Hello!! The fifth chapter is finally done!!!
My super-editor HMEdits has helped me a lot!!! I want to thank him and also my readers, you've been the most supportive. Thank you for liking my work!!
Enjoy!!!
Marie
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I didn't know what was going on with me. This was my fairy tale and the storm I expected was here. It had wrecked everything... maybe that's why they say that fairy tales don't always have a happy ending.
The cab driver was looking at me wide-eyed from the rear-view mirror.
"Are you OK Miss?" he asked genuinely concerned. "If you want I could take you to a hospital."
I couldn't find my voice to reply. The tears were flowing and I wanted to stop but I couldn't. The look in his face when he tried to attack me spun around in my head. How couldn't he recognize me?
"No, just take me home." I managed to say before a new wave of sobs overcame my ability to speak.
This was it, I couldn't think of anything else. His teeth, his eyes, his hands ready to snap my neck... Those were all I could think of.
I stopped the cab a few blocks away from home. I needed time to think about what happened. I really couldn't face granny right now... I reached into my pocket to pay the driver but I couldn't find my money.
Fuck
I thought, my purse must've fallen during my struggle. I would have to go to granny for money and she'd never let me go without hearing the full story... I didn't want that. She didn't need to know.
The driver must've seen my problem.
"It's OK Miss, you don't need to pay. I hope you get home safely."
I gave him a shaky smile and mumbled thanks as I got out. I didn't know where to go... maybe I'll be able to sneak in using the spare key under the flower pot next to the back door. Yes, I'd done that once and granny would be asleep by now.
I took a deep breath and started walking towards home when I ran into someone. My heart stopped beating right there but when the person spoke, I relaxed.
"I'm so sorry," the girl apologized. "Oh my god, May! What happened to you?"
It was Susie, one of our class mates.
"Uh... nothing I had a kind of accident." I mumbled trying to walk towards my house. I could feel the headache creeping into my brain and I knew I wouldn't be able to last longer without medication.
"You're bleeding, let me take you to the hosptal... you need to get those wounds checked."
"NO!" I exclaimed a little too loud. "I'm sorry... no hospitals please... I don't want anyone to know about this... just let me go home, I'll be fine..." maybe I was dazed a little but no way I was going to face all the questions they would throw at me.
"You're in no condition to walk. Come with me, you're badly wounded. Mom's a nurse and she'll help you clean your wounds and I'll take you home later." She was really concerned.
I tried to come up with an excuse again but I had no energy in me. So I nodded and she supported me as we walked towards her home.
I didn't even feel when her mom applied antiseptic to my scrapes or when she bandaged them. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My lower lip was swollen and there were blue marks where the guy had slapped me. My left elbow was almost out of skin and there were scratches on my neck... I didn't know whether they came from my attacker or from my rescuer. But that was nothing in comparison to what I was feeling inside.
He'd been my angel, someone who I'd believed in and he'd kept secrets from me, horrible ones.
I sat there in the bathroom staring at myself but not actually seeing anything. Nothing made sense... I felt like my whole existence was a joke.
"May, you really need to eat something. You're in shock so please eat something." Susie was pleading from beside me. I looked at the bowl of fruit but I had no appetite. I felt like I didn't even have the energy to pick it up."
"May," she called again and I turned to look at her. She was holding a glass of juice to my mouth. My throat suddenly felt dry and I emptied the glass.
"Should we call the police?" I heard someone ask. Maybe it was her sister, I didn't know.
"No, let's ask her first." Susie replied. She turned my face so she could look at me.
"Tell me May, what happened? Who did this?"
"I- I don't know... I don't know them..." I mumbled after a moment of thinking. "I was going to the movies and my car broke down. I was late- I walked but- they- he wanted to kill me... someone told him to..."
"Who tried to kill you? Can you remember his face? We need to call the police, May." Susie repeated again.
"Its no use calling the police!" I exclaimed. "He killed them, he killed them all! He saved me... he killed them all..." I could hear myself say.
"Who killed them? Someone killed your attackers? Who was it May?"
No, I shouldn't tell them... they'd kill him too. What would I do then? I'd die too.
