Previously: 

And just as his hand reached the collar of my shirt, just as he was going to grab a fistful and probably drag me with it, just as I was about to face the repercussions for my actions-

There was a knock on the door. 

~~~~~

We both froze. I was completely and totally still, as if I could make him stay that way, too. Maybe it was because of the fear and adrenaline still coursing through my system, but it took a couple of seconds for me to fully register the implications of the knock.

No one ever knocks on my door except for two people.

I’d been petrified before, but that was nothing to how I felt now. I was almost positive that Violet or Conor, or even the both of them, were behind my front door, and that was the most terrifying idea I could think of.

I flicked my eyes to Melve’s face, wondering what he was going to do. His bright blue eyes met mine at the same time, and some of his rage was still there, frozen in his facial features.

Don’t open the door. Please.

A daring recklessness came over me, as it often does to one who is afraid for their friend’s lives. Although seconds ago I had been cowering, backed up away from Melve as far as I could get, I impulsively leaned forward and grabbed Melve’s forearm, my fingers digging into his flesh.

I tilted my head up, the height difference between us never more apparent. “Let me answer the door, please,” I pleaded, as another knock rang throughout the apartment.

I can’t let anything happen to either of them.

Melve didn’t move for a moment, and I honestly thought he was going to shove me off, but he blinked, once, and it was as if his anger simply melted off his face, his neutral, impassive expression returning.

I can’t let them get hurt.

“I’ll tell them to go away, I swear, just don’t hurt them, please,” I begged, my eyes full of terror.

Melve’s face twitched, and then his face jerked downward in a nod, and I let go of his arm immediately in lieu of rushing to the door, ignoring how odd his reaction was, just as the knock was sounding for the third time.

I just about threw open the door, my brain screaming to get them away from me, as fast as possible, anything so they wouldn’t be in danger. In just about any situation there is, you’ll find that I am the least reactive, and usually quite slow to come up with ideas. Not then, however.

No, I was working overtime, my mind rapidly pulling together fragmented thoughts to create an excuse. I pulled my shirt over my nose and mouth as I pulled open the door, and I hoped I could pass off my trembling exterior as a sickness.

Violet stood outside my door, Conor behind her, and she was half-turned to him, furiously saying something, arguing with him I’m sure, and her fist was still raised in the air, poised to knock again.

Conor on the other hand was looking down at her with a confused expression, one of his hands scratching the side of his head, just underneath his braids, the other hand holding his phone. For a brief second, a pang went through my chest, and I wished more than anything it was a normal weekend.

And then I remembered the situation.

Violet and Conor turned their heads to me at the same time, and I kept my body firmly wedged in between the door and doorframe. They couldn’t come in, no matter what.

“I- I have pneumonia! Back up!” Were the first words out of my mouth, pleasantries be damned. Violet and Conor’s faces went from pleasant to shocked in an instant.

“Pneumonia?” Conor asked, not at all backing away.

“Oh my god, what happened?” Violet asked, stepping back and dragging Conor with her.

“Remember that cold? Well it uh, it turned out to be pneumonia and I’m still really sick, so you guys should go, I don’t want either of you to get it,” I rambled.

“It” being killed.

I felt awfully guilty, and tried to look as sick as possible despite the adrenaline still coursing through my system.

“Are you sure? I could help you out, I’m never sick so it really wouldn’t-” Violet started, before I violently interrupted.

“No! Er, no- no that’s okay, I’ve really got everything covered. I’m still working, and I just- I just had groceries delivered, so I’m basically set.” My heart was pounding. I knew Melve was listening and I wondered just how long his patience would hold.

“You really don’t look so good, Theo, dude, maybe we should-” Conor said skeptically, before I interrupted, again.

“No really you guys, it’s fine. I’m good, I promise.” I could feel sweat starting to slide down my neck.

“Why didn’t you call us and let us know?” Violet’s eyes were narrowed, and she only added more panic, because I knew she was too clever to fall for the flimsy excuse I was throwing at them.

“My phone- I, I spilled tea all over it! And I haven’t gotten around to ordering a new one yet!” Guilt was knawing at my edges.

“Theo, you look and sound awful, come on, let us help you out.” Violet’s face went from suspicious to concerned, and I grabbed onto the angle I knew I could play.

“No! I don’t want to be the one to cause you guys to get sick! If you get sick, then Conor, your family will get sick, and Violet, your friends- and I just don’t want all that to happen.” Thankfully, paranoia actually was one of my personality traits, so I wasn’t entirely unbelievable.

“Ok, if you say so, bro. Email us if you need anything, ‘kay? Come on, Vi.” Conor didn’t a lot to convince, and I was incredibly glad for his presence, because, without it, Violet would have been a lot harder to sway.

Conor turned to walk back down the stairwell, looping his arm through Violet’s and tugging. She resisted for a moment, still staring at my face. “I’ll be back to check on you, soon. Email me multiple times a day, you got that?”

I nodded hastily, and Violet reluctantly let Conor drag her to the stairs, glancing back at me with concern scribbled across her pierced face. I gave a brief wave, then shut my door as fast as possible without slamming it, immediately throwing the deadbolt once it was shut.

It didn’t occur to me at the time, but I was more willing to lock in the murderer with me than leave the possibility of my friends opening my door, and accidentally running into Melve.

I slumped against the door in relief, my shirt slipping off my face and my eyes closing. One problem had been successfully averted, but now, there was another one that needed to be solved.

Which I was reminded of when I opened my eyes to see Melve leaning against the wall, staring right at me.