Saving Myself

1. The beginning

17 months ago...

Living on the streets was tough but I was right in my assumption that no one wanted to hire a girl with no experience.

I'm sure my appearance didn't help either. My blonde hair hadn't be brushed since I left the house a week ago and I hadn't showered since either.

In the week I had been gone I travelled 20 miles into the centre of Charleston, I don't know how I made it considering I never healed from my last punishment but at least I was out of that house.

Part of me wondered if anybody noticed my absence, Marie must have realised. But as that thought arose, I quickly pushed it down with the reminder that she didn't care.

Finding a safe place to sleep was the hardest part. I lost my naivety a couple of days after I ran, I had stumbled across a man trying to take advantage of a girl around my age who also looked as though she had just come back from one of the clubs.

He had her in a back alley, she was defenceless, I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I let that happen, so I distracted him, giving her enough time to find her friends. That meant that his attention was on me, which is why I now have a concussion. It could have been a lot worse if the girl hadn't got help. I know that now.

There were a lot of homeless people in Charleston, most being older but they were just as bad. I learnt quickly that my hesitance to trust was an advantage. 

So here I am, with my back against a brick wall and other side covered by a bunch of boxes, just outside of a new nightclub.

You wouldn't think that it was safe but drunk people didn't notice me on their way out to smoke or have a make-out session. I had a way of shrinking into myself, going through life unnoticed.

The night air was cold and biting, the scantily dressed girls seemed to be shielded by a bubble of  drunkenness. I had a sinking feeling in my gut that something was going to go wrong tonight and my gut was never wrong.

It must have been around 1 am when it happened. When a man and a woman turned the corner into the back alley I had settled into. The man was huge and muscly, wearing an all black suit. He looked tanned but he did not intimidate me as much as the woman to his left did.

Her skin was a pale sheet of porcelain and while she was much shorter than the man, it was obvious she held the power.

"Your girls are good" the man said with a slight accent that I didn't recognise.

"I promised you they would be but if you want them to continue work, you're going to have to pay" the woman held her head high, meeting the glare from the man-tank.

"You told me that we had a deal" I could feel the annoyance coming off of the man in waves.

"Two of my girls have died thanks to your men. That's a waste of business and money, you and your friends need to compensate for that"

I hadn't realised that I had made a sound until both of them had turned to me, looking with disgust.

"Have you been here this whole time?" it wasn't a question he wanted the answer to as he stalked towards me.

"Leave the beggar alone, who will she tell" the woman didn't even spare me a glance but I was thankful for her dismissal.

"Well I wouldn't want to risk your business" the man had stood over me and there was nothing I could do to stop the kicks that assaulted me.

I cried out in pain as the ambush continued without mercy. I could feel old wounds re opening, ribs re-breaking.

The man must have decided that my cries were going to attract attention because he gave me one last swift kick before sauntering away to the hustling street as if he didn't just kick me to the brink of death.

I had just begun to lose consciousness when I heard feet echoing through the small passage.

"Luca, I need some help here" the voice leant over my broken body yelled.

I felt a hand move my hair from my face and someone took in a shaky breath.

"Oh birdy, I am so so sorry"

That was the last thing I heard before I was pulled into a dark haven.

----------------------------------

I woke up in what I assumed was a hospital, I tried to sit up but the weight of my head kept me anchored to the bed.

Just as I was about to dive head first into a panic attack a man with slat and pepper hair and warm smile entered the room.

"I'm glad you're awake little bird, you've caused quite the stir"

I'm sure the man could see the confusion on my face.

"That pout won't work on me miss, are you feeling well enough to answer some questions?"

Once I nodded my head, he popped his head out the door and pulled in two other men.

These men must have been only a few years older than myself. The first had come straight up to the chair my bed, confidence radiating from him like he belonged. His tan skin and dark hair made his pale blue eyes stand out. They gleamed with happiness but also a hint of something else.

The other stood holding up the wall as far away as possible. He looked very similar to who I assumed was his brother except he was slightly older with stubble on his jaw. His hair was a very dark blonde , contrasting to his bronze skin.

I could see tattoos crawling up his shoulders but no where else. His eyes only held anger and frustration.

The doctor cleared his throat drawing my attention away from the two men.

"These are the boys that found you, they saved your life"

I was suddenly very uncomfortable with the attention I was receiving.

"Thank you" I muttered while looking down at my lap.

"We have a few questions" The man at the door said.

"First could you please tell me what happened" I finally made contact withe boy sitting next to me, hoping to convey how desperate I was.

"We found you outside the club. I was on my way to the offices when I heard screams. I ran out and you were there so I called for my brother and brought you here"

I knew he was telling the truth because I recognised his voice.

" How bad was it?"

"You've been recovering for 5 days. You have healed quickly but you still have a lot of bruising and 2 fractured ribs."

I breathed a sigh of momentary relief, I'd been through worse.

"Now it's our turn to ask questions" the man from the door spoke.

I gulped.