Not A Runaway

The Muggings

                                                 The Muggings       

Walking back to the hotel someone snatched Nicole on the bridge. Knife held to her throat ready to slit open her jugular, he had a tight grip around her waist with the other arm. She was already wound up but this pushed her over the edge.

“Give me the money lad and I’ll release the lass.”

“Why is it always the girl?” She said through gritted teeth, stiff as a board she held her breath.

“Shut up lassie unless you want me to make you permanently quiet.” His voice was raspy. It was drunken assholes like him who gave the Irish a bad name.

“You’ll do no such thing, here take the money.” I said angrily handing him the remainder of my money. He released Nicole hastily and ran off. I stepped forward and she fell limp in my arms. She made no sound all I could hear was her heart beating louder as tears slipped down her flushed cheeks. I moved my thumb across her cheeks wiping away the tears. She put her head into my chest, holding me tighter as if I was going to drift away any second. All I could do was hold her closely pressed against me.

“We should get to the hotel” I whispered. She nodded her lip quivering. As we walked I draped my arm over her shoulders in a protective manner. As I unlocked the door she grabbed the card from me.

“I hate this.” What was she doing?

“I know, it’s ok, more importantly you’re ok.”

“You’re doing it again your treating me like a child, besides the whole point of coming here alone was to be independent.”

“What? I’m just being protective, that’s how I am. But I’m sorry, how do you want me to act, since this is all about you.” Oh god, I made her cry. Tears streamed steadily down her face.

“Here, here’s half for the hotel tonight and the eight   I owe you.” I was fed up with her.

“Keep the money” I said my jaw clenched. Just like that she was gone, out of my life. I should have stopped her but I was too outraged. At midnight, three hours later I got a call

 “Is this Mr. Trevor in room 6B of the Limerick Strand?”

“It is.” Who would be calling me at midnight? Nicole! Was she ok?

“This is a call from the hospital, in conjunction with a Miss N.” It was the hospital. Shit. Shit! Oh god was she ok, were the police taking her home, was I going to see her again? The questions flew through my head. Wait Miss N? She was street smart. I smirked only a second before continuing to worry.

“Are you there sir?”

“Oh, yes.”

“She was found by a passer-by an hour ago, and admitted half an hour ago with a broken ankle, harsh bruising to the left side ribs, and a slash to the left breast. After awakening from being unconscious for around twenty minutes after arrival, she requested for us to call you. Instructing us that she did not wish to have any visitors, but if you could bring her a clean set of clothes.”

“How do they think this happened to her?” I said as calmly as possible.

“The doctor believes perhaps she was attacked for her money we found a few euros left in her satchel.” She sounded like a robot. I guess that’s what happens when you work in a depressing environment.

“Could I have the address please?”

“49 Claude Lane.”

“Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can, and that I’m leaving now.” I bustled around the room to the set of clothes folded neatly on the desk. Snatching them up, I left in a hustle. Wait I didn’t have a car. Damn. I called a cab from the lobby phone. He was there to pick me up in a matter of minutes; still I needed to move quickly. All I could think about was the worst possible situation. I already knew she was ok but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my fault. I shouldn’t have let her walk out into the night in a strange place, especially after just being mugged. What kind of person does that? No stop feeling guilty and thinking about you, all that matters is that Nicole’s ok.  We were approaching the hospital. Why did I have to yell at her?