The Don's Muted Muse

1.

Octavia

It wasn't supposed to end this way.
But i couldn't escape it.
Everything has gone wrong.
I was deeply engrossed in my thoughts that i didn't noticed, the clock was about to hit 9.
I collected all my belongings which only includes keys,purse, water bottle and the book I'm currently reading.

I turned off the power supply. Closed the door on my way out and locked it.
Although i do own a car but i love walking as it helps in clearing my head.

My house isn't far away from the store but i do have to cross a empty...scary alleyway on my way back home because that way I'll reach my home in less than 10mins.

I have a strange feeling in my chest since evening like something bad is about to happen, but i didn't think much of it. These days I'm stressing alot more than usual due to my mom's deteriorating health and the fear of being alone if anything happens to her.

Thinking about my mom, i was about to enter the alleyway when i noticed someone was lying in the middle.
Fuck.......
What the fuck?????
I froze.

Octavia dear, it's none of your business if someone is lying dead in the middle of alleyway. Just run past them.
Sometimes i just hate my mind.

What if i really run past them? Just ignoring the fact that some dead person is lying in my way.
WHAT IF THAT PERSON IS NOT DEAD AND THEY ARE JUST PRETENDING TO BE UNCONSCIOUS????
THAT PERSON WILL GRAB YOUR LEG!!!!

Told you, i fucking hate my thoughts sometimes.

Should I help that person? Or run???
My mind says....
RUN
RUN
RUN
RUN
RUN
RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN...

But deep inside my heart i know if I didn't help that person, I'll never be able to sleep at night.
Without thinking much, i stepped closer to the body lying in the middle of this alleyway.
As soon as i was closer enough, a strong metalic smell hit my nose.
Blood.
Alot of Blood.

Omg....Why me?????

From the closer look, he looks older than me but not too much.
He is knocked unconscious by fall and injured his head hence the bleeding.
Or....... someone hit him hard in the head.

Not sure what to do, I did the first thing that came to my mind.
I took my water bottle from my bag and i splashed a little water on his face.

No response.
Now, I'm really worried.
Again, splashed water and this time I gently shake him a little.

His large, misty grey eyes met mine.
He's gasping.

As soon as he tried to get up, he groaned in pain.

"Thank God! Are you alright?" I asked him gently.
His eyebrows knit together.

"Get away from me!" He said with so much hatred that it made me flinch.

I dropped my hands to my side.
"Well, i have no intentions of coming anywhere near you but i was on my way home when i saw you lying unconscious in the middle of this alleyway." I said while getting up.

His gaze flickered towards me," i dont need you help" he said glaring at me.

"You're bleeding" i said raising my voice in disbelief.
Why is it so hard for men to ask for help?
"I'm fine, its just a cut" he stated, trying to get up on his own!
"I think that's more than a cut!" I announced.
Kneeling down to help and support him to get up, that's when his expression changed from pain to anger.
"DON'T TOUCH ME" he shouted in my face.
I flinch. Again.

"Well, i was just trying to help. If you want you can use my phone to call your family or friends and please don't get up, you'll make it worse." I said without looking at him.

A few minutes of silence was broken when i heard "Give me your phone."

Aww, he's accepting my offer.

I took my phone from my purse and handed it to him. I looked at him carefully as he dials a number and brings the phone to his ear.

I know eavesdropping is not a good thing to do but I can't help myself as there isn't much space in this tiny alleyway, to create some distance and give him some privacy.

"Marco, I'm injured"

"...."

"Send help."

That's it????
He hanged up.
He handed my phone to me and muttered something under his breathe.

I would like to think that he said thank you for letting him use my phone.

"I can wait with you until your help arrives, if you want."

"NO"
He again fucking shouted at me for no apparent reason. Did he really banged his head hard?
Maybe he doesn't like my presence.

"Okay then, take care." With that I turned around to opposite side of alleyway which leads to my home.
I looked down at my watch, 11pm?
Omg.

That's when my phone started ringing, grabbing it out of my purse, i saw my mum is calling.

Shit. Now, she's worried about me. Great. Just great.

"Hey, mom"

"Are you okay baby, where are you? It's getting late"

"I'm on my way mum, see you soon."

I decided not to tell my mother about today's incident. I know her, it'll bother her. And worrying her is the last thing i want to do.

I clutched my phone tightly in my hand and started walking out of the alleyway, when i heard his voice again.

"Excuse me?"

I froze. My mind thinking about the worst scenario. Slowly I turned around and looked at him.

"Yes??" I said, uncertainty clear in my tone.

"How may I address you?" He said looking at me with a blank expression.

I started walking towards him and he raised his head slowly groaning, looking confused.

I stopped closer to him, took out my business card from my purse.

I extended the business card towards him and said, "The name is Steel, Octavia Steel."
I smiled politely at him.
He nodded.
"I'm Giovanni"

I would love to call him Gio. Only if he tried to be a little polite.

When I was about to reply, I heard voices coming from a distance, indicating his help has arrived.

"It was nice meeting you, Gio. I hope you get well soon." I said quickly before giving him a chance to reply.

I literally ran towards my home.

After reaching home, I talked to my mum for some time then she went to sleep. I heated my leftovers for dinner.
Then, went straight to the bed.

Author's note
Important thing to keep in mind is that Octavia will become selectively mute.
In first few chapters, she's just like a normal person.
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