6
Chapter 1
~Aria~
It was another day watching from my window. Today was Sunday meaning I'd see the two guys with the 3D maneuver gear flying over the buildings. I'll admit I was jealous of them, they were free to fly above this shithole whenever they wanted, while I was stuck here. There was a blonde guy and a guy with black hair styled in an undercut way. I never knew what they looked like.
Just in time I saw them flying through the air. I wonder what they are doing. "Aria!" my mother called.
I slip back through the window and out the bedroom door. I walk into the kitchen where my mother was preparing dinner. "Can you help me make dinner?" she asks.
"Yeah."
I climb the counters to get a pan. Being 5'1 I had to climb everything. After climbing down my father walked in the door. "Hey dad." I greet.
"Hey sweety, girls before you make dinner, we have to go meet some people, they're gonna get us some food, and you know how I don't like leaving you guys alone." he says.
My father has always disliked that mother and I were home alone. It's dangerous here in the Underground District. Most of this place is populated with thugs and prostitutes, so I can understand why he would worry. Mother and I could get kidnapped, raped or even killed. My brother taught me what happens down here and about sex and all that so I know. Unfortunately he died a year ago.
My mother set up my corset and tightened it up. Every time we would go out, we had to dress appropriately, they weren't first class dresses or anything fancy. A black long sleeve dress is what I wore. I help my mother with her corsets and wait for her to dress.
As soon as we finished we headed out. We walked on the main street where the more richer people were seen. I noticed a dark alley way with thugs. I looked around discovering new things since I was hardly out of the house. "Sweetie keep up, you don't want to get lost down here." my mother says.
"I know… I'm just looking around."
I felt a little uneasy the further we got from home. Soon enough we reached our destination. We walked through the door. "Hey guys, uhm this is my wife, Joyce, and my daughter Aria." my father introduces.
I remember those two, they're the ones with the 3DM gear. They smuggle food? Is that it?
"Ah nice to meet you, I'm Farlan, and this is Levi." the blonde greeted. My mother and I just stood there while my father, Levi, and Farlan talked. I noticed that Levi didn't talk much, he just stared and listened. Then mine and his eyes met. I felt a little uneasy. He seemed pissed, unless that was the usual expression he wore.
He got up and walked towards my mother and I. "You ladies can sit, if you'd like." he says with the dull expression. His voice was surprisingly deep, in a handsome way.
"Thank you but we're fine." I tell him.
He stared at me once again but more intensely. "Alright then." he says before walking back to the table and sitting. I noticed that the place was spotless as well, not one speck of dust.
"Alright well thank you guys so much." my dad said.
He walked past us while my mother and I followed. I look back up the stairs finding Levi looking down. His expression was much calmer and not as intense. I hoped to see them again, they seemed nice. We all went home and made dinner that night with the new food we had gained and saved whatever we had left.
I go and sit on my bed and wait for my mom to come in. "Mom." I say as she walks in.
"Yes?" she asks.
"How did you know dad was the one?" I ask.
She came and sat on my bed but looked out my window and smiled. "I knew he was the one when he saved me from my father."
"What did your father do?" I ask.
"Well when he found out I was with your father he was angry and very drunk so he started hitting me…. Your father stepped in and defended me…. That's when I knew…. Now I don't expect you to get married as early as I did." she giggles.
"How old were you?" I ask.
"18, he was 20 at the time." she says.
"Oh…" I say.
"Don't worry… I'm sure you'll meet someone who loves you."
"Maybe…. Mom." I say.
"Hm?" she asks.
"What did you think of those guys today?" I ask.
"They were generous to give us food… but they did seem a little tense, why do you ask?" she asks.
"No reason. I just wanted your thoughts on them." I answer.
She giggles softly. "Good night sweetie." she says
"Night." I say as I watch her leave my room. She closed my door leaving me by myself. During the night before I changed I was sitting in my window looking at the lights. It was quiet….until I heard yelling and thuds. I peek out my door finding three men in my house and my parents on the ground. "Aria run!" I hear my mother scream. I close the door and quickly pack whatever I could. I knew I had to get out. I slip through the window and ran like hell.
I heard one of the guys yelling to get me. I was scared out of my mind. Before I knew it I tripped over my already ruined dress. I fell to the ground instantly. One grabbed my foot and dragged me. I tried to kick myself free. "Let me go!" I scream. I start screaming for help, but it was no use. I could feel he was punching me and kicking me.
"What do you think we can do with a beauty like this?" One guy says.
"I don't know, why don't we have fun with her." The other man says.
I was done for. I close my eyes and give up, until I hear a whooshing sound. I open my eyes to see that I was free. I get up, grabbed my bag and run like hell away from the scene. I lifted up the skirt of my dress to make it easier. I hear the whooshing again. I look behind me to see if I could find who was coming after me this time. I stop to take a breather, then look in front of me. It was Levi. I try to go past him but he grabbed my arm.
"Let me go." I snap.
"No." he says.
I attempt to break free from his grip. I give up for a moment, then Farlan landed in front of us. Levi's guard was down so I broke free and continue running. I ran until I found myself under a bridge out of breath. I felt like I was going pass out. I lean on the wall and slide down. I sat there waiting to start crying but couldn't. I needed to but couldn't. My parents are more than likely dead, I can't go home, I have nowhere to go. "Good night sweetie" was the last words I heard from my mother. And just like that I started bawling my eyes out.
I was like that for a good few hours until I heard my name being called. "Aria!" a deep voice called.
"Farlan, I'm gonna check under the bridge, you keep going forward." I heard Levi say.
Shit, I gotta make a run for it. I get up and grab my bag. "Aria." I hear Levi yell.
"Aria, wait!" I hear him say. I look behind me finding him trying to run for me. I face him.
"No, go away!" I say backing away. I continue to back away and since I wasn't paying attention I almost fell backwards into the water but Levi caught me in time. His arms were wrapped around my waist.
"Tch, disgusting." he says. I couldn't blame him I was dirty but it still was rude of him.
"Excuse me?" I snap
"Let's just go, you need to be cleaned up." he says.
He pulls me away from the edge. He grabbed my hand, he was gonna drag me to his place. I stopped in my tracks. "Would you just trust me dammit!" he snaps.
"Let me go." I tell him.
"No."
I began pulling away, I tried to walk the other way. Next thing I know he wraps his arms around my waist once again. He was holding me from behind, I started kicking then he turned me towards him. "Stop! Let me go dammit!" I scream. I tried hitting his chest but he then caught my arms and held me tighter
"You need to calm down!" he yells.
I couldn't help but start crying again, I felt trapped, and scared. "Levi." I hear Farlan.
"What?! I'm busy, as you can see." he snaps.
"Let me go! Let me go!" I cry.
"I will throw your skinny ass over my shoulder and carry you if you don't calm down." he threatens. I turn myself around to face away from him. I didn't want to look at him.
"Let me go!" I yell.
"Shhh Aria, I know you're scared, but you need to cooperate." Farlan says.
I was hyperventilating at this point. I calm down then I elbow Levi in the gut causing him to release me giving me the chance to run but Farlan caught me. "That little brat just hit me!" Levi snaps.
"Don't worry Levi, I got her, you alright?" he asks.
"Yeah, let's just get her out of here." he says.
Farlan handed me back over to Levi, who carried me on his shoulder back to their place. I stopped fighting after Farlan caught me. My eyes grew heavy so I fell asleep.