the treasures in each other

3.

"Where the hell are you coming from?" shouted Frank.

"I....I...didn't k..know I stayed out long. I... didn't know the time" replied a scared Arianna.

"That didn't answer my question, young lady"

She felt the saliva fall on her face. Thank goodness she couldnt see,her father's face must be red with rage. His grey eyes darker and the wrinkles forming on his face. That was the last memory she had of her father before getting blind. Remove the frustrations and anger, Frank Velaquez is a handsome man. His jet black hair, tall build and nice physique, but, lately he couldn't be  described as  having a nice physique. The drinking had destroyed that but his almost 6ft was maintained.

"Am sorry, sir" she said quietly.

"That still didn't answer my question, you slut!"he roared as he hit her.

  Arianna fell backwards, loosing balance and dropping her cane. The tears began to flow freely again.

   This time she couldn't hold back.

She felt him step on her leg as he rained curses on her. When he had finally stopped, she searched frantically for her cane till she found it and made her way out of the house.

    She didn't know where she was going or who she bumped into. All she knew was that her life could not end with her father's beating. She had already lost her sense of vision, her spirit was broken and her mind falling apart gradually, but she refused to be there anymore.

   A life outside of her house could be  alot better than staying with him.

      Arianna continued walking until she felt someone touch her hand.She thought she bumped into someone as her mind was jumbled up and she mumbled a 'sorry', but that didn't take that feeling away of a person behind her.

        For a blind person, her other senses were heightened especially her ears.

"Hey beautiful" said a deep voice as he touched her hair and neck.

"Please....please leave me alone" she begged with her small voice.

"Too beautiful to be left alone, mi amore" he said again.

     She smelt alcohol.

She couldnt mistake that smell, she had grown accustomed to it just as the air she breathed.

"Please sir" she said.

  This wasnt a movie and she knew exactly what was going to happen. A helpless, blind girl out late with no friend in the city. She felt him drag her into an enclosure, an alley as the smell of rotten food filled the air.

She felt his lips on her neck and kept his hands on her breasts as he squeezed one which made her whimper.

   This was no rocket science.The only thing Ari could do was scream which she did, but that earned her a slap.

The man pushed her down. She felt his hands on her clothes..and knew that this was another set of wounds..wounds that she wasn't sure if she would ever be healed from- but she was not going down without a fight, as she struggled with him.

********----*************-----*****--*****

Sergio Azzara felt happy with himself. The week had turned out to be beautiful and what other way to celebrate success than with his best friend, Riccardo Cipriani.

Rick had suggested they club tonight.It was Friday afterall and New York is a city that never dies. There would be lots of beautiful women to dance with and possibly take home as he noticed his friend hasn't got 'it' in a while.

   Sergio watched as his friend drowned himself in alcohol, but decided to come out for fresh air so he won't be tempted to drink.He was going to be the driver tonight. The club was packed full and he wasn't one to stand crowded places for so long. He watched as even more people trooped in.a little walk won't be bad..he thought.

   He passed by a dark alley and heard noises. He thought it was just some couple who couldnt wait to pounce on each other, but heard something different. If they were enjoying it, the female voice he heard wouldn't have fright in it, it would sound rather..different-pleasurable.

   He had to check it out.

He used the flash from his phone and saw something that immediately made his blood boil.

  A man forcing himself on a girl.

He quickly walked to them and took hin off her and beat him senseless while raining abuses on him. If there was one thing he hated; violence. Even though he had been in the centre of one, he couldn't stand others facing it and much less a female.

He turned to look at her and noticed her clothes were rumpled.He didnt go far, Sergio breathed a sigh of relief.

  He bent down and tried to touch her and noticed her stillness. She must still think that the rapist was here.

"Hey, its alright. You are safe now" he said calmly.

She wasn't trying to cover herself, but he noticed that her hands were stretched out and just looking at her, she was searching for something. He looked around and then noticed a brwn cane lying around. He picked it up and handed it to her.

  "Thank you, sir" she said,her voice cracked.

  Sergio looked at her again.Apart from the bruises on her skin, the woman in front of him was breathtakingly beautiful. Her black hair cascaded down her face in loose curls, a perfect shape of nose and pink small lips. Her eyes were still closed. He felt himself touching her face,he wanted so desperately to see those eyes.

  "Open your eyes. I won't hurt you" he said softly.

  She opened them and immediately closed them. She opened them again and saw the prettiest set of brown eyes he'd ever seen-but something was wrong about them. They weren't so bright and he noticed she was still.

  Then it drawned on him.

 The cane and her dull eyes.

She was blind.

What was she doing out here alone?

He watched her again, her breathing was getting slower. He needed to get her to a hospital. He quickly called his friend and informed him.Within minutes, Rick staggered towards them.Even drunk, his friend still had a little sense of responsibility. Sergio scooped her into his arms and noticed she didnt weigh anything at all and got her to the hospital.