“Alejandro Ruiz, what a surprise.”
I tilt my head up, staring into the dark eyes of the man that tortured me for weeks due to a misunderstanding between him and my father. I remember seeing the smirk on his face, thinking of how much I would enjoy shredding him to pieces once I was free. I remind myself to breathe before stepping into the room. Dimitri Petrov looks amused at my reaction as he signals for me to sit opposite him.
“Is it really a surprise? After all, I did call you before arriving.” I respond bluntly, sliding into the leather seat opposite him. I ignore the naked parade of women surrounding us, all of them walking around with a glazed sultry look. One of them carries a glass tray and when she leans down to place it on the coffee table between us, her eyes flicker up to meet mine. I ignore the longing in them, keeping my eyes directly on Dimitri. He barely glances at the girl and she quickly scurries off.
“How can I help you?” Dimitri asks me, reaching into his back pocket. He pulls out a pack of cigarettes, sliding one out. From the corner of my eye, I see the shadow of his gun on his arm rest, waiting to be used. I lean forward, resting my arms on my knees. The urge to lunge at him, smashing his face into the glass table begins to grow inside of me but I can’t do that.
I need information on Ariana’s whereabouts.
I breathe out deeply, pouring myself some scotch into a glass. Dimitri watches as I bring it up to my nose, inhaling the scent. Images of Caleb this morning with the alcohol fills my mind and I sigh, feeling like a hypocrite. When I place the glass back down onto the table, Dimitri frowns.
“Have a drink Alex, poison isn’t my style.”
“It’s not poison I’m worried about. I’m good, it’s a little early for me.” I respond, leaning back into the leather armchair.
“Suit yourself.” Dimitri says, an amused smirk plastered across his face. He lights up his cigarette, his movements slow as he takes a long drag. I watch as he exhales the smoke, filling the room with the thick scent.
“I need information.” I begin, wanting to get away from him as soon as I can. Being in his presence makes my skin crawl, I despise the man.
“Information on what?”
“I was hit a few weeks back. They put me in hospital, killed my friends baby and took another friend with them. I need to find out who it is and fast.” I explain, leaving out certain details.
“They took your amigo Alejandro?” Dimitri says, my name rolling off his tongue in a heavy accent. I nod my head once, my jaw tensed as I struggle to keep my face emotionless. He doesn’t need to know the extent of my relationship with Aria-na.
“Ariana, that’s her name. Short, dark hair, grey eyes. You heard anything on the street?” I ask him, her sweet face flashing through my mind. I want to describe her eyes further, the way they have the ability to capture anyone’s heart with one simple look. I want to describe her beauty but not here, not with this man. My hands twitch and ache just to touch her one more time, feel the heat of her body on my palms.
“A girl. She’s a friend, hm?” Dimitri questions, his eyes flashing with interest. I mask my face over, maintaining eye con-tact with him.
“Yes, a friend.”
“How much?” Dimitri responds, continuing to take drags from his cigarette. The air around us begins to grow thick with smoke and despite it burning the back of my throat, I don’t let it show.
“Hundred thousand, cash.”
As soon as I speak, Dimitri snaps his head up. I knew the mention of money would perk up his interest. He lets out a low whistle —
“One hundred for some information? Damn, you must really want this guy.”
“He fucked with me and I need my revenge. Do you know anything?” I hit back, beginning to grow impatient. Dimitri Pe-trov pauses, allowing silence to fall upon us. A sly smile grows on his face as he stares me down —
“Give me a few hours, I’ll call you.”
I nod before standing to my feet, reaching down and taking hold of the glass filled with scotch. I lift it to my lips before downing the entire liquid, guess I changed my mind about needing a drink. Before I leave, I call out to him over my shoulder —
“Don’t let me down.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it Alejandro,” He shouts back, his words laced with a sick humour. The idea of working with him causes my hands to ball into fists but he’s my last option. I’ve hit a brick wall, a dead end. The longer I spend looking for her, the further the possibility of her death.
If she dies, that’s on me. No-one else.
*****
Ariana’s POV –
The scent of heavy damp and rain, the sound of metal clanging. The squeak of the door as it’s pried open. The darkness surrounds me, dimly lit by a pathetic excuse of a bulb above me. I’m still trapped.
“Please let me go, I don’t know what you want. I won’t tell a single soul about anything, I promise!” I beg and plead but my words fall upon deaf ears. Eventually I stop speaking because mercy isn’t something this man knows. My entire body screams out in protest from weeks of discomfort.
Will I grow old here?
Will I eventually die here, sprawled out on the filth covered floor?
Or will he choose to end my misery and put a gun to my head before pulling the trigger?
I often wonder whether death is my only option out. I spend my days being surrounded by the darkness. My thoughts turn towards the sunlight and I realise how much I miss it. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to remember how the heat of the sun feels against my skin. I wonder if anybody is looking for me.
The police, my parents, Alex.
I picture my foster parents huddled by the front window, waiting for my arrival. The way my mothers head would lie on my father’s shoulder as she cries. I’d do anything to have her nag me one more time or to inhale my father’s comforting scent.
“Hello?” I call out, my voice weak. The sound of my words is alien to my ears due to not speaking for so long. I’ve grown accustomed to the silence but even the silence is beginning to grow suffocating. The hope and fire inside of me has fizzled out, leaving nothing but ash and soot. I slowly hoist myself up onto my knees, crawling towards the jug of water in the corner of the room. I take my time to drink it, savouring the feel of something travelling down my throat.
Even the water is filled with the scent of damp and I turn my head to the right, gagging. The taste of it lingers on my tongue, sticking to my body like a leech. My body convulses several times before eventually lying still. Single tears stream from my eyes, gliding down my cheeks before falling to the floor.
“Please help me,” I whisper, my words disappearing into the air. It’s no use, I’m alone.