Angelica
The snowflakes fell on the glass and I watched them join each other while they created a thin white layer on the tall window.
There was something about winter that made me feel content.
The white colors, the peaceful warm nights in my room, the lights all around the streets. It was the season I enjoyed the most.
I bit the inside of my cheek as I carefully observed a man walking his dog. The dog was jumping around and catching snowflakes with his mouth. The man patted its head and they continued their way down the street.
My eyes flew to the store nearby, a bookstore. The big letters hung above the wooden door. There was a black shadow on the corner but as soon as I looked there, it disappeared.
"Angelica, are you listening?" The voice startled me and I looked down the mug filled with hot chocolate. It was burning my hand. I quickly removed my palm from the hot cup and placed it on my lap.
"Angelica?" The feminine voice spoke again and Sarah waved her hand in front of my face.
"Yes, I'm listening. Sorry." I whispered and mastered a small smile. Enough to make her know that I am even though my mind was wandering around.
It usually did.
I couldn't concentrate and couldn't function properly.
"You look tired. Why don't you go home and take a rest? It doesn't matter if you miss one lecture. I'll send you the notes immediately." She said and her eyes softened when she started to analyse my face.
The dark circles must be even more permanent on my pale skin. My white hair was a mess but I didn't have time to actually do anything with it this morning. It was falling down my shoulders in messy waves.
"I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep last night." I confessed.
She tapped her nails painted in baby blue color on the wooden surface of the round table. The Cafe was filled with people but my mind felt empty. They were going in and out and with each time the door opened, a cold breeze caressed my legs covered in black Valentino stockings.
"Did you have the nightmare again?" It was only Sarah who knew about that problem. I didn't trust anyone else.
"Yes, I did." Chills ran down my spine at the thought of it.
It was always the same. Blue frozen water, a lake. A voice screaming for help. Two hands. Someone drowning. Me trying to pull them out of the water. It was like in a blur.
I have had the same dream for two years. It usually happens when I'm having trouble with sleeping. And then when I finally do, the nightmare appears.
It's the same. The same voice. The same lake. The same agony.
"You should tell this to your therapist. Please don't keep it away from her. She'll know how to help you."
"She'll tell my parents and I don't need them hanging over my head more than they already do."
"They do it for your own good. I'm sure you can understand how worried they are after your surgery." My eyes lowered to the table at her words. She was right but still,... it was hard for me as well.
I brought my hand to my chest and rubbed away the pain that the realisation brought.
The deep scar that ran from the centre of my chest down to below my breast felt rough under my fingertips.
Two years ago I had a heart transplant. They found a perfect match after a long time. A girl my age had a car accident and her heart was apparently the perfect match for me. I was happy yet the feeling of peace was not there. Dad said that the girl was homeless after she got out of an orphanage.
There was no one who was going to miss her he said.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When will this pain go away? Will I have to bear it all my life? What about the dreams I started getting after the surgery? Will they eventually go away?
"You should go home. I promise I'll send you the notes." She knew how much school meant to me. I never want to miss any day in college. My high school days were mainly at home in the bed, studying online because of my illness.
But for college, I didn't want to miss anything. I wanted to have the full experience and also do well.
"Please don't forget." I begged.
"I won't. I'll put a reminder on my phone." A chuckle left her lips as she took her phone and set a reminder. A smile formed on my tired face. Sarah was my only friend. She has been with me since we were kids. She knew all about my health struggles and problems.
"There." She turned the phone to me and I gave her a thumbs up while grinning.
"Now please you promise me that you'll rest." Her hand covered mine that was on the table and she lifted her eyebrows, waiting for my answer.
"Promise."
We finished our drinks and talked some more about our classes. She also told me about the book she read this week and I told her about mine.
We had a fun little game where we had to read one book a week and then we met here at this Cafe and talked about it.
She read some cowboy, small town romance while I read a vampire rom-com. It was not my usual go to but the book was actually good.
"Okay then. I have to hurry up. You ordered uber?" We stood up and paid for our drinks.
"I'll walk."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Sarah. You don't have to worry. It's not even that far." She nodded after few seconds and then we hugged. We said goodbye and I waved back at her.
I tightened the jacket around me and started to walk down the street. My parent's house was not far but definitely in a more abandoned place. Given the estate being huge we didn't have much neighbours.
