Chains and Roses

*It was a familiar place. Rusted metallic chains on a filthy desk, scraped walls with unidentified words, and a stone-cold atmosphere. It's uncanny how this room gets even scarier.

"Please, don't", I whispered, my voice hoarse and small, "not again plea-"

My voice was cut off when I felt a pair of dark, lanky hands against my throat. Tears streamed down my eyes as I started struggling to unlatch the iron hold.

I jolted up from my sleep, sweating profusely. My heart beat faster than ever while I tried to catch my breath. I pushed the blanket off my legs to stand up and wobbled my way across the room. It was around three in the morning when I checked the time while quenching my dry throat.

"It was just a nightmare", I mumbled to myself repeatedly, in a desperate effort to calm my nerves. It has been a very long time since I got a nightmare that I started to believe that they stopped. I, apathetically, blamed stress and the recent burdens of moving to a different place. It has been almost four months since I moved to Shoresland. I just couldn't stay in Seattle anymore. I had to move, after everything. Fortunately, Anna was more than glad to let me stay at hers for a few months until I found a job and moved out. I did make some great friends here, mostly with the ones Anna introduced me to. It has been a great headstart to start a new life.*

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I jumped out of my skin when I heard an ear-piercing shrill. Anna? Really? Now?

"You're finally up, sleepyhead. Let's go", she shrieked.

She needs to stop doing that.

"I think the whole world is up, Anna", I replied lazily, "And where are we going exactly?"

I squinted my eyes because every time she plans something all of a sudden, it doesn't go well.

"Don't give me that look, Haven. We are going shopping, remember?", she said with an exasperated sigh.

" I do remember but is it really necessary to go shopping this early? And how did you get in?", I huffed, while trying to get up and make the bed.

" I have the spare key, doofus.", she groaned, setting

the coffee mug on the table.

Anna is a vivacious person. She lives by her own rules and doesn't even hesitate to do what she likes. Modeling has always been her dream job. She is so dead set on taking up a career in the industry that she had to leave her parents when they tried to talk her out of it. Along with the struggles to find opportunities, she also works as a bartender to pay her bills. Such an inspiration, she is.

I quickly showered and wore a simple dress to start the day.

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"My legs are killing me. Remind me never to go shopping with you, Ann", I groaned, as we entered the cafe BlossomBee.

It was a homely place with a bunch of dandelions on each table. A delicious scent of coffee and muffins lingered in the air instantly making me relaxed. We ordered cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and blueberry muffins for brunch. The ambiance helped me become more cheery from a semi-querulous phase.

" Oh please, I am sure you enjoyed it. I was just helping you improve your fashion sense", she replied, munching on the blueberry muffin.

I scowled at her false statement and continued eating. Anna started telling me about her boyfriend Kyle, while I patiently listened to her. Without any warning, the entire place fell silent. The only thing audible was the rustling of the slow wind barging its way through the window. I gazed around confused with the sudden change in the atmosphere. When I looked at Anna, I saw her face go pale and her hands fiddle with the hem of her dress.

I looked at the entrance when I heard the shoes clicking against the wooden ground. A dark-haired man made his way through the door with a group of men behind. He had a chiseled jawline with a deep scar on top of his eyebrow. Being such a klutz I am, I accidentally dropped the fork that I was holding a while ago, grabbing all the attention. I looked down at my plate avoiding all the stares that I received. Within a moment, I sneaked a glance to see him looking at me with a grim countenance. His green eyes with a glint of gold at the edges pierced through mine unknowingly making me swarmed with butterflies. They were magnificent. In a matter of time, the people at the cafe broke into whispers and mumbling.

"Oh my God!", Hannah whisper-yelled. " Aiden Walters is back!"

I saw him exit Blossombee taking one last look at me.

"Who is he?", I asked Hannah, digging into my pancakes again. She looked at me with a serious expression and spoke

" He is bad news, Haven. Aiden Walters is a part of Chains and Smokes- one of the most dangerous gangs in this town. Nobody in this town dares to even cross paths with him. He has a temper and it got him into trouble so many times. He almost killed Ryder, a member of his rival group. Four months back, he fled somewhere for some unknown reason. Nobody knows where he went or why. Now that he is back, it's better to stay away from him. He has done bad things, Haven. Really bad things."

A shiver ran across my spine when I heard her last words. It was surely etched in my brain that I need to just stay out of this person's way. After hanging out at the cafe, we went to Anna's to watch movies.

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"You can stay here for the night, you know", Anna said as I pulled myself to the feet with a yawn.

It has been extremely late. The sky was pitch black with no gleaming stars like usual. The Winter breeze swayed through the window sending us icy chills.

"It's okay Anna. I have work tomorrow.", I replied with an uncertain lump in my throat. "I'll collect the items I bought tomorrow. Is that cool?"

She suspiciously nodded and tried to say something to make me stay. But before I could succumb to her impending attempts to restrain me from going, I made my way out of the door with a quick Adios.

My footsteps against the ground resonated in the empty streets. Not even a single soul was present. Instead of getting freaked out by the fact that I was walking all by my lonesome at empty streets during midnight, I was exhilarated that I could accompany my thoughts in peace and solitude.

As I ambled past the street, humming a tune that had been stuck in my head. Out of nowhere, I saw a silhouette of a tall man limping towards my side. He was over six feet with a dark familiar appearance. As I squinted my eyes, it took me a while to realize that it was Aiden Walters almost approaching me. I tensed up and put my head low planning to avoid him as Anna's words reached my mind again. *He has done bad things, Haven. Bad things.*

My heart thumped loud against my chest when I felt him nearer. Before I decided to walk from the right side of the street, I caught a glimpse of something. I widened my eyes when I realized it was blood. Aiden was bleeding. At that moment, I didn't know that what I was about to do would change my life.

I approached him and squealed, "You're bleeding! You need help."

His hazel eyes met mine showing a layer of amusement which was immediately replaced with his signature cold look.

Then I did something, I am sure Anna would disapprove.

. . .