27

Trigger warning! A bot of violence will be showcased in this chapter and if you’re uncomfortable with it. You can skip, thank you!
Noah
Without any care in the world, I raced towards a dumbfounded Ashley, turning my body to face hers and trying to push the two of us out of harm’s way but the club hit my shoulder, hence the after-effect was disastrous.
Pain hit me like nothing I have felt before as I crouched, biting my lower lip and clenching my other hand on the floor.
“Are you okay?” I moaned, my gaze directly hers. The obliterating pain in my shoulder boosted up the from the stiffness and elevating the agony I felt, faster than I could blink. I cringed and the discomfort exploded in my head with a blinding whiteness.
She shook her head in the affirmative, her eyes telling me to stand back. Emily let out a scream while the man with a purple bruise on his neck smashed the glass tip unto the ground.
I watched as Emily’s face met the ground while her hands were perfectly holding her ears in place.
“W-Who are you? What the hell do you want?” I heard Ashely yell, her eyes bloody red and her fist clenched begin her back.
The man with a purple bruise let out a bitter laugh, striding towards Ashley with the legs of an athlete. He suddenly pulled on her blonde hair, which caused Ashley to let out a grunt.
I reached out to touch his arm but his other hand shot a punch right in the middle of my nose, sending me crashing into a table.
“You owe me ten thousand dollars.” I heard him scream at Ashely.
Blood seeped out from the corner of my lips as I tried to stand up. The pain from my shoulders nearly caused me to scream and my only option was to lean on the legs on the broken table.
“Let her go. ” I voiced out slowly, “-Please.”
“Unless she gives me my ten thousand dollars,” The man in a purple bruise held Ashely’s neck, “Her neck is mine. ”
I was about to speak when his counterpart stepped in front of me, holding a knife. He then moved towards the windows, shutting it with the green curtains and adding more darkness to the entire scenario.
How bad could this get?
I could hear Ashley scream as I watched in horror. The man was holding her by the neck, tightly and hitting her across the face with tears streaming down her face. I shut my eyes, briefly trying to drown out the mental picture but it just stuck like a magnet.
The man placed a hand across her lips, stopping her from gaining anymore attention as he slammed a paper on her face.
“The next time I come here, ” he said, “I will raze this bakery down to the ground so better get me my money, bitch.”
He then kicked the broken pieces of the tip jar and signaled for his counterpart to follow him outside.
Once he was out of sight, Emily lifted up her head and scrambled over to comfort Ashely who refused to have any of that. I observed as she fled away from Emily’s arms and headed towards the restroom.
“Ashley.” Emily yelled.
For a moment, there was utter silence and what followed after was a gut- wrenching scream coming from the rest-room.
Emily sauntered over to me, her hands jittery as she held my hand.
“Are you okay?” I heard her ask. There was no words left in my mouth so I shook my head in refutation.
“Alfred! Luke! Nadia!” Emily yelled, my vision blurry coupled with my head feeling a lot heavier. I slowly slipped into the darkness and embraced the stillness that followed subsequently.
*****
Cold water was splattered on my face sending me straight into reality.
“He’s awake. ” I heard Emily utter in relief as her hands waved across my eyes.
“I was scared for a minute.” Alfred said, running his hands down his hair.
My hands touched the cold metal, my eyes regaining balance and color. Using my left hand, I touched the rim of the surface, my gaze drowning in the entire room.
I was on the kitchen table, like a lamb ready to be slaughtered.
“Where is Ashely?” I asked, my eyes searching the entire room.
“She’s still the rest-room, refusing to come out. ” Nadia spoke. This was the first time I have ever heard her voice. The first time I collided against her when I was rushing towards the storage room, she raised a hand in dismissal when I tried apologizing for my mistake and also when she replaced the empty trays with pancakes and cheese-cakes, she was often quick on her feets, occasionally pushing her glasses up. She joined two days after I came to the bakery.
But somehow her face felt a bit familiar.
I shook the thought out of my hand and angled my body, pushing my body out of the metallic table.
“Where are you going?” Emily asked, jumping right in front of my sight, “You are still injured.”
“I am fine, Emily. ” I spoke, tilting my head.
“No, you are not, ” Emily rebuffed stubbornly, “Go back.”
“I need to check up on Ashley, ” I voiced out desperately, “Step aside, Emily.”
“Ashely doesn’t want to speak to anyone, ” Emily muttered, “Give her space.”
My shoulder was still hurting as I squinted my eyes.
“I need to see her.” I answered, slowly,”-Please.”
There was a look on Emily’s face that I had never seen before. She often wore a smile to greet me in the mornings and giggled when I winked at her but now, all I could see or all I thought I saw was disappoinment. Her face was downcast as she stepped aside, evading my gaze.
“Thank you. ” I whispered, walking away. Somehow I wasn’t expecting her response which I never got, eventually.
My eyes darted towards the restroom and I heard Ashely sobbing. My hands balled into a fist, banging against the wooden door.
“Ashely,” I yelled, “Can you hear me?”
I heard no response from her, all I could hear was sniffing and her cries.
“Ashely.” I yelled again, “Come out!”
I feared that she would do the unthinkable right there. My heart thumped against my ribcage, my grip against the door handle tight as ever.
“Leave me alone. ” Her voice echoed from the room and was low, spent out and frustrated, “Leave me alone!!!”
“Open the door, Ashely. ” I screamed stubbornly. I leaned against the door, worn out and exhausted. My legs were nearly about to give way.
Hearing not another word from her lips, I leaned against the door trying to catch my breath and the momentum of my voice. I heard the rattling of the key against the key hole and impulsively, I opened the door carefully, alarmed and scared.
I locked it, shoving the key into my pockets and then I looked up. Her hands were touching the ceramic sink, gripping it tightly with tears staining her cheeks. Her mascaras was muddled and so was her lip-stick.
I walked slowly, taking a few steps away from her. My open palm reached to graze hers and I felt a sizzle of electricity flow through my body.
She raised up her head and tilted her neck to face me. I was relieved when she didn’t ease out of my touch.
Her lips were quivering, her shoulders shaking and I could feel her fingers tremble under my touch.
“Ashley, look at me. ” I urged, “Everythimg is going to be fine.”
“Is it?” I heard her let out a bitter chuckle as she spoke, “I now have a debt of a ten thousand dollars, with all gratitude to my mother. ”
“You have to calm down.” I moved closer to her, holding her wrists in place.
“Calm down?” she muttered slowly,”All I want to do right now is strangle that woman.”
“She’s your mother, Ashley, ” I begged, “You can talk it out.”
More tears flowed down her cheeks, “She has never given me a proper birthday gift. Never. All she’s good at is ripping cash off me. ”
“I understand you.” I used the back of my hand to wipe off her tears.
“You don’t, Leo, ” Her voice shook, “Don’t pretend to understand me.”
I guided her hands towards my neck, my eyes asking her if she was okay with it. She moved closer and angled her head, her hands wrapped tightly against my neck.
“It’s okay, ” I patted her back, “I am here for you.”
She tried to hold back another sob as we were both locked up in a embrace, like no other.
Her tears stained the collar of my shirt but that didn’t matter anymore. All I wanted at that moment was for those tears to stop.
Her body shook beneath the embrace and my arms wrapped around her waist to give her comfort.
At that moment, I felt my heart beat faster. I looked at Ashley through the corner of my eyes and observed that she was sniffing. My lips spread out to give out a comforting smile and I inhaled sharply afterwards.
I felt my heart thump faster against my rib-cage when I heard her speak.
“Thank you, Leo. ”
But my heart wanted her to thank me using my real name.
Noah.