In Between (Tale of 3 Hearts)

Chapter 2

Yes, she was still petrified from the near assault, happy and at the same time stunned, feeling all waves of emotions at once.

"That's crazy. I mean it's suppose to be... oh my God." Shaky laughters started escaping from her mouth rapidly as she couldn't help it. She sniffed after a moment, wiped off her tears as she approached her saviour.

The stranger stopped the siren, pulled off his hood, put down the loud hailer and waited for the young lady to come close.He feared approaching her first would trigger a bad reaction.

"Miss, are you ok? Do you need to go to the hospital?" He inquired out of concern but once Allison cane close, his demeanor changed.

"Yeah I am ok, just a little shaken." She wrapped her arms around her. "Uhm hey. Thanks, you saved me back there and, and that was cool," she said, pointing at his loud hailer.

"I am Alison by the way." Extending her hand for a handshake.

But he never shook it, leaving her hanging. "You're welcome," he plainly said.

"Ok."

"You shouldn't be here in the first place but sure, glad to help. I better be going now." He took up his loud hailer, attempting to leave but stopped.

"Uhm, you coming or what?" He asked with a shrug.

"Yeah of course. Let me grab some things first."

Allison ran back to the scene, halting and glancing at the dark alley. She wanted to erupt to tears again but she took deep breaths to calm down knowing a stranger would see her in her weak hour. The assault brought back dreadful dark memories, but she didn't want to relive that in front of a stranger. With words of comfort, she picked up her groceries , went back to the guy, then they kept walking.

"Can I help you with those?" He nodded towards her groceries.

"Don't bother, I want to hold on to something . Thanks anyways ."

"Right."

A moment of silence passed before Allison spoke again.

"Hey, I don't even know your name."

"Bryan."

"I guess you don't talk much, do you Bryan?" She joked, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I guess you don't watch where you're going, do you?" He responded in an evasive way.

"Huh? Funny, that's the second time I've heard that today."

"That was me the first time today, keep up," he replied, looking at her with a faint smirk on his face.

"Holy molly! That was you?"

"Of course. My first impression wasn't such a nice one, I'm sorry." He took a stance, posing like a superhero. "But now, i've saved you from the snare of evil men." He trailed off, comically.

"You sure look like grumpy captain underpants." She declared, bursting out to laughter.

He gasped, holding his heart dramatically. He was surprised she was bold enough to utter a joke after what transpired, regardless, he couldn't help but admire her.

"Take that back!"

Allison simply threw her head backwards as she laughed at his reaction. He chuckled and for the first time, she really took a look at him, instantly realizing how handsome he looked.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He looked at her from the corner of his curly eyelashes, curiously drawing her out from her thoughts.

"Nah, it's nothing." She lied immediately. "Was wondering what I would've done without you back there. Can I ask you something?" She added.

They were almost at her house so she decided to make it quick. Of course her grandma would be worried sick about her.

He was silent so she took it as a yes.

"How -I mean why...

"By the looks of it, you are new here so you probably don't know. If you must, I lead a revolt against the increment of tax in Coastville. After our awareness tonight, i forgot my loud hailer," He paused to push back strings of black hair falling out of place. "After retrieving it, I saw some odd activity with those men following a lady. I mean I've seen it happen before so I do what I can to save the ladies." He elaborated.

"Oh."

The scenario of him saving other girls in distress crossed her mind. She felt jealous.

"What's your story, uhm Allie?"

"Would really love to tell you but here we are, my home." She pointed at a distant house. "We could talk some other time, hope you don't mind?" She replied, searching his face for approval.

"Sure, we can. May I've your number to keep in touch then?"

"Of course, just give me your phone."

Bryan brought out his phone from his back pocket and handed it to Allison.With that, she punched her digits and gave it back.

"Here you go."

"Thanks, see you around then?"

"Certainly. Goodnight Bryan and thanks again."

He just waved as she walked up to the front door.

Allison felt his gaze on her so she turned slightly, waving one last time before she entered, closing the door behind her.

Inside the apartment, warmth enveloped Allison as she slipped off her flip flops and walked into the kitchen to set down the groceries she bought, hoping none got damaged from the disturbing event.

"Abuela, I am home." She shouted, and in response the voice echoed through the house, sending her words back to her.

It was an apartment of a living room, a dinette with a kitchen, 2 bedrooms which possessed a bathroom with a shower each. An apartment too big for two people and too empty. It didn't help that her grandma was old, in her mid eighties and hard of hearing.

"She's probably sleeping without her hearing aid," Allison murmured, at the same time arranging the items inside different cabinets. Relief washed through her when she realized none of the mason jars broke, although they have shown little cracks.

It was only when she finished and wanted to leave, that she saw a plate covered on the dining table. Removing the foil wrapped around it, the aroma of lasagna engulfed her. It gave her stomach a quick appetite. Beaming with smiles, she took it upstairs to her room. After a refreshing shower, she sat on the rug and ate her dinner. Eating up to her fill, she went downstairs and washed her plate clean. Skipping up to her room again, she decided to check up on her grandma. Slowly she reached out for the door knob and twisted it, and although the door gave a few crack, it didn't wake her Abuela up.

She walked into the room illuminated by the lamp by her bed.
Truly, Abuela was fast asleep, few strings of sliver hair falling out from her hairnet, her chubby cheeks, kindly wrinkled face and the lines on her forehead made her look sweet. She smiled when she inhaled her Abuela's faint smell of lavender perfume, it gave her the urge to hug and sniff her. Gently Allison raised the blanket, tucked her in properly and switched off the lamplight, but not without kissing her forehead and walking out. Then she left for her room to sleep.

"You've been a naughty girl, a bad one and you know that's not tolerated here, right? You ought to do what's expected of you, but you don't. You are so difficult! Now I am going to teach you a lesson. When I am done, you will be my sweet little good girl again."

He ripped her shirt off and started to prick words on her back with a sharp piece of glass. She screamed out while struggling to run away from the torture to safety but was tied up to a chair.

"Damian!"
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