Valentina (one direction au)

Valentina - Chapter 2 - In the Family

"Kathia?" I breathe slowly, then realize she can't hear me. The light at the intersection turns red and I begin walking across the busy intersection towards her, uniform heels clicking on the ground, matching my heartbeat. She starts to inch away slowly, realizing I've spotted her, but I call out to halt her retreat. "Kathia, wait!" I call, breaking into a run. Now, she's anchored to the spot and doesn't move until i reach her. Clumsily, I stumble into her, breathless after sprinting in my heavy uniform under the summer sun. I get a good look at her face, and my eyes widen in shock and horror. Her honey blonde hair is fading, and darkened roots, a sign of stress, are exposed. Her hair itself is a messy mop, looking like it hasn't been cut or washed properly for months. She wears a faded black and grey t shirt, and the makeup smeared all over her face is classically dark. The only descriptor that comes to mind when I see her is slave.

Her face is sunken and the bones in her face are exposed; she just looks altogether more hollow, such much has changed in the past few months. Gone is the bubbly, beaming teenager I met, and replaced her is the worn and time tested woman.

"He wants you." She says simply in a low voice, almost a growl.

"What? Who? Kathia-"

"He. Wants. You." She repeats herself, like I didn't hear her the first time.

"No, no I got that part, but who wants me? Why-"

"I'm sorry," She says, backing away slowly, her nervous eyes flicking from side to side, as if expecting someone, "but that's all I can tell you. I'll be seeing you soon, trust me. But if I was you, and I was warned, I would run. Now. Because he specifically asked for you, and I know he always gets what he wants." Her eyes are glistening with emotion and hatred now, too emotions I never knew in the old Kathia. She looks dazed and insane, growling through her teeth words that make no sense to me. Having delivered her message, she turns and bolts away.

I'm completely lost. I stand next to the hedge, holding my breath as I stare down the path where she disappeared. Who wants me? Why should I run? A million questions nag at me, a million questions I know will have to remain unanswered. I sit down suddenly, overwhelmed. A young girl in a maid uniform runs up to me, the color of her gloves suggesting she is a few years my junior.

"Are you alright? I saw you fall, and wanted to make sure. Can I get you some water? Who was that strange girl? Did she hurt you? She kind of looked like a...slave." She spits the last word with particular distaste. Slaves aren't always barricaded in their master's mansions, sometimes they're allowed to run errands or take walks. You can tell when someone is a slave. It physically sucks the life out of your appearance.

"Ye..yes. I'm alright. Thank you..?" I trail off, realizing I'm at a loss for her name.

"Cali." She smiles genuinely, happy I'm unharmed.

"Cali." I echo her. She seems caring, a quality that is difficult to find in people today. I suddenly had the urge to shout at her, scream at her, tell her to run home before something terrible happens to her too. Before she turns out like Kathia. Before she is kidnapped. Cali is gorgeous: dark, dark brown hair cascading down her shoulders, bright eyes and a slightly mischievous smile, hinting that you shouldn't underestimate her.

She senses my worries and stands up.

"Are you sure you're alright?" She asks again. Through all the random emotion, all I could choke out to her as a parting message was a weak 'go home'. She nods and turns around on the spot, walking briskly in what I assumed was the direction of her house.

I stand and half jog half run back to my apartment building, where everything that happened gets the better of me and I break down in the elevator. Seeing Kathia shook me up, she looked horrible. Knotted and tired, depressed Not to mention her warning. He's coming. He wants you. Who's he? Why would he want me? I'm so caught up in my thoughts I barely notice when little Aria screams my nickname and barrels into me, knocking me to the ground in a bear hug.