Life had been rough. Well rough would be an understatement. My life had been hell since I could remember. My father disappeared before I could even talk, my mother refusing to ever speak his name. There were no pictures of him, no signs he had been there. But my mothers whole demeanor led me to believe he had been there, and left. I assumed him leaving us is what led to my mother being a shell of a woman, her life consumed by work and constant belittling of her one and only daughter. But who knows no one can tell me how she had been before. Probably because I don't know anyone else in our family, her deciding to move away after he who shall not be named left.
I had asked many times about my grandmother. Or if I had aunts, uncles or cousins. It always ended the same. My mother telling me we didn't need them. It was more that she didn't want them. I was certain she had done something they hadn't liked, perhaps gotten together with my father. Or perhaps the way she treated me was just an indicator of the person she was, and they didn't want her, like my father hadn't.
I went to private schools my whole life, I assumed it was Janine's way of making up for her lack of being a mother. I hated them. I was always going into a new one when my mother would be told I got kicked out again. My fighting and snarky attitude always the main cause. But what was I suppose to do when all people did was pick and make fun of me. If it wasn't one thing it sure was some other. Even children took notice of the way my mother treated me, and they let me know how unwanted I was. My mother never took my side though, she would have much preferred I take the bullying, so really I was my own advocate.
When I turned 18 I left. I had nothing but two bags full of clothes, small ones at that, and no money. I held hope though, because it had been the only thing keeping me going for years. The hope slowly dwindled as time went by and I wondered if I had been better off with my mother. It had been hard to keep a job in the city, especially since I had no address or way to get to work. The train and buses were what I relied on, but sometimes where I could sleep and where worked where too far from each other. I used whatever money I had on savings. And even then I could not get a place to live. I couldn't even leave the city because I had no where near enough to relocate. I dreamed about a different life, and prayed to be saved. And one day it happened.
My luck finally came in the form of Vasilisa Dragomir. I ran into her literally while living on the streets. I had been running away from a small vendor after snatching a hot dog when she had crossed my path. She had paid for the hot dog and two more, and she had done what no one else had done in a while. Lissa simple talked to me, and being the angel she was she brought me home like some sad lost puppy. Turns out the angelic gene ran in the family.
The Dragomir's were all the same. Light haired, green eyed angels. They took me in and showered me with love like I had never felt my entire life. They listened and asked my interests. They laughed at my silly jokes. And cried when I told them about my life. Rhea swore things would be better from then on, and she had not lied.
Eric helped me get a medical assistant certification. He would spend nights helping me with homework, and proof reading my papers. And when I finally received my certification they took me out to dinner and celebrated. When I got my job they insisted I stay with them and save. Swearing they loved me being there and I had no reason to leave just yet.
They had given me a home, with homemade meals and family outings. My very first vacation ever had been to a small island in the Caribbean, and I had been so shellshocked to even be going on a plane. Lissa became a sister to me, we never too far apart. She even worked with me at Dr. Chengs office. Andre was a friend, who would pick on me and joke with me. And Rhea, my goodness she was the mother I never had. She hugged me, loved me, gave me advice. It was happiness in a way I never thought I would feel. They were home, they were literally everything I had in this world.
Then my everything died before my eyes. I watched them one by one be murdered in front of me. There was nothing I could do, trust me I had tried. I remember their screams, Rhea's eyes as her worry was aimed at her son Andre, her daughter Vasilisa and lastly at me. I remember Eric jumping in front of me taking the bullet that had been meant for my head. But most of all I remember the dark eyes of the man who then reloaded and pointed a black gun at me and pulled the trigger.
I remember his two other accomplices, one blonde one brunette. I remember the cold looks they had, I remember how cold I felt to my bones by simply looking at them. How the blonde one shot Rhea between the eyes as she screamed at us to run. How Andre took a bullet from the brunette with honey eyes as he pushed Lissa through a closet door. I remember him then aiming at Lissa and my screaming. Most of all I remember my screams. Of fear for these angels being taken before my eyes.
Then I remember nothing but silence. With blood seeping out of me at an alarming rate, I remember trying to pretend I was dead. Hoping to all hope that I wasn't the only one still breathing. I remember their voice all three of the men finally speaking once they assumed we were all dead.
"Who was that girl?" Voice raspy and foreign perhaps Italian?
"Who knows, her fault she was here." This voice was clear an Irish accent.
"Let's get out of here, we've got another job." Russian maybe?
Then all I remember was my pain. Not the physical kind though, even if it was mental and emotional one that makes you numb. The feeling when you realize that something so terrible happened right in front of you, that you just saw everyone you love die before you, that all your screaming and pushing did nothing. When you realize again for the first time in a long time how worthless you truly are.
"Ms Hathaway, can you tell me again, how did it happen?" My eyes snap back to the cop sitting in front of me.
