Trust [h.s.]

I

I focused on the splotch of gook that seemed to be glued to the countertop, scrubbing and sponging it away to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, it was most likely older than I was, and no matter how hard I pressed my cloth to the surface, it defiantly stayed put, refusing to surrender its whereabouts to the enemy. I heaved a sigh as I abandoned my position, throwing the cloth into the sink, and taking a swig of my nearby water bottle. I was beyond ready for the weekend. It was only Monday.
"Hey, Ellie?" Nina, my boss, called front the other side of the cafe. She hovered over two less-than-thrilled looking customers positioned at a table near the window. I joined them in the area, cocking an eyebrow in confusion.
"Yeah, everything okay?" I asked, glancing down to the woman, who offered me a dirty scowl in greeting.
"This woman's drink was delivered cold. Do you think you could make her a new one? It's a vanilla latte." Nina picked up the green mug, and handed it to me with a polite smile.
"Of course." I gave a tight nod, before turning around and heading back into the kitchen.
I quickly created a new beverage for our unhappy costumer, including an additional spray of whipped cream as a sign of our condolences. The drink breathed out puffs of steam, swirling above its rim, and evaporating into the contained atmosphere with nothing but a whisper. Its warmth radiated from beneath the ceramic mug, heating my chilled fingers as I held it carefully in two hands. I delivered it to the woman, who didn't give me as much as a second glance as I served her the newly made drink. I felt unappreciated.
Just as I emerged from the common area, and back behind the counter, the chime of the front bell produced a high-pitched shriek, indicating that a fresh face had entered the shop from the busy streets. I didn't take the time to look up at our new arrival, however, for I had picked my cloth back up, and tried once more to remove the stubborn stain from the granite counter.
"Hello gorgeous." A deep voice greeted me. I immediately looked up, afraid of whom I might find, but visibly relaxed as the blue eyes met mine.
"Luke," I breathed, glancing over the store's entirety to make sure no one was looking, then leaned in and planted a quick kiss to his lips. "What are you doing here? I thought you were working."
"Nah," He shook his head, his shaggy blonde locks threatening to fall in his ocean eyes. "I got out early, and came to see you. Hope that's okay." A wide smile spread over my features.
"Of course it's okay," I assured him. "Can I get you anything to drink?" Luke didn't need to look over the menu to know what he wanted; he'd been there over a hundred times.
"Americano?"
"You got it."

