The door opened. "Greetings, master."
𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓
With his hands still holding Aurelia's waist, Jimmy turned his head to face the door, his wrinkles engraved deeper into his skin.
Roxland! Aurelia thought. Thank you, God.
"Rocco? What the hell do you want?" Jimmy hissed. "How many times have I told you to knock before coming in?"
He pushed Aurelia to the side and walked over to his servant.
"Only four times, sir. I came to ask about Aurelia's well-being."
Aurelia opened her mouth to speak but Jimmy answered for her.
"She's fine. Now get out."
Rocco looked in Aurelia's direction and frowned upon seeing her scared expression. The way her eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape, made his heart sink. He could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she clutched her arms tightly across her chest.
"She doesn't look fine, however," Rocco replied. "In fact, she looks quite ill. Allow me to perform a small check-up on her. After which I will return her right back to you."
"No! She's not ill, you stupid boy. Now leave before I use force."
Rocco looked into Aurelia's eyes again and knew that he had to do something. This was the only chance he had before Jimmy would lock the door after pushing him out of the room, and he was wasting precious seconds.
"Very well then."
Aurelia's eyes widened in fear. Was Rocco really leaving her alone with Jimmy at this late hour, in the dark?
"I would like a hug for the night. It gets quite lonely in my room all by myself," he said, "...Master."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh really? Rocco asking me for a hug? Well, this is unexpected!"
You don't even know, Rocco thought.
Jimmy stepped closer to Rocco, his thin arms outstretched.
That was the moment Rocco attacked. In a heartbeat, he sidestepped, grabbed Jimmy's arm, and spun him around, forcing him against the wall. "I said to let me perform a small check-up on her," he snarled, adrenaline surging through him.
Jimmy's eyes widened in shock, but a sly smile crept onto his face. "You really want to do this, Rocco?"
Without waiting for a response, Jimmy elbowed Rocco in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Aurelia watched in horror. She wanted to do something but was trapped in her own body, frozen in fear and shock.
Rocco stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing, rage boiling inside him. He lunged forward and delivered a swift punch to Jimmy's jaw.
The impact echoed in the small room as Jimmy staggered back while clutching his face.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, wiping blood from his mouth.
"No, sir."
Rocco landed a series of punches at Jimmy's stomach, each fueled by frustration and anger but Jimmy only grinned through the pain.
With a sudden burst of energy, Jimmy retaliated, grabbing Rocco's collar and yanking him forward. They stumbled into each other, wrestling for control. Rocco felt the heat of Jimmy's body, the desperation in their movements as they grappled for dominance.
Rocco managed to push Jimmy back, sending him crashing into the furniture. The old man tried to retaliate but Rocco stopped him with a fierce kick to his midsection, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Aurelia! Run!"
To Jimmy's dismay, Aurelia ran out of the room, sobbing. He became more angered with each quick step to the marble floor.
"I see," Jimmy breathed, his voice dripping with malice. He glowered at Rocco from the floor. "So you risked your entire life for that stupid girl?"
"She's not stupid! Aurelia is the smartest girl I know, she's the only one who ever made me feel loved and appreciated! Of course I will protect her, even if it costs my life."
Jimmy snorted. "Oh, how cute. At least you're willing to risk your life for that stupid slut because I will make your life a living hell once I'm finished with you. You will beg me for the gift of death."
Rocco felt a jolt of fear shoot through him, like ice water through his veins. The weight of Jimmy's words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. His heart raced as he considered what the old man was capable of. He'd witnessed Jimmy's wrath before—how he could destroy lives without a second thought, without an ounce of guilt or sympathy.
"N-Not if you don't catch me!" Rocco replied.
He sprinted out of the room as if his life depended on it, and in some ways, it did. Jimmy tried to stand up to run after him but howled in pain as a crack! could be heard from his knee.
Shit, he thought, I lost both my prey. But trust me, Roxland... I'll get you and finish you off right after I kill your little friend—with you watching me.
ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ✧˖°✧˖°✧˖°
Rocco knocked gently on the door, his heart pounding in his chest. It had been about two hours since the extreme confrontation with Jimmy, and he could still feel the tension. The thought of Aurelia alone and scared gnawed at him. After everything that had happened, he needed to make sure she was okay.
The two were hiding away in the house of Rocco's father located in a small village where everyone knew each other. Rocco and his father, Light, weren't on the best terms but they still respected and loved each other. Light was snoring away in his room, unaware that his son and a random girl where hiding away in his house.
"Aurelia?" Rocco called softly, leaning in closer to the door. "It's me, Roxland. Can I come in?"
There was a moment of silence before he heard a small, shaky voice from inside. "Yeah… okay."
Rocco turned the knob and pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit room. The curtains were drawn, and the air felt thick with fear. Aurelia sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, and Rocco's heart ached at the sight.
"Hey," he said gently, taking a few steps closer. "I just wanted to check on you. Are you feeling alright?"
Aurelia looked up, and for a moment, her expression was a mix of relief and vulnerability.
"I didn't know if you'd come out alive," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course I would," Rocco replied. He sat down beside her on the bed. He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm here. You're safe."
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "I just feel so… overwhelmed. Everything's happened so fast, and I don't know what to do."
Rocco nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "I know it feels that way, but we'll figure it out together. We'll get through this."
Aurelia looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. "What if he really does come after me? Or what if he takes me out of his will? All this trouble would be for nothing!"
Rocco's chest tightened at the thought, but he forced a calmness into his voice. "I would never let that happen. I promise you, I'll do everything I can to protect you. As long as I live, you will be safe."
Tears brimmed in her eyes again, and she leaned into him, seeking comfort. Rocco wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she shuddered against him. "I'm so scared, Rocco. I don't want to feel like this anymore."
"I know," he murmured, "but you're stronger than you think. We'll find a way to face this. You're not just a victim—you're a survivor."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their fears hanging in the air. Rocco wanted to shield her from the world, to keep her safe from the darkness that loomed outside.
"Let's make a plan," he said, pulling back slightly to look her in the eyes. "We'll figure out how to deal with Jimmy together. No more hiding."
Aurelia wiped her eyes, a flicker of determination sparking in her gaze. "Okay," she said softly. "Together."
"Together," Rocco repeated, feeling a surge of hope.
They were still standing, still fighting, and for now, that was enough.