MAFIOSO

#09

Ella opened her eyes. She frowned. She heard a sound. Although she was sure it was very silent yet it woke her up.

'Am I dreaming?'

She moved her duvet out from herself and dropped her legs on the ground, then she stood up. She rubbed her eyes and opened her bedroom door, she walked to the living room and looked at the television.

"It's switched off?"

She hissed and turned to leave but her eyes caught something... Rather, someone. He stood with his back facing towards the door and staring back at her. It was the bun man...

-

"Am I dreaming?"

Ella thought out loud. Her eyes were wide open and filled with surprise. The man suddenly lost his balance and he fell on the floor with his back placed on the door. He winced and pressed a cloth using his left hand on the right side of his tummy.

She froze on her spot, she was trying to get her head in place to know if she was dreaming or actually, that he was right in front of her.

He pulled himself up and bit his lips as he held the pain, he pushed the window curtains a little bit and peeked outside. He was satisfied and he leaned on the wall now and took a deep breath.

'Am I dreaming or is he really here? No, he is really here.'

She was stunned, she looked up at her, "why are you here?" She blurted out.

The man looked down at her as he tried to catch his breath, he let out a heavy breath as he tried to speak, "I..."

Instead, Ella interrupted as she looked down at his wound. He was bleeding heavily. "You're injured!" She couldn't help but exclaim. She rushed to him and pulled him but he winced. Ella shivered as she looked at his hand, it was already stained with blood. "Let's sit down on the couch."

She looked up at him with widened worried eyes, he didn't reply but he just stared at her through his dark green eyes and she helped him to the couch. He was about to sit down but his leg gave out and he fell on the floor with Ella with him.

"Oh, my God!" She exclaimed.

The man suddenly looked at her, "don't be loud."

She was stunned by his low voice and she bobbed her slowly.

"I-I'll bring first... First aid," she stuttered as she shook with fear. She ran away and into her bedroom. She bent down and searched under her bed then she pulled the first aid box and as she sprinted out of her room, she took a towel with her.

She ran back to him and kneed down beside him. She winced as she looked down at the blood-filled cloth he was pressing on his tummy.

"You need to get treated right now," Ella looked up at him. He was still silent but just gawked at her with his dark green eyes.

She ignored him and pulled the first aid box, "I'll clean the wound and try to wrap it." She held his left hand which was on his tummy and paused, she took off her hands and looked back at him. Her eyes were saying- can I?

The man looked back at her silently. After a second, he took off his hand and dropped it on the floor beside him.

Ella looked away from his eyes and down to the wound. The cloth was still there. She slowly took hold of the cloth and removed it from his tummy. Then she paused his shirt up.

'He was ripped! And also, very wounded.'

Her eyes widened and she shivered in fear, "you will need stitches..." She looked up at him and yet, he remained silent while his eyes were on her. Ella frowned and looked away, "I don't know how to do stitches..."

"I'll do it."

He did talk.

She looked up at him. Then she nodded her head slowly. "I'll start now."

She picked up the towel and rubbed the blood off the sides of his tummy without touching the wound. She curled her lower lips in and with a knitted eyebrow and grimace on her face, she picked up the cotton wool and pressed some alcohol on it. "It's gonna hurt." She whispered and glanced at him then looked away as her eyes met his. She rubbed the cotton wool softly and gently with a frown on her face, she winced and rubbed it. He cringed at the pain and bit his lips.

- - -

'I watched him do his own stitches... He must have been doing it for years... he is so good with it.'

Ella looked at him as he cut the thread and dropped the needle on the floor. He picked up the alcohol and dupped some on his tummy. He moaned in pain while Ella looked away as she winced and shut her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and looked back at him. He was done and he leaned back on the couch and let out a deep breath. He was staring back at her. She looked away and picked herself up, "I'll put everything away."

She walked towards him and picked up the first aid kit and the nylon back that had all the blood stains. Then she stood up.

"Why did you help me?"

With a low deep voice, he asked softly.

She paused.

'Actually, why did I help you?'

Ella looked back at him and gave a tight smile, "because you left me in a 'clean state'. I'll do the favour back," she looked down at him, then away from him, and walked away.

He didn't reply.

Ella walked into her kitchen, she pressed her back on the wall and her hands on her chest. "Why did I say that?" She whispered and peeped back at him. He was still leaning his head on the couch.

'Why is he here thou? Why did he come to my house? Out of other houses?' She leaned deep on the wall and thought, 'after he killed that man... Did he come to kill me because I know his face?'

And with a glare on her face, she dropped the nylon and the kit on the floor and walked back to him.

"Why are you here?"