Stronger

The Strangers

Chapter 5

The first thing I feel when I wake up, is the harsh pounding in my head. Groaning, I sit up. I stretch and observe my surroundings.

I'm in an unfamiliar room. With plain plain walls and a single dresser. There are a few boxes stacked in the corner.

I get off the amazingly comfortable bed and walk to the door. I try the handle and see that it's not locked. I open it and peer out. I see that I am in the last room in the hall, right across from the bathroom. I dart into the bathroom and close the door tightly. I turn to the mirror and groan. I look like hell.

I see that I have bags under my eyes and it looks like I haven't been getting much sleep. Which I really haven't been. I look down and I see a large, dark bruise on my cheek from when Zayn slapped me. I lightly touch it and flinch, yep, that's a bruise. I look down to my neck and see a very faded hand print. I can even see each finger and match it with my own hand. Jesus. I shake my head and pull up my shirt so I can see it in my reflection.

I choke back a sob as I reveal a large bruise on my abdomen. A few spots have a dark purple, and an occasional light green. The rest is a hateful blue. I guess if it didn't hurt like a son of a bitch, it would have been a bit beautiful with all of the colors.

I pull my shirt down and splash some cold water on my face then I try to tame my hair. After I finish, I wipe my hands down the side of my pants and exit the bathroom.

I follow the sound of clanking of metal pots. I slowly step down the stairs, because of a whirling in my head. Stupid headaches. I enter the kitchen and see a woman searching for something in the fridge.

I clear my throat and watch her jump up, startled. She turns to face me with a carton of eggs. When she sees me, she laughs.

"Sorry, hun. You startled me" the woman says as she makes her way back to the stove. "How are you feeling? Better yeah?"

Still confused of where I am, I answer. "Um, yeah. Just my head hurts and I'm really sore. Can I ask something?" I see her nod. "Where am I?"

She takes in a big breath and puffs out her cheeks. "My name is Anne, and my son and I just moved here. I'm a nurse and my son found you on the way back home. He brought you here. I think-" she gets cut off by a door slamming shut.

"Mom, I couldn't find the butter milk, but I got the cereal you wanted" he stops when he sees me in the kitchen.

"H-hey"