|Love Bug| A Monster In Paris Fanfiction

Chapter 20: When You Stole Her

...I remember my life before all of this...

Simple,Ordinary. I didn't have to worry about every move I make, every word I say. Who to trust.. when to run...

I had never known of fear back then. I knew the fear everyone knows, spider in the tub, shadows on the wall, but not true fear.

Fearing that... I might not make it out alive. He taught me of that fear.

He changed me. Though I didn't realize that until it was too late.

I couldn't go back to the life I had if I wanted to. He had taken that chance from me.

Sometimes wonder what id be doing now had I not met him all that time ago...

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"Lora, come on down for dinner, sweetie."

"Okay, Mrs.Martins." Lora called, as she left her room, heading down the spiral staircase into the dining room, where she sat down among 9 others.

"You're always in that room of yours, secluded from everyone else. You should come down and spend some time with us once in a while." Said an older man, his hair grey, and skin spotted.

"I'll make sure to stay downstairs more often Mr.Martins."Lora responded, smiling at the old man before returning to her food..

"You know she's always upstairs playing that damn piano of hers." Spoke a burly man, Hugo, as he stuffed his mouth. "Plays all day, and everyday it still sounds like a dying cat."

Another man, David, this one lanky, his hair unkempt "With all the time you're up there, I'd expect you to be the next Beethoven by now."

"Well, I find her playing lovely."Mrs.Martins spoke," She has a natural talent for playing instruments."

"The only thing that's lovely is how she manages to make up an excuse every time she can't pay the rent on time." Mr. Martins huffed, as the rest of the people at the table chuckled.

"With all the time she's out on the streets, you'd think she'd be rolling in cash by now." Hugo barked out a laugh, the others, excluding Mr, and Mrs. Martins were soon howling with laughter.

Mrs. Martins cleared her throat, a hush rolling over the dining room as she did. "Loralei is a lady, and so you will treat her like one."

"-That ain't no lady, that's a slut!" Hugo laughed loudly, banging his fist on the table as he laughed.

Most of them were to busy laughing to notice Loralei getting up and leaving the kitchen, and only realized what had happened as Lora's door slammed shut.

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Lora lay on her bed, her covers wrapped around her tightly, as she looked out the window, tears stinging her eyes. Her door creaked open, closed softly. Lora smiled slightly at the sight of Mrs. Martins.

"I know that sometimes they can get... out of hand. But they don't know what they're talking about."

"They all think I'm a prostitute..."

"Well, you never do tell us why you're out for hours, sometimes days at a time, Lora. Even I would start making assumptions." Mrs. Martins looked out the window, choosing her words carefully."You may not think it, but they all care about you. Some of them just aren't too keen on showing it."

Mrs.Martins opened a drawer in the bedside table, smiling as she took out a small stuffed bunny, it's once bright blue fur now covered in faded patches, a small white bow sat on its neck.

"Here."

"How did you know it was even in there?" Loralei spoke, holding the bunny closely.

"Well, you're room doesn't clean itself, you know." She laughed softly. "Now, it's late, you should get some rest."

"Thank you, Mrs.Martins." Lora smiled.

Ms.Martins closed the door softly as she left.

Lora, with the small rabbit in hand, soon drifted to sleep.

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I was woken up, by the smell of smoke, and the sound of yelling.

Loralei shot up, and out of her bed, opening the door to find the hallway filled with smoke. Getting down on her hands and knees, as to avoid inhaling the smoke, she made her way over to the stairway, only to find flames waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Shit... Maybe I can get out the back-"She was started by the sound of glass shattering, a loud thump coming from a few feet down the hallway.

She turned to see a large figure walking towards her, the outline of his body hidden by the large trench coat he wore, his face hidden by the smoke.

She saw a hand extended towards her,although she was reluctant to take it.

"Well, c'mon, I dont have all day." He spoke rather nonchalantly, despite the urgent situation.

She hesitantly took his hand, and was pulled onto her feet, and down the hallway. Before she could argue, she was thrown over his shoulder.

"Hold on." He spoke.

"What do you mean hold on-" She was startled to find him suddenly leaping out of the window, and up into the sky. She gripped onto his coat tightly, closing her eyes. There was a thump, as they landed atop a nearby rooftop.

He cleared his throat, signaling for Loralei to open her eyes. He set her down gently.

"How did you manage to get all the way over here in a single leap?"

"Natural talent."

Although it was dark, she could make out the outline of his large figure, due to the flaming inferno behind him.

He looked over at the burning building momentarily, before capturing her gaze once more.

"You have anywhere else to stay?" He spoke.

"No, but there are a few hotels around the area.." She spoke hesitantly.

"I wouldn't trust the hotels around here... bad neighborhood." He chuckled. "You welcome to stay with me, I've got a guest bedroom you could sleep in."

"Really? Thank you, Mr...?" She looked up at him, her head turned slightly.

"Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself sooner.You may call me, Abigor." He smiled.