~Elle~
It has been four weeks since I last saw Dominic. The pleasure that I've previously derived from my career has dimmed. I feel like a different person from the one taken that night, weeks ago. Before, I was content—but my time with Dominic and his men made me realize how lonely my existence was.
That isn't the worst part. Every time I leave my apartment, or work I get a strange feeling that I’m being watched. Am I going crazy? I keep telling myself that it is due to lack of sleep. My hectic work schedule and my inability to get Dominic out of my mind are contributing factors.
Today was especially tiring. There was a multi-vehicular accident on the highway. Our hospital, being the closest to the incident, was overwhelmed with victims of the crash. Some of them had to be redirected to other trauma centers that were nearby.
A few weeks ago, I would have been ecstatic to have performed a splenectomy on a patient with a severely ruptured spleen like the one tonight from the crash. I ponder this as I leave the Operating Theatre to check on my other patients. I used to relish the adrenaline rush associated with saving a life. But now I don't feel the same.
It’s ten at night and I’m counting down to midnight when I finally get off work.
“Dr. Thomas, you’re needed in room three. A sixteen-year-old was brought in for severe abdominal pain; his blood works and abdominal ultrasound points towards acute appendicitis. Everyone else is occupied,” I’m told by the nurse.
“Okay Sharlene, please make sure that a spot in OT is booked. I’m assuming the patient was already cross matched and the parents consented for the procedure.” She nods, as I follow her to the patient’s room to make an assessment and speak to the relatives.
By the time I’m out of surgery and finished checking up on my patients it’s past midnight. So I handed over my patients to the on-call team. Then waved to Sharon, another surgical resident as I left the surgical ward.
It’s early November and it’s becoming colder. I put on my coat before stepping into the cold night. Slipping my hands into my pockets. Feeling the small can of pepper spray that I began carrying around with me.
For the entire walk home—I’m overcome with a feeling of dread, an air of danger. My intuition is screaming at me to run. Why didn’t I ask one of the security guards to walk me home, or one of the other members of staff who had gotten off at the same time? The street is empty. The last person I had seen was a block away. When I’m two buildings away from home I pick up my pace.
I look back as I sense someone behind me. It’s then that I’m grabbed and dragged into the alley between the two buildings. And pushed up against the wall. The stench of the garbage waiting to be collected fills my nostrils. I try to scream but my mouth is covered. I am held against the wall with a hand on my throat. My feet were barely touching the ground.
“You're even more beautiful in person than in the photos that Alban sent.” My captors' stink breath is making me want to gag. My hands claw at him as I try to loosen his hold on me. When my airway becomes obstructed, I start to feel lightheaded from a lack of oxygen.
“Maybe we should have a little fun with her before taking her to Alban. What do you think, Afrim?” He says to someonebehind him. As he turns his head to look at the other man his grip on my neck loosens slightly. Taking advantage of his distraction—I slipped my hand into my coat pocket, grabbing onto the can of pepper spray.
When Nasty Breath's is facing me again I aim the spray directly into his face. “You fucking bitch!” He slaps me across the face. Seeing stars I tumble to the ground screaming. My attacker rakes his hands across his face and stumbles to his knees as he is blinded by the spray. I attempt to scramble to my feet but the other ruffian is upon me before I could.
He is pushing me down against the filthy ground as he ignores his screeching friend. Pressing his disgusting body down over me immobilizing me. The monster fumbles with the zipper of his pants to get it open. He then starts to pull my coat open as I struggle.
The weight of his body suddenly disappears. When I look up, he is being punched in the face by someone. A tall figure I don’t recognize. In the dim light of the alley I can see the movement of multiple people.
“You (Punch) fucking (Punch) bastard! You (Punch) hurt (Punch) my (Punch) woman.” A blow to his face after each word.
I would recognize that voice anywhere. Dominic? As he slams his fists into my assailant’s face repeatedly, I hear bone cracking and see blood spurting from his nose. Dominic then swipes a knife against his throat. He falls to the ground grabbing his neck as he emits wheezing sounds. I ignore his look of panic. He tries to stop the flow of blood with his hands but to no avail. After what seems like forever his body is finally motionless.
I press my back against the wall trying to make myself smaller. I’m unable to look away from the dead man’s blank eyes and his face which is frozen in horror. The sound of fighting around me eventually dies down but I fail to notice.
“Boss, we've taken care of all the shitheads who jumped us from the van.” It was only then that I noticed Dario was in the alley. “Good, get a cleanup team here as soon as possible.” “Already on the way.” Dario says before he leaves the alley. Dominic slowly approaches me and he kneels down in front of me. His previously white shirt is soaked in blood.
“Elle, are you ok?” He says gently as if he’s afraid to spook me. All I can manage is a nod. I then throw myself into his arms sobbing. He slides his arms under my legs and lifts me against his chest before he gets to his feet. Dominic tries to shield me from seeing the other bodies scattered along the entrance of the alley.
Turning my face into his neck, I’m comforted by the familiar scent of cinnamon. “Elle, I’m taking you back to your apartment to pack your belongings. You can’t stay here, it's not safe—you’re coming with me so that I can protect you.”
“Where are you taking me? What about my job?” I ask in desperation. “Somewhere safe.”
“Who were those people?” I whisper. “I’m sorry Elle. Those people were only after you because of your association with me. Unfortunately, you can’t go back to your job. They now know where to find you.”
When we arrive at my apartment door Dario hands over my bag. I must have dropped on the street when I was attacked earlier. Wordlessly, I take out the key and try to insert it into the lock. After several failed attempts Dominic takes it from me and opens the door himself. When we enter I press the light switch on the wall at the entrance. The bright light causes me to blink. He deposits me gently onto my feet. The blood from his shirt has saturated my coat and blouse.
“Go take a shower and quickly pack all you’ll need. We need to get out of here quickly.” Dominic instructs me.Wordlessly, I stumble into my bedroom, then into my bathroom, strip off my clothes, then step into the hot shower. I do so as if I’m on autopilot. Rubbing my skin raw as I tried to get the stench of the alley and the men who touched me off my skin.
After drying off in the bathroom I enter my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my body. I freeze when Dominic enters shirtless. There are blood splatters over his muscular chest and arms.
“We'll be taking a flight. I’m going to use your shower quickly to wash away all this blood.” When I’ve changed, we’ll be leaving.” He then walks past me and into the bathroom holding a bag in his hands. I snap into action when I hear the click of the bathroom door. Quickly, rummaging through my closet. I dress in a pair of jeans, a blue T-shirt and sneakers.
Placing a suitcase onto the bed, I begin to toss in as much clothes as I can. Minutes later when Dominic returns I rush past him to collect my toiletries.
