Loving Natalie

It’s dark. The scent of the ocean tangled between the subtle smell of rust, mold and the ocean.  The harsh winds and pouring rain drowned out the stifled cries of teenagers and children. A teenage girl, in contrast to the many else huddled together for comfort, sat in a corner in contemplation. Her grey eyes would dart between her surroundings, counting the minutes passed as she would tremble periodically at the cool breeze on her bare skin brought by the gaps in the wall she leaned on. It was disconcerting. Her life changed in a flash.  Just a few hours ago she could still remember rushing to school.  The multitude of hours she spent reading for her language exam. She remembered anxiously waiting for the green light hoping she wouldn't arrive late, and the way everyone screamed in terror when a child suddenly crossed the road. She remembers how the world slowed down as her body moved before she could think, pushing the child to safety, as pain struck her side. She could feel how her body levitated upon the collision and how her pasts resurfaced like a video at 2x speed as she fell. She saved him at the expense of her life. Looking back, she couldn't quite understand why she did that. After all she wasn't a hero. But 1 thing is clear. She died back then. It's been 2 hours. And yet here was alive, awake, dirtied and bare. Two hours since she woke up in this teenage girl's body, and it was also the time she needed to realize fully accept that this was reality. Reflected on the puddles was the appearance of a young small face that looked to be a 15-year-old girl, 9 years younger than what she used to. Her bleached wavy auburn hair was now dark straight, and although albeit the same colored grey eyes, it was now more slanted and angular in contrast to her round doe ones. There was no other logical explanation other than... She had transmigrated. Transmigrated into a kidn*pped teen girl, with her hands bound. Gritting her teeth, the girl calmed her breathing. Though she could not understand why this happened to her, she had watched plenty of movies of this trope to know that unless you’re the main character, this won’t end well for her.  After all, the best case scenario would be the police coming to save them. Worse case scenario would be death with the full intention of selling their organs on the black market.  Worst… well, they would be drugged and trafficked.  I need to get out of here- the girl thought as her hands moved quicker. Her eyes still darting around for anyone that might notice her intentions. Feeling a snap against her wrist, she fought back a smile. For 2 hours, although confused and disoriented, she took courage to spend that time wriggling her hands, twisting, rubbing the cloth binds that bound her wrists against the rusted metal walls.  Her wrists were sore and were sure to be injured but the constraints had finally come loose. Now the problem was how to escape. It was practically death to run out. Waiting for the police didn’t seem promising either. Just as she was weighing her options— “Let go of me!?” A booming scream reverberated through the old bodega. Whipping her head to the entrance, the girl immediately squinted her eyes. Dizzy from the sudden burst of light. A kid?  It took a while for her eyes to adjust, she gritted her teeth against the cold wind as she purposely looked outside. The rain blew stronger as thunder and lighting danced in the evening sky. She could barely make out the silhouettes of 2 cars with one being a van prepared for transport, 2 armed men by the doors with what seemed to be at least 6 more individuals in the back. A child’s silhouette was being dragged by a man who seemed to be thrice as larger. She focused on their conversation. “You will pay for this. How dare you touch me. Mia famiglia will have your head”—the young girl threatened despite her shaky voice, her eyes burning with anger. Italian? “Be my guest, principessa. I may die but I promise….” grabbing her by the neck, the old man looked down on her figure, his lustful gaze brought even the on-lookers a chill on their backs, audibly licking his lips, his tone much lower than before “you’ll be used and tossed between all the men in San Carlo..." Ugh, what the? Cringing her brows the black haired teenage girl tried to make out their words when her ears suddenly started to ring. "... Before the —— and Dio————ind you”   By the time it died down to only be a faint nuisance, the conversation had already ended. Seeing the new girl tossed along with the rest of the victims, a hearty laugh escaped the man’s lips at the tears of the young women before him. His Godforsaken laugh echoed throughout his departure. The man has left. Flinching at the loud noises, the girl found herself in darkness once again. Ever since she listened in to the perpetrator’s conversation, she could faintly hear a faint tinnitus in her ears.  Despite not catching what was said in the end, she could guess this new girl was a big shot. Golden ticket out of here. However, it’s odd.  