Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Chapter Two

Fabiola’s POV

My hands trembled as I stacked the glasses. My heart clenched hard. Was my mind playing tricks on me or what?

Alessandro?

Was that him? I shook my head vehemently as if that would make his face disappear from my head. Gone was the happy face he had. It was replaced with a deep scowl. He looked macho and… and wealthy. Where did all that money come from?

“Fabiola?” I flinched and immediately turned around.

“Yes,” all I could manage was a whisper.

Isabella gave me an odd look. Pity or care. I couldn’t say which one it was.

“You okay?”

I plastered a grin on. “Yeah, yeah. It’s just that I’m a little tired.”

“Hmmm,” Isabella raised an eyebrow. “Okay,” she smiled. While something told me she didn’t believe me, I didn’t want to prove myself any further. The longer we talked, the more likely I was to blurt out my problems to her. Isabella hugged me, said goodbye, and walked out the door. Of course, she told me to finish up quickly and go home. I never knew she was a total sweetheart.

The moment I knew I was all alone, my heart continued racing, every beat whispering the same haunting possibility. I whispered a prayer, clinging to the hope that it was only a lookalike. Because if Alessandro had really found his way back, then it could mean only one thing.

Revenge.

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The problem was not the distance to the bus stop. The problem was how to get to the bus stop in one piece.

I glanced at my watch and sighed. I hated myself for leaving the club at midnight. I considered sleeping in the club, but then I recalled my last experience. Running from the manager because he wanted to grope me? Nah, I think not.

My heart pounded so hard I thought it could break my ribs. I looked ahead and breathed deeply. It felt like my legs were made of jelly, but I refused to let them wobble and crash. Clutching my backpack tightly, I began to walk briskly to the bus stop. With every step, my heart hammered a billion times. Sweat adorned my body like Korean skincare. At some point, I picked up and began to jog till I turned into a Usain Bolt.

By the time I got to the bus stop, I was sweating and out of breath. People gave me weird stares, but that was the least of my concerns. I sat on one of those bus stop benches as I waited to catch my breath.

Then the problem began. By 1:00 a.m., no bus had arrived at the bus stop. I asked the ladies who were coming back from the strip club if a bus was going to pass by. They said yes, so I waited. It did not take long. They began to leave. They made phone calls, and cars pulled up and took them, before I could say Jack. At some point, it was just an old man and me at the bus stop. I began to pace as my heart raced.

My life flashed before my eyes. I was scared—no, scratch that—frightened to my bones. While I was waiting at the bus stop, the whole place was suddenly thrown into darkness. I gasped. What was happening? The worst part was that the darkness was thick. It was so thick I couldn't see my hands. Suddenly, there was a gunshot.

Immediately, I dropped to the ground and took cover. My heart threatened to leave my body as I lay still and listened. No shots again. Turning to assess around made me more scared. The old man had suddenly disappeared. Almost immediately, another gunshot was fired. I flinched at the sound of it.

Regardless of the panic in my heart, I had to stay still. There were no gunshots for a while. That was my cue to leave. I had to go somewhere safe. But unfortunately for me, the only safe place now was the club. I began to blame myself for leaving in the first place. But I remembered the reason I left, and my eyes watered. I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hands.

All in my bid to make ends meet. If I survive tonight, I’ll never work in the club again. Never.

Without thinking, I rose to my feet and began to run back. I ran like I was being chased. Although it felt like someone was behind me. The longer I ran, the more I felt a presence behind me. I quickly turned around, breathing heavily. There was no one behind me.

Because I stopped too fast, my foot caught on something, and I immediately went down hard.

“Ouch!” Pain emanated from my knee. Before I could catch my breath, I heard a voice in the dark.

“Can I help you?” My eyes snapped up, and a cold feeling rippled through me. I knew that voice. It was… It was that pig from last night. I saw him make his way towards me. I screamed.

“Get away from me!” I began to crawl away, but I felt a hand grab me by the leg.

“You can't run away from me, baby,” he chuckled. I felt like throwing up. Suddenly, the light came on like it was switched on, like the blackout was scripted.

The man smiled smugly. “You pervert!” I tried to free my leg, but he tightened his grip. “Get away from me!” I cried.

“Or what?” he began to laugh. We struggled on the ground. I felt his hands over me, and my eyes watered. I managed to stand, but I was limping. I began to run.

“You can’t go far,” he yelled. He was correct because a few steps away, I was surrounded by men in black suits. I couldn’t outrun them, so they grabbed me and shoved me to where the pig was. They held my hands. My chest rose and fell in quick succession.

He looked me in the eye and smirked. He stretched his hand to touch me, and I spat on him.

“Don’t you freaking dare!” My heart was racing.

“You are indeed feisty,” he said, cleaning his face. He stared at me smugly, grabbed me by the chin, and I turned my chin to the other side, pushing his hand away. “Oh, what I plan to do with you,” then he burst into laughter.

God! Please! Not rape. Please. I prayed.

“Let me go!” The next thing I knew was a smack to my face. I fell to the ground. The two men grabbed me up. I had that metallic taste on my tongue, and my eyes were blurry.

“You slut,” he spat. He stretched his hand to touch me, and I stiffened. I wished for nothing but death or disappearance. I held my breath. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Immediately, shots were fired.

Then everything seemed to be happening at once. Some people dragged me as gunshots filled the air.

“Let me go!” I cried. I wiggled around, kicked, and pushed, but it was to no avail. My face was covered with a cloth, and I couldn't breathe, making my claustrophobia worse. I kicked, begged, and cried, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

To my horror, I felt myself being lifted and shoved somewhere. As soon as I was let go, I removed the cloth and turned around sharply.

I gasped. I clutch a hand over my mouth. He sat there in easy grace. Legs crossed, leaning to his side of the door. His eyes closed, unaware of the craziness going on outside. I felt my spirit leaving my body. No. No. It can’t be him. I have to do something.

Okay. Okay. I have to apologize. Yes, I’ll do that.

I opened my mouth, but he beat me to it.

“Isn't that a bit too late, Fabiola?” came his deep baritone. I froze. He hadn’t even opened his eyes yet.