The Broken Tale

Mercy

Layla and the others talked, wined and dined for hours. It had been one of the rare times in her life that Layla was able to laugh and feel a little care free, feel like what most twenty year olds felt around the world and not like an abused trophy wife pretending to be happy. Hours ticked by but Layla was not staring at the clock this time. She barely even felt the time passing by and Lloyd didn't seem to notice either.
"You've had a enough for tonight, don't you think?" Alexander glared at Talya.
And indeed he was right, Talya had drank down glass after glass of the white wine and was already tipsy.
"Oh shut up." She scolded, "do you want some, Laili?"
Layla shook her head.
"How come you've went all straight edge tonight?" Cassandra asked, "it's not like you to say no to a glass of wine."
Layla bit her lip, she was a little excited and had planned to tell Talya once she got a chance. So what could be the harm of telling them all? She already trusted Cassandra and if Talya saw trustworthy Alexander and Bicara as trustworthy then she would too.
"Well." Layla mumbled nervously, "I think I kind of...maybe pregnant."
Talya's entire face was hit with shock, her eyes widened and almost spat out the wine but forced it down her throat making her choke and cough. Alexander patted her back, Cassandra handed her a glass of water.
"What the fuck do you mean by pregnant?" Talya asked between coughs.
"Oh calm down before you suffocate." Bicara shouted at her.
"Pregnant? How? When? What? Why?" Talya bellowed.
Layla laughed, "yes. I think you know how, it's a suspicion, and um because shit happens."
Talya's extreme reaction turned into extreme excitement.
"Have you taken a test yet?" She asked.
But before Layla could answer, her phone began buzzing. She looked at the screen to see Ali's number calling her. Judging from their conversation earlier, she assumed he would be kinder to her.
"Hello?" She picked up the phone.
"Where are you?" He asked coldly from the other end.
"A-at a restaurant with Talya." She answered, unsure why he was so cold.
"Who's with you?" He asked bluntly.
"Uh- why?"
"Who's with you?" He asked angrily this time.
"Just Cassandra and some friends." Layla stuttered.
She heard Ali let out a deep, frustrated sigh that scared her to her core.
"How's Lloyd?" He asked.
"He's fine, just eating." She replied, "is something wrong?"
"Get out and meet me at the entrance to Tail Creek Park now." He commanded.
Layla looked at the clock, "what? Why? It's only eleven thirty."
"Don't fuckimg test me and grt the fuck there!" He yelled with fury.
"Wh- alright." She said to say as normally as she could, she knew she couldn't just show fear Infront of all her friends if she didn't want to act more suspicious than she already was.
He hung up the phone without another word.
"Is something wrong?" Talya asked as soon as Layla put her phone down.
"Ali has an emergency," Layla answered, she helped Lloyd wear his jacket, "I have to go."
"It's late, you shouldn't go out this late alone here, do you want me to come with you?" Cassandra offered.
"Athens ain't like California, honey," Alexander cut in before Layla had a chance to say anything, "I'll come with you, it's not safe."
Layla knew she was safe, remembering that Brian was following her. Alexander pushed his chair back and began to put on his jacket.
"You don't have to."
"Trust me, it ain't safe, Laili." Talya agreed.
Layla shook her head with a sign, "alright then. We should meet up more often while I'm here."
"How long are you stay here?" Talya asked from her seat.
"I don't know but I think two weeks."
"Alright, are you free tomorrow?"
Layla raised an eye eyebrow, "I'm not sure, why?"
"Talya, you're not free tomorrow, babe." Alexander reminded her with a chuckle.
Talya looked puzzled at first but then gasped as she must have remembered why.
"Let's go then, Layla." Alexander said, putting his hand on her back.
She nodded. Talya stood up and pulled her into a hug, she inhaled her strwberry scent, being filled with a war, feeling of safety and comfort.
"I'll see you later." Talya muttered, "I love you."
"I love you too."
Layla turned to Cassandra and wrapped her arms around her neck.
"It was cool to see you again." Layla said.
"I wish I could the same." Cassandra replied jokingly.
Layla pulled away.
"You're lucky i have a kid with me, you hoe."
She turned to Bicara standing on the other side of the table. Layla stretched out her hand towards her over the table.
"It was amazing to meet you, Bicara." Layla said.
Bicara smiled and shook Layla's hand, "likewise, honey."
