Shattered Haven
1607 Words
At the exit of the staggering, and drunk man, a massive sigh of relief escaped from those plush lips.
Angelique's face reflected her exhaustion, her eyes sunken and her skin pale. Every muscle in her body screamed in agony — she was freaking winded.
“Finally – I'm done for the damn day!”
Her throbbing back rested against the glass shelves, which contained anything else from alcoholic drinks.
As one would assume already, Angelique Clarkson, after 6 consecutive years of running away from an entity of cruelty known as her mother, was now working in another entirely different part of the Nation as a mere bartender.
Genuinely, it wasn't a preferable job, but being able to finish high school and with no qualifications, being a bartender at a rowdy pub was a decent job for Angelique.
The passing years brought countless changes to her life – ones that changed her life.
With her back leaning against the shelves, her right hand absent-mindedly traveled to a pendant worn on her necklace.
It belonged to none other than her mate; the same mate that rejected her…. Effortlessly.
The memory of that fateful night remained vivid in Angelique's mind – his chiseled features, the contemptuous sneer, and the harsh rejection that still stung.
And why?
“A low class, mere, omega” Recollecting that scene which transpired more than 6 years ago nearly brought tears to her droopy green eyes, but the brash entrance of a drunken customer jolted her from her thoughts.
Angelique's irritation grew as the man stumbled in, reeking of cheap tequila, and the pungent smell made her stomach turn.
Hasn't he had enough?
“Sir, we're closed” Angelique, although insanely irritated, spoke politely while inwardly cussing the owner for failing to put up a sign on the window.
Tipsily, he staggered towards the counter and slumped heavily on one of the high stools, smiling crookedly at her.
“O-oh, how beau…ti…ful you…are! In the wh-whole nation…you…miss sexxxxy Angelique has…to be the prettiest gal alive! So f*****g beautiful!”
His drunk utterance left Angelique unfazed – as mentioned earlier, this side was the most rowdy and unlawful part of the Nation.
A place where drugs and illegal practices were a daily occurrence – one would wonder how in the hell did she find herself here.
And their unpleasant compliments were incessant, and so were their advances towards Angelique. None could blame them.
Her curves were undeniable, but it was her finely delicate features that made her truly striking — she was a beauty no sane being could ignore
“I don't know if you can understand the simple words coming out of my goddamn mouth, but we are f*****g closed, you pig! Leave!” Demandingly, she scowled, banging her fist loudly on the counter desk.
The drunk fellow tipsily glanced at the angered beauty, then smirked drunkenly.
“Oh, don't be mean to me!” In the next instant, her wrist got held rather roughly as he forcefully pulled her closer.
Angelique's uneasiness heightened drastically, and as she balled her other free hand to punch him resoundingly across the face, a hand clasped his shoulder.
“H-huh? Who's that?” Turning around to glance at whosoever held his shoulder, a thunderous punch instantly kissed his face, and its force sent him flying across the other side of the pub.
He crashed violently, and once his head collided with the wall, it cracked immensely before he lost consciousness with immense blood seeping out.
“f**k! That's going to come out of my paycheck” Angelique muttered, then diverted her gaze to the one who caused such damage… Lucas.
“Hey, Angel…!” a charming smile was plastered on the overly handsome face of the tall fellow.
The brownness of his hair complimented his pair of hazel brown eyes perfectly, and it was unarguable how gorgeous Lucas was.
He had a sweet personality to match, and over the years, had become close to Angelique Clarkson.
One could say he was her shield and protector in this unsafe place known as her work.
“Wasn't that, I don't know, too f*****g much, you cheeky monkey?” Angelique, smiling widely, reached out to pinch his freckle-covered cheeks sweetly, and he laughed handsomely.
“I should have killed him for laying a hand on you, Angel. You know how possessive I get when it comes to you.”
He responded mildly, his hand now holding hers, then placed a coquettish kiss on her palms.
Angelique felt a flutter in her chest, but she quickly brushed it off with a scoff."
“You're paying for the damages, and I'm telling Mr. Gracie that's it you – again” Angelique now leaving the counter, grabbed her handbag and then came out.
