The Fire That Burns Within

A Better Day

I hardly slept, my arms we're still bound to the pole and no matter how I tried I couldn't get comfortable. I pulled my legs up as close as they could go to shelter myself from the cold. The night was calm and gentle which was a blessing but I only had the little black dress on so I still shivered. I missed Joe, I missed his funny sense of humour and how he would always manage to put a smile on my face. I wish I could see him one last time.

Morning finally came and I could hear Noel's truck pulling up in the driveway. I heard his door open and shut. I hoped that he would be here soon and that he could redeem me from my uncomfortable position.

Finally after what seemed like forever he and Ramos stepped into the garden."I see you're still here" joked Ramos. I looked into Noel's face as he observed me, bound against the pole, humiliated.

"Stand up" Ramos ordered me. I did as he told me but my feet struggled, Ramos observed it in amusement. "Go ahead Noel, take her" he said and to me he said "you better have learned your lesson by now girl, my patience is running out"

"Yes master" I answered him. He looked pleased and walked away.

Noel gently cut the ropes loose and helped me to the car, at the car he tied the blindfold on again and carefully lifted me in the car. He found a blanket on the floor and tucked it around me. "Try to get some sleep, the ride will go faster that way."

I didn't object to that idea at all and drifted into an uneasy sleep. I dreamed that Joe was calling me, he needed me. I woke with a start when Noel lifted me from the car. He carried me to the room with the bed and tucked me in, he acted as if he was my big brother. The way he was around me it seemed like he had experience.

"What happened with your sister?" I tried carefully. The question startled him, he looked at me with pain in his eyes.

He sat next to the bed and began to speak.

"My sister was a beautiful girl, she was full of life and laughter. The moment you saw her your day would brighten. We didn't have a lot of money, my dad had left us and my mom worked 12 hours a day to keep paying the bills. She was a sweet and kindhearted person and the spare time she had, she spend with us. We didn't have a lot but we we're happy.

When my sister was about 10 years old disaster struck, she was diagnosed with acute leukaemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. My mom couldn't pay it and we watched her slowly get closer to death. That's when I met Ramos, he offered me money for the surgery and in return I would work for him. She made it through the surgery but afterwards she had a stroke because of an un-noticed brain aneurysm . She's still alive but needs care 24 hours a day. Ramos pays for it as long as I do my job"

I looked at him, stunned to hear his story. "I.." I hesitated "I'm so sorry" I said and I meant it.

"I'm sorry too" He looked at me, his face full of regret.

"You and her are so much alike, sometimes I can still see the fire in her eyes. It's the same fire I can see in yours" he stood up and I grabbed his hand.

"Please don't leave me" I said. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I couldn't stop them. "I won't, I just have to get you some food" he gently stroked my hair. "What have they done to you Rose?" he asked with regret. I couldn't answer him, I wasn't ready to speak of the horrible things they did. I just shook and let the sobs find it's way out.

He left the room and came back with a peanut butter jelly sandwich. It looked like the ones my mom used to make and I ate it between the sobs. Noel stayed by my side the whole day and told of happy times with his sister. I told him about my foster dad Joe, he had earned my trust.

Noel cheered me up and comforted me. He nursed my burns and bruises and made my hair look a bit better although he couldn't make it long again, which was a pity. "You should get some hair growing powers" he teased me as I looked in the mirror at his handiwork. "Yeah, that would come in handy right about now, but I'm afraid that spray tanned barbie will steal it again" I said and he laughed.

Noel made spaghetti for me that evening and even though he wouldn't win a cooking competition, to me it was the best spaghetti I've ever had. I hoped this day wouldn't end but nighttime came anyway. Noel allowed me to sleep in the bed and as he walked out the door he said "sweet dreams." He locked the door behind him as was his job but I didn't mind at all, I was perfectly fine sleeping in a real bed.

Morning came too soon and Noel had to take me to the mansion again. I cried as he blindfolded me and as much as he tried he couldn't comfort me. "Please" I begged him "let me just run away. I won't go to the police, I will just hide."

"Yeah, but what about me Roselyn, do you really think that Ramos will forgive me if I let his priced possession get away? And what about my sister huh, who will help her? Who will pay for her care?" He was angry and hurt, I could hear it in his voice.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, "I won't ask it from you."

He lifted me in the car and put the blanket around me, "try to sleep some more, you'll need the energy" he hesitated for a few seconds but closed the door.

I tried to sleep but the horrors from 2 days back kept haunting me, maybe if I'll just do what he asks maybe then he won't punish me. I decided that I would do my best to obey Ramos. It wasn't going to be easy and every fibre of my soul strained against my decision but it was a decision that had to be made.