WHISPERS OF THE PAST

CHAPTER THREE; THE BLOOD ALLEY

CHAPTER THREE; THE BLOOD ALLEY

LENA’S POV:

“Never speak of this to anyone. About the accident…the mansion…me. Not even to your mother. Do you understand?” His voice is low, almost a growl. His eyes—terrifying.

**He doesn't know anything about me.**

I swallow hard, nodding frantically, fear gripping my throat.

I still stand frozen and my eyes seem to be stuck looking at him. I try to look away but I can't. My brows furrow, my throat gets dry and bumps prickle my skin.

A Few seconds pass—which feels like an eternity.

His eyes shift to their original prussian blue colour. Followed with his smirk. He winks, turns around and walks back into the house.

**What in the seven heavens is he?**

I exhale deeply, in an attempt to calm my nerves.

A cough jerks me back to the present. I turn to see the driver still holding the backdoor open. He smiles; “This way, miss.”

I bend to enter the car and I suddenly feel

a stare from behind me—an intense stare. I snap my head towards the window above.

Nothing.

Strange.

**I could have sworn someone was staring at me from the window.**

I enter the car and once he ensures I'm safely seated, he enters and drives out. On my seat, my belongings—bag, phone and coat—from the previous night lay by the other end. I grab them. They are complete except for my earphone which is missing.

I sigh.

I will buy new ones then.

As we drive, I realise that the estate is located on the hill while their house is located further inside the estate–isolated. The day seems to have dawn up here but as we descend down the hill, it's still a little dark. As we get close to my neighbourhood, I ask the driver to drop me off a short distance away. I prefer to walk the rest of the way to avoid prying eyes. I don't want to be asked questions—more like interrogation.

It's early so I know everyone will still be asleep. I quietly turn the knob and the door opens. I soundlessly climb the stairs and open the door to my room. I drop my backpack on my study chair and allow myself to fall freely on my bed. My mind wanders to the events of last night and tears threaten to escape my eyes. I sniff and blink them back.

They're not worth my tears!!

But that's a lie.

I trusted them.

My chest heaves and the pain comes rushing back. I clutch my chest with my right hand.

I trusted them and they hurted me.

**When did she start falling in love with Christian?**

I remember when Christian first came into my life. A nerd who wore oversized round eyeglasses then.

Wimp!!

That's what Clara called him. I would shun her and say; “friends lift each other up, not drag each other down.” She hated him. So how? How did he suddenly forget everything we have been through?

My door opens. No knock. I snap my head towards it.

I'm not surprised. Of course she won't knock.

**Isabell!!**

I stand up slowly, facing her.

“Mom mentioned last night that she may be back home later tonight from work.” Her brows furrow in disgust. “She says you will do the grocery shopping after school and cook dinner.”

“Okay. Sure.” I whisper.

She walks away, leaving the door open.

I exhale, walk to the door, close it and walk back to my bed. Catching my reflection in the mirror, I pause to face it.

My skin no longer looks as pale as before and my ginger hair is rough. I sigh and pull off my top to change. That's when I catch a glance at my waist and my brow furrows.

**Huh?**

My waist looks slimmer making my hips full.

I raise a brow.

Moments later.

I shake my head.

It doesn't matter anyways.

**Focus!!**

I sigh loudly.

Someone saved me last night. Someone who deemed me worthy of being saved. The least I can do is appreciate myself a little. I change into fresh clothes and head downstairs to make breakfast for everyone.

Breakfast is over and I hurry with clearing the dishes before dressing for school. I glance at the wall clock and curse. I will definitely be late to school—for the second day in a row.

I get to school a little late but classes haven't begun yet. The atmosphere changes as soon as I enter the hallway. As though on cue, their noises stop. I pause, raise my brow in confusion and look at some faces. Their faces are filled with disgust and their glares are intense. I keep my head down to avoid them and head to my locker.

I'm not a stranger to their treatment but today feels different. They have hated me since, especially when I started dating Christian but—

I stumble and crash onto the floor. I didn't see the foot in time. I look up to see the culprit.

**Amanda!!**

**What the hell?**

Her face is red with rage, her hands are clenched, ready to strike.

My heart begins to race.

She towers above me as I'm still on the floor. I look up at her and swallow a lump down my throat.

“Why, you w***e?” She screams burning with fury.

**Why what?**

**A w***e?**

All these questions scramble in my head.

“What are you tal—

Her hand comes striking down on my nose. She climbs on top of me, raining slaps and punches. I protect my face with both my hands.

