As Alastor made his hasty get away, the moment the demon teleported away, so did Angel's bullshit bravado. The smirk on his face vanished like it was never there in the first place. Again, Angel found himself deserted in that suffocating silence of his tiny room. This is what he wanted, right? The weight of everything crept back to smother him and the plastic tub fell mutely to the covers.

Putting on his guise was utterly exhausting and he slumped back down to rest his head on the cool pillow completely spent. But no sleep would come for him tonight. The repulsive sensation of those dirty hands still haunted him. Angel felt sick knowing that in a few days time that he would have to walk back into that lion's den. Valentino made it painfully clear about what would happen if he went against his wishes. He wouldn't only come after him but... the people around him.

"Fuck..." Angel hissed, his eyes clouding with tears for the millionth time tonight.