Reeve

My lungs were on fire.

I had no destination in mind; I obediently followed my pumping, lead-weight legs as they continued on their own cycle of motion and carried me into the depths of the night. Everything, from the wind slicing my cheeks to the sound of my heartbeat hammering in my ears, felt familiar and good. I hadn't run like this in a long time. I missed it.

The seconds melded into minutes and I lost track of time. Eventually, the physical effects of running started to take its toll on my out-of-shape body, but I only had one thought in mind that kept me going: run.

For her, I would.

"Come - back here, you - filthy idiot!" Mr. Gold panted breathlessly, gulping and fighting desperately for air while trying to yell and run at the same time. His voice sounded nasally and muffled, almost like he was plugging his nose.

Rolling my eyes at the tone of his voice, I sucked in a sharp breath through my teeth and let it out in a slow whistle. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks, though."

"Go to hell."

His sloppy, heavy footsteps echoed faintly behind me, and I risked a quick peek.

At that same moment, Mr. Gold's foot made contact with the large crack in the pavement. His arms flailed in an attempt to keep himself balanced, but his feet slipped out from under him and his body tumbled forward from the momentum.

"Holy mother fu-"

He face-planted into the ground and skidded a couple feet before he was able to finish.

Ouch.

That looked like it hurt.

But he deserved it for laying his filthy hands on Haven.

I allowed myself to slow down to a jog but continued to put a little more distance between us. I didn't want him to try anything; although, I was pretty sure he wasn't in any position to do so. Once I was satisfied with where I was standing, I came to a complete stop.

Interlocking my hands, I placed them on my head and straightened up as I attempted to catch my breath. The pounding in my chest eventually calmed down, and the crisp breeze dried up any evidence of sweat.

After a while, Mr. Gold flipped over and groaned; his face was bloodied and torn.

Leaning on his right arm for support, he spat out a red mixture of teeth and saliva as he tried to stand up. Within a few seconds, he dropped back down to his shaking knees and landed harshly on the gravel below. He quickly whipped his head to the side and retched up acid and alcohol, violently enough that his chest convulsed uncontrollably.

"I'm dying," he whimpered. "Someone, h-help me!"

"Why should anyone help you?" I asked bitterly. I despised him, but the look of sadness and pity in his eyes was getting to me. They finally looked familiar - almost like the eyes of the man I once knew.

It took everything in me to prevent from reaching my hand out to him.

"Anyone! Please, help!" he begged. His hysterical tone was shrill and piercing; thankfully, we were alone.

"Stay away from her."

Mr. Gold immediately stopped immediately and narrowed his eyes into slits as he gave me a hard look. "Shut up. Who even are you?"

And just like that, the feelings of pity evaporated into thin air.

"I'd like to ask the same question. Who are you? Or, better yet, what have you become?"

He leaned his head closer and spat in the direction of my feet. "Don't act like you know me. I don't know any idiots like you."

"Oh, but I do know you. You weren't like this before, Mr. Gold. What happened?"

"Haven happened."

"She didn't do anything to you."

"She ruined my life from the second she was born."

My gut wrenched in disgust at this man. "How could you even say that? She looked up to you. She admired you. She loved you."

"You don't know anything. That little wench ruined my marriage."

"The miscarriage wasn't her fault."

His black, soulless eyes focused on mine as he gave me a sharp look. "How do you know about that?"

"I told you, I know you."

"Stop being a cryptic asshole and answer me."

"Just stay away from her, Mr. Gold."

I lowered my head and motioned as though I was tipping an invisible hat, just as he did to me an hour ago.

And with that, I walked away.

"Get back here, you stupid -"

The rest of his words got lost in the wind as I picked up my pace and ran. My legs were cramping up and shooting pain up and down my legs, but I welcomed it, like an old friend.

As I ran, I wondered how Haven was holding up.

Would my warnings to Mr. Gold be enough? Probably not. I had to find out a way to keep Haven safe - to keep him away from her.

