Falling Red

2

♤ I cannot change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination ♤

*unedited*

♦ V E R O N I C A ♦

When I decide to finally make my way to the apartment after picking up some special dishes for tonight to celebrate my first job, it was already late evening. The sun has not set down yet but the grey cloud accumulates in the sky, blocking the evening rays of the sun. I guess it is going to rain soon. Great, I groan. Why did I not see the weather forecast before leaving? It will definitely be better if I carry an umbrella or a coverall. However, I have none. I should get back to the apartment otherwise I cannot avoid the rain.

With big and boosted steps I walk towards the direction of the apartment while shuffling the food parcel and the office files in my hands. Rain is something I hate the most--my father is an exception. Put it more accurately, rain is equal to bad luck for me. Till this date, I do not have any good memories related to it.

So, I choose to take the short cut. However, this path is mostly deserted but today it will work for me. The surrounding is dark and the footpath is covered with shrubs. Suddenly, big drops of rain hit my skin. It starts pitter-patter. I clutch the files to my chest, bow my head and speed up as much as I can.

“Catch her!”

I have not taken few steps when someone shouts from behind. My steps pause and I turn back to look. Three bulky men are jogging towards my side. Uneasiness creep through my heart. My hands around my body tighten. I turn back and start running in the direction of the apartment when an unknown person appears in front of me, blocking my way.

“Do you need anything?” I ask without showing any expression on my face. I know the more I show my fear, the worse it will be for me. “If not then please leave my way.”

The man does not give any reply but stares at me intently. He glances at my back to his group and mutters, “She is the one?”

“Yeah, she is Romeo’s daughter. Take her.”

Romeo! This name is not something I am unaware with. He is my father and I am his unfortunate-daughter. Many thoughts emerge in my mind with his name. Did he do something and now I have to pay for it? Why he is like this? He never cared about me in the past and now when I am away from him and his world, he still cannot let me live in peace.

The rain starts pouring heavily and none of the men let me off. I squint my eyes. “What are you all talking about? Who Romeo?” I know he is my father but the other party is not sure about it. If I play smart then it is possible to escape today’s crisis. I raise my left hand in the air and took a step back only to bump on another man. I rotate my head and try to explain, “Look, I think you have some misunderstanding. I am not the one you are look for. You can wait for her here but please let me go, alright?”

“That we will see when you come with us.” The man who blocked my path looks immune to my talks. Whatever I say he treats it like a thin air. If he had not freely talked to his partners, I would have labelled him as a dumb who cannot understand the human language? “Hold her. Remember to cover her mouth, she talks a lot.”

She talks a lot? She talks a lot! My eyes go big at the sharp criticize. Did he say that I talk a like a non-stop stereo? “Oh, hello mister whoever you are but you cannot take me anywhere without my permission.” I glance around to find a way to walk out but the four men surround me from four sides and I feel trapped in-between them. “What the hell you all are really doing? Step out of my way otherwise it will not be good for any of you.” They do not listen and step closer to me. “I am warning you for the last time, don’t come near me.”

The next second, I drop my things on the ground. I bend my left foot on my knees and hit the jewels of the person in front of me followed by the man behind my back. The two holler in pain and unconsciously step few step back while cupping their pants.

“You b*tch!” The expression they give me, makes me proud of my precision. It is a hit!

“I warned you, didn’t I?” For God's sake! I am Romeo's daughter. Don't take me as a saint. I will not sit back and corporate these people to kidnap her. I do not give the other two standing next to me any chance and punch them at their face. However, they intercept my move in midway and bend down to avoid. They hold my arms and lock it behind my back. “You leave me!” I shout and shot a glare at them. These two ras*als dare to make a move on me. “I said leave me otherwise . . .” Wait a minute. Otherwise, what will I do, I have to think about it. “ . . . otherwise, I will shout. Help! Help, please. Is someone here? These donkey-faced-men are trying to kidnap me.”

"I don't want to do this but you left me with no choice." The man in front of me takes out a fun from his back and points it against my forehead. "Stop struggling."

I stare at him blankly and soon a piece of cloth covers my mouth from behind. A sweet odour enters into my nostrils. I shake my body to move out of their hold. This is very familiar to me. How many times I have smelled it when I was with my father. These people are trying to put me to sleep. I muffle continuously, but the more I try, the more I inhale.

I feel my limbs go weak, my feet have no power to support my weight. I struggle to keep my eyes open as I feel the heaviness surround me. No, no, don’t close your eyes. I try hard and pinch my arms to stimulate some sense in my dizzy mind.

“Leave the girl alone.” The voice fall into my ears but I do not have the power to comprehend much about it. Is there someone who came to help me?

I tilt my head upwards with my lips partially open. I want to say something or maybe I want to call the person who just came here. But I couldn’t. The raindrops heavily fall on my face. My body shivers as the coldness of the air slowly pierce through my body, and that’s when I see him.

Everything in front of my eyes goes in slow motion. I do not hear anything, nor do I feel what is happening around me. I focus my heavy eyes over his face and then the darkness engulfed me in its embrace. Like it always does in the past. I vaguely smile; darkness is the only one thing that has never left my side. It stays my side like a constant companion. That is why I had made it my best friend.