It was a Wednesday evening and the snow coated my lashes. My shoes imprinted on the white ground and I got carried away looking at the prints my boots made.
As I marched towards my house, the streets got more empty and empty.
The tall trees were the only company I had.
A cough rumbled through my chest and I stopped in my place. My hand reached for my bag and I pulled out my scarf. Why did I even forget to put it on?
Another sound reached my ears and my movements stilled. I was alone here right?
I slowly wrapped the thick scarf around my neck and couldn't continue with my journey before I look behind me. There was a pricking feeling in the back of my head that someone was there.
Carefully, I turned around so slowly.
My heart was ramming against my ribcage and my breaths hitched.
There was no one there.
A cold breath left my lips as I felt some ease enter my body. I blinked, the snow melting away from my eyes.
Just as I was about to turn around, my gaze traveled to the ground where my footsteps were painted on the ground.
My eyes widened and I tightened my hands on the strap of my bag when I saw bigger footsteps smudged next to mine.
I was not alone.
As soon as I was about to run a palm was placed on my mouth. The cloth the person was holding, prevented me from breathing.
I struggled to untangle myself from the strong hold the person had but I miserably failed. They were way stronger than me.
The person behind me lifted me from the ground and I swung my legs while scratching his gloved hands with my nails. It was definitely a man.
I couldn't scream and couldn't yell for help. My vision started to blur and I slowly and surely started to close my eyes.
My hands went limp and I was starting to lose consciousness.
And after few more seconds of struggling, the sounds faded away and the blackness over took my body.
â¢â¢â¢â¢â¢â¢â¢
A sound of a fire burning was the first thing I heard. My eyes were closed but all of my other senses were at its peak.
Surprisingly I was not cold. Something fluffy and warm was on top of my curled body. My legs were close to my chest and my hands were tucked under my cheek.
Door closing reached my ears and my eyes started to open. My vision was still blurry but after few blinks I was able to make out my surrounding.
A wooden wall was the first thing I saw. Then a couch covered in thick blanket and a window above it.
The glass was layered with snow and the outside was not visible.
The only light was the gloomy grey from the window and an orange light coming from the... the fireplace.
There was a fireplace on the other side.
Carefully, I tried to push my body up with my aching hands. The blanket on top of me was identical like the one on the sofa.
It smelled like it was freshly cleaned.
I uncovered myself and looked down at my feet that were now covered in fuzzy socks. They were white with a small bow on the side.
A cough broke through my lips and I massaged my head with my fingers. Memories started to flow back.
I was going home. Then someone grabbing me from behind. My breath being taken away and black invading my vision.
As soon as I realised what happened, a sob left my mouth. No, no, no...
How could this happen?
The door I heard before opened again and I bit my lip, not knowing what to do. My hands shook and panic erupted in me.
Boots clacking on the wooden floor was all I heard as the sounds became louder and louder. And then...
A man appeared by the door frame.
He was dressed in all black outfit and had a black balaclava over his head. His icy blue eyes pointed at me and I pushed myself back till I reached the back of the sofa I was laying on.
The man had couple of small cut logs in his hands. He crouched down and placed them next to the fireplace.
I watched all of his moves and gulped the lump forming in my throat.
He straightened himself up and his chilling eyes found me again. There was something oddly scary yet familiar about them.
"You're finally awake." Rough, strong voice echoed through the small cabin.
I didn't dare say anything so I stayed quiet.
"Put the blanket over you, you'll freeze." My sheet was dropped around me. There was only a layer of sweater covering the top of my body. My coat was nowhere to be found together with my scarf.
He walked over the cabinet on the corner of the right side and grabbed the bowl with apples.
After he did that, he sat on the couch opposite of me and placed the fruits on the log table.
He took off his gloves and there were a few visible tattoos on his fingers.
His hand slid into the pocket of his pants and he took out a knife. Without carrying about me shaking on the sofa, he started cutting the apples in thin pieces.
The balaclava was still over his face. How was he going to eat those?
"Here take this." I looked down at his extended hand that held a piece of red apple.
I stared at him.
He was tall and by his posture and eyes, he can't be older than twenty-five. What did he want with me?
Did he want money from my family? I've never experienced something like this before but it could be possible. My parents had a lot of money and everyone knew about it.
"Take it." I slowly extended my hand and took the cut apple with my freezing fingers.
