GRUDGES

Splaassh...

My eyes shot open at the sudden something wet pouring over me. Drenching me from head to toe. I gape for air. There’s a round of laughter filled the small room. I try to wipe off the rest of water from my face, but I couldn’t move my hands.

I looked down to my body, that’s when I found out why I couldn’t move my hands or body at the moment. I was tied tightly on the chair. My hands was tied behind my back and my legs was tied against the chairs’ legs.

I feel so hopeless at the moment. There’s no way I could escape this time. And there’s nobody will come to my rescue either. I curse the day I was born. Why do I have to face all of this as my life. What was I do wrong to get this kind of punishment?

As long as I remember, I never done anything bad, except one time on my fifth birthday when I push a boy into the fish pond because he’s making fun of me for not having any parents.

“What the hell! ... Let me go! You buffoons!” I screamed. Making them stopped laughing and narrowed their eyes at me.

Honestly im frightened but I refuse to let them know that. There was five mens in the room. All looked like goon. Long hairs, beard covering their faces made me hard to recognize them. All in black from head to toe, all have intimidating look and I know, I will not survive to see the next sunrise tomorrow.

One thing I don’t understand. Why they kidnap me?

“Shut your trap up bitch, or you we will make you.” One of them barked.

Yeah. Bark. They are like a bunch of bulldogs ready to eat you alive. I squirm slightly in my sit. Water droplets still dripping from my wet hairs. Seeing that little movement, they start to laugh again.

“As*holes!” I muttered angrily.

There’s suddenly silence. Dead silence. I lift up my eyes to look at them and was taken aback when my eyes meet with their cold like ice glare. All of them are glaring at me.

“I dare you to say that one more time” the guy from my right open his filthy mouth, taunting me. I know, I shouldn’t push my luck, but I couldn’t help it. I want to get out from here.

“Why? Are you deaf or something?” I taunt him further.

As soon as that question left my mouth, everything comes in fast motion. One second the guy to my right was standing or leaning on the wall, the next second he was right in front of me. Shooting daggers at me through his eyes. I blinked once at him, damn his is fast.

I was about to ask him when suddenly a sting of pain hit my face and bring it to the side from the effect. Not too a moment later something hard hit my stomach that made me gap for air. That’s not all, I feel pain everywhere with the hit and punch I receive until everything goes black.

I was panting and out of breath and almost fall over the ground but I can’t give up just yet. Not now, not ever when I finally can breath a freedom air.

I bend over to catch my breath, placing one palm on a car beside me as another hand on my knee to support my weight. I am tired of running, but I also cannot stop now when two lunatics was after me.

“There she is, hurry up! Catch her!!!”

I snap my head to the direction of the voice and saw two burly man running towards where I was trying to catch my breath. I yelp and sprint in zig zag around the cars in the parking lot trying to lose them.

I finally come into a small dinner and without thinking I barge in gaining lots of attention from the customers. I block their curiosity and bee lining toward the other side of the dinner where I see toilet sign and an arrow, hoping there is a back door I can use to escape.

Even if I plea those people to save me, I doubt they will help me without judging my current state. Who wouldn’t? My clothes were practically torn here and there and not to mention, dirty. I was hungry and thirsty but I don’t have any money with me to buy foods or a bottle of water, and most of all, those lunatics are somewhere outside this dinner.

Running towards the hall and just when I was going to turn around the corner, my body collided with something hard followed by clattering sound of broken glass and utensils. I stopped dead with my eyes bulge out and jaw drop.

“Watch where you are going!!!”

A harsh tone snap at me as I still eyeing the broken plates and glass and also the wasted foods who is now splattering on the floor around me and the angry guy.

“I- I am s-sorry, I didn’t see you there.” I said, without facing the guy.

“Are you blind?!” He thunder.

Wow, rude much.

I lift my head to give him my piece of mind but when I saw him, my words caught in my throat. The guy who is standing just two feet away from me is so gorgeous. Those long nose, those full lips, those enchanting pair of ocean crystal blue eyes, sharp jawline, mop thick jet black hair that are messy but suit his looks very well. He is wearing a waiter uniform. His mouth twitching into arrogant smirk which last only for a few seconds before a permanent scowl replaced it.

“Like what you see?”

Those words successfully snapped my out of my reverie and I glare at him. Alright, it’s my fault but he could talk to me nicely, what’s the need to be rude and arrogant? It’s annoying. I was about to answer him when another young waiter came to us in shock.

“Hunter, what the hell is happening, man?”

“It’s not my night, I hate the hell whole and this chick made it worse than it already is.” Hunter said while he’s watching me glaring daggers at him.

“I already said sorry, aren’t I? I will payback for whatever mess is this, but not now. I have to go.” I said, side stepping Hunter to leave but Hunter caught my forearm preventing me to leave. The moment his hand make a contact with my skin, I feel like electricity shocked me and made me yank my hand away from him.

“Not so fast...”

“Astrid? What happened to you?” The other waiter suddenly in front of me, cupping my face and checking my wounds which is visible on my hands and face.

Astrid? Who’s Astrid?

I step back from the second waiter as he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He checking me out up and down made me feel conscious.

“Who did this to you?” His question caught me of guard. His tone was full of concerns and I don’t even know who is this guy.

“Do I know you?”

Suddenly someone burst out laughing and I narrowed my eyes at Hunter who was currently clutching his stomach while laughing.

“Did I say something funny?” I ask him.

Hunter shake his head, but still laughing as the other waiter look annoyed. After few minutes finally Hunter stopped, even his eyes were watering from the mirth he have.

“Oh man, that was funny. I think your kiss to her last night in Max’s party causing her to lost her memory. Your kiss is poisonous man. I pity you.” He said, patting the other waiter’s back. I assume they’re friends.

“As enjoyable as this conversation is, I have to go. Bye.”

Again, before I get the chance to walk, Hunter hand grab my shirt roughly causing the old material to torn apart. In reflect my hand move on its own and the next thing I know, stinging sensation run through my palm.

“You perverted asshole !!!” I yell at Hunter who is caressing his red cheek while glaring at me. Anger is evident in his eyes. As for his friend was watching us in shock.

“You bitch, how dare you slap me!” Hunter lunged toward me in rage, but his friend blocking him. “Move Blake... I don’t care if she’s your crush, she won’t get away with it.”

“No, Hunter stop it!!” Blake tried to hold ragging Hunter from violating me. Is he seriously going to hit me?

“Astrid, you better go now.” Blake said.

Without second thought, I dashed to the back door into the dark night air that surrounded the area.

Astrid? Why that Blake guy calling me Astrid? As long as I remember, my name is Emily Rose. Who’s this Astrid girl?

“There she is!” The heavy voice of the guys that I tried to run from was just few meters in front of me.

Think fast Emily, which way to choose?

To my right is a knee high bush in a small garden and then a not so busy road. To my left is dead end as in front of me is my enemy getting closer.

I can’t barge into the dinner again and face the angry Hunter.

God help me!

And with that I jumped through the bushes, ignoring the pain in my legs from the bushes that cutting my skin I dashed toward the the empty road as the two psycho getting closer to me.

I don’t want to be caught again. But suddenly blinding headlights followed by blaring horn made me freeze on the spot. The next thing I know, I was on the ground and numb. The world around me slowly faded away before it became pitch black.