IMMURE

Chapter Four: A Trip Down Memory Lane

She stared emotionlessly at the ceiling. She remembered how she was drugged and made to abort her child, all because Lorenzo decided it was the best option. She was never consulted, even when it was a matter of her own body, but then again, ever since Lorenzo 're claimed' her after she tried to run away, she had no say in any matter, not even those related to her.
"Fuck! Melanie! You feel so good....ahh!"

His grunting roars of pleasure repulsed Melanie. But he didn't care. He thrusted faster, harder, hitting extreme spots, thirsting for a response from her. But she didn't give him the pleasure of that. This was her way of punishing him, shutting him out completely. And it drove him MAD.

Within seconds he came, filling the condom. He didn't want her getting pregnant, not yet at least.
She panted, being slightly breathless. Her body felt numb from the tight grip he held her with. Bruises on her wrists and waist, scarred as proof.
Lorenzo pulled out of her, physically satisfied, but emotionally Insatiable.
He may have her right next to him, physically, but emotionally he'd never felt so detached.

"Mel?" He beckoned softly, but she didn't utter a word.
"Angel?" He called out again but she didn't even move her eyes and kept focusing on the ceiling.
"MELANIE CROSS!" He yelled in rage, earning a slight flinch from her.
She slowly looked at him, feeling an old panic and fear resurface, one she'd felt only when he was really pissed. And when she looked into his eyes, she realised he was.

But hearing her name, her full name, reminded her of who she was before she was abducted by her impulsive, cruel lover. Before he turned into her worst nightmare. A time when they were happy, and she was completely oblivious about the monster he truly was. Sometimes she wished she could rewind the clock and freeze time to those days.
But now, they were just distant memories.

FLASHBACK

"And we danced all night to the best song ever....." she sang with excitement, hearing her favourite song on the radio.
He glanced at her from time to time, finding it hard to focus on the road when the girl he loves looked so adorable as she sang off key.
But the joy and happiness on her face was priceless.
"Enzo drive Fasterrrr!!" She squealed, slightly drunk but sober enough to enjoy the moment.
Lorenzo chuckled at her sudden streak of boldness and gave her what she wanted, increasing his speed.

She shrieked with elation, as she poked her head out of the window. Her hair flew wildly but the cold wind slapping against her face, gave her immeasurable thrill.
"Mel get inside or you'll catch a chill!"
She giggled like a child, relishing his concern, and yelled at the top of her lungs.
"I Wuv you Enzooooo!!!!"
And she sat back down, rolling up her window.
Lorenzo stopped the car to the side, and pulled her in his lap, kissing her like there's no tomorrow.

They cherished each other, savoured each other, teased and yet satiated each other.
They knew deep down that they were meant to be together, for no one had ever completed them the way they completed each other. They could quarrel endlessly, but at the end of the day, they couldn't stand being away from each other.

And that's what made Melanie weak. Her inability to stop loving him, no matter what he did. And hence, even when she found out that Lorenzo was the son of the biggest drug lord in Italy, she stayed by his side. Even when she found out that he planned to follow in his fathers footsteps and carry on his illegal dirty work, she still bite her tongue and stayed.
But things got too far, when she saw Lorenzo, drenched from head to toe in the blood of her ex boyfriend, Gideon Black.
Why did Lorenzo kill him? Simple, because he could.
He couldn't stand the idea of Melanie reciprocating Gideon's desire of marrying her.

She regretted the night she came home late from the bar where Gideon worked as a DJ. She regretted getting too drunk and dancing with him, and allowing him to kiss her. She regretted making him believe she still wanted him, which made him ask her to marry him.
Of course she refused and ran back home to Lorenzo, who stayed awake waiting for her. But when she told him what happened, he burst out of her apartment in fury, locking her inside.

Thankfully Melanie's neighbour, Trixie, had a spare key to her apartment for emergencies, and this certainly was one.
Melanie rushed back to the bar, hoping to find Lorenzo, but more to desperate to warn Gideon.
But when she reached, she saw the most stomach clenching scene unravel before her. She entered a completely demolished bar. Broken glass all over the floor. Chairs and tables scattered on the ground.
Countless bullet holes marred the walls, and sofas. Expensive bottles of booze destroyed.

But what made the sight unbearable were the few dead bodies that lay there, bloody and lifeless. It was a mass shooting!
Melanie felt the bile rise to her throat as she tried to find Enzo. She heard loud groans near the back entrance. With quivering legs, she dared herself to open the door to the back ally, only to find Gideon surrounded by a at least twenty odd men, having the life pounded out of him, by none other than Lorenzo.

"Enzo! No!" She shrieked trying to rush to him but was held back by his men.
"Stop! Please!" She begged, trying to reach out to his sanity, but unfortunately for her, it was long gone.
Lorenzo stopped for a second and walked to her, his hands, soiled with Gideon's blood. He stood in front of Melanie and grabbed her jaw harshly.
"Look at him carefully Angel." He pointed at Gideon who was barely moving.

"This is what happens when someone tries to take what's MINE. You, Melanie Cross, are MINE, and MINE ALONE." He gritted, making her flinch.
"Am I clear?" He asks, but she merely sobs, completely at a loss of words.
"AM I CLEAR!" He roars, making her whimper.
"Y-yes." She mumbled as her voice caught in her throat.
"Good. Remember, if anyone comes between us, I will kill them."
And with that, he took out his gun and blew out Gideon's brain.