No one’s going near her. In fact, the victims closest to the new girl even purposely avoided her. Clicking her tongue, the new girl sat against the wall. The others would make way for her, leaving only the new girl and a black-haired 15-year-old girl with grey eyes. … Beggars can’t be choosers.  “You, who are you? Why are they so afraid of you?” she decided to speak first. Now she was closer, her grey eyes tried to make out the other's features from the light brought by the gaps of the walls. Blond hair? She looks to be 14 or 13. Designer shoes, dress and accessories, she’s bound to have a tracker on her. It wouldn’t hurt to get close to her.  “None of your business”— the new girl snapped back in response. Her hands looked to be doing the same familiar actions.  “Well, someone’s sour”, removing the loosened constraints, the black-haired girl rubbed her aching wrists. I guess its good that everyone avoids her. Lesser eyes would be better. “A name would have been nice” “I’m not here for idle chit-chat, now leave me the f**k alo—!” Dark turquoise eyes widened, the world seemed to be testing her today. First, she was forced to wear a blanche iyaga dress. Second, she was forced to attend a boring party only to be gagged and kidn*pped.  Now she was silenced the second time today by a girl who looked like she hadn’t bathed in forever, with a hand that had been who knows where. Wait, a hand!? “Yummm feemmmm(You’re free?!)” she let out a muffled scream against the tightly pressed hand. Is this girl crazy? “Shhh, calm down princess. Unless you want us in handcuffs than this leather binds” she urgently explained in a hushed tone. Brows furrowed, turquoise eyes were icy as if asking— “What do I want?”  an accurate guess. Continuing on, she proposed “help me get out of here and I’ll help you” “Now, why would I do that?” She managed to struggle free, asking in the same hushed tone. “2 hours”, showing 2 fingers, she shook it in front of the other “it took me 2 hours to remove these binds the same way you’re doing now. If you let me, however, I can let you out in 5 minutes tops”  Turquoise eyes and grey ones stared at each other,  seeing each other clearer with every strike of lightning. “And you and I both know we don’t have the luxury of time” the black-haired girl managed to say, balling her fists as she hid her anxiety. Her fate was weighing on this deal. Silence engulfed them for the longest seconds they have ever felt in their lives, 2 pairs of eyes looking for the same thing in the other.  “Isabella” Trust. “My name’s Isabella”, turning her back, she showed her tied wrists towards the other. Letting out a sigh of relief, the black-haired teenager quickly undid Isabella’s binds “alright, Isa our princess, I will need half of your skirt”  “What?” A ominous feeling crept across Isabella’s skin. She wouldn’t dare, would she? Oh, how could Isabella see the smile on whom she later call "scammer".  … “When will the ship arrive?” the old man spoke anxiously. He had lost enough men just to have this deal fall through. Tapping his fingers on the arms of his chair anxiously, he eyed the young man before him who sat leisurely as if this hide-out was his. "Calm yourself old man Falito, when have the S.Brigraiders failed you? Hmm? "Albertio appeased with a sly grin, rubbing his chin- mostly on the scar that ran from his lip to his jaw.  Albertio was S.Brigraiders' only heir, and although his father, head of the syndicate, was against this operation. The head would’t be foolish enough to sacrifice his own son just to forsake Albertio’s desire.  Yes, desire. A petty revenge, he decided to play on Moretti’s cute princess after the young girl rejected his advances.  “That b***h, and the assholes behind her will regret ever messing with us”, poison in his voice, blood rushed to his lower stomach on the thought of how perfect the image the begging Isabella would be. However, before they could relish their assumed victory, as if mocking them with the thunderous sky, the door burst wide open.  “Brother Albertio, theres a problem!”   “What is it now?”  Swallowing a groan, the young man fell on one knee, his blood more apparent as it slowly pooled below him. “The ship! The ship is under siege!” “What!?” And as if to add salt to the injury “Boss! The hostages”-struggling to catch his breath, he managed to scream between heaves “the hostages have escaped!”   … "Scammer" Isabella murmured in petty betrayal. Although she did hate the dress she wore. She didn’t really expect to have a quarter ripped off of her. 'Did this girl strike a deal just to embarrass me like this?' “So what’s the plan?” clicking her tongue, Isabella hissed in annoyance. The black-haired girl busily wore the ripped cloth around her bust and hips. Although it barely managed the job, it was better than nothing. Smiling towards the other, she said leisurely. “Easy, you just need to be the cute princess you are” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Isabella’s eyes squinted.  “Please help us!”  