Belonging

C9: Fear

I look up, my eyes widening when I discover that I didn't hit a wall. I hit Ivan.

"Sorry." I whisper, taking a step back when he takes one forward. I lean down and grab my water, putting pressure on my back with my hand as I do so. It makes the pain worse and I pull it back immediately.

I go to walk past him again but he sets his large hand on my shoulder, pulling me back. Fear courses through me as I look up at him.

"Why are you out of bed?" He asks me.

"I just came to get something to eat." I whisper.

"Ivanna should have made you dinner." He says.

"I didn't ask her to." I say.

"Why?"

"I wasn't hungry before she left." I lie.

He sighs heavily, running his hand through his brown hair. He looks down at my empty hands. "You didn't get anything." He observes.

"Uh.."

He sighs for a second time. He grasps my shoulder again, making me jump, before turning me around and beginning to lead me into the kitchen. I look up at him inquisitively, but he doesn't return my gaze.

Demian is still in there, leaning against the counter as he looks at his phone. He glances over at us when we walk in. His face contorts into a scowl.

"Sit." Ivan orders, giving me a small push over to the counter. I sit down, kicking my legs nervously.

He grabs something out from the freezer and glances over at me, seeming to measure something before tossing two handfuls of whatever it is into their Air Fryer. I glance over at Demian when I feel him looking at me, finding him glaring daggers in my direction.

I snap my eyes back down to the counter.

"Stay here." Ivan orders before walking out.

As soon as he's gone Demian opens his mouth. "You do know you don't belong here, don't you?"

I look over at him, staying quiet.

"Nobody wants you here." He says, tilting his head a little as he scrutinises me with a judgemental stare. I begin to pinch my arm, forcing my expression to remain indifferent.

He leans both of his elbows on the marble counter, turning to me fully now. "Do you think we do?" He asks.

"What?"

"Want you." He responds. "Or give a shit about you."

I pinch harder.

He's silent for a moment, watching my lack of reaction to his menacing words. My silence seems to infuriate him because he hardens his jaw before he says, "say it."

"Say what?"

"That you know you don't belong here." He says.

"What?" I ask, confused. My voice comes out rushed and breathless.

"Say that you don't belong here." He repeats, his tone sounding neutral and unbothered despite what he's trying to make me say.

"No." I whisper.

"So you think you do belong here?" He asks.

"I never said that-"

"So you know that you don't?"

"I didn't say that either-"

"The only thing you should say is that you know you don't belong here. So go on."