The Runaway Bride

Sweet-Bitter Night

Alison’s POV

“Alison!”, my dad called. He had a way he called my name that always made my heart sink anytime I heard his voice.

They were done with dinner and now seated in the living room. I ran to meet them in the living room and the look on their faces gave an energy I wasn’t so comfortable with.

Stacie gave a weird smile and Marie was trying to be nice.

“Come sit here, Ali”, she said.

I felt like something bad was going to happen. Maybe they were planning my murder and wanted to just give me one last nice treatment.

“Thank you”. I said softly, waiting eagerly for what my father, Mr. Carter, had to say.

The look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

“Sweetie, go on and tell her”, Marie said and smiled in such a way that disgusted me.

“What is it you want to tell me , Dad?” I asked, ready for whatever information he was going to give.

His gaze remained distant as he delivered the news. “ You are getting married. I’ve arranged a marriage for you, Alison.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Me? Getting married?”, I laughed. I couldn’t seem to understand what he was trying to say.

“Shut up you brat and listen to what dad is saying”, Stacie chipped in arrogantly.

My breath became heavier as I watched them all. This was even worse than murder.

My father’s voice was firm, remorseless. “We owe a considerable debt to a man named Mr. Brunsen and I don’t have that amount to pay back”.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I knelt down to beg my father.

“No no…..Not the evil, legendary Mr. Brunsen I heard about . Please, there has to be another way. I can’t marry a stranger, especially not Mr Brunsen.”

“All of these tears won’t help you. What you should do is to pray that Mr. Brunsen even accepts to marry you because he doesn't feel so special. He’s the one doing you a favor. I mean doing the family a favor by accepting you as his wife. You don’t deserve a man of so much wealth.”, Marie said harshly.

“I’m only 18. Mr. Brunsen is an old man. He’ll just use me to make babies”, I cried. “Please dad, please.”

“Of what other use are you?”, Marie mocked.

“I do…yes I do”, Stacie sang mockingly.

“There’s nothing I can do. I’m sorry. I am still hoping we get him to accept the marriage plan or else we will all rot in jail.” My father said,

“Never!”, Marie interrupted my father. “Never say that again.”

As I knelt looking at them, I knew I needed to fight. I wasn’t going to let anything just happen. The words of Lee came rushing to my mind and I was certain I was going to escape this unfair marriage plan.

“Our family’s future depends on this. I’m sorry, but you have no choice.”, my father said finally, and walked away, into his room.

My mind was resolved. I was leaving this house and I needed to put my plans together quickly.

As I laid down to sleep, I couldn’t shut my eyes. I laid down, faced up. I could still hear my father’s words so clearly.

“There’s nothing I can do.”

Those words broke my heart over and over. I tried to cry but I couldn’t. I could not express how I felt.

I sat up, then got down from my bed and began pacing the floor.

I quietly tip-toed out of the house to a near-by bar. After all, I’ll be 18 the next day. I felt so drained, hopeless and helpless that I just took shots of alcohol, mindlessly.

“Hey beautiful”, one man came towards me trying to mess around with me.

“You have very beautiful eyes”, another said, coming to sit beside me.

My eyes were spinning. I was trying to put them away but because of how drunk I was, I couldn't muster enough energy.

“Leave her alone”, a commanding masculine voice came from behind me. I turned to see a well-built, good-looking stranger. He smelled really nice and I wondered why such a responsible, nice young man would come to a roadside hotel and bar.

One of the men tried to touch me , ignoring the good-looking stranger.

“Take your hands off her”, he said.

“Who do you think you are?”

The good-looking stranger responded with a punch on one of their faces and they ran off in fear.

“Who are you?”, I asked, still drunk.

“Hi, I’m your savior and I must confess, you are such a beautiful young girl. But you look too decent to be out here at this time.”

“I look too decent or do you look too decent?”, I laughed.

“Well, I guess that makes the two of us”, he laughed too.

