I will make them pay
1167 Words
“...She's losing a lot of blood. Stitch that up quickly.”
Valerie winced softly as something sharp pricked her arm.
“You're in good hands, Miss Valerie. Just breathe with me, okay?” said a gentle voice followed by a light caress on her other arm.
“Mom?”
“Go to sleep, Valerie. Your mom's waiting for you.”
And just like that, the gentle voice lulled her to sleep.
*****
Valerie found herself standing in the middle of their living room back home. Even though it looked familiar to her, it had this strange feel as though it wasn't real.
“Valerie.” she heard a voice call for her.
Valerie's eyes trailed ahead, and she found her mother sitting in her favorite chair.
“Mom?” Valerie called.out with her hand stretched out.
Beatrice smiled. “Your father… is Luca Martinez.”
“What?”
All of a sudden, the room began to call and someone was calling her name.
“Valerie!”
Valerie jolted awake with a gasp, looking round the room.
A hand pressed gently on her shoulder. “Hey, calm down. You're okay.”
Valerie shriveled away from the contact, staring at the stranger. “W - who are you?”
The dark-haired gentleman flashed her a warm smile. “Oh, where are my manners? My name is Maximus. It's nice to meet you, Valerie.”
Valerie looked around the room, her heart racing in her chest. “What do you want from me?”
Maximus took a step closer and Valerie felt a cold sweat break out from her temples. “Don't touch me!”
Maximus held up both his hands in midair. “I'm sorry if you're scared and I get that. I'd feel the same if I were in your shoes. So… how are you feeling now? You took quite the blow to your head.”
“What?” Valerie asked them. A sharp pain traveled through her, and she winced.
“I found you lying half-dead in front of the Gallagher Hotel, so I took you to a hospital.”
Valerie stared at the stranger in shock. “You saved me?”
“Yeah,” Maximus smiled at her again. “You’re young to be okay.”
Valerie smiled weakly at Luca. “Thank you so much. I… I owe you my life. Thank you for helping me.”
“It's alright. Just make sure you're well rested. This is my house and I'd like you to feel at home, okay?”
“Thank you,” Valerie replied and soon, they relapsed into silence.
Maximus interrupted the silence with a nervous chuckle. “Why don't you have some breakfast first? You can use the bathroom. It's the one on your left.”
“Thank you,” Valerie mumbled.
“I'll join you shortly. Have your rest.” Maximus rose to his feet and left the room.
Valerie stumbled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. Her vision blurred, but she was quick to reach for the bidet. A splash of cold water helped clear her foggy mind. At least to an extent.
Gallagher Hotel… Luca Martinez…The hospital… Her mother!
Her eyes circled like saucers and she bolted. “Mom!”
She entered a massive hallway and darted her eyes left and right, wondering where to go next.
She heard the light creaking of silverware downstairs and followed the sound. From the bottom of the stairs, she found Maximus helping set the breakfast table.
Their eyes met and he smiled. “There she is. How are you - -”
He had barely gotten a sentence out before Valerie ran to meet him. She fisted his shirt and began to sob.
“My mom. She's in the hospital…”
“Your mom?”
Adriann arrived at the hospital and went straight to the ER. She went over every room but couldn't find her mother.
“Mom?” she called out. There was no response. “Mom!”
Maximus gently took her elbow. “Why don't we meet the receptionist?”
Valerie attempted to protest but his gentle eyes found a way to calm her down.
“Alright.” She agreed and they both went to the reception.
Maximus took the lead while Valerie watched him quietly. “Hi. We're looking for a…”
“Beatrice Martinez,” Valerie said.
Maximus froze. Slowly, he turned to look at her. “Martinez?”
“Yeah.” Valerie looked down. “Luca Martinez is my father.”
Her reply startled him. “What? Luca Martinez is my uncle.”
It was her turn to get shocked. “What?”
“Sir? Ma'am?” The nurse behind the counter called their attention. “But Beatrice Martinez is … . She's gone. I'm sorry.”
“What?” Valerie stepped forward. “Are you sure you spelled it right? Martinez had a double S.”
“Yes, ma'am…. I'm so very sorry for your loss.” The nurse announced quietly.
“No, no, no. It can't be,” Valerie cupped her hand over her mouth. “Mom!”
“Valerie, please.” Maximus wrapped his arm protectively around her.
“No,! She can't be gone! Mom!”
A few days later,
July's rain began in earnest — a slow drizzle that turned into a subtle shower as soon as the mourners gathered at the grave site.
Valerie stood frozen. She clutched her mother's scarf as the bronze-colored casket was lowered into the ground. Tears filled her eyes and she dared not let them fall.
The priest concluded his eulogy and left with his ministers and so did a handful of the crowd.
Valerie stared into space for what seemed like minutes before a soft hand pressed down on her shoulder. She turned to see it was Luca Martinez, her father.
He began softly. “Hey, Valerie… I'm so sorry for your loss.”
Valerie could only nod. She had grown up without a father figure in her life and was used to her mother being gone. But with her mother gone, he was here, acting like the father he never was.
“Valerie, I know this is a lot to take in but I want you to come home with me.” Luca gave her shoulder a light squeeze.
Valerie nodded quietly and Luca led her away from the cemetery.
They stopped where a group of friends were to exchange pleasantries while she went to stand by the car.
A hand-held an umbrella over her head. “You don't think your mother was killed, do you?”
Valerie replied. “I do.”
Maximus could only heave a sigh. “Let’s get you home.”
Valerie took one last look at her mother’s casket and fisted both her hands. “I'll find out who did this to you, mom…”
Just then, she caught a glimpse of Luca staring at her and he waved. “...and I'll make them pay.”
- Writer
