Collided Souls

I M O G E N

I completely blacked out at the familiarity of that voice—that traumatizing voice.

The back of my throat stung with dryness, and my eyes began to water. My breathing grew heavy, my heart thudding violently against my ribs. The sounds of panic, fear, and distant screams echoed in my ears. Memories took over. All I could see was black.

"How've you been?" There was no sympathy in his tone. It made my skin crawl. "I missed you."

"No, you don't." Those were the only words I could force out since answering.

Christian's deep, dark, manipulative chuckle crackled through the jail phone. He was laughing—laughing—at my panic. He found this funny, while I feared for my life. Out of all the times he could've called, he picked now.

"And how do you know that?" he sighed. "Immy, I—"

"Christian, we're done." I closed my eyes, trying to control my breath.

"When?" He played dumb. "Last I checked, you and I were a forever thing, baby."

"You're in prison. I'm free. We're done... baby." I threw his tone right back at him.

It's been years since they took Christian away—money laundering, abuse. Sometimes, the old Imogen still crawls up from inside me when I hear his name, or remember he's still breathing. But I'm not her anymore. I can shove her down. Sort of.

Christian scoffed. "Funny how you think prison is gonna keep me from what's mine."

"Funny how you think I'm yours." I bit my lip, pushing the fearful Imogen down.

He sighed again, this time darker. "Don't worry. I'll get out. We'll be back together. Me. You. Us."

"No." I shook my head, fingers running through my hair. "No. No. No. We are not together. We're done. Okay? Why now, Christian? Why call now? You had plenty of chances."

Silence.

Got him.

But I didn't celebrate. Not yet. With Christian, you never know. One second he's smiling, the next—he's throwing you against a wall.

"I hope you rot."

"If you hang up, that pretty boy you've been seeing? He won't last long."

My heart dropped.

"W-What?" My throat dried all over again.

"Aww, poor Immy scared?" he mocked. "You thought I didn't know? Immy, I've got eyes everywhere. Inside and out of this junk."

I couldn't see anymore. Everything slowed, shattered. The ground vanished beneath me, and I collapsed.

"Consider this a warning, Immy," he said slowly, like poison. "We don't want pretty boy to die. Do we?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Good."

"You're insane."

"Insane?" He laughed. "Only for you. I'm a man who knows what he wants. What's his. And I sleep just fine knowing there's still a sweet, lovely lady out there waiting for me."

"Screw. You." I hissed, clinging to the strong Imogen—the one who survived. Not the broken one. Not the one he made.

"I love you, Immy." His last words. Then a kiss blew through the phone—and the line went dead.

The phone slipped from my hand. My hands shook. My heart raced. Tears rimmed my eyes, trembling at all the possibilities Christian had just planted in my head.

Too many memories. Too many screams. Too many tears.

That man left me with trauma—and a lot of time with my therapist. Which I won't get into.

"Immy?"

"Immy, are you okay?"

Two familiar voices. I couldn't hear them, not really.

"Oh my God—Imogen!"Arms wrapped around me, warm, grounding.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." Another voice whispered softly.

I didn't know if I was panicking or in shock. No tears fell, but they sat in my eyes, threatening. My chest heaved—fast and furious.

"Imogen," Two strong hands gripped my shoulders and shook me gently. Blurred faces sharpened.

Jenny. Leona.

"Leo, stop." Jenny pulled her off.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Leona pushed back in, cupping my face.

I have eyes everywhere. Inside and out this junk.

"I... I..."

"Don't stress yourself," Jenny soothed, rubbing my back in calm, rhythmic circles. She pulled me into a hug.

"Who called you?" Leona picked up my phone.

"I..." No words came. None.

Christian had twisted my brain into knots I didn't know existed. I was blind—blind with love, back when we first met. He was sweet. He smiled at everyone. And then he lied—subtle, cruel little lies.

I haven't seen my family in years.

Because of him.

It took time—so much time—to repair things with my friends. With myself.

He went from loving me to hurting me. If I disobeyed, he punished me. In ways no one should ever be punished.

Some nights still haunt me.

"Immy?" Leona whispered.

"I wanna go home." And the tears finally fell.

"Okay, okay. Here, Leona." Jenny passed her the keys and helped me up.

Leona led the way. We followed.

I can't believe this.

That kiss with Cane... it was wrong.

Kissing him was wrong.

But then again...

Everything about it felt right.

A/N

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