           The entrance wasn't far from the restaurant, it was barely a ten minute walk. Alexander was busy texting for most of the time, Layla walked next to him, Lloyd was already asleep in her arms. She stared out at the streets of Athens, her mind racing back to how they felt when they first arrived here that she didn't notice Alexander had hung up the call and was looking at her.
"Greek stars have made people zone out for thousands of years, you know?" He broke her out of her thoughts.
Layla turned her gaze to meet his, "yeah, they're just beautiful."
"The Starry Layla herself loves to look at the starry night?" He smirked at her.
Layla laughed, "Talya told you as well, huh?"
"She talks about you all the time, you know?"
Layla sighed and hung her head, staring down at her shoes as they continued to walk down the pavement.
"Is that so?" She said in barely a mumble.
"You're like an idol to her."
Layla couldn't help but laugh at that. If only Talya knew which one of the two of them was really the successful one.
"Can you do me a favor?" Layla asked hesitatingly.
"Shoot."
Layla let out a deep sigh, "please don't hurt Talya. She may have one or two secrets but she's nothing but a victim of other people's depravity, she needs someone to be there for her not hurt her again."
She could tell Alexander was a little confused from his pause.
They stopped at the black, intricate gates of the park. Alexander turned to meet Layla's face. He was about the same height as Ali, with styled dark hair and dark eyes and a little stubble that convinced Layla that all businessmen had stubble.
"Layla, I love Talya with all my heart but things may change and love can change under circumstances." He explained.
Layla knew he was trying to be honest and a part of her couldn't help but appreciate and respect him for his honesty.
"I never said you can't ever break up. Break ups happen and it's fine if you're not getting along but you don't have to hurt her."
Alexander put a hand on her shoulder, "I never will, you don't have to worry."
Layla didn't even see the car, it drove towards them at light speed, its tires screeched across the pavement as it pulled up roughly Infront of them. Alexander quickly pushed Layla and Lloyd out of the way, but as Layla's eyes struggled to see through the headlights, she recognized the car. She crossed her fingers nervously, swallowing and praying for God to have mercy on her. Ali stormed out of the car, slamming the door behind him. Layla held Lloyd closer to herself as fear knotted up in her stomach. His dark figure walked past the streaming white headlights of the car.
"And there comes the husband." Alexander said, putting his hands on his hips.
Ali was no longer wearing his suit, instead he was wearing a black zip up hoodie over a black t shirt matching his black  jeans.
"McCaurthur, it's been a while." Ali said flatly with no emotion.
"Not everyone wants to cross paths with you." Alexander replied with amnosity.
Ali smirked, "I'm glad last time taught you a lesson."
Alexander looked away from Ali's face, murmuring something in Greek under his breath.
Ali didn't want to waste more time, he turned his gaze to Layla, "Let's go, babe."
Layla was hesitant, he looked angry, very angry, she knew that it was most likely not safe to go with him. But what else could she do? She hadn't even told Talya yet how could she act out and expose herself Infront of someone she didn't even know? With little choice, she put a hand on Alexander's shoulder and smiled at him.
"Thank you. I'll see you again soon I hope." She mumbled nervously.
Alexander noticed Layla's nervousness but he knew he couldn't do anything either. But Layla saw...pity in his eyes.
"Good night, Laili."
Ali walked back and got into the car, Layla gave Alexander one last nervous smile before following her husband.
              Ali was driving quickly, too quickly. Anytime he was mad or stressed, he would drive almost at light speed, not caring who was with him or what would happen. He looked so mad that Layla didn't even feel it safe to take the time to put sleeping Lloyd in the backseat, she held him against herself in the passenger's seat as he slept. They drove out of the city and towards the forests in silence. Layla lost track of how long they drove in silence, as if they were driving I'm a light vacuum. The highway was straight, cutting through the darkness of dark plains with few trees on either side. But after a while, Layla spotted something in the distance. But in the dark, she could only see that it was a car on,h when Ali pulled over right next to it. Layla looked out the window to see Allen getting out of the car. Ali also got out, Layla gulped, anxiety eating away at her. Layla's eyes followed Ali's dark figure to see him and Allen both opening the passenger seat door on her.
"Give Lloyd to me." Ali commanded.
Layla felt a maternal instinct kick off in her. She slowly moved Lloyd away from them, putting her hand over the back of his head protectively.
"What? Why?" She snapped.
Ali shook his head impatiently.
