel room,” I say, squeezing my hands together. The officer frowns, looking at Garrett, and he waves his hand.

“I’ve got a guy coming tomorrow to fix both doors, and someone is coming to install a security system. Until then, she can stay with me.” He squeezes my shoulder once. He holds up his phone, leaning down to talk to me as he answers a call.

“Do you want to skip class tomorrow, or should I have them wait until afterwards, and I’ll be here until they’re finished replacing the door?

” he offers. Fresh tears spring to my eyes, and I blink them away.

Garrett has only known me for a day and is already going so far out of his way to do all of this for me.

“I can’t ask you to do all of this.” My voice cracks.

“Good thing you didn’t ask, Maeve. I want to do this for you. I don’t think I’ll sleep again until I know you’re safe.” Garrett holds me tighter, and I lean my head against his chest. The officer shakes his head with a short laugh.

“When your boyfriend offers to help, you let him, sweetheart. Good men aren’t so common these days,” the officer says. Garrett chuckles, rubbing his neck as he awkwardly looks away. I don’t even have it in me to explain that we just met, so I let the comment slide.

I manage to pack a bag with enough clothes to last me a few days just in case and grab toiletries with Garrett watching my every move.

When we finally leave, I stop to stare at my front door, or what's left of it. His hand presses into my lower back as he leans close, guiding me around the broken chunks from the frame. My mind feels like it’s on autopilot as Garrett pulls the seatbelt across my body before shutting the door to go around and climb into his seat.

The car is sitting on my front lawn, and I almost laugh as he slowly backs out, cringing when he scrapes the frame over the curb.

“I did a number on your poor grass,” Garrett mutters, and I shake my head, turning to stare out the window as the trees rush past. “Maeve, you know who that was, don’t you?

” His voice is quiet, as if he’s afraid I’ll jump out of the car if he speaks too loud.

To be honest, I might to avoid this conversation.

“I didn’t see his face.” My voice is steady, confident in the truth.

“Yet you still know who it was.” The accusation makes me flinch, but I hope he doesn’t see it as he focuses on the road ahead.

Thankfully he doesn’t push me, and we continue the rest of the short ride in silence.

Garrett slowly turns into the driveway of a small house, and the first thing I notice is the overflowing flower beds that surround the small porch.

“Green thumb?” I ask as we both climb out, and he chuckles while taking my bag for me. I gently lift the grumbling cat carrier as I follow him, not missing the protective hand that rests against my lower back.

“I can’t take credit for that. The house came with the overflowing flowerbeds.

But I have managed to keep them alive, so that’s something.

” The humor in his voice is forced, and I bite my lip as he walks up to the door, typing in a code above the knob that unlocks, and he pushes the door open.

Oliver just broke into my house, and here I am, walking into the house of my new classmate that I just met.

My self-preservation is pathetic at best.

He flicks on a light, kicking his shoes off next to the door while I stay with my hands clasped and staring around the open space. He takes Atticus and heads towards the hallway to our right.

“I’m gonna put this little guy in the bathroom with his litter box; it’s been a stressful night for both of you.” I smile and nod in appreciation.