PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

She woke up in a bed that wasn’t hers, in a room she didn’t recognize wearing clothes she didn’t own. Her head felt like it’d been split down the middle and when she moved the covers back looking upon her body it was bruised and scratched almost everywhere. She caught a reflection of her face in the window, her left cheek just under the eye was a beautiful collision of purple and blue. Tentatively she touched it, pain flared across her face. What the hell happened to me?
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Just as she had this thought she heard movement in the house, just outside the closed door of the room she occupied. Her heart jumped into her throat and thoughts of how to escape dance across her mind. Who the hell is about to walk through that door? I’ve been kidnapped by some psychopath, what the fuck is about to happen? The door opened as she had begun to leave the bed, she didn’t have a clue where she was or what was going on but she knew she wasn’t staying. Frantically she went for the lone window in the room, her only hope for escape. “You shouldn’t be up and moving. You’ll end up hurting yourself.” The voice at her back was deep and even keel. She didn’t look back, but he was right already she was beginning to feel lightheaded and it felt like she’d run a marathon just to make it to the window. Her fingers wouldn’t work she couldn’t get the latch on the window undone, tears began to swell in the corners of her, she never felt more helpless. Then he was there right behind her, fight or flight, since there would be no flight she turned around ready to strike her attacker. He was an older man, handsome with his salt and pepper beard and sturdy features, he had kind sky blue eyes, but she didn’t notice most of this she was determined to fight. He grabbed her arm as she swung stopping her easily, his grasp firm but gentle. Now the tears began to fall freely, her heart sunk into her gut and in desperation she tried striking him with her free hand. He stopped this blow just as easily. Half sobbing half screaming “What the hell do you want from me? Why did you do this to me? Please, please just let me go.” Her vision started to blur, her head had started pounding so much she couldn’t really think, she was going to faint. “Please sir” she managed before she felt her body go limp and him catching her.
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Several hours passed, was it even the same day? Before she opened her eyes her internal clock told her it must be late at night or early morning. Opening her eyes her vision took a few seconds to clear but she could tell that she was in the same room and this time there was a rocking chair by the bed. As her sight cleared she saw the same man, he gently rocked back and forth his eyes closed his breathing steady and soft. She didn’t move. She was unsure of what to do, for a time she just laid there looking at the man, unconsciously she found herself trying to match his breathing. If he was going to hurt me, wouldn’t he have done it already? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps he wants me awake and aware for the encounter. Slowly she raised her upper half from the bed, her head began to pound, but not as bad as before and she felt every ache and bruise her body had endured. She took in the room around her, besides the bed there was a small desk on the opposite wall of the window, there were several pictures of landscapes, one she recognized of Mount Fuji clearly taken in the spring, full of vibrant cherry blossoms. She studied it for a while before looking back to the man. To her surprise his eyes were open this time and a small smile played across his lips. She gave a small jump that she was immediately ashamed of. He looked at her for a second then turn his eyes to Mount Fuji “I took that the year my wife died. In fact I took most of these in the months after her passing” he did a small twirl gesture with his hand. She held her tongue uncertain of where this conversation was going. “My name’s Percy. What’s yours?” He’s asking for my name? Offering his, what kind of kidnapper he is? Stuttering she answered “A-A-An-Andrea.” Offering his hand he said “It’s a pleasure to meet you Andrea.” She slowly reached out taking his hand, half-expecting him to yank her out of bed. They shook hands, his grasp was that same firm and gentle as before and this time she took a small comfort in it. “Do you remember what happened to you Andrea?” She racked her brain looking for any shred of information to tell her how she got here. Three things came to her mind: she’d left the house wearing a red dress the one with lace floral patterns she liked so much, she was supposed to meet Alex at the dungeon he was going to suspend her for the first time, but Alex had never showed up and there’d been a group of three men who wouldn’t leave her alone no matter how politely or fiercely she rejected their advances. Looking anywhere but Percy’s face she answered “I was supposed to meet Alex, but he didn’t show and there were these men…and what happen to my dress?” Against her will she silently started to cry, she looked down to hide her face. Why was talking about this so goddamn painful? As the tears rolled she felt his rough hand caress her right cheek wiping them away, to her surprise she didn’t recoil from his touch, in fact she slightly leaned into it. “Let’s start with the easiest answer, your dress got ripped to shreds.” She didn’t look up, but she could tell he was still studying her intensely. “B-b-by who?” She stammered, but already her brain was beginning to form an answer, flashes of getting ambushed in a parking lot played in her mind. “I think you know Andrea.” At his words she began to sob, painfully so “What did I do wrong? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset anyone.” She stopped speaking, choking on her sobs. Slowly Percy got up and sat on the bed next to her only meaning to pat her affectionately but she fell onto his chest and he embraced her, holding her as she trembled and cried. “Where was Alex? Why did he abandon me?” The pain and desperation in her voice broke Percy’s heart. He held her and stroked her hair until she cried herself back to sleep, tenderly Percy separated their bodies, laying her down to get some much needed rest.
