Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

18. Whoever You Are

Numbness had taken the place of shock, swallowing Eve whole in the backseat of the car. She closed her eyes. Deep breaths; in, and out.

These days her mental armor was taking constant hits, and she needed to repair it before she came undone for good. The motion of the car helped her focus, but it didn't last long.

Not even five minutes out of the gates, the car pulled into an empty parking lot and stopped. Her eyes opened wide in fear as two men got out of the front and came to greet her.

She readied herself for whatever was about to happen, she would spit fire if she needed too...

The door opened and the dark shadow turned into a person, but not just any person...

Every ounce of air left her lungs as the last face she expected to see came into view.

"Hello again Eve, not freaking out back here, I hope." Harry's calming voice greeted me. I couldn't move.

To have been so prepared for the worst and instead be met by an angel in a black suit was nothing short of a miracle. I stared, stunned, before finally breathing.

"Oh thank god." I whispered, dropping my head to my knees and letting the relief flood through me. I didn't even realize I was crying until Harry climbed in beside me.

"Hey. You're okay." He brushed the hair off my face with his thumb as he spoke. A minute passed as I regained my composure, looking over at him with a sad smile. It was then that I noticed the other man standing outside.

"Marty, this is Eve. Eve this is a friend of the family, Martin Roth."

"Hey sweetheart. You alright?" Marty asked, looking concerned.

I blinked and gave a small nod, not convincing anyone. Alright wasn't exactly the word I'd use. In the last ten days I'd been sold, starved, beaten and forced against my will to do things I would never have done. I had let my best friend take advantage of me and I had been rescued by this stranger... twice.

I just looked at Harry, sending all the gratitude I had ever felt his way.

"We're gonna get you somewhere safe. Do you have any family you want to call?" I could barely make out what he was saying as my body came down from the shock. I shook my head no.

"Okay, that's okay. You're gonna stay with me until we figure out alright?"

With him? Again, I was speechless. Harry didn't require an answer, he just let me process what was happening. Unbeknownst to me, it was taking everything in him to stay calm while realizing the extent of my torment. He wasn't expecting this either.

"You know what I could go for?" He said suddenly, "burgers. Marty, you want a burger?"

"Yeah I could down a burger right now." Martin complied.

"How about you? No offence, but you look like you could eat the whole cow." Harry said seriously, looking me up and down. He didn't smile, but I could tell he was trying to make me feel better. My stomach growled loudly.

"Yes, please." I nodded, barely able to to accept this was happening.

"It's settled then."

**

Forty minutes later we were back in London and parked outside a Burger Baron. Harry had gotten one of everything, it looked like, and the three of us had a feast in the back of the car. I felt a little awkward, sitting there in heels, full lingerie, garters and a housecoat, but neither of them mentioned my circumstances and I had to admit, it was one of the best meals I could remember.