The man from my memories

CHAPTER TWO

LORENA'S POV

It couldn't possibly be him! But I couldn't deny what was right in front of me. It had been six years since I last saw him but his face was forever etched in my mind.

He never told me his name, so I had no idea who he was, only that I needed to help him. I had to save his life or he would die.

Six years ago, I had snuck out of the house when my mother had gone to the bakery and my father had been out gambling as usual. I was left alone in the house with no one to talk to and nothing to do.

For years, the only contact I had with the outside world was what I watched through the window in the living room, peeking through closed curtains. I knew the neighbors and their kids but had never even spoken to them. I would watch Celine and her little brother Conner accompany their parents to their small farm just a few metres from their house. They looked happy and contented.

I didn't even have a brother, or a sister, and no friends either. I was sixteen years old and my television was my best friend.

I had gotten curious and had snuck out of the house, making sure no one saw me.

I had seen many new things that day and had many first experiences but what stood out for me was my encounter with the young man who laid, bruised and breathless by the sea.

He was hurt and bleeding all over and his body lay lifeless on the sand. It was already evening, around the time my mother would return from the bakery and I had to head home, so she wouldn't know I had left the house. I had even stolen a spare key. What if she had realized it?

I turned to leave, but my conscience wouldn't stop gnawing at me. I couldn't leave him there to die.

I walked towards him, the wet sand pulling me and slowing down my steps, but a minute later, I was standing right beside him.

"H--hey." I called with a shaky voice. What if he was dead?

But then I caught a slight movement from him and his chest heaved slightly as he took in a shaky breath.

He was alive

I crouched beside him and patted his cheek gently. "Can you open your eyes please? Are you okay?"

He didn't respond and his eyes remained closed. I looked him over and found bruises all over his body. He was probably assaulted by a gang and they had left him for dead.

I lifted his head and knelt beneath him, then I replaced his head on my laps. I needed him to be conscious so I could move him. I couldn't possibly carry him on my own and there was no one around to help.

"Open your eyes sir. Please wake up!" I yelled, slapping him harder this time.

His eyes fluttered open and stared unseeing at the night sky. The stars twinkled in them, then he turned to look at me.

Those vibrant brown eyes. It was definitely the same. I would know. They had haunted my dreams every night since we parted ways.

Those pair of eyes stared Into mine now and for those seconds, everything else seemed to melt away, fade Into the darkness and all that was left was the both of us.

Did he recognize me? Had he forgotten the time we spent together? Why was he so cold now? Why was he in my house threatening to kill my parents?

"Who are you?" He asked, breaking Into my thoughts. His voice was the same, only stronger now , he had been too weak that night and I could still remember how faint his plea was.

"No--no hospitals please." He had said, when I offered to take him to a medical facility.

He pulled me closer now, so our bodies touched, then he twirled me around and had my back turned to him. He grabbed me by the hair and pulled my head back, then he leaned towards my ear. I could feel his breath on my neck "I said, who the fuck are you?" He repeated.

I winced in pain and struggled to free my hands that were still trapped in his. "Let me go!" I screamed as loud as I could.

"Lorena!" My mom shouted, holding on to the edge of her apron which she always had on when she worked. Her hands squeezed them tightly so her knuckles were white. "Please." She whispered choking on her tears "let my daughter go."

My father struggled to his feet, holding on to his ribs that ached from the beating. "Please, my daughter has nothing to do with this, she's not even supposed to be out here." He said through gritted teeth, looking at me.

"Lorena, is it?" He asked, finally letting go of my wrist but still holding on to my hair. "Were you going to hit me with that?" He asked, pointing to the rollling pin I had dropped.

"I'm sorry-- she's sorry, she's just really naive and has no idea what's going on--" my mother intercepted before I could speak.

"Am I supposed to stay put while this evil man kills my father?"

"Evil?" He asked with a chuckle. "I'm not evil at all. You see, your papa here owes me a lot of money, and his payment was due three months ago. I've been very lenient with him but it seems he's starting to take my patience for granted."

"You won't get your money back if he's dead." I replied.

Did he really not recognize me? Maybe it was better that he didn't. I wouldn't want to be involved with someone like him. He wasn't the man I had met six years ago. He had changed completely. Even his smile had coldness in them, enough to send shivers through me.

"You're right sweetheart." He said, tightening his grip on my hair. I let out a whimper which seemed to excite him. "You're a smart woman aren't you?"

"Look, I'll give you your money, just give me a little more time. Please, don't hurt my daughter.." my father pleaded, with fear in his eyes.

"Hmm." He let go of my hair and I sprinted towards my mother, but I wasn't fast enough. He reached out and grabbed me by the elbow, pulling me Into his arms and holding me in place. He had long slender legs so his strides were long too.

"Not so fast princess."

"Don't call me that!" I screamed, kicking and fighting him off with all my might, not that it made any difference. His hold was firm, his hand slipped round my waist and the other across my shoulder, keeping me still.

"Shhhh. Hold still fiesty. I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Lorena! Please sirs, let my child go, she's all I've got!" My mother pleaded on her knees.

"So you do have something of value afterall. And I thought you had nothing." He said.

"Wh--what do you mean?"

"You said you'd do anything to keep your life" he said, pointing towards my father. "And you said I could hold on to anything in this house until you pay what you owe. Well, today is your lucky day and I'm in a good mood. None of you will be dying today. Instead, I'll hold on to this precious thing until you return my money."

No one said anything for a few seconds. They were too stunned for words.

"No! " My mother yelled when she finally found her voice. "No, no-- You can't take my daughter. Please give her back to me."

She was on her feet now, running towards me. "Mr Sanchez, please let her go!"

She was completely oblivious to the gun pointed at her. All she wanted was to come get me.

"Mum! Stop, stop moving right now, he'll kill you!" I screamed on top of my voice.