Fated to the darkness

I gasp loudly as my eyes shoot open, I feel wet, saturated and cold. Blinking fast and squinting my eyes, I try to find the source of this horrible sensation.

“Get outta here you horrid scum! You’re scaring my customers away!” The deep voice of a man knocks me out of my haze. What the hell did he just call me? I think as I wipe the water from my eyes.

Whack.

I feel a hard force hit into my head causing me to scream in pain, the feeling of blood running down my forehead is unmistakable. A solid clank on the ground brings my attention to the metal bucket that collided with my head.

I look up, glaring at my attacker. “Are you deaf and stupid? I said GET OUTTA HERE!” The large man screams at me like I am an animal.

Without hesitating, I stand to my feet and throw my fist straight into his nose, a sickening crunch sounds before blood gushes from his nose.

He staggers back slightly, surprised for a moment before the rage consumes him, he launches for my throat with deadly intent, suspending me against the brick wall by my throat.

He squeezes hard as I squirm and kick, trying to claw him and wedge his hands away from my neck. Stars start forming in my eyes as I feel my vision begin to fade, the only sound I can hear is the erratic thumping of my heart as it tries to force the blood circulation to my head.

Suddenly I feel his hands release me and my body falls to the floor with a heavy thud, I gasp loudly trying to catch my breath again, as my vision starts to return.

Blinking fast I see the figure of a man elbow my attacker in the head, he falls to the ground, unconscious.

My hero looks at me briefly and time stands still for a moment, he is the most beautiful being I have ever laid eyes on. His muscular figure rises and falls as he breathes heavily; his hair is a gorgeous dirty blonde that blows all directions in the gentle breeze. It’s his eyes that I find the most mesmerising, they are a soft grey with flecks of green.

I stare at him with admiration, feeling my lips curl into a smile, I almost thank him but stop dead in my tracks as his face morphs into one of pure disgust, he looks down at me like I am a piece of trash, my gratitude deflates quickly.

He glares at me like he hates me, the intensity of his glare makes me feel like a tiny insect before getting stomped on. Why does he look at me like this? What did I do to earn this gaze?

I open my mouth to ask what his problem is, but before I can get a word out, he stomps away, not once looking back at me. I stagger to my feet to chase him but by the time I get to the corner he turned down; I realise he is nowhere to be seen.

I desperately run, looking down the alleyways and side streets but it’s like he just disappeared into thin air, either that or he sprinted away as soon as he was out of my view.

Puffing heavily, I slump on a nearby wooden bench. My body is still saturated, and I can feel the blood running down my forehead.

A pretty little lady with brown shoulder length hair and baby blue eyes sits next to me on the bench. “That looks painful, are you okay?” She asks with a worried tone in her voice.

I eye her briefly before shrugging my shoulders and looking at the large tree in my view, hoping she will drop it and realise I’m not in the mood for small talk.

She turns towards me with a bright smile on her face, “my name is Emily, but my friends call me Millie, what’s your name?” She extends her hand out to me, but I side eye her before ignoring her pathetic attempt at befriending me.

She shyly pulls her hand away, “I lied, I don’t actually have any friends, you just looked so sad, and I thought maybe I could cheer you up”.

I feel a pang in my heart at her words. I don’t want to care, but now I feel sad for her. She frowns and stands up, “I’m sorry, I’ll stop bothering you.” She starts walking away slowly holding her head low.

“Wait, Millie, was it?” I call out, she turns around looking at me confused. I tap the seat next to me and she skips over excitedly. Giving me a big grin. I can’t help but smile back at her energy.

She holds her hand back out for me, and I place my hand in hers, “I’m sorry for ignoring you before, my name is…” I look down, furrowing my eyes.

What is my name? Who am I? As deep as I search through my mind, the answers won’t come to the surface. I can feel my eyes tear up in frustration.

I try again, “my name is… L, my name is L, L…” I stare at her wide eyed, “I, I don’t know who I am”.

She furrows her brows at me before she smiles, “how about we call you Elle?” Her suggestion makes me smile, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall.

Elle, I quite like that.