A few minutes later, my phone rang, and my dad's picture popped up on the screen.

"Hey, Dad! Sorry I wasn't home to greet you. My errands took me a lot longer than I had planned."

"Evan. Where are you?"

I chuckled. "It's Reeve now, Daddio."

He sighed, and I could imagine him shaking his head. "It's going to take some time to get used to your new name."

"Mom was afraid of that. You know how much she hated the name Evan."

He chortled in his contagious, hearty way, and I couldn't help but smile. I had missed him.

"I know, Son. I'll work on it. So where are you?"

I searched my brain for an excuse as to why I wasn't at home. "I was just on my way to pick up something for dinner. I was hoping we could save your famous cereal meals for another day."

He snorted. "I've lived alone for the past nine years, Son. I've been forced to pick up a thing or two about cooking."

"Really? So no more Frosted Flake dinners?"

"Excuse me? You're talking to the next Iron Chef, Ev - I mean, Reeve."

It was my turn to chuckle. "Whatever you say, Daddio."

"You're probably right, though. It's late. We should just get something to-go for tonight."

"I'll pick it up now. Is there anything you're craving?"

"You choose, Son."

"Pizza."

I hungrily sniffed the air another time, savoring the scent of the sweet, garlic crust pizza in my hands.

Oh, how I had missed California's pizza!

I was walking home briskly, excited to finally satiate my cravings, when a harsh, cacophony laugh snapped me out of my thoughts.

My head shot up immediately as my ears tried to identify the sound.

I heard a faint voice ahead of me. Straining my ears and picking up my pace, I barely caught the words, "You should have never been born."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I realized I knew that voice.

It was Mr. Gold's.

I ran to Haven's house and stopped in the shadows of her driveway.

"I'll be back, angel. Don't you fret. I'll be back for your limbs," Mr. Gold threatened as he backed away from the house.

Suddenly, as if he had changed his mind, he whirled back around and took a seat in the weedy lawn. He sat facing the house, rocking back and forth while hugging his knees.

"Just you wait, little girl," he whispered.

I stepped out of the shadows. "I told you to leave her alone."

Mr. Gold's eyes widened in surprise, and another emotion quickly flickered in his eyes before he composed himself. Was it fear?

"Get out of here, Bodyguard. This is between my daughter and me."

"Leave. This. Place. Now." I emphasized each word slowly, as if I was talking to a young child. "Or you'll regret it."

"What are you gonna do, punk?"

"I'll give you one last warning. Leave."

He snickered, holding his stomach and slapping his knee like I had told him the funniest joke in the world. "Yes, sir!" He exclaimed, holding his hand up to his forehead in a mock salute.

"Don't say I never warned you," I said as I backed away from the house.

"Ha! You scared, little boy? Is that why you're inching away from me?" He laughed dryly. "Go to hell, Bodyguard. This is my house."

I walked a few paces down from Haven's, debating whether or not I should call the police.

On one hand, I needed to get Mr. Gold away from her. On the other, I imagine if Haven really wanted to completely get rid of him, she would've reported him years ago. She had always loved her father, so I knew this must've been a hard decision to make.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled out my phone and dialed the number.

"911, where is your emergency?"

I gave the operator the address, and then said, "I'd like to report a suspicious solicitor in my neighborhood. His face and clothes are bloody, and I think he may be drunk." I gave her the rest of the details and promised to stay on the line until the police came, but requested to stay anonymous.

There.

I could, at the very least, buy Haven a couple of days while I figured out how to deal with him; I had to talk to her to figure things out first.

I didn't walk away until I saw the red and blue sirens coming this way.

A/N: Hello, hello! Sorry for the delayed upload :( I've just been so busy... It's crazy! But hope you guys enjoy this new chapter :)

Also, I've been checking my demographics stats for this story... and I just want to say, I am so grateful for ALL of you! I have readers from all over the WORLD! New Zealand, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, India, UK, USA, Canada, and more... I'm so thankful for each and every one of you <3