~*~

I bid Nina, and the rest of the staff goodnight, as Luke and I took off hand-in-hand. We huddled together as the freezing air seeped through the fabric of our coats, chilling us to the core. Even in the vast darkness outstretched beyond us, the white puff of breath seething from beneath my lip was visible to all, dancing through the winter breeze like the smoke of a cigarette.
Luke led me down the block, to a nearby restaurant, which was surprisingly crowded for a Monday night. The blasting heat engulfed me like a warm embrace as we entered, the coldness melting off of me, and sinking to a puddle on the floor. We sat down, and glanced at our menus, nibbling the complementary bread as we did so.
"So," Luke began, placing his menu on the white tablecloth, and catching my gaze. "I was kinda hoping that we could talk about something." He said hesitantly. My breath hitched in my throat at his words. He was going to break up with me. I just knew it. Even though we'd only been dating for two months, I liked Luke. He was common and familiar. He was relatable and fair. I didn't want to be without him now that he had become a routine.
I couldn't help but flash back to the first day we'd met at my work. He smiled so brightly, and so genuinely, I couldn't help but be putty in his hands. He was polite and nice, and very good-looking, and the fact that he'd had an obvious interest in me was an undeniable plus. We'd hit it off right away, and been together since.
"Um, okay." I gulped, picking at my fingernails in an anxious habit.
"Well," He began. "I know we haven't been dating all that long, but I really like you." His simple sentence allowed me to breathe again, now feeling more confident in our relationship and myself. "And I want you to be apart of something." I furrowed my brow.
"What kind of 'something'?" I questioned. Luke opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by our waiter, who asked for our orders. I recited what I wanted to the waiter (in the best Italian accent that I could muster), and he scooped up our menus, and then hurried off in a different direction, leaving us alone once more.
"Sorry what were you-?" I paused mid-sentence, as my obnoxious cell phone blared out a familiar melody from inside of my purse. I rolled my eyes as I dug into my cluttered bag in search of the insistent object. Projected on the screen of my mobile was a photo of my mother, smiling her infamous closed-mouth grin. I sighed. "I should probably take this." I informed Luke, arising from the table. He nodded in agreement, knowing perfectly well the matter that my mother's call would be referring to. I grabbed my coat, and headed towards the door, shrugging the jacket up my shoulders as I was abruptly greeted by the chilling wind. I swiped the screen of my phone, answering the call with a click.
"Hi Mom." I paced back and forth in hopes of retaining a small portion of body heat. "Any news?"
"I know I told you I would call you if I had some, but no. I'm sorry. I was just calling to say hi." My mother sighed from the other end of the phone. I felt a burning in my chest at her words, the familiar sting of tears threatened to well up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back.
"Oh. Okay." I wasn't sure of what else to say.
"Ellie, you-" An incessant buzzing noise sounded through the speaker, echoing loudly in my ears, causing me to pull my head away in pain. A constant static stifled within the mobile, replacing that of my mother.
"Piece of shit phone." I mumbled to myself, shaking the device rapidly in hopes of retrieving a signal.
"Ellie? Can you hear me?" My mother's faint voice sounded lightly through the phone. To obtain a stronger service, I rounded the corner, raising my phone higher in the air to connect to the cell tower.
"Mom?" I nearly shouted into the cell once I brought it back to face level. The static reentered the call, bursting my eardrums with its deafening boom. In a last resort, I made a sharp turn into an alleyway, traveling deeper into it in order to save my call.
"Ellie? Ellie?" Repeated on my mother's end.
"Yes? Can you hear me?" I enunciated every syllable as if that would be of any help to the situation.
An urgent thud in the distance broke me of my roaming, and I stood motionless as I stared at what lied ahead. A small cluster of men stood huddled less than 200 feet away from me. They seemed to be in two separate clans, looming threateningly over each other as they spat inaudible venom at those around them. Through their shadows, I could see them exchanging small packages, cautiously taking the objects from the opposing force's hands, and then stowing it away in a duffel bag. What they were trading, I was not sure.
I held my breath as I backed away slowly, tip-toeing each step to ensure my silence. I didn't know who these people were, but I could sense that they were dangerous. My quiet movements were cautious, and slow, but my heart was pounding heavily from beneath my ribcage.
"Ellie!?" My mother's voice suddenly burst through the speakers, regaining the clarity and noise level that I desperately dreaded. All heads shot in my direction, their insistent chatters all coming to a halt as the eyes found mine.
"Shit!"
"The little bitch saw everything!"
"We can't let her get away!"

Before the words could even register, I bolted. My eyes welled up in blurry tears as I ran for dear life, my raggedy breaths were choppy and uncontrollable, but I heaved them out, and pushed my body to go faster. My pumping legs jumped and hopped and soared in long strides in an attempt to create distance between me and the dangerous men that we one by one racing after me. Their screams were incomprehensible and unclear, because a constant ringing bounced between both of my ears, drowning out their deep voices.
I could see it. I could see the clearing of the street that connected the alleyway to my freedom. I could make out figures of passersby who were unaware of the innocent girl running from these terrifying creatures. I was almost there.
But, as I fumbled with my steps, my foot caught on a pebble, causing me to tumble to the ground. I came in contact with the pavement with a harsh thud, but I could barely feel it, for the adrenaline coursing through my veins urged me to keep going. That was when a rough hand ripped me from the ground, slapping a hand over my trembling lips, and dragging me away from civilization.
I fought. I fought as hard as I could, but it was not enough. There were about twenty men, and their strength compared to mine was overpowering to say the least. I screamed and cried and kicked and swore, but I was unsuccessful in freeing myself. I tried to call for Luke, once the hand over my mouth was retracted, but my parted lips were met with a cloth, placed over them and my nose. I held my breath, knowing perfectly well what it was that was being forced upon my breathing cavities, but my meek attempt was short-lived. I needed to breathe. And when I did, I involuntarily inhaled an abundance of toxic fumes, which seeped into my system and spread like wildfire.
The last image that I saw was a striking emerald color, boring into every one of my senses, and imprinting itself into my memory. Then it all went black.