Short Stories: The Scars of Yesterday Chapter 1

The Scars of Yesterday

1

The harsh rays of sunlight seemed to seek out every flaw in the thin material used to keep them at bay. The room was awash with their glow, as these unfamiliar surroundings came into view. It had only been a month since Carol had moved into her new flat. She turned abruptly to face the wall and try a catch up on her beauty sleep. But Lexi, her cat had other ideas and leapt from the chest of drawers beside, the bed landing squarely on her owners side, nearly scaring the life out of her owner.

"Lexi, My heart! Okay I’m up", the fear anger and sarcasm of her words lost on the bemused cat, whose sole concern was getting her food. With her eyes half stuck together with sleep Carol, made her way to the window. A path still being learned with stubbed toes, the noise of the city below flooded in a little more as she approached her target, to let in some relative fresh air. A cool breeze whipped past her, as she slid the wooden window frame into its open position, penetrating her clothes making her shudder and waking her even more as the odours of the world flowed in. She then turned her attention to her and Lexi's breakfast, the cat dancing around her feet as if trying to reinforce the point.

Carol then decided to prepare for the day ahead. She stepped into the shower letting its warmth engulf her, and wash away her sins. The blanket of warm air was ripped away when she stepped out from behind the showers curtain, the droplets of water that clung to her now turning an icy cool. She couldn’t help but admire her toned and tanned form in the mirror, as her mahogany hair fell over her hazel eyes.

Her heart missed a beat as she heard glass shatter. "Lexi, I swear to God if that’s my good vase you knocked over, I’ll skin you...." her voice lost its forcefulness and stopped altogether when she heard the sound of footsteps and glass crunching underfoot seeping into the bathroom. Think quick and acting on impulse she reached for the lock and shut it, just as a heavy boot crashed into it rocking its slender frame. Another kick this time harder cracked the door slightly. As the feelings of panic quickly took her over, she managed to see the urgency of the situation and screamed "HELP ME!" but nothing came out. Suddenly she heard more footsteps approaching this time at a running pace. They then stopped and crashed into the other body with a thud and a torrent of swears. Carol suddenly felt weak and started to blackout....

…The taste of blood in her mouth was Carols first thought as she regained consciousness, the next was the awakening of her mind to the realisation that she hadn’t been dreaming. There were light footsteps coming from the other room and a muffled voice, probably on the phone. Carol fought the urge to pass out again and willed her body to work for her. The footsteps drew closer; as her eyes cracked open and the fear engulfed her very soul, she tried to scream but all that came out was a little squeal.

As her eyes fought through there groggy blur a face came into view. She didn’t recognise him but she knew his face from somewhere, his presence calmed her and made her feel safe, she knew she could trust him. “Hi, I’m Michael, and we’ve got to go leave. Right now!” his voice was smooth and masculine, and filled with urgency. With one forceful jerk he pulled her body up from the ground, and caught her as she went to fall. In his arms she felt safe and thought to herself she could get used to this kind of treatment. “Thanks” she managed to get out meekly, “I’m Carol. Wait did you say your name was Michael? Michael Gael?”. “Yea, that’s me”, he said “please come with me and I will explain everything I can to you”. As she looked at him she could see signs of his fight, his knuckles were bleeding, as were his lips and brow, and from early signs of swelling on his face she knew he would feel the pain later, and be bruised tomorrow. She caught her own reflection in the mirror and besides two panda’s eyes, and a throbbing headache she didn’t look too badly hurt. Her head swimming Michael the mysterious stranger dragged her out of her bathroom, at this point she realised she was only in a towel, over another stocky stranger, except this one was unconscious and had been on the worse end of the fight that must of took place. She could hear his laboured breathing suggesting a punctured lung, her medical background voicing its point, she could also see this man was bound and the contents of his pockets had been emptied, they were still beside him on the floor.

“Okay pack a few clothes, anything personal and some money too” Michaels booming voice snapping her back to reality. He dragged the stocky man into the bathroom and tossed him into the bathtub and as he came out said “Get changed too, I’ll wait outside the bedroom door”. ”Wait...What’s going on? I mean I get you saved me from that guy and all…But I haven’t seen you in years and I want some answers” the nervousness in her voice was plain to see as was the fear, but it was the forcefulness that shocked even her. “I know this is confusing but you know you can trust me Carol”, flashing his FBI badge as he spoke, a definite habit drilled into him, “Now do what I say if you want to live!” Carol changed into some comfy jeans and a baggy top; she packed some clothes a few pictures and got her money from its hiding place. “I’m done…” she said as she stepped out past Michael “…, what happens now?”. “I have to take you somewhere safe, follow me” he held out his hand and gripped hers tight leading her out of her apartment. Just then there was a crash of a vase Carols heart leapt out of her chest and into her mouth, while Michael in one swift move let go of her hand and cocked his gun directly at the source of the noise “Freeze!” he said in a frightful voice. The tense stand off was broken by a “Meow” coming from the table Michael was now aimed at. “Ooh crap! Lexi! That’s the second time you scared me. Come here now baby” Carol said her voice changing from one of anger to relief. The cat jumped onto her duffel bag and cuddled up. Carol tapped Michael, on the shoulder and said “Lead the way cowboy” in a mock southern accent. He stood, put away his gun and re-grabbed her hand muttering “I hate cats” under his breath, Carol let it go for now.

The carnage of the mangled front door startled her; Michael poked his head out the door surveying the hall for any signs of danger. He tugged gently on Carols arm leading her out of her apartment, and down the corridor keeping tight to the wall the whole time. He took her to the service elevator, down to the ground floor, out the fire escape and into the alleyway. He took her bag as they neared his car, Lexi jumping into Carol’s arms. Michael opened the door for her as she stepped into his car, it was a big black muscle car, she wasn’t sure if it was a Ford or a Dodge. He slammed the boot and hoped into the car beside her. With a roar the engine started and the car came alive under his control, he drove hard for several blocks before dropping the speed back to the legal limit. Carol stared blankly out the window as the light from the sun struggled to get past the buildings in town, Lexi licking at her arm the only thing she felt.

The car wound its way through the city’s streets, then up through the valley that surrounded the large urban sprawl, the roads started to get worse and the frequency of traffic lessened. Michael’s car slowed down and he pulled into a dust driveway, leading up to quite a stylish and incomplete house. The car stoped jerking Carol forward against her seatbelt. “We’re here” he said, “lets get inside and I’ll answer any questions you have”.