The Angel Trumpet

18.

The next morning I wake in the cushioned chair by the bed close to the bathroom, bottle of bourbon in front of me and glass cup in hand. I rub my temple placing the cup down and heading into the shower. The water turns on and I slip out of my clothes into the white tiled box with a glass sliding door. While closing it, the sound triggers an old memory from the last ten months of torture. I grip onto the tile wall letting the water fall off my back down to the floor. I felt weak and that's something I can never feel. Pieces of me were taken, taken and can never be put back together. The more I closed my eyes the more vivid things got. The memories were too much but with a bottle of liquor it melts away making me feel normal again. I wash the sweat, dirt and fish smell off me getting out to hear a banging at the door. Grabbing the towel hanging on the metal rod, I cover myself looking through the peep hole to see Xavier. He waves holding a paper brown bag and a cup of coffee. I swing the door open not fully awake yet letting him inside.

"Good morning."

He pushes the door shut with his foot and places the food and coffee on the table.

"How was your boat ride here?"

I go back into the bathroom getting dressed then coming back out snatching the coffee off the table.

"Who's bright idea was to have me stay with dead fish for three days? I swear I feel like I smell like cod fish still."

I sit bringing my knees up to my chest taking a sip from the styrofoam cup.

"It was the fastest way here." He says shrugging.

"Yeah, yeah, how's it going with me getting a place close to Fernando's nephew," I open the brown bag taking out a breakfast sandwich. "Did everything go through or do I have to wait still?" Xavier shakes his head helping me unwrap the greasy sandwich licking his thumb. "Misty said you should be able to go today and the person you wanted to meet to help with your supply is here too. I'll take you to meet him once we get you settled into your place for the time being." I nod releasing a breath of relief knowing I can make some type of business here even if it's for a short period of time.

"Great, is he the real deal?"

I bite into the sandwich tasting bacon, tomato, cheddar and egg. A small amount of grease from the bacon trickles down the side of my mouth and Xavier hands me a napkin, "I can vouch for him. He's good with his money and business mentality." I tilt my head but Xavier raises his hands up in defense. "You just have to meet him." I lose my appetite but he has no problem devouring the rest. "He's not like the rich douches. Right?" I say getting up, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror ready to jump back when I see the bloody and bruised version of me. "No and Misty told me to tell you that she took care of your clothes and stuff, it's in my car in the backseat." My chest rises and falls heavily as I'm zoned out only hearing muffles of my screaming.

"Aleya?" Xavier says seeing me frozen in front of the mirror, placing a hand on my shoulder I snap back to reality for the one millionth time since I got here.

"Yeah, thanks." I turn the faucet off not realizing I turned it on or even walked to the bathroom. I go over to the small table opening up the bourbon bottle. "Aleya." Xavier barks out taking the glass bottle away being over protective. 

My eyes zero in on him snatching it back, "I'm fine." I continue what I was doing chugging down what was left then slamming it onto the dresser near the bed. His eyes dart to me then the bottle then me. "Does Pito and everyone else know you're drowning yourself in liquor?" I whip my head around ice grilling him for even asking such a question. "What I do to survive my fucked up head isn't anyone else's business." Xavier scoffs feeling offended when referring him to just anyone, he takes the bottle throwing it outside once he opens the door having the glass shatter everywhere. "Anyone? We are family Aleya."

I sit slouching on the bed holding my head catching a migraine from the intensity of this conversation. "Family? Where was my family when I needed them in those last ten months? Where were they when I spent hours, days, months chained to a fucking chair cemented into the ground? Please tell me." I shoot my eyes up to him and his shoulders go sluggish with guilt and sympathy.

"That's not fair Aleya."

I scoff low looking down to my feet not wanting to hear anything else. "We'll get my stuff to the house and find our target. Understood?" He nods letting me head out first pressing the unlock button on his key chain. I see the two boxes full with my clothes, perfume, jewelry and weapons including my laptop. Xavier grabs what I need now and leaves the rest to take to the new place. "Get the car running." I say not even looking at him. "Al-" I walked into the bathroom shutting the door aggressively cutting him off turning the faucet back on and standing looking at myself in the cracked mirror. After a few minutes I walk out to Xavier but still feel like I'm in an empty compressed space with Fernando's voice echoing loudly, that only I can hear in my head.

"Cheer up princesa." Fernando says caressing my face then slapping it as I glare at him.

"You'll be screaming again soon. When you do, I'll make sure I enjoy it like all the other times."

A smile slips onto my lips the more I stay quiet knowing it's making him burn with more hatred he has for me.

"That's how you want to act?" He says as he snaps his fingers towards his henchmen to bring him a hammer. "You won't respond? I'll make you." He twists the silver tool in his hand then slams down on my hand, the clanking sound it made once it hit the chair and my flesh, scorched into my brain.

 Blood seeps out making him smile like the sick bastard he is, "I'll make your life a living hell princesa," he slams down again and I grit my teeth taking it in.