A Hundred Ways To Hurt

Chapter 2: Russian Euphoria

Hello, my darling little ... lovelies, I'm soooooo sorry (not sorry) for being a lazy bum and not updating 100 in a long time.. however, not as long as Define or the late HMW... Man, just thinking about it, I am a terrible author (._.") I'm sorry, loves. But anyways, thanks for 30+ reads for chapter 1 of 100 and I can't wait for the plot to set sail... (;-;) if I ever find the time to update that is... Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy my second chapter and don't forget to PM ( .. or DM idk how it goes) if you have any suggestions or stuff like that. Enjoy~

Angus Park would never be as luxurious as Central Park but to Alessa it always had something personal to her. As she strolled through the local park, camera in hand and a slight smile, she couldn't help but feel at home.

The warmth of the Sun inked down on her skin and she observed the commotion going around her.

There were 5 kids playing frisbee with an old looking Golden Retriever that wore a burgundy collar around its neck. She knew one of the kids as Sebastion Rivera because his brother, Evan, was in her kindergarten class. She continued to watch them for a few more minutes before she noticed she caught the 8 year old's attention. Once they met eye contact, he gave a her a slight wave then went back to playing with his friends.

Alessa traveled to the Park's heart- a private rose garden in the center surrounded by polished marble fountain. Most of the parks in the DMV area as well as New York and New Jersey had some sort of fountain, but for some reason she found Angus Park's fountain to be the best out of all of them.

Even though it was barely ever turned on. The switch to channel the tons and tons of water pouring down the sculptures unique structure had short circuited a few years ago due to poor planning.

She loved the local feeling Angus Park gave her, the humble people there hanging out and just having a good time with no worries or fears. She found herself mesmerized in the quaint atmosphere of the Park as she took a seat on the rim of the fountain. Relapsing back to her past was a bit of a struggle but she found a young version of herself roaming the park at 3:54 in the morning. The air was soothing to the warm tears falling down her cheeks as she inhaled pounds of air in her thundering chest. That was the 3rd time she had run away from the Faulken's house. That time, the number she was on was only 21 but it would change to 22 as soon as she stepped back into that demonic red house. She mimicked a deep breath from the memory and a shallow exhale as she felt her optical senses drown themselves in the aroma of Tom's fresh shortbread and Julia's Pretzel Shoppe. She recalled her current number, 53, and gave a light laugh. She hadn't been counting for a while now. Especially not since she and Morris got married. Morris. Just the sound of his name gave her an unfamiliar ache in her  heart- or, I guess where her heart should have been. All these negative thoughts-

*Click*

A strange noise erupted from in front of her- a strange clicking noise ... As if someone were taking a picture of her.

She opened her eyes curiously and was met face-to-face with a man with broad shoulders and a black ascot. The man's gaze on her stayed a bit weary as he slowly put down his camera and stared at her awkwardly. She shifted awkwardly under his gaze and waited.

They stood in silence for what seemed like hours until the stranger gave her a light smile. Then he spoke.

"Прости! Я не имею в виду, что беспокою вас ... Я просто не мог сфотографировать кого-то, как красивый, как вы, но почему-то вы смотрите так грустно.(1)" He apologized.

Alessa was baffled and her expression showed it.

"Um... C-Could you repeat that?" She asked as if 4 years of private Spanish lessons with Mrs. Dutrow in a patterned dining room was going to prepare her for a full blown conversation with a Russian stalker. Feeling anxiety bellow in the pit of her stomach, she looked at him with an awkward face.