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Percy studied the beautiful young woman as she slept the sleep of the dead, the kind of sleep that could only come after being beaten within an inch of her life. He didn’t know who Alex was or why he hadn’t shown up at the dungeon. Percy had gone there to meet up with some old friends who had invited him out, he didn’t go out much since his wife’s death, but he felt extremely fortunate that he’d been there that night. He had noticed Andrea, how could he not she reminded him so much of his wife, they had the same build, same hair color, they even had the same sense of fashion. He had also noticed the three men who had been harassing her, from what he gathered one was a regular at the dungeon and the other two were his friends from out of town he invited. He watched as Andrea told them repeatedly that she was waiting for someone, at first nicely but more and more angrily as the night progressed. It was clear that she was holding out hope that Alex would show up but after a couple hours she gave in and decided to leave. At first Percy hadn’t thought anything of it he was enjoying the company of friends he hadn’t seen since his wife died, but when he did notice Andrea’s absence he immediately scanned the dungeon for the three men. He excused himself and walk outside to the parking lot and what he saw there amazed him. Three men attacking a young woman with her dress half ripped off and not a damn person but himself around to help. Andrea’s resilience was impressive, she was a fighter, the men tried to hold her so she couldn’t fight back but she was slippery. A few times she broke free of their grasp and instead of trying to run she kicked, punched, and scratched at anything she could reach. One of the men’s face was bleeding, apparently from being scratch by her nails. Another’s eye was beginning to swell shut from a punch she landed, but it didn’t matter she was outnumbered and despite her ferocity she was physically overmatched. Percy didn’t hesitate, he was a veteran, he’d been through his fair share of fights, running he took out his pocket knife and flicked it open, he meant to stab the first man he came across in the gut but at the last second he had heard him approaching and turn Percy’s knife sunk an inch into his arm under the elbow. The man cursed and recoiled as Percy drew his knife back and punch one of the men still holding Andrea in the nose. Predictably men like these were cowards and now that they had somebody fighting them who can do real damage they retreated. The lone man holding Andrea dropped her and ran with his friends. She was barely conscious, her cheek already beginning to swell, Percy wouldn’t be surprised if she suffered a concussion. He knew he should of called the police, should have had an ambulance come and make sure she was going to be okay, but looking down at this half-naked beaten woman all Percy saw was the ghost of his wife and things stirred in him that had been motionless for far too long. He picked her up put her in the passenger seat of his car she mumbled something that was incomprehensible but he swore he heard the words “sorry” and “Alex.” He’d taken her to his house, put her in his guest room and tended to her injuries the best he could. He checked on her constantly, waking her making sure her concussion wasn’t severe, he’d gotten her to tell him what year and month it was and who the president was, it had been the next day when she finally truly woke. He knew what he did was wrong, and he didn’t blame her for being so scared when she’d awaken to her situation, but if only for a few hours it felt like he had his wife back, he’d even dressed her in his wife’s old clothes. He didn’t know how to express this to her now or how she would react, but when she woke up the next time he would gladly explain the best he could and pay for a taxi to take her wherever she wanted.