“How could you cheat on him with Andrew?” She screams, still raining the punches.

**Andrew?** I'm in disbelief. I open my mouth—

“What's going on here?” The sharp voice of our janitor breaks the tension. Amanda stops her swing mid air, huffs and gets off me.

“Whore.” She spits the word and walks off. I start to get up, midway, I pause.

**Has he been here all this time, watching while I was getting bullied and accused falsely?**

The school siren goes off, Indicating the beginning of classes.

I watch as Amanda walks to him and stops beside him. He grabs her hand gently and they walk away together.

**Christian!**

**Did he spread the rumours of me sleeping with Andrew?**

The betrayal hits like a punch. Tears well up and spill while my chest tightens and heaves.

I stand fully erect.

“Are you alright?” The janitor asks, concern etched on his face, he looks at me intensely and sighs. “Go and clean yourself first before heading to your class, alright?”

I nod and head towards the bathroom.

I feel a warm sensation from my nose, I touch it with my finger and wince in pain as I pull my hand away.

Red!

Blood.

I hiss and hurry to the bathroom.

I turn on the faucet and wash my face, then reach for the wipes. They weren't there and I wasn't with my handkerchief.

**Fu#k!**

“Here.” The voice startles me and I spin around to see Juliette offering me a handkerchief.

I raise a brow.

“I'm good, thanks.” I politely decline and face back to turn off the faucet.

**Why is she being nice?**

Juliette has always been in my class but we haven't been on talking terms mainly because she's part of Amanda’s clique. Amanda has always despised me for allegedly stealing Christian from her.

They weren't even dating.

Or maybe they were. I don't know anything about Christian anymore.

I hear her footsteps approach me.

“I know you didn't do what she said.”

A brief pause.

“I'm really sorry for what she did to you. Here.”

She offers me the handkerchief again.

I take it, “Thanks. I will wash it and return it back tomorrow.”

“Don't bother.” She smiles, and rubs my arm reassuringly. She steps back; “See you in class.” She turns and walks away.

I shake my head and exhale loudly. I look in the mirror and dress my scattered hair.

The day drags on slowly. Everywhere I go I hear their whispers and snickers.

Whore!

With Andrew? Seriously?

Does that mean she opens up to anyone?

I have always wondered how a redhead would taste.

Their words sting but I ignore them all—painfully. The atmosphere is just too thick and oxygen seems to be scarce.

Even when we had our combined class, I didn't see him together with Clara but Amanda. I caught him once glancing at me and I thought I noticed a warm expression from him but Amanda was all over him. Clara acted as though she had never known me—she avoided any form of contact.

I need an explanation from either of them, but I guess I won't get any. I need closure. Where did I go wrong?

I waste no time leaving school and head for the grocery store. It's far from home so by the time I'm done, the sun has already gone into hiding behind the clouds. I have to get home early and make dinner before my stepmother comes back. I didn't want to give her any reason to be mad at me.

I take a shortcut through an alley.

It is dark.

A huge figure walks towards me. The darkness covers his face so I can't see but everything in me tells me to walk back. Maybe I should just take the long way home.

I turn around but slam into two other men—huge men.

Cold shivers run down my spine.

My heart pounds.

**You have been surrounded!...Silly you Lena, why did you have to take this alley?**

**Scream!!**

I open my mouth to scream when I hear the c**k of a gun.

I gasp and close my mouth shut.

I allow my knees to fall to the damp ground, the groceries still in my hand.

“Please don't hurt me.” I stammer and my vision blurs. I allow the tears to fall freely.

The man with the gun lets out a dark twisted laughter. The other two smirk as well, their eyes filled with dark amusement.

“Just do what we say and we'll all go on happily.” The man with the gun says, the smirk still on his face.

The man behind me grabs my grocery bag and its contents spill on the floor.

I gasp, still pleading.

“Please, I beg you.” I whisper, my breath hitching.

The sound of my clothes ripping sends waves of terror through me.

I try to fight the man behind me but a heavy hand descends on my chin. Adrenaline takes hold of me so I don't mind the pain. I keep struggling.

I freeze and gasp in shock.

**Oh God!!**

The man with the gun places the muzzle of the pistol to my head, pressing against my skull.

“Hey!! Stay. Calm. Or—” He clicks the gun again.

Tears stream freely and my already weakened body shakes from fear. The other man keeps ripping my clothes, and all I can do is whimper.

Then the man with the gun pulls down his trousers, exposing his underwear.

I shut my eyes, my body trembling violently as I embrace the worst, the inevitable.