Chapter 2 Three Robbers
1282 Words
I absentmindedly fingered the necklace around my neck, surprised at the thought. 'Could this really be happening? How is this even possible?'
My grandmother was long gone, and with no way to ask her for answers, I could only accept it as a strange, perhaps beautiful coincidence.
It was said that I once lived in Harbor Town when I was a child. But after an accident left me severely injured, I lost all memory of that time and never returned.
Now, when I had nowhere left to turn, this deed falling into my hands was nothing short of a miracle. It saved me from becoming homeless.
I clasped my hands together, offering a silent prayer of gratitude to God for His mercy. As my fingertips brushed the seashell necklace again, a spark of curiosity flared inside me. 'Could it really be this necklace that brought me such luck?'
The next day, with the last of my savings in my pocket, I set out on my journey.
Leaving Jenver, I headed for Feretah, a long and arduous trek ahead of me. I took a long-distance bus as far as it could go, but the rest of the journey would have to be on foot.
I found myself walking under the relentless sun, the dry, cracked earth stretching out in all directions. The heat scorched my skin, and my throat felt like sandpaper. There wasn't much to see, just a few scraggly bushes, cacti, and endless dust and gravel.
I wore a simple white blouse, a plain cotton skirt, and a light scarf draped over my shoulders. My hair was casually tied up, and despite the harshness of the road, I hummed softly, trying to stay positive. 'Life may hit me hard, but I am not going down. I chose to face it head-on for my children!'
Suddenly, a battered pickup truck screeched to a halt in front of me, kicking up a cloud of dust. Three rough-looking men jumped out, brandishing knives and clubs. One look at them, and I knew they weren't here for a friendly chat. My heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, I took a few steps back.
"Hand everything over!" the biggest one barked with a face like a bulldog. "All your money!"
A wave of dread crashed over me. 'Oh no!' Fear gripped me like a cold, tightening coil. I clutched the few bills I had left, and my bag filled with food and water.
"I... I don't have much..." I stammered.
"Cut the crap!" The bulldog-faced man snatched my bag, dumping its contents onto the ground. "Only this much money? You've got more stashed somewhere, don't you?"
Another man yanked the seashell necklace from my neck, turning it over in his hands.
"Please... that necklace. It's important to me." I begged, my voice trembling.
"Oh, it's important?" The third man leered at me, his eyes sweeping up and down my body, lingering too long in places that made my skin crawl. "Tell you what, why don't you hand over something a little more... personal? Maybe then you'll get your necklace back." He then grabbed at my clothes.
I screamed, trying desperately to pull away, but I was no match for his strength. He tore at my shirt, ripping it wide open, exposing my shoulder and the black lace bra underneath. My skirt was torn too, split all the way up to my thigh.
"Stop it!" the first man shouted. "We're just supposed to rough her up and take her stuff. Don't complicate things!"
"Can't you see?" The third man sneered, his eyes gleaming with something dark. "That snake Kaitlyn wants her gone. Who cares if we go a little further? It's been too long since I've had some fun." He undid his belt, stepping toward me, grinning.
Hearing Kaitlyn's name threw me into a whirlwind of rage, temporarily eclipsing my fear.
'Kaitlyn knows where I'm going? She's following me? She's still after me?'
Just then, the sound of an engine roared in the distance, growing louder as it approached. 'Please, God, don't let it be more of them.'
A motorcycle skidded to a stop with a dramatic flair, kicking up dust in front of us. Sitting atop it was a man, about thirty, with neatly styled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in a casual yet polished outfit. His face twisted in fury as he took in the scene before him.
Without hesitation, the man jumped off the bike, positioning himself between me and the three robbers.
"Back off, you scum!" he shouted, his voice sharp and commanding.
The three thugs hesitated for a moment before snarling and rushing at him and then angrily swung their weapons at him.
But the blonde man was faster. He dodged their swings with ease, his movements quick and precise, and in no time, he had them sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.
The robbers, battered and bruised, fled, leaving behind my suitcase, my necklace, and even a few of their own belongings scattered in the dust. The man swiftly gathered everything and stuffed it back into my suitcase.
"Are you okay?" he asked, scanning me for injuries.
His gaze fell on me.
I realized what a mess I must have looked like. My shirt was barely hanging on by a few threads, and the collar was askew, revealing fair skin. My black lace bra peeked out like a dark rose in the snow. My skirt was torn, exposing a long stretch of leg that gleamed under the hot sun.
I shook my head, looking at him gratefully. Then, I shivered as a cool breeze blew past, goosebumps rising on my skin.
"Here, take this," he said, quickly shrugging off his jacket and handing it to me. He was left in a fitted tank top, showing off broad shoulders and a muscular chest, his muscles outlined with a healthy bronze sheen under the sunlight.
I gratefully took the jacket, wrapping it tightly around myself.
Looking at the fleeing robbers, he scratched his chin. "So, where are you headed?"
"I'm going to Harbor Town."
"Well, isn't that a coincidence? I'm headed that way too. It's not safe to travel alone. You know... Come on. Hop on." I didn't hesitate.
The road was a bit bumpy, and with my suitcase and backpack tied to the back of the motorcycle, I had no choice but to hold on tight. My body pressed against his, arms wrapped around his waist as the bike jolted along.
My chest pressed firmly against his back, and the friction was impossible to ignore with every bump in the road. His muscles were solid, and the heat radiating from his body made me blush. He smelled faintly of cologne mixed with the smell of somewhat pleasant male pheromones. I found myself leaning in closer, almost unconsciously.
"I'm Alice. I used to live in Harbor Town. Thank you for saving me!" to make sure he heard over the roaring engine, I leaned close to his ear and spoke loudly, my warm breath brushing his earlobe.
I leaned in, my lips accidentally brushing his ear as I spoke. My arms tightened around his waist, feeling the hardness of his muscles through his shirt.
I felt his body tremble slightly, the bike swerving for a moment before he steadied it again. "Call me Ryan," he said, his voice low and husky.
Before long, we arrived at a small dock. We had to wait for the next boat, giving me time to sort through my suitcase. That's when I noticed something extra inside, a wallet that wasn't mine.
Curious, I opened it and froze. Inside was a photo of me.
- Writer
