And She Was Caught (Completed)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I was crouching inside the telephone booth where I called the only person I could think of. My head jerked up when someone thumped on the glass door and I saw Mel's worried face.

My back was sore from the long time I sat in an uncomfortable position there, making me wince when I straightened up. My legs were dead too and started tingling uncomfortably as million pins pricked my skin. I stepped out of the booth and immediately hugged her, squeezing her so hard.

Sobs broke free from my lips as hot tears leaked from my eyes. I had been crying in the telephone booth for God knows how long after I called her. My heart felt like it was being scorched down to ashes, prolonging my agony.

"Mel," I called her name, my voice sounding rough and thick.

"I'm here honey, let's get you home." She murmured against my ears and inched away from me. She studied my face for a while before her lips fell on a sad smile and she started tugging at my hand.

She made me go inside the passenger seat and she rounded the car. I was buckling my seat when she closed the door by her side and started the engine.

She glanced my way, "You look like a mess, sister."

"I feel like a big mess." I told her half heartedly, trying to smile but my facial muscles were so stiff it was impossible. I saw her grimace and then she pulled out off the alley.

The whole drive to her house was spent in total silence. She left me on my own thoughts and didn't strike a conversation with me. For that, I was thankful. There were too much voices inside my head I didn't know whom to listen anymore.

Soon after, we were already parked inside her garage. I went out of her car and followed her inside her house.

She closed the door behind me, "You want anything, Nessa?"

I gave her a small shaky smile and shook my head. Just at the same time, Axl came out of her study running towards me.

Another round of tears immediately clogged my throat as I crouched and welcomed my baby with a hug. I buried my face in his thick white fur. "Axl, I missed you so much."

My cat purred non stop.

"I'll get you a hot tea. You need it." She declared and hightailed her butt in the kitchen, giving me some alone time with my cat.

When she came back, carrying a whole china set, I was lounging on her sofa absentmindedly petting Axl. I watched her place the tray at her coffee table and then she took a seat beside me.

I took one tea cup and its warmth immediately transferred to my cold palm. "Thanks for coming to get me." I said quietly without looking at her.

"It's nothing. You know I'd drop anything for you, Nessa. Because you'd do the same for me." She answered as quietly and I nodded.

"Are you going to tell me what happened? What happened to you?" Mel started firing me questions and that was the time I faced her.

My lips trembled, "Life happened to me, Mel." Another part of me broke, the very small part that had survived the world shattering hurt I experienced earlier.

Compassion colored her face as she expelled a stuttering sigh, "You will have to tell me more, honey."

Tears threatened to fall once again and the thick lump in my throat made it hard to speak but I powered through it, wanting to tell her. It took me a while before I could gather the strength to say it, "I am Alejandro Motreal's daughter, Mel. I am that man's daughter."