I was in a cold dark room, the walls were covered with pealing wallpaper and damp crawling down them. The only light was the sun from a small dirty window high on the wall. I suddenly realised were I was. I tried to move but I was securely tethered to a chair screwed into the ground. I heard a soft knock on the door and then the creaking of the rotten wood stairs leading down into the basement. "Hello there, did you miss me?" His hoarse voice growled at me. His words sent shivers down my spine 'oh god no' I thought 'I don't think I can take another beating' he walked over to me, putting his hand on my chin and lifting my head up so I was looking at his hideous face. He forcefully shoved his lips against mine, pushing his tongue into my mouth and almost chocked me with it. I took my chance and bit down on his tongue as hard as I could "Ouch, you cock!" He shouted as he slapped me. I recoiled and looked at him fearfully. He walked out of the basement and I finally let out a shaky breath. After at least a minute he was back with a large knife. He stomped over to me and proceeded to cut the cable ties holding me to the chair. As soon as I was free my body fell to the floor too weak to stand. The man punched me back down as soon as I tried to get up. Rolling me onto my back he wrapped his hand around my neck. Immediately I could hardly breathe, his hand tightening with my every movement. My eyes rolled back into my head as I began to pass out, before I could let the darkness engulf me, the man jabbed the knife through my flesh. My eyes shot open and I screamed in pain.

"Alex wake up!" Jack was shouting as I awoke from my nightmare. I couldn't speak so I just stared at him for a moment. His dark chocolate coloured eyes were full of sadness. I burst into tears, I can't handle anymore of this I haven't slept properly in so long. Jack pulled me closer to him and held me tightly. He whispered to me but I didn't really make out the words I was too tired and weak to focus on anything. As I eventually stopped crying I looked up into his eyes and said "don't leave." The words broke as they left my mouth slightly slurred form the tiredness filling my mind.
When I woke up the sun was streaming in through a window next to the bed. I looked around trying to figure out whose bedroom I was in. My question was answered when Jack walked in holding a tray with a plate of pancakes on, "good morning, we'll technically afternoon but still." He said placing the tray on the bed "I made pancakes,"
"I noticed," I said gently as I sat up and started eating. "Where exactly am I? and what am I doing here?" I asked when I swallowed my latest mouthful of delicious pancakes.
"Oh yeah, you're in my apartment and your here because after the fiasco at the burger place you fell asleep and I have no idea where you live so I brought you here." Jack explained quickly. "Makes sense," I replied.
"What exactly was that anyways?" There it was the question I was dreading. "Panic attack, I don't really want to go into much detail but..." I trailed off not wanting to explain, Jack hummed a reply and nodded. By now I had demolished the pancakes so he took my plate and disappeared into another room. I quickly got up and followed him into the kitchen. His apartment was small but cosy. The kitchen had a breakfast bar and was part of an open plan living area. He had a large sofa, which I assume he had slept on for most of the night, facing a TV hung on the wall. "Thank you, by the way, for everything. Especially the pancakes, those were some brilliant pancakes." He laughed and simply said "you're welcome," he walked to the sink and washed the plates and pans. After he was done he turned to me and said "so were do you live?" I told him my address and he wrote it down on a piece of paper. He then got a different piece of paper and wrote something else on it, shoving it in his pocket before I could look at it. "I'll go and get your jacket" he said as he walked back into the bedroom. He came back only a few seconds later and tossed me my jacket as he picked up his car keys. We sat in his rusted car and he put his key in the ignition and the engine spluttered to life. "What music do you like?" He asked "Blink-182 is my favourite band but green day and anything else like that really," I answered truthfully. "You have good music taste my friend." He said as he switched on the stereo, Blink instantly started blaring out of the speakers. We both sang along and laughed with each other for the rest of the car ride to my flat. He pulled up outside my block and I climbed out of the door, "thank you so much, for everything," I said to Jack through the open window, "your welcome," he said before driving away. I shoved my hand into my jacket pocket and walked towards the stairs. There was something in my pocket, I pulled it out, it was a slip of creased paper with scribbled words and numbers on. I stopped and read it,
If you ever need someone call me -Jack
With his phone number written messily underneath. I just stood for a moment and smiled at it. I was pulled from my thoughts by rain dripping on my head. I ran up the stairs and into my flat, collapsing on the warn sofa and staring at the bland ceiling.

Notes