Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

Staring back at my friend who had so far taken everything I had told her with ease, providing comfort through my difficulty, I decide to tell her everything that happened last night...

"Vincent told me he was taking me home after that, to which I panicked because I didn't want him to see where I lived." I admit, as Emma squints a little again seeming lost in her thoughts for a second. "Why, where do you live?" She asks curiously, seeming to rack her brain as I chew my lip.

"Let's just say it gets referred to as the towns cartel..." I grumble at the nickname I had heard Vincent call it last night when speaking with his friends who had turned up to help out.

The name suited the street I guess, since illegal stuff seemed to run rife through it!

"That's not where your apartment is?! You should have said something sooner! My parents would have let you crash at my place until you found something else! That place is horrible Sofia, everyone in town avoids walking down there let alone living amongst it!" Emma takes off in a desperate rant, judging me fully for where my apartment was but not meaning to in a spiteful way.

She only cared, which was nice.

"I know, but I couldn't afford anything else when I first got here. That was the only place allowing a jobless young girl to move in I'm afraid." I explain, as she seems to breathe deeply to calm herself down. "Well now you know why I didn't want anyone to find out..." I motion to how upset she had grown as she instantly leans forward to take my hands.

"I am so sorry for my reaction! I don't mean to offend you Sofia, I just feel terrible that you had to settle for an apartment there. You don't deserve any of this!" Emma explains, offering my hands a gentle squeeze of comfort. She really didn't mean to hurt my feelings, I understood what she meant by it.

"Tell me the rest!" She pushes forward, as I nod and sniffle to hold back my emotions once more.

"I got in Vincent's car because he demanded to take me home and wouldn't let me walk. He also fired me, which as you can probably guess by now was a really big deal since I desperately needed the money, so by that point I was just totally defeated." I begin, stopping to catch my breath.

"I gave him directions to the park around the corner from my apartment and he started to lose his temper at that point again, demanding to take me directly to my door. I know now that he only meant well, but at the time I just wanted to run and hide. But after that, I decided to give in. I pointed the way, and like you, he couldn't believe that was where I lived." I feel my cheeks redden as the words escape, knowing I had reached my all time low in life with the apartment. But it was better than being on the streets...

"He told me he would walk me in, and to be honest, despite my protests, deep down I sort of didn't mind because my two neighbours are assholes!" I tell her, as she nods for me to keep going.

She was trying her best not to cut me off, but I could see the emotions swirling within her eyes, processing the whole story since I had landed a whole lot on her today...

"The night before, my neighbours were creeping around outside my door and at one point, they even tried the handle to get in. I was so terrified but I just hoped for the best - luckily, at that point my locks worked." I roll my eyes suddenly, realising that the bastards had in fact planned the whole break in the previous day - being unsuccessful.

"You should have called me!" Emma cuts in this time, as I nod knowingly.

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I just didn't think I could reveal my truth to anyone at that point... which was silly. I put myself in danger!

"I know that now, but at the time I wanted to keep my situation private and panicked. But skipping forward to last night, as Vincent walked me inside, we found my door laying wide open and my two neighbours were inside high on whatever drug they had stole my savings from the kitchen drawer to buy. They were both so out of it that they didn't even know we had came in Emma... it was horrible... I even took a panic attack." I swallow the lump forming in my throat feeling my hands tremble at the memory.

How could two grown men be so cruel? Knowing that I was a young girl living there alone? What would have happened if I was still inside when they broke in?!

That thought alone was enough to bring my tears rolling down my face, as Emma instantly shifted to hug me tightly to her - comforting me as best she could.

"It's going to be ok... I'm just glad that Vincent was with you!" Emma breathes as I nod in to her shoulder to silently agree.

The truth was, I was glad he had taken me home last night too... it was fate!

Calming down slightly, I pull back from the embrace to wipe my wet cheeks, sniffling and attempting to regain control of my emotions.

"Vincent called some people to come over and help whilst he helped me calm down from the panic attack. He seriously surprised me last night, with how well he had handled the whole thing. He brought me back here with him and now he wants me to stay for as long as I need." I tell her, concluding the whole story as a short silence falls between us.

Giving us both some time, I excuse myself to go to the nearest bathroom for a tissue to wipe my nose and face, before returning to find Emma teary eyed and pitiful.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "You should." She speaks first, as I retake my seat on the sofa beside her.

"What?" I ask, my voice soft.

"You should stay here, in this house. You'll be safe and he can give you a room so why not?" Emma nods firmly, as I chew my lip.

It felt wrong, accepting to live here... but maybe I could figure out another job and offer to pay something for my room? That would make me feel less guilty...

"Yeah I'll speak to him properly about it tonight, I don't want to go back to that apartment either." I admit, as Emma leans back onto the cushions.

There was no going back now, she knew everything other than the finer details swarming around my family drama... but right now, that didn't matter.

"It's all going to be ok, I hope you know that?" Emma turns her head to me and tells me sternly, as I half smile.

"Thanks... for listening and for being so open minded... that was a lot to offload on you." I join her leaning back, as she shakes her head and pushes out another smile. "That's what friends are for!" She concludes, as we decide to enjoy the rest of our time together to take our minds off everything that happened.

At least until Vincent comes back...