I shift slightly on the hospital bed, wincing as my wound, right where my heart is still aches with pain, both physical and and emotional. I sigh, again, and wonder how many times this man is going to make me relive this hell. I can't take it. It hurts so much. The more I talk about it the more my chest hurts. I loved them, and now they are gone.
"I...I can't anymore." I stare into his eyes, a milk chocolate so pure you could almost see his soul. That was if his hard mask would give way. He had been nothing but stone faced the last 3 hours. Intimidating and fierce. He was the kind of person you wanted on your side, not against you.
"I know this is hard. But we need every bit of information you can give us. The more we have the more we can use to find the men who did this." I sigh shaking my head slightly. I doubt they will be caught. It was no secret the Dragomir's had wealth. And with wealth always came fear. At least I thought so. And the way those men acted, ghosts, they were so confident in their actions. There was no way this was their first time killing.
I tell my story two more times before Detective Belikov finally relents and simply hands me his card. Call if I have anything more that I can remember. But I can't help but have a bad feeling. A cop remains at my door, and I question whether they are there to keep anyone out, or to keep me in. It's not as if I can go anywhere. Two days since waking from my surgery and I can barely move. Not that I wanted to. My mind reels, my fear spiking. I fear far worse is coming and I feel the need to sleep for days. My talk with said detectives taking more out of me than I ever thought could be possible.
The only thing keeping me calm is the information that Lissa is alive. On life support and with very little hope of someday waking. But alive still. All I could do for now is shut my eyes and for the second time in my life pray. The last 5 years of my life had been wonderful. A striking contrast to the other 18 years of my life. How could this happen? And most importantly why? Why would someone do something so terrible to people so kind.
The Dragomir's used their money in ways only one would hope the rich would. Charity after charity. And it wasn't just in money. They spent time. Time raising money. Time going to the aid of those who need it. Volunteer work that even I had been involved in. No these people had used what they had for the greater good. Eric ran Dragomir inc. a huge media company that used their means to tell the truth. To show that global warming and climate change where real. They interviewed scientist, advocates and more. Perhaps this was the why? Was someone mad they exposed the truth. That they spent so much time and money in good, and not helping those corrupt?
I honestly had no idea what to do. Or who to even turn to. Those who were friends now seemed potential threats. I had no idea why I was suddenly so worried about them. Perhaps it had something to do with Detective Belikov asking if I knew anyone personally who disliked the Dragomir's. It brought forth the idea of them not trusting me. Which to some degree I understood. Some no body who had the Dragomir's take her in. Who in their eyes used them to better herself and when she didn't need them anymore get rid of them. I would never though. I loved them. They were my family. I needed them with me. I loved them!
"How are you feeling dear?" I opened my eyes to nurse Olena smiling at me. She was always smiling, a real kind smile too.
"I've been better." I sigh again I inch sideways moving only to wince once again.
"I'm sorry about the detectives. My dear Dimitri is good at his job, but bad with emotions. I suppose he's not suppose to show them with his job." I looked at her closer finally seeing his eyes and hair in her.
"Your son?"
"Yes." There's pride in her answer, that and a ton of love. How can every other mother I've met do that, but mine couldn't.
"He's just doing his job. I can't imagine what he's having to go through." I moan finally relaxing into the pillows behind me.
"Don't undermine what you've been through Rose." She comes over to fluff a stubborn pillow and reaches out to place her hand on my cheek.
Her hand is warm, and very much welcomed. I spent 18 years not being hugged or even loved on. But all that was replaced over the last 5 years. Rhea loved to hug, she loved to cuddle and she loved to show how much she cared. Eric always put a comforting hand on shoulders. I could still feel the last gentle squeeze he had given me moments before hell broke loose. Andre liked to flirt with me, even if it was innocent, a hug here a kiss on the cheek there. How could they be gone?
"It's ok dear I'm here." Without noticing I'm sobbing in Olena's arms.
Her hugs aren't the same as Rhea's but they feel warm. She smells like cinnamon and I cry harder as I remember cookies on Christmas, pinecones with the scent that Lissa and I found at Trader Joe's. Why was this happening? How could this happen.
Fear grips me again as I remember that the men that did this are still out there, still free. Free to come back and finish the job. Olena moves away saying something to me but I'm too far gone to hear. Suddenly everything hits me, they are gone. And I'm still here, so is Lissa. What's going to stop them from coming back. I groan in pain as a nurse, a male one hold me down. I barely notice my thrashing, my screams of fear of pain. I watch with wide eyes as someone adds something to my IV. I hear a distant countdown and confusion hits me. Slowly the edges turn blurry, dark. And I finally realize I had a panic attack. I well knew it wouldn't be my last.
Alright I know I suck. But I am trying I swear. I just cannot seem to just sit and write to much anymore. I came up with this and thought it was better than nothing. Its going to be a short story. No more than 10 chapters or so. The next chapter should be much longer. And this coming week I should be updating my Assassins story. I have the chapter almost done. Thanks for everything. Hope you enjoyed!