Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 210

210 Unwanted Magnet [2] 

Ares snatched my wrist before I could turn, and I was hauled to his body. 

The clothes were my lifesaver, and his gloves too. But his face inches away from mine, I didn’t know how to survive that. Because I knew deep down, the instant he sealed his lips on mine, my body would betray me. 

“Let me go…” I murmured, but Ares didn’t budge. 

However, I could sense the internal turmoil; his eyes were sharper and pierced 

through mine like a blade. He’s struggling, and I don’t fucking care about his struggles. 

“Haven’t you taken enough? Would you prefer I go insane until you decide you’re bored?” 

I successfully yanked away from his hold, rubbing my wrist. My heated glare was as if I was on the verge of setting him on fire. 

In silence, I turned on my heel, walking, feeling my entire body hurt, from head to toe. 

I slowed down and threw a look over my shoulder. Ares stood so impossibly still like a statue, yet for some reason, I could tell he was on the verge of coming at me. 

I didn’t let him. 

I went back inside the apartment. 

~*~ 

I opened the curtains, eyeing the spot his car was last night. Every trace of him was gone. I internally fought whatever magnet had made me do something as stupid as going down to him. 

I should have stayed back and flipped a middle finger. 

I heard my phone vibrate and I sniffed, looking towards the counter. The screen was blinking before turning off. 

I lazily walked to it and grabbed it. I got a text from someone. 

Unknown: I heard you were looking for me. 

Wait, is that…! 

00:01. 

< 

210 Unwanted Magnet [2] 

I got out of the cab and shut the door, eyeing the five–story apartment building. 

I walked towards it, taking the stairs. It took a while before I made it to the door with the number sent to me. I pressed the doorbell, waiting a few minutes before I heard a 

voice. 

“Who’s there?” 

“Um…” I neared the device. “It’s me, Catherine. Catherine Lane.” 

There was a moment of silence before I heard the door unlock multiple times. When the door opened, I saw a woman with shoulder–length hair and white streaks on the front. 

“I’ll be damned…” She eyed me from head to toe. “You look so much like Hannah.” 

I forced a smile. “H–Hi” 

Lena gave me a soft look before embracing me. It was brief before she pulled back. There was an awkward silence before she spoke. “Come in.” 

“T–Thank you.” I stepped in, and the door closed behind me, and I heard the locks. 

I certainly wasn’t hearing things. She had multiple deadbolts and chain locks on that thing. 

I cleared my throat, looking towards her living room. It was big and cozy, with every piece of furniture you could need and more. It had an amazing view, too. 

I heard a bark, and I flinched, a Golden Retriever coming towards me and wagging its 

tail. 

“Don’t mind old Frankie there, that’s his welcome bark.” 

Frankie came close to me, and I smiled, giving him a little head scratch. 

“When I got a call from my former precinct, I was wondering who still even remembers 

me.” 

“So I was at the right precinct then?“. 

“95th, the memories. Please sit.” 

“Thank you,” I said, and got comfortable. 

< 

210 Unwanted Magnet [2] 

“You live alone?” I asked, passing a swift look around. 

“Oh yes, the best. Don’t you agree?” 

“Y–Yeah!” 

“Do you want anything to drink or…” 

“No, no, I’m fine, really.” 

She sat opposite me, and Frankie came and lay next to her leg. 

“You got something on your glasses, I think a little bit of snow there.” Lena pointed out. 

“Oh? Is there?” I took it off and used my scarf to wipe it off. I don’t see anything, so I guess it must have been fog or something. 

“I’ll be damned again….” 

“What?” 

“Mrs. King.” 

My smile slowly faded. 

“At first, I wasn’t sure. I thought maybe it was a coincidence that you looked like her.” 

“T–That’s um…” 

“You married Ares King.” There was a shift in her tone. 

“That’s a long story.” 

“Really?” 

“Yes,” I forced a smile. “I actually came to see you because…” I paused. “Actually, I just found out that my mom was in the force and that you were her partner, so… She 

mentioned you in her diary, and that’s how I know.” 

“And here you are…” 

“Here I am…” I nodded slowly. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say or how to feel. I thought I knew my mom all these years growing up, but one discovery was all it took to find out I never did.” 

“And?” 

“I’m not mad, or about the fact that it was kept from me all the time. I figured I learned 

< 

210 Unwanted Magnet [2] 

about it at the right time.” 

Lena dipped her gaze. “I’m guessing you didn’t just come for a get–together with mommy’s old partner.” 

“I did wanna meet who my mom talked about in her diary.” 

She smiled sadly. “We weren’t just partners, you know. We were best friends. I was there at her funeral. You probably don’t remember me, but I gave you a rose to drop on 

the casket. She loved roses.” 

“T–That was you?” 

She nodded. “Yes. How long has it been? Twenty?” 

“Eighteen…” 

“Ah…. I stopped counting.” She took a photo frame from the table and turned it to me. 

It was a picture of her and my mom together. They smile so bright that the picture lit up in a way. 

“Her death broke me. I couldn’t get into work anymore or even last with any other partner that wasn’t her. Hannah was strong, and that kind of strength was hard to see in anyone else. She had this spirit that pulls anyone in. That was how she met Vincent.” 

“Dad…” I said, feeling heavy hearing his name. 

“He was the complete opposite of her but they blended well. I recall urging her to take that shot.” 

I smiled. 

Lena set the picture down. “After her death… I just, I don’t know. It wasn’t like it used to. I stayed for a while but then… I turned in my badge and never looked back.” 

“Lena…” I gulped. “What case was my mom working on before she died?” 

“You sure you wanna know that, kiddo?”