Turning both their heads, a young child spoke. Behind her were those older than her, huddled in hiding but with expectant eyes nonetheless in the glances they stole.  “Disgusting f***s, their just hiding away behind a child” Isabella pitied the girl who looked even younger than herself. Yet, she scowled at the teenagers and adults that don’t even have the courage to ask for help themselves. “Well... What do you say, princess?”  Seeing the 2 young women contemplate their fate, the other hostages hurriedly added their whispers closer to a call for help than a murmur. “We’ll be obedient!” “We’ll do whatever you say just save us from this hellhole!” Moving a step back before they could cling to her skirt, Isabella turned towards her “…You’re the one with plan. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me, all I care is my safety” How untruthful. “You heard the princess, if you want to live, listen closely….” Cracking his knuckles, one of the 2 guards yawned bored out of his mind. He was still pissed at the fact that he had to guard live merchandise in this stormy weather.  They might as well have been allowed to enjoy themselves with the goods while waiting for transport. “Help, is someone outside!?” Hearing the commotion inside, the 2 guards held their pistols tighter. “f**k, quiet down. The rain is already loud enough”, they threatened, but the noise only got louder. “Please someone needs treatment!” “Sir she’s bleeding! The new girl’s bleeding!” “Help me! They are attacking me!” Hearing a familiar voice panicking and in pain, the 2 guards looked at each other, s**t. The old man and that bastard from the S.Brigadiers gave specific instructions not to touch the Moretti b***h. Opening the doors, the 2 guards went in pointing their pistols in case anyone tried to do something funny. “What the f**k happened?”  “Where’s the girl?”  They shouted in succession, scanning the area with their eyes- “What the?”- however, what met them was an empty storeroom. And just as they were heading to venture deeper inside, they felt a tap on their shoulders. Whipping their heads in that direction, the last thing they saw was a tuft of black hair, and fierce grey eyes. “Boo” Their visions went black. Throwing away the heavy wooden plank, Isabella dusted off her hands. She saw the other hostages tying up the now-out conscience guards-who are now wearing nothing more than their undergarments. She somehow felt scammed. First she had her dress ripped off. Then she was told to play princess but had to knock a man unconscious with a dirty and heavy ass scrap wooden plank. Yet… She hates to admit, it was a crude plan but it did work. Wearing one of the guards' clothes, the black-haired girl tied her hair in a bun, hiding it behind the hat she also ‘burrowed’. In her hands was the keys to their escape. Another girl who was similar in height to one of the guards wore theirs.     “Lets go” The black-haired girl led the way. Crutched down, they steadily went out in the rain’s guise. Thankful that it was a moonless night.  The young child who had begged them before used her small figure to slither from car to car. “Oi Scammer. Do you think she can do it?” Isabella who saw this action, asked to the girl in front of her.  "I'm not a scammer" she bitterly murmured before glancing at the young girl's experienced movement- “She can. She has more spunk than you think” she spoke, her grey eyes confident.  Using the keys she got from the guards, she opened the van’s doors, “well what are you doing? Get in”, a smirk on her lips. Isabella sighed, just where did she get this confidence? I guess, in its own way, it is reassuring- was her thought before she got in. “Idiots, what were you doing!?” Albertio screamed, this couldn’t possibly be happening.  Everything was supposed to go his way. Clicking his tongue, the old man stood making his way outside. This was a disaster “don’t just stand there, get the cars, we’re leaving” “No! Have the others chase after the bitches” gripping the old man’s forearm, his eyes crazed in insanity “you can’t just back down from our deal old man” Tension rose in the room, but before both could draw their weapons, they were stupefied “what do you mean all the tires slashed?” Vaffanculo Both Albertio and Falito almost burst a vein at the words keyed on their cars.  A few of their men hurriedly tried to change the tires. “These f*****g—cough” blinking his eyes, Albertio looked down his shoulder, bringing a hand to it, it was bleeding. f**k. There was a succession of loud bangs, Albertio’s world slowed down. He could feel the others beside him running for their lives, but they too fell prey to the rain of bullets, their screams went as quickly as it came.  Taking a hit on the thigh, he fell on the wet floor. To his side, old man Falito had already lost his life, his eyes wide open with a bullet hole between his brows.  