Becoming Lucy

Chapter 4

"You sure you didn't forget anything?"

"Nope. Everything's set."

"Meds?"

"Check."

"Toothbrush?"

"Check."

"Tampons?"

"Che-wait, oh no! I left it on the table."

"Wonderful!"

Merely thirty minutes were left to pack by the time they returned home the previous night with barely any time to sleep at all. Seven grabbed the first things she sighted from her closet and stuffed them all in a suitcase while Lucas helped her by packing jackets and shoes, knowing how cold Amsterdam could get. The rest of the time was dedicated to driving hurriedly all the way to the airport.

"This is the final boarding call for passengers booked on flight 372A to Amsterdam. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately."

"Don't worry about that, I'll manage. Bye!" Seven rushed towards the gate but stopped when Lucas yelled her name. He sprinted towards her and took her into his arms.

"I forgot to say I'll miss you." He pulled away, gently grabbing her shoulders. "Be careful. Everything will be alright and don't miss me too much. Also, don't work your body too much. You are not fully healed yet." Lucas winked and Seven rolled her eyes.

"Yes, doctor. You, take care. Bye." Seven kissed his cheek and rushed forward again.

"Don't forget to call me or at least text me once you land!" Lucas yelled and Seven put her thumbs up in the air in acknowledgment.

Lucas glanced at her retreating figure like a worried father dropping his daughter at school on her first day. He wished he could go with her. But Seven insisted to go alone as she feared he too would become the victim of her past. Seven might act all tough and mighty, but only Lucas knew how fragile she was inside and that was oddly unsettling to him. He was glad that she would be away for a while, safe. Nothing ever worried him as the situation did. It put him on the edge. It was completely strange. What was happening to him?

Maybe it was the lack of sleep this week. That must be it.

---------------------------------

Seven was abruptly woken up from her deep slumber by her phone ringing. She grudgingly reached out her hand to the nightstand, searching for her device. Where the f**k is it? Feeling vibration under her sheets, she pulled the source out and held it to her ear with her eyes still closed.

"Who the f**k wants to die now?" She grumbled.

"Hey, Seven-Eleven! It's me! Your favorite human in the world!" Lucas' slurry voice erupted loud.

"Guess what?! I saw that guy from Monsters' inc!"

Seven rubbed her face in sheer frustration. He was drunk again and drunk Lucas was not fun. He could effortlessly drive some out of their wits with his annoyance. And the dumb things he said were usually a hint to come and pick him up without being yelled at. How cute. Not.

"Where you at?"

"You are not gonna yell at me? Really?!" He screeched into the phone making Seven drag it away from her ear.

"Tell me before I come there and strangle you to death." Seven hissed.

"Uh-I'm at a club. Wait- Lion's club! Yeah! That is it!" He slurred.

"Stay, there." Seven hung up and cursed as she got out of her comfy bed. Throwing on a random coat over her tank top and shorts, she stepped out into the night.

This wasn't a routine but Lucas tended to get depressive at times which was why he resorted to drinking. Seven didn't blame him. Leading a lifestyle as theirs demanded it. Fortunately for her, Lion's club was not very far from her apartment. She began to walk down the familiar dark streets illuminated with street lights and was about to reach the club when she heard whimpering from the bushes on the side. Seven stopped in her tracks and stood still in silence.

The whimpering came again. Subconsciously, her feet guided her towards the place and the sight caught her off guard. There laid a woman; body covered in bruises with barely any clothes on. Painful purple bruises spread on her skin. Crimson liquid dripping down her thighs. Shocked and concerned, Seven kneeled down beside the battered figure.

"Hey." She whispered out. But the only response she got was more whimpers. Seven placed her palm on the woman's shoulder to give her a little shake and that was when chills ran down her spine. Her skin felt dangerously cold. Seven panicked. She hurriedly took off her coat and covered the woman's cold body. She placed her fingers on her wrist and relaxed a bit when she felt the beats.

How long has she been here? Getting the anonymous woman out of the harsh weather was the next task. There was no way she could help her alone. She was attacked. No doubt in that.

"I'll be back soon, okay? Hold on. Just hold on."

Seven sprinted across the street, inside the club. She pushed away the guard and dashed inside. The club wasn't very big or crowded which made it easier to spot Lucas who was swapping spit with a brunette. Seven grabbed him by his collar and pulled him along with her.

"Seven, you ruined the fun!" He whined making Seven furious.

"If you don't shut up, I'll ruin your face too."

She dragged him out of the club and on to the street. Lucas was beyond intoxicated and Seven had no other choice except one to sober him up as soon as possible. A loud slap echoed in the silence. His whining stopped instantly, as his hand shot up to his cheek. Seven felt bad for doing that but convinced herself she would apologize to him later.

