Chapter 1: chapter 1

"ELORA!!!" A sudden scream jolts me out of my sleep. I gasp and clutch my t-shirt. It's damp, covered in sweat.Was it a nightmare? But It felt so real as if someone is shouting right at my ear. The dryness of my throat and the feeling of heavy weight on my chest reminds me of the condition I'm in. The clock ticks 3 in the morning on the wall in front of me. I reach for the water bottle by the bedside table but it is not there. I remove the blanket and get off the bed.The door made a small clack sound when I open it, then I tiptoe through the hallway ignoring all the unfamiliar sights and heading straight toward the kitchen which could be the only place I remember besides the room I'm staying.I open the fridge as quietly as possible and grab the water bottle. Sprinting back to the hallway before anyone sees me. I'm not ready to talk to anyone right now. There are a lot of scary people living in this place. Though, to my surprise, they smile whenever they see me. I'm about to open the door to my room when a sudden sound startles me. My hand leave the door handle and I stand in silence to listen carefully. "Fuckkk!!!!" I flinch at the second sound. It's a deep frightening voice coming from the room which is at the far end of the hallway. I know who stays there and he is the first person I want to avoid even though I only met that person thrice.The door is half opened. I shake my head, discarding every thought of going there. I shouldn't do or interrupt anyone in this unfamiliar place. I grab the door handle and push it open but halt again. This time he screams in agony. He is experiencing pain. I bite my lips. What should I do? I can't seem to ignore him either. Ten seconds later, I find myself heading toward his room after keeping the water bottle inside the room.Hesitantly, I open the door wider and peek inside but the moment I do it, his sharp gaze swings toward me. Taking me off guard and I think my heart skipped a beat.I immediately close the door and stand in the hallway like a statue. Damn. I can't move.The room drops to silence and in a few seconds, he is standing at the door, looking at me with bloodshot eyes. Face red and covered in bruises and cuts. He is wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts, my eyes slowly travel down to his right arm, an open wound and lots of blood coming from there. I shut my eyes and stagger back in horror. How the fuck did he get that?"Why are you up?" He asks with a hint of irritation in his voice. "I- I was..." I can not form the words. When I open my eyes again, his arm is behind his back."Go back to sleep.." He tilts his head toward my room.His words don't get in my head, they disappear in thin air and I find myself pointing at his arm and asking, "D-Do you know how to dress it?" "It's nothing!" He mumble.I step closer, cautiously and gently to hold his hand, he hisses in pain but doesn't push me away and does not tells me to stop. So, I assume he is allowing me to take care of it. I can't believe I'm doing this."Can you sit?" He stares at me for a few seconds before going to sit on the floor while leaning his back against the wall. The whole room is in black. The wall, the furniture, bedsheets...everything. The table is occupied by weapons. Guns, knives, spikes and weird sharp things I don't recognise. I ignore them all. "Do you have a first aid kit?" He tilts his head toward a cabinet above the bed. I take out the box from there and place it beside him on the floor. "Can I enter your bathroom?" I wasn't sure about his answer and I was afraid that he might get angry but he nods. So, I enter his bathroom which is not as spacious as the one I have in that room. I would prefer this type of small bathroom though.His bloody clothes are scattered on the bathroom floor and I'm careful not to step on them. These made me wonder about the kind of work he does. I know he is a dangerous guy. I'm scared to death right now but at the same time, he is also the guy who saved me. I can't do anything without him at the moment. I'm lost. I don't remember anything and I have nowhere to go.One week ago, I woke up in this house surrounded by doctors and nurses. They told me, I was unlucky to get caught up in the fight of some gangsters and ended up being hit and this guy brought me to his home. They told me his name is Rodas. I'm afraid he was also part of that fight.My head was bandaged and unable to remember anything except my name. Elora. It kept ringing like a distant bell in my ear. Like someone is calling me yet not clear enough to tell who it is. Now, when I look in the mirror. I see a girl in her twenties, medium height with a small frame. She has straight light brown hair which matches her eye colour. Oval-shaped face with thin lips.I push back some hair strands behind my ear to have a better look. The wound on my forehead is still covered in plaster. Doesn't hurt much anymore.I just can't remember anything about this girl who is looking back.I look away and take water in the mug and a towel before going back to him. He strengthens up slightly and watches my every move.His green stares are fierce. The long scar just above his left eye can not be ignored. It's there as if to remind the other person that he is not a man to mess with. His jet-black hair is messy. Jaw covered in trimmed beard and shoulder as sharp as a blade. And this man gives off this strange vibe. The type of strange vibe which makes me feel like I know him from somewhere.  I dip the towel into the water and slowly run it over his bulging bicep, wiping away his blood. It's a knife cut but not deep enough to need to have stitches. He flinches with every contact the towel made with his wound and he curses under his breath as he tries to suppress his cry. I rinse the cut with alcohol and then apply some meds before bandaging it. "All done..." I whisper with a smile which he doesn't return."You've got cuts on your face too," I say and reach for his face but he was quick to catch my wrist this time and stop me from touching his face. "I'll do it," he says.I withdraw my hand and get up. What was I thinking?"Ok!" I mumble and walk to the door. I glance back at him and he is looking at his bandaged arm. His jaw tightens."I've found someone who has been looking for you..." He tells me. My mind brightens up for the first time in one week. Finally."So... Are they coming to get me? Are they my parents?" He takes a long time to answer and when he does, he just nods. Then he gets up and walks to me. "You shouldn't move around too-" He pushes me out of the room and shuts the door. ------I'll have to put the upcoming chapters for the subscription because I'm taking part in a contest.🌸🌸🌸 I hope you'll love this story. Please vote and leave feedback.