The chemistry between us was so strong that it could not be ignored.

His eyes showed how much he longed to touch me. At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about my family or about anything at all. I decided to enjoy the moment.

“Come closer, I want to say something to you in your ears”, he said.

As I came closer, he kissed me and I was speechless. I didn’t know how that made me feel, but somehow I wished he could do it again.

“Thank you for saving me earlier”, I whispered.

“I cannot hear you. Come and say it to me in my ears”, he said, obviously luring me into an undeniable passion.

I got closer and whispered the same words to him and he kissed me more passionately this time.

“Come with me”, he said.

I got up and went with him and the next thing we were in a room together, our bodies intertwined in a smoky romance. I enjoyed every moment because it took my pain away, so I let him take me on an unforgettable ride and we both slept off.

“Oh my goodness!”, I woke up the next morning in shock. The previous night felt like a dream. The stranger was nowhere to be found and it was only 5am in the morning. I rushed down from bed quickly and dressed. I wanted to pant loudly, wondering what would happen to me if my father and stepmother found out I had left the house. I was also very worried about the affair I had with the stranger. I didn’t get his name or his number and I wasn’t even sure I would recognize him if I saw him again.

Immediately, I texted Lee and Brenda.

“Hi guys. Let’s meet up later today. It’s urgent”.

I knew them waking up to this message would spook them out, but it is actually a scary situation. My mind flashed back to my dad’s words and I became even more restless.

I took the courage to go home, ready to face whatever consequences should I be caught for leaving the house. I walked so quickly but the moment I reached the door, I began to tip-toe.I quietly sneaked into the house, trying so hard to make sure not a sound was heard. I successfully made it to my room and I took off my clothes immediately to get in the shower. The next thing I heard was my dad’s voice.

“Alison!!”

“Oh my!He saw me," I said slowly as I leaned my back against the wall and shut my eyes. I already imagined how painful my death would be because my dad wasn’t going to spare my life if he found out I went to the bar.

“Alison!!”, he called again, this time banging my door hard.

Alison’s POV

“Alison!”, My dad called. He had a way he called my name that always made my heart sink anytime I heard his voice.

They were done with dinner and now seated in the living room. I ran to meet them in the living room and the look on their faces gave an energy I wasn’t so comfortable with.

Stacie gave a weird smile and Marie was trying to be nice.

“Come sit here, Ali”, she said.

I felt like something bad was going to happen. Maybe they were planning my murder and wanted to just give me one last nice treatment.

“Thank you”. I said softly, waiting eagerly for what my father, Mr. Carter, had to say.

The look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

“Sweetie, go on and tell her”, Marie said and smiled in such a way that disgusted me.

“What is it you want to tell me , Dad?” I asked, ready for whatever information he was going to give.

His gaze remained distant as he delivered the news. “ You are getting married. I’ve arranged a marriage for you, Alison.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Me? Getting married?”, I laughed. I couldn’t seem to understand what he was trying to say.

“Shut up you brat and listen to what dad is saying”, Stacie chipped in arrogantly.

My breath became heavier as I watched them all. This was even worse than murder.

My father’s voice was firm, remorseless. “We owe a considerable debt to a man named Mr. Brunsen and I don’t have that amount to pay back”.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I knelt down to beg my father.

“No no…..Not the evil, legendary Mr. Brunsen I heard about . Please, there has to be another way. I can’t marry a stranger, especially not Mr Brunsen.”

“All of these tears won’t help you. What you should do is to pray that Mr. Brunsen even accepts to marry you because he doesn't feel so special. He’s the one doing you a favor. I mean doing the family a favor by accepting you as his wife. You don’t deserve a man of so much wealth.”, Marie said harshly.

“I’m only 18. Mr. Brunsen is an old man. He’ll just use me to make babies”, I cried. “Please dad, please.”

“Of what other use are you?”, Marie mocked.

“I do…yes I do”, Stacie sang mockingly.

