With A Twist

FOUR (HAZEL)

A loud crash in the distance makes me jolt from my sleep. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up against the headboard, resting my head against it as I watch the door through tired eyes. 

My body stiffens as I hear the door unlock. My heart starts to quicken in fear as I watch the door handle tilt downwards slowly. 

Who the fuck is trying to come in here in the middle of the night?

My fears are answered when I see Dmitri's dark silhouette entering through the door. He's wobbling slightly and the reek of booze invades my nostrils, emanating off him. 

Please, no. 

At least let me have coffee before I have to deal with stupid men. 

"Hazyyyy," he voice drawls into the darkness, making me roll my eyes as I brace for him to come near me. 

I listen for his footsteps, trying to control my breathing as they edge closer and closer to me. 

"What can they give you that we can't?" he whispers as he sits on the edge of the bed next to me. There is fake innocence in his voice, purely designed to manipulate me. 

It doesn't matter what my answer is. He won't release me to them, anyway. 

So I stay silent. 

Only infuriating him. 

"Ty glupaya suka!" his voice turns aggressive, making me wince in the darkness. He grabs onto my hair, yanking my face closer to him as pain radiates through my scalp. ( "You stupid bitch!" )

"Ya nauchu tebya podchinyat'sya mne," he growls, making me skin crawl as he drags me down the bed to lie on my back. ( "I will teach you to obey me." )

Fuck this shit. 

Channelling all the emotions I felt from the trauma I've experienced over the years, I force my right knee into him as he climbs on top of me, making him fall onto the side of the bed in pain. He groans in pain as I free my leg from him before climbing off the bed, darting through the double doors. 

My legs carry me as fast as I can down the eery gold and wooden corridors. I perk my ears up to listen out for any signs of life, hiding behind a column as two guards pass by. 

My heart beats furiously in my chest, making me worry it's going to give me away. 

I listen out for their footsteps to disappear before moving, trying my luck on an unguarded door a few doors down from my original position. 

Please be in here. 

I let out a breath of relief as I push open the door to see Alessia curled up in a ball, her pink pyjamas keeping her warm as she sleeps. 

Thank fuck. 

Careful to not make a sound, I close the door behind me and walk over to her bed. 

"Alessia, honey," I shake her slowly, making her stir in her sleep. I stroke her hair as her eyes flutter open before settling on me. 

"We gotta go, sweetie," I whisper and she nods sleepily, letting me lift her into my arms as she grips her teddy bear. 

A flashing red light in the corner of the room makes my blood rush cold as I realise they can see me. 

They have cameras. 

Making a rash decision, I decide to make a run for it, Alessia's body pressed into my chest as I cradle her. She wraps her arms around my chest for extra support as I sprint down the stairs. 

My heart rate increases as the barrage of footsteps beginning to catch up with me flood my ears. 

Fuck. 

Using all the energy I have, I manage to escape through the large metal gates, immersing the two of us deep into the forest. 

People calling our names and yelling in Russian surround us but I don't stop. The taste of blood floods my mind as I continue running, my bare feet bruising against the harsh terrain. 

I guess my long runs have all been for this. 

By the time we reach the other end of the forest, the sun is peeking through the leaves, rising from its slumber. My feet are bleeding and my legs are scratched from brambles but I don't stop, too determined to take Alessia to safety. 

We emerge from the trees to a small road, and I swear I see the city in the deep distance. 

I guess we're still in New York.

Ignoring my crying feet, I walk on the pavement, shifting Alessia to cling to my back. My bones ache with every step as I wait for a stray car to come barrelling down the road. 

Using the city buildings as a signpost, I head towards them as Alessia sings to me in Italian. 

I told her to sing instead of crying. 

It's what I used to do. 

Soon enough, a string of cars begin to fill the roads and I try to signal them, using my probably disgruntled, sorry state as a visual aid of my despair.

A car slows to a stop and a friendly woman steps out, with a phone in her hand and a grave look on her face as she analyses my cut-up body. Her face softens when she sees Alessia clung to my back. 

"Ma'am do you need help?" she says in a deep southern accent. 

I almost cry at her kindness. 

"C-can I borrow your phone?" I whisper, my voice raw from running for so long. She holds it out for me and I take it from her with my shaking hand as my adrenaline begins to drop.

Dialling the first number I can remember, the phone rings as my heart begins to steady. 

"Ciao," his deep voice makes me almost collapse in happiness. 

"Dawson," I whisper, a tear running down my face. 

"Where are you, baby?" his tone changes as I hear his worry through the phone. I look around for any signs but there's nothing to signpost where we are. 

"I-I don't know... Tell Andros... I have Alessia," I say, my head beginning to spin as a headache pounds through my skull. I sit down on the pavement, pulling Alessia to sit on my lap as I close my eyes to try steady myself. 

"We're coming, spitfire. Stay where you are. We'll find you," he says and I let a sigh of relief before everything goes black and the world turns silent. 

Did someone say reunited?

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I love you all <33