Love Me

Chapter 1 ~Stolen~

* Short story. I was inspired by a song I heard. I hope you like it!*

~Hannah~

I take one long drink, downing the rest of my glass. The burn that flows down and warms my body spreads to the tips of my limbs. It's a calming effect, but it does nothing to release this anxiety.

"Jim. Pour me another one, will ya?"

I reach my glass towards the bar tender. He gives me a tight smile and pours more of the alcohol into it.

"Hanna, I hope this is the last one. I don't want to have to drag your butt home tonight."

"Oh shush. I can hold my liquor just fine. You should be more worried about the fellow over there." I point my thumb to the right, where a nearly passed out lumber jack is just barely sitting up on the stool.

"Naw, he gets up and leaves right before I close. I don't worry about him, but I am worried about you."

I pull my head down and stare into my glass. "Why do you say that?"

"Hanna, you never come here on Tuesdays. Did something happen?"

I sigh loudly before raising my eyes up to his wrinkled brown ones. "I got laid off today."

"Jeez, what happened?"

"That's the thing, I don't know what happened! I thought I was doing fine. Next thing I know, Kimmy walks up to my desk and hands me a slip. No communication, no thoughts, no sympathy. They just say to get out. Do they think it's that easy to find another job in this town!?"

"Hey hey, calm down...."

"That's the thing! I can't calm down, Jim, I can't! How in the world am I going to pay off my rent this month!? I'm not gonna find 500 dollars just sitting on the ground outside my door!"

"It'll all work out sweetie, you just need to take a breather and lay off your feet. I could maybe lend you some....."

I quickly put my hand up to stop him from talking, "Don't you dare continue that sentence Jim. I'm not taking anything from you."

"That's fine, but I don't want to see you in here like this. Go home and get some rest."

I put my head in my hands and sit in my own thoughts for a few. Nothing is going to get rid of this anxiety that's eating away at me, but I hate to bother Jim with my own problems. I might as well leave and figure something out at home.

"Okay, you're right. I'll go home."

"Good girl."

A small smile tugs on my lips as I grab my purse and coat to leave. It's times like these that I really miss my parents. Being 20, single, and poor isn't easy. I miss the security and warmth that was always around me. I didn't have to worry about the next bill, the taxes, or food. There was always someone behind me, someone to lean on and to be held by.

Now it's empty and cold. I feel naked without their presence. The fire took that away from me. No family to take me in and no inheritance, left me alone and in the dark. I had to fend for my self at a young age. It was then that I realized that I relied on them for everything. I was selfish. And this is what I get.

I'm alone, poor, and have no direction.

I take my keys out and head out to the parking lot. The cold wind bites at my nose. I shiver from the temperature change. The snow is falling in little tuffs, layering the ground in a thin sheet of white.

I quickly get in my car. It takes a few tries, but it finally turns over. I blast the heat, and drive out of the lot.

*********
~Unknown POV~

I let the cold seep through my skin, chilling my bones. It relaxes and calms me, but it does nothing to quiet my racing mind.

Scenes keep playing through my head, over and over. Each word pounds through my skull as if it was branding me. Just sitting on this bench brings back terrible memories. There is no good ones, only bad. The screaming, the yelling, the hate. And the fear. The fear that chased me. There was no safe feelings, nor were there any love towards them.

Mom and Dad.

But I would be punished for saying that.

Sir and Mam.

Nothing more, nothing less. They resented me, they hated my existence, they loathed my being here. The closet, behind the couch, under the bed. I could never hide from the words that haunt me.

Monster.....

Monster!

No! No! I'm not!

It's your fault! Yours!

I'll show you! I'm not a monster. I'm not.....

I quickly stand up at the sound of foot steps coming my way. A small figure walks my way. I slither into the shadows. Not to be seen.

A woman slowly walks past.

**********

The cold chills me, making my lips chap and nose cold. I knew this would happen! That car was on its last leg, I just chose to ignore it. What is wrong with me. I just set myself up more and more. Now I need to find a phone somewhere out in the cold, dark town. I haven't seen a building yet, but I am seeing some street lights ahead.

I walk a little faster, anxious to find somewhere warm. The light gets closer, when I see a bench. But no one's there.

Darn!

I walk past it, seeing if there is something further up. The slight crunching of my feet on the thin snow fills my ears, along with the light whistling of the wind. I start to leave the light of the lamp.

Crunch, crunch.

Crunch, crunch.

C-crunch, c-crunch.

C-crunch, c-crunch.....

Hearing the steady crunching of two feet calms me, but the change in tempo starts to make my heart beat a little faster. The added crunch in between each of my steps.......

I quicken my pace, slowly trying to turn my head to subtly look behind.

My heart races. Thumping in my chest, beating like a drum. It drowns out all other noises. I can't hear the other steps.

Are they close?

Are they slowing down?

Please, please be my imagination!

My eyes try to see through the snow. I squint. Nothing....

I start to turn back around....

...... My eyes widen. I- I can't breath.... There's a pressure over my nose and mouth. An arm around my shoulders. A body against my back....... And...... I c-can't brea...t...h-----------

A shadow. No face. Just a shadow, staring at me.-----------

*******