My chest heaved again as I cried.
"I don't know who he was... he came out of nowhere and killed all of them... I -- I tried to look at him... I... please don't tell anyone... Please..." I begged them. "I don't want Granny to find out... please don't call the cops, they're all dead it's no use... please" I could hear myself plead between sobs as Susie nodded and hugged me.
This was a huge joke life was playing on me...
I didn't know when I fell asleep but when I woke up, I was in a strange bed. I sat up and pain shot through my body, every joint, every muscle ached.
"You're up." I turned and saw Susie's mom.
"I'm so sorry for causing you trouble Mrs. Hofer." I apologized. For no reason I'd dumped my load of miseries on this family.
"Never mind dear. You were in need. Susie called your granny and told her you were spending the night here. Tomorrow, you can go back home or go to school if you like."
"Thank you so much," I said with a smile. I suddenly missed my mum which threatened to bring fresh tears to my sore eyes.
"Its OK honey. Here have some milk and take this for your pain. I'll wake you up in the morning."
I nodded and did as she said and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
When I next awoke it was 6 in the morning. I got up and looked around. I got off the bed thanking god I hadn't stained the creamy white sheets.
I put my shoes on and went downstairs. The smell of bacon and toasted bread was in the air.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Hofer!" I said with a smile.
"You're up already! How are you feeling?" Mr. Hofer asked.
"I feel a lot better, thank you. Uh- I wanted to go back home before granny wakes up. I need to get my bags and stuff..."
"Are you sure you're ready to go to school? You look weak." Mrs. Hofer asked.
"I'll be OK. Thank you so much for taking care of me..." I blushed. It was really embarrassing.
"Its really OK honey. Here, have some breakfast." Mrs. Hofer said.
"Uh- I'll eat something at home... really it's OK..." I stammered.
"C'mon May, let's have breakfast. Then we'll get your things and go to school together." Susie added from behind so I agreed.
"Are you sure you don't want to report the attack?" Susie asked again.
"No, whoever it was that saved me, I want to keep him safe. Even if he killed those thugs, he saved me."
"If you say those guys are dead then its OK. It's your wish. Here, take these antibiotics. Take a pill thrice a day after meals, OK? And if you cane bear the pain, take some pain killers." Her mom replied and I nodded.
I got home and sneaked upstairs and washed my hair, careful not to dampen the bandage around my elbows. I put a clean pair of jeans and a woolen sweater. It was raining and very cold. I applied a little make up on my face to cover the marks and popped a pain killer into my mouth. Then, I packed my bags and snuck out again.
I didn't know what to expect at school... was he going to be there? I didn't want to face him, I didn't want to even look at him right now... was I scared? I didn't know but still a small part of me yearned to see him... even after all that had happened.
School was nothing like it used to be... he wasn't there. I looked for him though I was scared but I couldn't find him. Did I want to talk to him even if I did find him? Did I want to see him again?
No. I told myself. You're not seeing him again. He's not the guy you loved.
In all the chaos, I'd forgotten about Amy and it was after school when I saw her in the parking lot. I was walking with Susie to her car and I really needed an excuse to tell granny.
"So you stood up for no reason and didn't even think about calling? How could you do this May? We stood there till the start of the second half!"
"I'm really sorry; my battery was dead so I couldn't call you..."
"No, really! If you don't want to hang out with us anymore then just say it, OK? Now that you've got Ayden and all, I totally get it if you don't need friends anymore-"
His name caused my heart to throb painfully. Did I ever have him? Was he ever mine? What else did he hide from me? I couldn't stop the tears.
"Amy, I- I had no idea..."I tried speaking but the lump in my throat was blocking my voice.
"Oh, give it a break Amy!" Susie said noticing my reaction. "You have no idea what she went through when she was getting to that stupid movie of yours."
"What do you mean?" Amy asked suddenly lowering her voice.
"Some guys tried to rape her, to kill her yesterday. It was a miracle she's even here!"
"What? How? I mean... does Ayden know about this? Where is he anyways?"
"Amy, please. Let's not talk about this right now. I want to get home and I still need a good reason for granny."