“I can take care of all your needs, Angel. Just let me” There was utmost seriousness in Lucas' told as he spoke, and Angelique rolled her eyes, ignoring his words.
This wouldn't be the first time he has made such a suggestion, but as one filled to the brim with independence, she always turned it down.
“I appreciate it, Lucas, but I can't. I have too many mouths to feed y'know”.
A second was yet to elapse after she made that statement when the entrance door parted once again, but this time, two pairs of running feet came.
“Mummy!”
Their cheerful voices filled the place as they scurried towards Angelique, who was already crouching on her knees.
“Oh, my hearts!” Her arms widened as they launched themselves simultaneously on her, and Angelique unhesitatingly plastered wet kisses on their chubby cheeks.
Their set of dark blue eyes reminded her of him, and their smiles surely were gotten from her.
“Mummy, stop! You're embarrassing me” Giovanni, the sole boy among her twins, pouted, trying to pry away from her affection and Angelique curved her brows questioningly.
“Oh? Am I?” She smirked, and someone else responded.
“Vanni's crush teased him bout being a momma's boy – which he is” Giovanna, his sister sharply replied tauntingly, and that blew up another one of their uncountable mini quarrels.
A smile played on the kissable lips of Angelique while watching her twins of 5 years, as Lucas gleefully watched them from the side.
Yeah – her nightstand with her rejected led to a pregnancy, and although he was insensitively kind enough to drop some contraceptives, she refused to take them.
And sincerely, it was the best decision of her life yet.
★
“Mummy, are you dating Mr. Lucas? He looks at you funny” Giovanna asked, catching Angelique off guard, and she nearly choked on her saliva…
“My Mummy won't date anyone – her love's for me alone!” Giovanni swiftly defended with a pout, and his sister sharply countered his words again.
As they bickered, Angelique remained silent, contemplating about her daughter's words – her closeness with Lucas could be mistaken for a relationship now, huh?
It'd be a sheer lie if she denied not having some… romantic feelings for him, then again, venturing into a relationship now wouldn't be the best decision for her.
Currently, she could be seen walking home with her twins – they each walked beside her with their hands entwined.
Her home was located a bit far from her place of work and usually, Lucas rode them here in his car, but today couldn't; allegedly, he had some work to be done.
“Would you stop being so silly? Mr. Lucas would make a great Daddy, right, Mummy?” Giovanna gushed, and Angelique's mild chuckle served as a response as they halted.
They had arrived at a shallow and somewhat cramped apartment that served as their abode – they loved it!
“I said no! — I don't want a Daddy” Giovanni snapped back as Angelique ignored them, going over to unlock the door.
As she did, a sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach - the lights were already on which was unusual, and an eerie silence filled the air.
Before she could process what was happening, two masked figures emerged from the shadows, their grip on her twins prompted terrified screams from them.
"Mummy!!" Giovanni and Giovanna's cries of help pierced the air as they struggled to break free. She swerved her head, and at the sight, her heart raced, as her instincts kicked in.
"Release them, you fuckers!" she growled, her fangs slowly emerging with claws lengthening.
But before she could lunge forward, a third figure, tall and imposing, appeared from behind, and so swiftly did his musclar arm encircle around her neck - squeezing tight and cutting off her breath.
"Pl-please let them… Ah!" Angelique's agonized cry was muffled as the grip on her neck tightened.
The masked figures dragged her twins away, their cries growing fainter.
"Let go of me! — Mummy!" Their screams were overly raucous and incessant, yet none would emerge to help them.
This was a lawless side, after all – kidnapping wasn't something new.
The grotesque figure, his face twisted and scarred, leaned in close, his hot breath making her stomach churn.
"You're about to pay dearly for your sins, Angelique. Half a million dollars, or your precious twins will suffer the consequences. The clock starts now."
Her vision blurred, and her legs buckled.
"N-no! Not…. Again!" Tears poured out of her eyes as she felt herself being lifted off the ground.
As the darkness closed in around her, Angelique's world went black, her last thought of her twins' terrified faces.
- Writer