“There’s nothing I can do. I’m sorry. I am still hoping we get him to accept the marriage plan or else we will all rot in jail.” My father said,

“Never!”, Marie interrupted my father. “Never say that again.”

As I knelt looking at them, I knew I needed to fight. I wasn’t going to let anything just happen. The words of Lee came rushing to my mind and I was certain I was going to escape this unfair marriage plan.

“Our family’s future depends on this. I’m sorry, but you have no choice.”, my father said finally, and walked away, into his room.

My mind was resolved. I was leaving this house and I needed to put my plans together quickly.

As I laid down to sleep, I couldn’t shut my eyes. I laid down, faced up. I could still hear my father’s words so clearly.

“There’s nothing I can do.”

Those words broke my heart over and over. I tried to cry but I couldn’t. I could not express how I felt.

I sat up, then got down from my bed and began pacing the floor.

I quietly tip-toed out of the house to a near-by bar. After all, I’ll be 18 the next day. I felt so drained, hopeless and helpless that I just took shots of alcohol, mindlessly.

“Hey beautiful”, one man came towards me trying to mess around with me.

“You have very beautiful eyes”, another said, coming to sit beside me.

My eyes were spinning. I was trying to put them away but because of how drunk I was, I couldn't muster enough energy.

“Leave her alone”, a commanding masculine voice came from behind me. I turned to see a well-built, good-looking stranger. He smelled really nice and I wondered why such a responsible, nice young man would come to a roadside hotel and bar.

One of the men tried to touch me , ignoring the good-looking stranger.

“Take your hands off her”, he said.

“Who do you think you are?”

The good-looking stranger responded with a punch on one of their faces and they ran off in fear.

“Who are you?”, I asked, still drunk.

“Hi, I’m your savior and I must confess, you are such a beautiful young girl. But you look too decent to be out here at this time.”

“I look too decent or you look too decent?”, I laughed.

“Well, I guess that makes the two of us”, he laughed too.

The chemistry between us was so strong that it could not be ignored.

His eyes showed how much he longed to touch me. At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about my family or about anything at all. I decided to enjoy the moment.

“Come closer, I want to say something to you in your ears”, he said.

As I came closer, he kissed me and I was speechless. I didn’t know how that made me feel but somehow I wished he could do it again

“Thank you for saving me earlier”, I whispered

“I cannot hear you. Come and say it to me in my ears”, he said, obviously luring me into an undeniable passion.

I went closer and whispered the same words to him and he kissed me more passionately this time.

“Come with me”, he said.

I got up and went with him and the next thing we were in a room together, our bodies intertwined in a smoky romance. I enjoyed every moment because it took my pain away so I let him take me on an unforgettable ride and we both slept off.

“Oh my goodness!”, I woke up the next morning in shock. The previous night felt like a dream. The stranger was nowhere to be found and it was only 5am in the morning. I rushed down from the bed quickly and dressed up. I want to pant loudly wondering what will happen to me if my father and step mother find out I left the house. I was also very worried about the affair I had with the stranger. I didn’t get his name or his number and I wasn’t even sure I would recognize him if I saw him again.

Immediately, I texted Lee and Brenda.

“Hi guys. Let’s meet up later today. It’s urgent”.

I knew them waking up to this message will spook them out but it is actually a scary situation. My mind flashed back to my dad’s words and I became even more restless.

I took the courage to go home, ready to face whatever consequences should I be caught for leaving the house. I walked so quickly but the moment I reached the door, I began to tip-toe.I quietly sneaked into the house trying so hard to make sure not a sound was heard. I successfully made it to my room and I took off my clothes immediately to get in the shower. The next thing I heard was my dad’s voice.

“Alison!!”

“Oh my!He saw me," I said slowly as I leaned my back against the wall and shut my eyes. I already imagined how painful my death would be because my dad wasn’t going to spare my life if he found out I went to the bar.

“Alison!!”, he called again, this time banging my door hard.