A blur.
"You alright miss?" the bartender asked bringing me back to reality.
"Yes, yes," I smiled back politely.
I felt tired and honestly really exhausted. Maybe I should have gone to the room and tried to get some rest for a while. Scanning the room for Moe, I neared him chatting with a tall blonde.
"Piranha," he smiled, "Are you okay? Have you been drinking?"
*No," I answered honestly, "I'm just tired, can I get the room key?"
"Sure," he instantaneously replied and grabbed the room key, "Becky," he called me again, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah," I smiled, "All good."
As I made my way across the room towards the exit I felt lightheaded yet somewhat heavy. Maybe I should have stayed here with Moe, it was safer. Somehow I felt like my thoughts fuzzed around my mind and I got this mild headache. I need to get back to Moe.
"Becky," some cooed my name as they steadied me with them and caressed my hair gently, "Let's go."
"Go?" I asked sleepily.
"Home, let's go home, Becky."
At this point, I wasn't sure if the voice was a man or a woman. I felt my body giving way as I relied on the person. Suddenly it was hard to speak again.
"Who are you?"
"We're almost there." The individual tugged me along. At this point, I wasn't sure where I was. I felt the stairs behind me. My vision was blurry yet I could have made out the night sky and felt the chill breeze wake my body to a sudden alarm.
"Moe," my voice strained as I felt a sudden tug and was pushed to the ground, face hitting the floor. And sharp strands of glass piercing into my arms. The intensity of the pain was agonizing and it didn't help how helpless I felt.
"Pick her up!" a man scolded, "Get her into the car quickly."
I tried to kick but it was somewhat futile as I felt as if I was just kicking into the air. I tried to scream yet I was not able to bring my voice to my throat.
There was a sudden tug but not to me. My capturer suddenly pulled away from me as I fell to the ground and saw the shadow of a tall built man slam the kidnapper against the car. I heard the voice of the man who instructed to get me into the car yell in agony but I could not comprehend the words that came out of his mouth. Time seemed to fade and I felt the cold dirty ground rub against my cheek and saw the approaching man who knelt near me.
"You're going to be okay," his voice was oddly familiar as he cradled me with him, "They won't harm you as long as I'm alive."
I couldn't respond. I was in way too much pain to even move. My memory felt like it was skipping. Things were not making sense. I was in an elevator with the man. I felt carpet behind my feet. It seemed like a hallway. He was talking to me. He was repeating something. I couldn't understand. He kept repeating his words. The man wanted me to remember this. I felt him put something around my neck as he sat me on the ground. I saw his face. I knew him.
"You," my voice strained as I reached out my hand to touch his face. This didn't make sense.
Turning to the side, he pulled out a gun, shot at an object above, and departed quickly without turning back.
I felt numb. Suddenly there was nothing.
My memory skipped and I heard sudden voices as someone lifted me into his arms.
Adrian!
Mr. Vandermir!
"I found her," A man with a deep intoxicatingly smooth voice stated, "Send a doctor to my room now."
~*~
'The cold salty sea air shamelessly licked my face as it tousled my hair like an angry mother combing through it. On the contrary, I felt a sense of relief drifting through my bones. The moon shone miraculously above aiding my steps along the slippery pathway. I knew I shouldn t have been here yet my curiosity always dictated my decisions.
Where is she?
Where is the girl?
Those were the faint voices I kept hearing.
Oh! But the sky was so beautiful. I neared the iron railing and held on dearly as I was alarmed by the endless ocean below whose waves crashed almost vigorously against the barrier: I felt the salty water splash its teardrops towards me and I smiled as I inhaled the crispy air. My hands were too tiny to fully get a full grip of the railing and I laughed in enjoyment as I heard the voices of the old people in frustration trying to find me. I was winning! I was winning!
The sound of a sudden loud wailing startled me causing me to slip and hit my head on the wet cold iron floor:
"No!" I gasped up for air, breathing heavily, only to find myself achingly upright on a sofa surrounded by two strange men, Moville and the man I'd met earlier playing pool.
My head ached and my eyesight blurred.
"Piranha, you're okay now." Moe neared me and stooped to my level.
"Moe?" I unknowingly let out a sob and I felt this strange liquid substance leak from my eyes.
Tears?
No. Stop it.
I swallowed my emotions and tried to get up but everywhere hurt way too much.
"Becky, please relax. No one can hurt you here. I promise you, you're safe with us." Finneas suddenly spoke grazing his kind sad eyes towards me.
One of the two strange men who stood nearby approached me. He was quite tall and had dark neatly combed hair as compared to the other strange man whose hair seemed to be slightly tousled yet sustained an elegant yet somewhat al dente flare while towering with a brooding expression and clad in a fine tailored suit. The man who neared me wore a neat red dress shirt and gave me a gentle smile as he knelt at my level. Something told me he wasn't too accustomed to sharing his smiles.
Before I could have spoken another word, he took my arm and reached for an injection which was in a kit at the side of the coffee table.
"Whoa there, Mr. Stranger! Let's not start with pointing needles at each other like this." I stated, a bit startled and woozy as I looked at the massive weapon in his hand.
"Forgive me," he gave a short apologetic laugh, "Please, you can call me Richard. And this Miss Grey will be the last one I assure you."
"You stabbed me with those before?" I panicked as Moe got up and walked to the side speaking to the other stranger.
"Maybe you can just skip it for now, Ric?" Finny worriedly interjected.
"It'd best if you get the full dose, Miss Grey. Your health is quite at a deteriorating level. Your body tells me you're very stressed. Have you been eating properly?"
I didn't know what to say. I do admit however I haven't been taking care of myself quite recently but how exactly could I be regarding the situation I was stuck in?
Finny came and sat near me on the sofa. "Don't worry, just close your eyes and count until five and he'll be done."
"I don't know about this." I frowned afraid of needles.
"Trust me," Finny said as he placed out his hand for me to hold. Somehow, he made things seem so very calm.
Taking his hand, I closed my eyes as he counted for me.
One.
Two.
"Ouch!" I opened my eyes to see a taken-back Finneas as well.
"Ric, we said at five."
"I know but less anticipation, less hurt." He replied.
"Well, I beg to differ:" I scoffed.
"You'll feel a lot better now. Just make sure you stay hydrated as well."
"Thanks." I sighed.
For a sudden moment, my mind drifted onto what had previously happened and my head pounded with the unclear memory. That man. I knew him. But, who was he? I turned to Moe who I noticed was staring at me strangely.
"Becky," he began curiously, *Where did you get that?"
"Get what?"
"Around your neck."