Lucas looked at her with wide eyes, taking in the moment to process. "What was that for?"

As soon the slur left his tone, Seven grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the bush where she found the woman completely unconscious. No whimpers. No movement.

"No no no no."

"What the hell?! Who is she?!"

"I don't know! But we gotta save her!"

◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽◽

Seven felt someone shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes to find a grinning boy seated beside her. She frowned before rubbing her eyes and adjusted her sight. Seven did not remember anyone sitting beside her but then again she had fallen asleep even before the plane took off.

"Uh, do you need something?"

"Oh, not at all. We are about to land. Thought I'd wake you up." He smiled, cute dimples showing on his perfectly tanned cheeks.

"Oh, thank you."

Seven looked out of the window. The clouds disappeared giving a beautiful sunny view of Amsterdam. Just then the monotone voice of a flight attendant announced that they'd be landing soon and told everyone to buckle up.

"You were lucky. You were able to sleep through the whole ride."

"Ah, the sweet perks of sleepless nights, you could say. Not fancy at all." Seven replied and he chuckled.

"I'm Walter Hamm." He stuck out his hand.

Her eyebrows raised, a smirk took over in amusement at his odd name. Seven didn't think it was stupid. After all, hers was equally ridiculous. It was just unheard of.

"Se-Lucy. Just Lucy." She corrected herself as she shook his big hand. His smile immediately turned into a frown before he shook his head slightly.

"I knew a Lucy. She was my childhood friend."

Seven visibly tensed but kept her posture Normal. There could be millions of Lucy's in the world for all she knew, there was the least probability he was talking about Lucy Spencer. Seven convinced herself.

"I don't know a Walter Hamm or any Hamm for that matter." Seven joked, easing her nervousness.

"I wouldn't be surprised. You don't have the accent. You are not around from here are you?"

"Yeah. I'm actually from Detroit, visiting a friend here. What about you?" She partly lied.

"I'm coming back from vacation at my aunt's." He said, in a not so pleasing voice.

"You don't sound like you want to be here."

"As beautiful as Amsterdam is and as much as I love my family, School sucks and it starts next week."

Both of the persons didn't realize the plane landing till the passengers shuffled around the seats. Seven put her bag over her shoulder and dragged the suitcase along with her as she walked onto the ground.

"It was nice talking to you, Lucy. Have a nice stay. I'll see you around, hopefully."

"You too, bye."

Seven stepped out of the airport and into the bright warm afternoon weather before she hailed a cab, giving the driver a piece of paper scribbled with the address. She brought out her phone to text Lucas before he lost his s**t and blasted her phone with calls.

Seven stared out of the window. As the busy streets turned into a peaceful atmosphere with greenery paving a way in the middle, her heart grew heavy. The suburbs were undoubtedly beautiful. But her situation wasn't. How was she going to tell someone that their missing daughter is dead and it was all because of her?

Seven was glad, the cab driver wasn't one of those over talkative ones. Right now, she needed some peace of mind to calm down her nerves.

The ride wasn't very long. Just after a few minutes, the cab pulled in front of a big house, the kind in which most American kids dreamed of growing up. Secluded among trees on one of the cities most exclusive streets, it had turrets, gables, dormers, balconies, a screened-in front porch, a free-standing garage, a gazebo, a pool, formal gardens. A front door that could accommodate a family of giraffes. Seven was in awe. Why would someone want to leave such a lavish life and run away?

She paid the driver and thanked him, before climbing out with her suitcase and a bag dangling down her right shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she walked forward but halted after a few steps when she heard voices.

"Mom! This is serious child labor! I can sue you for this, you know." A male voice whined.

"Child? Honey, it's been seventeen years since I stopped putting you in diapers. Wait, don't tell me you are still using them." Spoke a feminine silky voice. Seven took a few steps forward to find the owners of the voices. There stood a woman holding a weird white flower plant in a simple elegant sundress while the guy was digging into the ground with a shovel.

"Mom, stop! You are not funny. You never make jokes!"

"But I made you." The guy was left dumbfounded as the shovel dropped from his hand. The woman giggled causing Seven to let out a giggle. Their heads turned her away, eyes instantly filled with curiosity at the foreign girl. Seven was mesmerized by their beauty. The guy wiped his hands over his pants and stepped forward with curious eyes.

"Hey, didn't see you there. How may I help you?" He asked with a bright smile. Seven just plastered one on her face.

"Hi. I'm here for Leon and Esme Spencer." The woman placed the plant on the ground and stepped forward.

"You have come to the right place. I'm Esme. Leon is my husband. What is your business with us?" Her sweet voice came out.

"Uh-I'm" Seven stuttered around for words.

"Lucy?"