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When Andrea woke next her head felt clear for the first time in days. In her sleep, her unconscious mind had pieced together what happen. She knew Alex had never shown up, hadn’t responded to her numerous texts and that three men who’d been harassing her attacked her as she tried to go home. She also knew that Percy was the stranger who had saved her. This time the room was empty, the rocking chair still by the bed. She got up her body still sore and noted the pajamas she was wearing were covered in a pattern of roses, she couldn’t help but like them, they were exactly the kind of thing she would buy. Venturing out into the hall she saw a bathroom on her left, her bladder reacted at its sight. As she went she examined the bathroom’s decorations, it was clear that Percy hadn’t been the one to do so, it was too feminine, too girly. Pink and reds were everywhere, roses covered the shower curtain, Andrea guess that whoever’s pajamas she was wearing had also chosen the bathroom’s décor. Washing up she noticed the smell of breakfast being cooked. What time was it? Hell what day was it? With these thoughts reality kicked in, her parents must be freaking out she usually checked in and talked with her mother often, and what about her job? They’d probably already fired her. In a panic she rushed out into the living area of the house, from their she could spot Percy in the kitchen cooking what smelled like bacon and eggs. A quick glance at the clock over the mantle told her it was almost three o’clock in the afternoon. She approached the kitchen quietly, Percy didn’t turn to look at her. “Percy” she said, her voice sounded foreign and weak to her. He turned and gave her that same small smile he had the night before. “Ahh, good to see you up, how are you feeling?” Biting down on her tongue before she spoke, she didn’t know exactly how to answer that “all things consider I’m okay, and I guess I owe that to you. Why didn’t you take me to a hospital?” The thought dawned on her whose pajamas she was wearing and who had decorated the bathroom “Why am I here in your dead wife’s pajamas?” Percy’s face looked pained as she asked her questions, not in an angry way, he just looked sad. It made her regret asking. “If you want…” he let that hang in the air for a second “I’ll explain the best I can over some breakfast, I bet you’re starving.” As anxious as she was to leave her stomach wouldn’t forgive her if she passed on some food, and if Percy was going to hurt her he probably would of done it already. “Okay, I’ll stay for a little while.” Percy finished up preparing the food then set the table in a small dining room area. Andrea listened intently as she shoveled eggs and bacon down her throat (god, she did love breakfast foods!) Percy kept trying to convey how much she reminded him of his late wife, his voice cracked as he told his version of the events that had led her here. Andrea couldn’t help but feel a jolt of empathy for him, and while what he did was honestly kind of creepy he hadn’t hurt her, he’d only tried to help. “Percy I don’t hold anything against you, but it’s time for me to leave, my parents, my job, they have to be wondering where I am.” Percy nodded at this “Gimme a second” he got up and came back with her purse “you’ll be needing this” he said handing it to her. She pulled out her phone and of course it was dead. As she did so Percy said “I can call you a taxi, I’ll pay for it to take you anywhere in the city.” She studied his face, her gaze lingering on those sky blue eyes, he meant it she was really free to go. “I would like that” she said simply.
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Percy called her a taxi, gave her fifty bucks to pay for it. It didn’t take long for it to arrive, she don’t know what compelled her to say it, maybe it was pity, maybe it was the thought of how he held as she cried but before she left she turned to Percy and said “Perhaps we will meet again.” Percy just gave her that signature small smile, he didn’t dare say anything and Andrea swore she saw tears form in the corner of his eyes, he gave a small nod and Andrea got into the taxi giving her home address. As they drove away she looked out the rear window Percy didn’t move, he just stood with his arms crossed watching her go. I really do hope I see you again Percy she surprisingly found herself thinking.