~STOLEN WHEELS & HAUNTING.    MEMORIES~

~The past does not repeat itself, but it is repeated in the present, and the worst thing about it is that we do not learn from it~

- Jose Ortega y Gasset

Song - BamBam by Camila Cabello ft Ed Sheeran.

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"What is it you'd like to tell this nice lady?"

"Thank you!" All the children in St Patrick's orphanage home, chorused with a smile. They all held the gifts and toys brought for them.

Sophie's face lit up with a warm smile as she gazed at the sea of happy faces before her. She had always loved visiting St. Patrick's orphanage home, and today was no exception.

"I'm so glad you all like the gifts," Sophie said, her voice filled with kindness. "I wanted to bring a little bit of joy into your lives. You all deserve it."

The children nodded enthusiastically, their eyes shining with gratitude. One of the younger ones, a little girl with curly brown hair, stepped forward and threw her arms around Sophie's legs.

"Thank you, Sophie!" the little girl exclaimed, her voice muffled against Sophie's skirt. "You're the best!"

Sophie laughed and hugged the little girl back, feeling a sense of warmth and connection with these precious children. She spent the next hour playing with them, reading them stories, and just enjoying their company.

As she prepared to leave, the matron of the orphanage, Mrs. O'Connor, approached Sophie with a warm smile.

"Sophie, dear, you have a way with these children," Mrs. O'Connor said, her eyes twinkling with appreciation. "You bring so much joy and light into their lives. We're all grateful for your kindness."

Sophie blushed and smiled, feeling a sense of humility and gratitude. "It's my pleasure, Mrs. O'Connor," she said. "I love spending time with these amazing kids. They're the ones who bring joy to my life."

As Sophie left the orphanage and stepped out into the bright sunlight, she felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over her. She knew that she had made a difference in the lives of these precious children, and that was all that mattered.

Yank!

Sophie felt a pull at the back of her hair, and she spun around, her heart racing with anticipation. She was met with a sight that made her blood run cold.

Standing before her was a towering figure, his face a map of scars and tattoos. His eyes, a piercing brown, seemed to bore into Sophie's very soul. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, his muscular build evident even under the thick material.

"Shit!" Sophie exclaimed, reminiscing about her past with the man who stood before her.

The man's grip on Sophie's hair tightened, and she winced in pain. He pulled her closer, his hot breath wafting against her ear.

"Well, well, well," he sneered, his voice low and menacing. "Look what we have here. If it isn't little Sophie, the girl who thought she could just up and leave me."

Sophie's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. But she was surrounded by the man's goons, their faces equally menacing.

The man's grip on her hair tightened further, and Sophie cried out in pain.

"Let me go, Victor," she pleaded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Victor's laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down Sophie's spine.

"Oh, you think you can just walk away from me, Sophie?" he sneered. "You think you can just stop working for me and then borrow money from me without paying it back?"

Sophie's eyes dropped, shame and fear washing over her.

"Listen, Victor," she whispered. "I'll pay you back, I just don't have -"

Victor's laughter grew louder, more menacing. "Oh, you'll pay me back, all right," he sneered. "You'll pay me back, and then some."

With a sudden jerk, Victor pulled Sophie closer, his lips inches from her ear. "You owe me $10,000, Sophie," he hissed. "And I want it all back, with interest."

Sophie's eyes widened in terror as Victor's goons closed in around her, their faces twisted into cruel grins.

She knew she was in grave danger, and she had no idea how she was going to get out of this alive.

Sophie's eyes scanned the surrounding area, searching for a way out. That's when she spotted it - a nearby motorcycle, parked by the curb with the keys still in the ignition.

Without hesitation, Sophie made a split-second decision. She pretended to stumble, using the momentum to break free from Victor's grip. As the goons rushed to grab her, Sophie made a dash for the motorcycle.

She jumped onto the bike, revving the engine as she sped away from the scene.

"Get her!" Victor's angry roar echoed through the air, but Sophie just laughed, feeling a rush of adrenaline as she sped off into the distance.

She weaved through traffic, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew Victor's goons would be hot on her heels, but Sophie was a skilled rider. She had grown up on the streets - before aunt Mildred took her in - and she knew how to take care of herself.

As she rode, Sophie's mind raced with thoughts of her next move. She knew she had to lay low for a while, until Victor's anger cooled off. But for now, she just focused on putting as much distance between herself and Victor as possible.

The wind whipped through her hair as she rode, a sense of freedom and exhilaration washing over her. Sophie was a woman on the run, but she was ready for whatever came next.

               ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Aubrey rested comfortably on the plush chair, sipping his glass of whiskey at a bar. He watched as Ryan danced, fooling himself. He only got to see him once in a while now, since they'd be attending different colleges. Micheal travelled to the UK for his college, so they couldn't visit him anymore.

