CHAPTER 2
Flashback
Australia:
"Where the hell do you think you're going? You're not leaving, don't even try you bitch!" came the voice of her boyfriend, Zach. A 17 year old terrified Ella tried to move away from him, but she couldn't. He grabbed her wrists and threw her back against the wall, causing her to hit her head severly against it, knocking her unconscious. After a few hours, Ella woke up in an unknown place. She gradually opened her eyes and found herself on the floor of a kitchen. The kitchen belonged to the restaurant where Zach was a chef. She tried to move, to get up, but she was in too much pain. Her underwear was ripped down to her ankles and she was sitting in a pool of deep red blood. There was an empty syringe laying on the floor beside her, and she was shaking. She never saw Zach again.
End of Flashback
After sitting for a while with Claire, Ella noticed Charlie finally leaving Desmond's tent. She didn't want to burden Claire any longer, so se made her excuses and quickly left, heading back toward her new tent. She by-passed Charlie and he waved at her, giving her his trademark smile. Ella smiled back at him weakly, before rushing into her tent. She re-arranged a few things, setting up her bed in a different position and setting out some of her clothes onto the small wooden table before she lay down for a rest on her bed.
Not long after Ella had sat down, she heard someone clear their throat. Her eyes shot open and she saw Desmond standing at the opening to her tent, leaning to one side with his right hand resting on his hip. Her heart began to race with anxiety, as she shifted back further onto her bed.
"Sorry I, I didn't mean to startle you. i just wanted to come and introduce myself," Desmond told her, apologising. Ella nodded slowly, "May I come in?" he asked her. Ella shook her head.
"No. I'll... I'll come out," she said, getting up off the bed and slowly making her way towards the tall Scotsman.
"I'm Desmond, and you are?" he asked, extending his hand for her to shake. Ella cautiously brought her hand up to shake his. He had a strong, firm handshake, and it caught her off guard. Ella quickly removed her hand from his as soon as she could. It was the first real physical contact she'd had with someone for years.
"I'm Ella," she told him, in a small voice. Desmond smiled. He recognised her accent.
"You from Glasgow?" he asked, trying not to notice her anxious actions. Ella nodded, trying not to make eye contact with him, "Me too. I miss it. Too much sometimes I think. You miss living there?" Ella shrugged her shoulders.
"I... I moved around a bit... between England and Scotland, and Australia. That's where I'm from originally," she said. Again, Desmond nodded. It was exciting for him to hear another Scottish accent, however small it may be.
"Umm... I'm going for a walk. Excuse me," Ella said, gently pushing past Desmond and trying to avoid any further conversation.
"Would you mind if I walked with you?" he asked her. Ella answered quickly, perhaps a little too quickly.
"No, please. I'd... I'd just like to be by myself for a little while," Ella said, and headed off along the beach, leaving Desmond at her tent confused.