"I will fucking gag you right here and now." He barked, "Give me the damn kid."
Allen sighed and grabbed the child from her arms, taking him out of the car. She quickly reached out and tried to grab him back but Ali violently pushed her back into her seat.
"No! Give him back! Don't hurt him please!" She begged.
Ali ignored her and shut the door on her. He leaned against it to prevent her from getting out, key locked the car doors by his car keys. Layla wanted to bang on the windows to beg them to not hurt Lloyd but she decided to keep still, hoping Ali wouldn't hurt a child he loved so much. She watched Ali calmly say something to Allen as he put Lloyd in the backseat of his own car. They talked for a while but Layla couldn't hear what they were saying nor could she hu so what they were up to. But whatever they were planning, Ali needed to have Layla all alone with him. Ali patted Allen on the shoulder and got back into the car, Layla fought as hard as she could to not scream or say anything.
              He continued to drive and Layla bit her tounge to keep silent the entire time. He took a sharp turn and left the highway, now taking a dirt path towards the forest. The path was rough, riddled with small things like rocks and twigs. Once they got into the forest, the trees were not very thick, giving Layla a good view of the comforting silver moon shining in the sky. Soon Ali pulled over in a clearing deep into the forest's heart. Never saying a word, he got out and opened her door.
"Get out." He demanded in a calm yet terrifying tone.
"Ali, please don't hurt me," she pleaded subconsciously, "I might be pregnant, please don't hurt our child."
Ali was in no mood to be civil. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her out of the car. She almost tripped and fell at how much force he pulled her with.
"Why were you with Alexander? How do you know him?" He yelled at her.
She was already crying at that point, shedding tears of fright down her face. All she wanted was to be out of the horrifying forest where Ali could do whatever he wanted to her without a single soul even being able to find her body.
"He's Talya's boyfriend!" She yelled back with sobs, "he offered to walk me back because Athens streets aren't safe that late at night! He insisted, I swear nothing happened!"
He threw a slap across her face, almost knocking her to the ground.
"Don't lie to me!" He shouted.
"I swear to god I'm not lying!" She cried, holding her throbbing cheek.
He yanked her hair, pulling her tearful face to meet his enraged eyes.
"I don't want you or that whore seeing that bastard ever again, do you hear me?"
"Neither you nor I can tell Talya who she wants to date, Ali, she's an adult!" Layla found the bravery to say.
Ali threw another punch across her face, this time he did knock her to the ground, the rocks jabbed the skin on her hands.
"I swear a fucking pigeon would've learned to obey by now!" He spat down at her, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her feet, "but I must admit, I enjoy teaching you."
Layla was yet again left to feel helpless in his hands, nowhere to run where he can't find her, if she ran, where could she go in a dark forest at night in a foreign country? All she could do was pray that Ali wouldn't accidentally strangle her.
        He opened the trunk and bent her over, Layla already knew what he wanted. But he didn't bent her over as hard as he would before, being slight catious of hurting the possible baby.
"Sometimes I feel like you defy my on purpose to have us do this." He mocked her.
"Don't...touch me." She wept hopelessly.
He didn't listen. He never had. Layla buried her face in the trunk, sobbing to herself as he continued to relieve himself in her however he wanted. Once he was done, he barely gave her a minute to breathe before he pulled her to her feet and swung her around.
"You're seriously starting to fail satisfying me." He insulted.
Layla knew she should have kept quiet for her own good but she just couldn't hold her tounge.
"Maybe because your excuse of a dick wore my body out." She shot back.
She immediately regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth but it was far too late for regret. He blew a punch across her head, throwing her back onto the dirt and rocks. He kicked her head one time and that was all her body needed to give out. Her vision immediately went black as soon as she felt the blow across her head but the last thought she could remember was, "why did I have to be like this?"
        Layla was trapped in a never ending void of darkness for what seemed like hours. She felt nothing, heard nothing, saw nothing, she was left alone that in that void. But she couldn't help but like feeling safe knowing Ali was nowhere to hurt her, that the people who had scattered her life were nowhere to hurt her.
"Layla? Layla, can you hear me?"
A concerned voice called from the void. Suddenly Layla found that she could now feel again. She felt a hand gentally shaking her head to wake her. She was cold, almost freezing but she could feel a warm arm supporting her back. She struggled to open her eyes only enough to see his face. Her first thought was what was he doing here?