Chapter 15
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Jay walked down the hallway.
Her phone in her hand.
She checked it again.
No message.
No call.
She exhaled slowly.
"Two days…"
She whispered.
But it already felt longer.
A sound.
Outside.
Jay froze.
Her heart skipped instantly.
Not again.
Please not again.
She moved slowly toward the window.
Peeked outside.
Nothing.
Empty.
Her breath eased… just a little.
Maybe it was nothing.
Maybe she was just—
The door slammed open.
Jay screamed.
Two men rushed in.
Fast.
Rough.
"Grab her!"
Her body reacted instantly.
Fear shot through her veins.
She ran.
Fast.
Her heart pounding wildly.
"Stop!"
Footsteps behind her.
Closer.
Closer.
Jay grabbed the nearest thing—
A vase.
And turned.
Without thinking—
She threw it.
It hit one of them.
Hard.
He stumbled back.
"Damn it!"
She didn't stop.
Didn't wait.
She ran again.
Her hands shaking.
Her breath breaking.
Her mind screaming—
Think… think…
She reached the kitchen.
Grabbed a knife.
Her grip unsteady.
But her eyes…
Determined.
"Don't come closer!"
She shouted.
The men laughed.
"You think that'll stop us?"
But this time—
Jay didn't step back.
Didn't freeze.
She remembered his words.
Think before you act.
So she did.
When one of them lunged—
She moved aside.
Fast.
And struck.
Not perfectly.
Not cleanly.
But enough.
He yelled in pain.
The other hesitated.
Just for a second.
And that second—
Was enough.
Jay ran again.
Out.
Toward the main door.
She didn't stop until she reached outside.
Guards rushed in.
Late.
Too late.
But it was over.
Jay stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Her heart still racing.
But she was alive.
Because she fought.
Not because someone saved her.
Because she saved herself.
Minutes later—
Inside the house.
Jasfer rushed toward her.
"Jay!"
He held her shoulders.
"Are you okay?!"
And that's when—
Something snapped.
"NOW you ask?!"
Her voice rose.
Sharp.
Angry.
Jasfer froze.
"Jay—"
"Where were you?!"
Her eyes filled with tears.
But this time—
They weren't weak.
They burned.
"I called you!"
"I needed you!"
"I was getting attacked and you weren't there!"
Her voice broke.
But she didn't stop.
"You promised I'd be safe!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
Jasfer couldn't answer.
Because he had none.
Jay laughed bitterly.
"Do you know who saved me?"
A pause.
"I did."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"I fought them."
"I ran."
"I survived."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"But not because of you."
That hit.
Deep.
Jasfer's eyes lowered.
Guilt crushing him.
"I'm sorry…"
He whispered.
But Jay shook her head instantly.
"No."
Tears rolled down now.
But her voice stayed strong.
"I'm tired of being scared."
"I'm tired of being protected like I'm weak."
A pause.
"I'm not weak."
Silence filled the room.
Because she wasn't.
Not anymore.
Jay wiped her tears harshly.
Her hands still shaking.
But her eyes…
Different now.
Stronger.
"I won't depend on anyone again."
Those words echoed.
Loud.
Final.
And somewhere far away—
Keifer didn't know yet…
That everything had changed.
Because the girl he left behind—
Was not the same one anymore.
End of Chapter 15