"Come on, dance," Ryan urged Aubrey, but he just waved him off, gulping down his whiskey.

"Let's hit the road," Aubrey said to Ryan, placing the glass cup on a stool.

"Where to?" Ryan asked, sitting down to finish his drink.

"Let's get some coffee from the cafe downtown, what do you say?"

"That sounds great, but are you sure? Remember that cafe is close to St Patrick's orphanage home, and you don't like being around there."

Ryan's expression faltered for a moment, and Aubrey could see the hint of concern in his eyes.

"Dude, are you sure you're okay with going to the cafe downtown?" Ryan asked, his voice laced with more concern.

Aubrey's face darkened, and he looked away, his jaw clenched. That orphanage home was his worst nightmare, but BrewHaven Cafe was his haven, a place to have good coffee.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Aubrey muttered, his voice low and rough. "We should spend quality time hanging out, who knows when we'll meet up again. Let's just go."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, skeptical, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he nodded and stood up, clapping Aubrey on the back.

"Alright, let's go," Ryan said, already heading for the door. "I could use a coffee, and some fresh air wouldn't hurt either."

As they walked out of the bar and into the bright sunlight, Aubrey fell into step beside Ryan. They walked over to Aubrey's motorcycle in comfortable silence, the only sound being the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of traffic.

"On your kneels, now!"

"I swear, I didn't steal anything."

"Liar!"

*Whip*

Aubrey flinched and shut his eyes, thinking he felt a whip on his skin. But there was nothing.

They hopped on the motorcycle and buckled their helmets. Aubrey kicked off the engine and zoomed into the streets.

But as they turned the corner onto the main street, Aubrey's pace slowed, and he gazed off into the distance. Ryan leaned forward following his gaze and saw the familiar building of St. Patrick's orphanage home rising up in the distance.

Aubrey's eyes seemed to cloud over, and for a moment, Ryan thought he saw a flicker of pain in his friend's eyes. But then, Aubrey's expression smoothed out.

"Hey, let's hurry up and get that coffee," Aubrey said, his voice a little too bright. "I'm buying."

"Alright man," Ryan chuckled.

As they walked towards the cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted out, enticing Aubrey's senses and momentarily distracting him from his dark thoughts.

Ryan pushed open the door, and they stepped inside, greeted by the warm smile of the barista. The cafe was cozy, with comfortable armchairs and rustic wooden tables. Soft music played in the background, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.

Aubrey's tension began to ease as he made his way to the counter, scanning the menu board. He ordered a black coffee, while Ryan opted for a cappuccino. As they waited for their drinks, Aubrey's gaze wandered around the cafe, taking in the vibrant artwork on the walls and the lively chatter of the other patrons.

For a moment, he forgot about the orphanage home and the painful memories it held. He forgot about his troubles with his mom and the pressure to apologize to the girl from the club. All he could focus on was the warm, comforting atmosphere of BrewHaven Cafe. Although, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was forgetting something. He racked his brain, trying to remember as he narrowed his eyes outside the glass window.

"Holy shit!" Aubrey exclaimed, when his eyes met a girl hopping on his motorcycle and zooming off.

"What? What?" Ryan questioned Aubrey, but Aubrey didn't have time to answer, he ran out to the exit and Ryan followed him.

Aubrey burst out of the cafe, his eyes fixed on the disappearing figure of his motorcycle. He sprinted down the sidewalk, weaving through pedestrians as he desperately tried to catch up.

Ryan followed close behind, his long legs eating up the distance. "What's going on, Aubrey?" he shouted, but Aubrey didn't respond.

They chased after the motorcycle for several blocks, Aubrey's anger and frustration growing with every step. Who was this girl, and why was she stealing his bike?

"Aubrey, slow down!" Ryan yelled, grabbing Aubrey's arm and pulling him to a stop.

Aubrey spun around, his chest heaving with exertion. "Try to keep up man! That's my bike," he growled, his eyes blazing with anger. "That chic just stole my bike."

Ryan's eyes flashed with anger. "Bro, don't tell me you forgot to remove the key from the ignition!"

Aubrey nodded, his jaw clenched in anger.

"Oh come on!" Ryan bawled, throwing his hand in the air.

Aubrey's eyes narrowed. "I need my bike back, it's my only source of movement since my mom won't let me drive."

"How are we going to get it?" Ryan asked.

Aubrey took out his phone, scrolling through it impatiently. "By tracking it down."

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A/N

It's about to go down!! 😂

Wow, what a chapter 😌. I had fun writing it.

Now, I need you to please comment your thoughts on this chapter.

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Thanks for reading, byeeeeeeee💃

CiCi 🌹