I brought it to my lips and took a small bite. There was no appetite in me but still, I tried to eat it.
"Why did you kidnap me?" My voice was shaking but regardless, I found courage to speak.
He watched me and then leaned on the couch. His hands went to the back of it while he speared his legs. Black cargo pants that had a miniature white skull on one of the pockets.
Not a word escaped his mouth and I asked again.
"Why did you take me here?"
His next movement made me still. He wrapped his fingers around the knife and pointed it at me.
"You are carrying my friend's heart." The tip of his knife was pointing directly at my chest.
The girl in the accident was his friend. Dad said that she had no family but she must have had a friend. Which the person was no in front of me.
"The girl who died was my friend, Angelica."
"I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't. She was really nice. The kindest person." His eyes never left mine.
"I'm sorry." Is all I was able to say.
"She didn't deserve what happened to her. Do you know she had a dream of becoming a doctor? She wanted to save lives." I bit my lip and felt the guilt creep in.
"I'm really sorry."
His voice was filled with pain. There must have been something more than friendship between them.
"Did you love her?" I don't even know why I asked that. It was none of my business.
"No. Not in the way you are applying." He said that like I mentioned something ridiculous.
"She helped me when I needed that the most." He pulled the sleeve of his hoodie up and revealed small line of scars that covered his forearms.
There was a lot of them.
A tear escaped my eye and I quickly wiped it away.
"But to answer your question a bit more precisely. You're here because of your parents." He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees.
"Ciara didn't just die. She was killed. Your parents ordered it. She was hit by a car yes but that was no accident. She died just so you could live. Do you know how messed up that is? Just because you have the money you are here, well and healthy while Ciara's body is buried in the cold ground." My mouth parted and this time more than one tear escaped my heart eyes.
"Ciara had dreams just like every other person out there. She was a human as well. And she paid with her life so you could carry on living." Pain. Pain was all I felt all over my body.
"You Angelica apparently deserve more to live than my friend. How fair that is right?"
It was not fair. I rubbed my chest and tried to ease the ache. The heart I was carrying bleed with an innocent blood. An innocent live was taken just so I could be here.
"I didn't know." More sobs left my lips and he just nodded his head.
How could my parents do that? They acted like everything was fine. They took a life of a girl just so I could live.
"I'm sure you didn't."
"Can I use the bathroom?" A puke was forming in my stomach and I was sure that I was going to puke.
"It's on the left." I stood up on my wobbly legs and made my way over to the door he pointed to. I noticed him take off his balaclava but I had no time to look at his face.
I bursted through the door and crouched down. My throat burned as I emptied my stomach. My eyes sting and I closed them shut.
I was defeated in every way possible.
With shaky hands, I pushed myself up and turned on the water at the small sink.
I splashed the cold water on my face and rinsed my mouth. My legs were shaking and I fought to keep up with my breaths.
There was no mirror and I was thankful for it. I didn't need looking at my face. The face that didn't deserve to be alive.
My eyes flew to the narrow window to my left.
It was covered with snow but I had to open it and took a fresh breath of air. I was suffocating here.
I grabbed the knob and slowly opened it. The cold air blew my hair back and I peeked my head out. The window was too small for anyone to actually fit and get out. That's why he was probably not worried that I'll run away.
Also there was no way I was able to with the outfit I had on. It was too thin for this weather. I probably won't be able to get even a mile away.
I looked to my left and noticed a lake.
The water was frozen and there was...
There was the pier. The same one like the one in my nightmares.
Where I stood and tried to help the person drowning.
Panic was all I felt.
How could...?
How were the same lake and pier able to be here?
I quickly shut the window and took a couple of deep breaths.
No, this was not possible. I was just imagining it. It has to be that.
A loud bang on the door startled me and I jumped while covering my mouth, muffling the squeak.
"Angelica!" The guy shouted.
After he banged again, I took a step and opened the door.
His face was bare from any coverage. The icy blue eyes now not the only part I was able to see from his face this time.
There was a piercing on his beautiful carved nose and a small scar on his plump lips.
My eyes widened in realisation and I stumbled back.
It was the guy I was trying to save in my dreams.
ANGELICA
21 years old
BLAKE
24 years old
ð¤¡this one is just... it doesn't really make sense but I uploaded it regardless.
Anyway... your thoughts??
ð«¶ð«¶