I closed my eyes, feeling each drop of water that fell upon me, trailing down and meeting the pool of water around me. I always had a thing for cold shower. No matter how things are going, what weather it is outside, cold shower always makes me feel better.

The cold drops pelting down on me as sharp knives, the cold and pain numbing my body and soul. It is a type of meditation for me. Numb body accompanied by forced shut voices of my head helped me prepare myself for the day.

The day where I had a façade to keep for everyone.

The day where I had to lie about myself and my past, to everyone.

I cut of the water and gazed at the water that drained out slowly, focusing on the brown tinge that went with it. With the decision to meet my enemy head on, I had decided to stop hiding and there for, the brown dye shampoo was no longer of use to me.

Wrapping the towel around me, I start to blow dry my hair in front of the mirror, noting how the hair near the roots have already started to fade into light brown. Drying myself, I pull up my garments when my gaze fell on the beautiful flower tattoo on my upper, left thigh.
Its beauty hiding the horrid scar that rests there.

Forcing myself to not think about it, I pull on a huge sweatshirt and a pair of shorts and leave the bathroom all the while tying my hair in a bun. I take my phone from the nightstand and leave my bedroom, making my way to the kitchen where I find Chris and Abby drinking coffee in silence.

My eyes involuntary asses Abby and note how her warm brown eye hold a deep sadness in them, her nose still a little red and puffed but she had changed into much more comfortable clothes and looked freshly showered. I take the cup of coffee kept on the island and glanced at Chris though his attention seemed to be somewhere else.

Probably still thinking about a way out for me.

A clearing of throat breaks me out of reverie. Abby leans on the counter, crossing her arms on the chest.

“I am getting tired and irritated at this silence Ash. Stop this… I don’t know… pitying… just please, be normal.”

The guilt of hurting her and the pain at her desperate plea paused the million escape theories I was trying to come up with. The girl in front had a sheltered life till date, and still she was ready to be treated normally even after losing her uncle had broken a part of her, so why was I trying to escape the inevitable.

A smile graced my face as I pushed away the feeling of dread, panic and anticipation in the furthest corner of my mind, willing myself to let go of those emotions.

“Who said anything about us pitying you?” I asked, teasingly.

“Then why are you walking on thin ice around me?”

“That may have something to do with the whole ‘I am a homeless and hungry girl on periods’ thing you have going on for you.”

Her eyes widened in shock as a blush coats her cheeks while Chris chokes on his coffee and I smile cheekily.

“Yikes… aren’t you the nicest.” She rolls her eyes.

“How about this,” Chris starts as he keeps the mug on the sink, then turns around to point at Abby, “You take a nap because you honestly look like a car ran over you. You,” pointing at me, “make something to eat because all we three had since the morning was caffeine.”

Abby snorts as I fold my arms across my chest and glare at him, “And what will you do?”

The blonde man grabs my car keys and starts for the door, “Get some wine, of course.”

With a wink, he vanishes.

“He is something else entirely,” Abby states with a shake of her head.

Silently agreeing, I ask her what she wants to eat.

“Spaghetti with meat balls?”

I nod in affirmative as I shoo her away, blasting music via my phone and getting ready to work on food.

5:30 a.m.

The clock read when I woke up and it took me mere 5 minutes to change into a sports bra, some leggings and an oversized jacket.  My head felt dizzy from all the wine I had yesterday, however jogging was necessary for me to get my head straight for the upcoming events that are about to happen in my life.

Leaving a note on Chris’s bedside, I leave the apartment, locking it behind me.
Once down the building and on the roadside, I let myself loose.

With some instrumental song blasting from my ear plugs, and enjoying the semi cold breeze that hits my face, refreshing and calming. It takes me back to the memories when all three of us were mere kids.

A rough shove made me stumble into the locker. The black haired beauty next to me gasps before she too was shoved away and the crazy football captain of the high school junior team came to stand in front of me.

“Stay out of my damn way b#tch.”
I snort before kicking him where the sun doesn’t shine and smile sweetly as he kneels in pain. His friends stepped closer to me, but a broad, leather clad shoulder blocked their way and Sarah, my black haired best friend of years slipped around everyone to stand by me side.

“Scaring the freshmen are we Sebastian?” the taunt clear in his deep throaty voice as the crowd around us scrammed to leave along with the boys, mostly due to the icy glare of his blue eyes. Once everyone leaves, the boy turns around to face us, his hard face softening and a barely there smile comes on his lips.

“First day and you mess with someone already princess?”

My cheeks redden as he kisses my and Sarah’s forehead. He winks at me before leaving, making the butterflies in my stomach go wild.

I pick up my pace, the jog enough of a warm up as the emotions inside me threaten to burst out the same way my rapidly beating heart seems to be ready to burst out of my chest. Yet somehow, it remains inside its bony cage.

The whirlpool of emotions of anger- of being discovered so easily, fear- of what it might bring, anticipation- of how and when they will finally catch me, vengeance- at what he did to me years ago, sadness- at seeing him again and wonder- at what his reaction would be when he finds out that I am alive, all making the adrenaline coursing through my veins affect my body more and more.

I can feel the pumping of the blood, each heart beat thrusting the red liquid in my veins. The burning of my lungs and the traces of sweat that has started to make its way down my body and the cooling effect it brings to my body as it mixes with the cool breeze around me.

I slow myself to a stop. Exhaling a deep breathe, I bend forward to breath normally when I feel the hair on my neck stand. Discreetly, I stop the music and concentrate on my surroundings, all the while acting as if I am trying to regain my breathing. I hear four to five set of footsteps behind me. I force down my urge to defend myself as is lowly stand back up, heaving slightly to make it look normal.

The only way out of the mess is to play a dangerous game, and the first part of the game would be their move against me.
I start my jog again, light but discreet.
Still focused on the footsteps behind me.
I see a light blue van parked at the curb of the road a few paces away, most likely the vehicle that will be used to take me to the Carter’s warehouse. I continue the same way, knowing it will make it easier for them to kidnap me.

I kept my face neutral when I was close enough to the van. The front door opened, making me force myself to stop to avoid getting hit by it. the people behind me used this opportunity to place a white cloth on my face, the sweet smelling chloroform entering my system with ease.

I breathed it deeply with no resistance as a brief amount of triumph coursed through me.

I was done running and it was finally time to rock the cold hearted leader to his core.

As minutes passed, I felt the chloroform has its desired effect on me as I could feel myself losing control over my body as men around me forced me into the back of the van.

As I was at the brink of losing conscience, I took note of the five men around me, all having black hoodies covering their faces.

A smile formed on my face with a last thought, right before darkness consumed me.

Carter, looks like it’s time for you to finally meet the ghost of your past.

*********
A/N: Well shit....
Anyway, Happy mother's day to all!!!!
Vote, comment and share lovely readers!
Love, Rupanshi.