Forgetting You - Episode 29

**** HAILEY'S POV

Shutting out the cheerful voices and merry making around me was almost as impossible as breathing under water.

And that's exactly how I'm feeling.

Suffocated.

"So you won the race?!"

Mr Michaels asks in bewilderment.

He was smiling, his eyes shinning with wonder and pride as he listened to Theresa go on and on about her achievements in college in the U.S. He had come home immediately after his wife had called to tell him of his daughter's arrival.

Olivia was currently seated on Mrs Michaels laps ignoring the spoonful of rice she was trying to feed to her.

Her gaze was fixed on Theresa, intently.

As if trying to figure her out.

Or probably it was the color of her hair that fascinated her enough to make Olivia watch her that long.. I gaze at Theresa and for a moment I felt like she was watching me too. 

I immediately look back at my food, scooped a few spoonful of rice and ate.

I quietly excuse myself,though none of them noticed and make my upstairs to the guestroom. 

I could feel Theresa's gaze burning the back of my head as I walked away. 

I didn't bother to look back, because i knew I'll be seeing her soon. 

I wasn't wrong about that at all,because a few minutes after I'd settled into the room,the door creaks open and a figure steps into the room.

She stood there awkwardly staring at me,none of us uttering a word.

"Umm"

I cleared my throat.

"You.. You're alive"

I state and in the blink of an eye she rushes to me and throws her arms around me,hugging me tightly.

"You.

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/forgetting-you

. You're alive too.. I thought you died"

She whispers, as if scared of being heard by some one else.

"What makes you think I died?"

I ask and she pulls away.

"I don't know. You were pretty weak.. And.. Bleeding"

she twirls a strand of hair around her fingers.

"I've been through a lot worse"

I smile and she smiles back.

"I never thought our paths will ever cross again you know.

My parents always wanted to know the name of the person who saved my life. But I didn't even know your name then. I couldn't even thank you. Thank you so much Hailey"

She grabs my hands and squeezes.

"It's no big deal"

I reply, the images of the past coming back to me.

****

FIVE YEARS AGO. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH,2013.. 10:00PM.

The loud music booming from the speakers didn't deter her from shouting at the top of her voice.. Different types of people roamed around in the large night club.

Some smoking, others drinking,others dancing and the rest were scattered around in corners, kissing and smooching their partners.

The placed smelled highly of cigarettes and alcohol but she didn't care.. She was having fun.

And that's all that mattered.

Finally,she felt free like a bird.

She grinds against the boy who looked almost her age as they danced.

The boy who was completely drunk was more than happy as he pushed the girl by the waist so their bodies were touching, without any space.

She turns to face the guy and smiles at him.

She smiles back and Kisses him.

She had turned eighteen today, she was legally an adult now, she could do whatever she wanted.. She kisses him some more and pulls back.

"I have to go the washroom, Be right back"

She kisses the boy who nods at her before disappearing to find the washroom.

Done with her business, she walks out towards the partying ground when she suddenly hears sobbing.

Who could be crying in such a happy place.

Hmm.. The sobbing was coming from behind one of the doors at the far end of the hallway.

Curious,Theresa moves to where the sound seemed to be emanating from and peeped through the tiny space where the door was slightly open.

On the floor was a tiny looking girl sobbing as an older looking man stood hovering over.

"You tried to escape again huh? What did i tell you about escaping. You are my slave. And only I can determine when you get your freedom. Why did you try to escape?"

The man sneers in a low voice and the girl keeps sobbing.

"Sorry boss. I'm.. S..sorry"

"Shut up!!!"

He slaps her.

"Jack!!!"

"Boss!"

A man comes into view, half naked.

"Take care of her. She'll know never to mess with me again"

The older man commands and the guy nods.

"No.. Please. N..no.. I'm..I'm.sorry. p.please"

The girl sobs as the Jack guy moves to her, unbuckling his belt.

Oh no! Theresa made to step away but the door opened wider and she ended up stumbling into the room.

The cold eyes of both men met her.

"How much did you hear?"

"N..nothing."

Theresa stutters and steps back, her leg hitting something immediately.

She turns and to her utmost shock, found the body of dead man.

His hands and legs were both chopped off and his eyes were plucked out. Theresa screams.

She screams at the sight. She continues to scream hysterically.

A dead man. Without arms or legs or eyes.

"You shouldn't have come here girl. Curiosity kills the cat"

the older man says unperturbed that the girl had found pieces of human body in the room.

Instead,he corks his gun and points at Theresa.

Theresa was still in shock and screaming and hadn't noticed that she was about to get shot for seeing something she should never have.

For hearing the forbidden.

Suddenly she was pushed harshly out of the room, a second before she heard the gun shot.

"Run!!!"

The voice of the tiny girl says and Theresa turns, just for a second to see that the girl had pushed her out of the way to receive the bullet..

"Go!!!!!!"

The girl shouts. And Theresa runs for her life without stopping.

****

Theresa sniffs and wipes her tears hugging Hailey.

"I thought you had died. I lived with the guilt all these years. I'm so sorry"

"It's okay. Honestly"

"You know, I run all the way home. And I couldn't talk. The doctor had said I was in shock. I couldn't tell anyone. My mom sent me out of the country soon after. She was so disappointed in me.. What about you? How did you survive?"

"Let's not talk about it"

Hailey turns away.

"You can trust me. You saved my life. Please tell me. I heard everything. He's your boss. And wherever there a boss, there's a worker or slave. Do you still work for him?"

"More like I slave for him"

Hailey answers nonchalantly..

"Why? After all these years? You are still with him?"

"You had seen a dead man that day. He could be worse. Do you think I haven't tried to escape?"

"You have me now. I'm back now."

Theresa assures.

"No! You almost died that day.

Read " The Last Virgin " by the same author ( eliza )

. You should know what he's capable of Theresa"

"You almost died too Hailey. You should report him to the police!"

"No!".

"You are a coward Hailey!! After all these years he's still molesting you? And you let him? you let him decide your fate for you? Don't you have loved ones?"

Hailey thinks for a moment and the image of Jason and Olivia loops up in her head.

"I do"

 "Then fight! Fight Hailey! For your freedom. Hell, if I had known you didn't die that day I would have searched for you. I would have. Let me help you Hailey. You don't have to fight this battle alone. I saw how helpless you were five years ago. You don't have to be alone"

Theresa takes her hands and squeezes it.

"You saved me that day, it's now time for me to return that favour. You're going to fight Hailey. You won't suffer in silence anymore"

"How? How do I do it?"

Hailey asks desperately.

There was silence for a moment and then Theresa smirked.

"I have a plan. Get up,we're going shopping"

"Shopping? Why?"

"Because you and I are going to visit that night club again"

***

Pardon me guys, I wrote this in a rush.