Albertio struggled to breathe as the pain started to register itself into his system. The barrage had gone silent and all he could hear was the rain and thunderous sky. At least, that was until he heard slow steady steps, fear crept into his soul. His heart beat faster as each step drew louder. Meeting cold distant crystal clear silver eyes. He had heard the devil’s whisper. In the front seat, Isabella fiddled with the sliding phone she found in the car. After sending a few text messages, she glanced at the reflection in the back mirror. Those poor girls, most had almost nothing on them, while few at-least had their undergarments on. Perhaps having been relieved by their tension, they were beat asleep, especially the young girl with swollen wrists and sore hands after she forcefully slashed the cars' tires. Isabella sighed it wasn’t the first time she had been kidn*pped, but today was quite an experience to say the least.  In the past, all she could do was pray and keep herself from going insane from fear in the darkness of where her kidnappers kept her. Hoping that her father or someone in the famiglia would come save her faster.  Now here she was, able to escape using her own strengths although with a little help from an eccentric scammer.  “Hey, scammer” Hearing her call, the ‘scammer’ black-haired girl glanced her way briefly before keeping her eyes on the road. “What?” She replied, “and didn’t I tell you not to call me that?” “No” Isabella rolled her eyes playfully, feeling the phone vibrate, she read the text before retorting “honestly, it's your fault that you forced an introduction out of me and not even telling me your name” Now that she mentioned it, I hadn’t told my name, did't I? “Okay fine, to make it fair to you, my name is….” Huh “So? What is it?” Isabella probed curiously. “….” What is my name?  Whenever she tried to recall, the faint ringing in her ears would get louder, pain would start to creep from her temples. Why can’t I remember my name? Shaking her head, the black-haired girl awkwardly laughed, trying to change the subject off her “Well, you technically didn’t really fully introduce yourself to me” She stopped the car after Isabella told her to. In front of them were 5 black cars.  Hearing a ring on the phone, both Isabella and the black-haired girl got out. With a broad grin on her face, Isabella turned to the other. “If you must know…” A dozen men in suits lined up to greet them, bowing in greeting, a small golden brooch on their right chest glistened in the car headlights, it bore a deer design “we’re glad you are safe, principessa” The men hurriedly placed a warm towel on their shoulders, sheltering them from the rain with 2 large black umbrellas. “I’m Isabella Leonor Moretti, the youngest daughter of the famiglia Moretti, the strongest Sicilian mafia”  “…you-  you’re a Moretti?” Why is that name familiar. The teenage girl's tinnitus grew stronger along with her brewing headache. “I really thought you knew, oh?” Raising a brow, Isabella was about to ask about the other’s wellbeing upon seeing her pale face, when a familiar car had parked near them.  “I’m glad you are safe, dearest Isabella” a voice rang out along with a harsh wind, blowing away the hat the teenage girl wore. Giving her a clear view of an aged woman, she was elegant, timeless, she carried herself even better than any British royal.  The black-haired teenager found herself strangely anxious at the sight of the older woman, her headache peaking its worst. Smiling at the familiar face, Isabella went over for Il bacetto "It’s pleasant to meet you again, Donna Victorina” “I feel apologetic meeting you again like this. This should have never happened in our jurisdiction” “It’s quite alright Donna, no one had anticipated someone to be dumb enough to pull this stunt off” “Yes, how dare they believe we don’t have power while the head was away.”  “Pardon?”—not being able to catch her whisper, Isabella asked, slightly curious what the elder woman had said. Smiling softly at her cute reaction, Donna Victorina turned her silver eyes a different direction “besides that, are you not going to introduce me to your friend?”  Isabella found herself scrunching her nose “she’s technically not a friend but she is my benefactor”- in the end Isabella found herself smiling unconsciously, perhaps she had started seeing this scammer in a positive light.  “This is Donna Victorina Diosanni. She’s my godmother and the acting matriarch of famiglia Diosanni. Donna this is….” However, she found herself in an awkward position. This scammer friend of hers hasn’t really told Isabella her name yet. Looking towards the black-haired girl's direction, she smiled, hoping she’d finally say it. “Natalie” the teenager muttered. A name that suddenly came to mind… Seeing crystal clear silver eyes meet shaken grey ones, Donna Vitorina came closer, a wicked yet kind smile played on her lips. No way, no way, no way. It can't be. “Child, do you wish to be known as my person?” Out of everyone why her? Why? Why did I find myself back here? Then suddenly all at once her tinnitus was gone, the pain in her head disappeared, the thunder and the storm had stopped. “What do you say? Natalie Diosanni”