The silence was deafening, the only thing I wanted was to disappear from the face of the earth.
"Alina…" Harris called.
I swallowed and in one shaky breath.
"I… I… don't."
Gasps rippled through the room. The crowd started muttering and mumbling. I caught the eyes of my parents and they were furious. Their expression was incomparable to Harris' he looked like he was going to kill me but I didn't wait.
I turned and gathered the hem of my dress in my hands and ran. Out the aisle, past the stunned faces, past my parents calling my name, and through the open doors.
I can't do it.
I found the nearest restroom and ran inside, trying to breathe in this tight dress and calm myself down. What I just did, to my family and to Harris? I know I am going to pay for it in full. The first time I rebelled against my parents, they might just disown me.
Behind me the door slowly opened and Harris walked in. He didn't say a word and just stared at me with disappointment.
I wiped the tears off my face and straightened myself.
"H-Harris… I cannot even begin to express how sorry I am that-"
*Whack!*
My head was facing the mirror by my right side. It took me a few seconds to realize that he just hit me.
"Why- You stupid girl!" he gripped my neck with an unexpected strength then let go immediately.
"Shit! Everyone will see," instead he grabbed my wrist so tight I thought it was going to snap. "Do you know how you made me look!? This is going to go on the news."
"Stop it please, you're hurting me." I felt tears prick the back of my eyes.
Is this the man my father wants me to marry. Someone who doesn't hesitate to hurt me?
"You are going to walk back in there, apologize to everyone, say it was a mistake and we are going to get married." I shook my head, the tears already falling. "Don't make me hit you a second time. You have three minutes." he let me go and stormed out of the room.
I let the tears fall. I've been an obedient daughter, I've done everything to make my parents pleased with me, is this the ending I get?
I left the restroom to see that no one was there. He really thinks I'll walk back in to say 'I do'
I almost did.
I summoned the last bit of courage in me. I had less than three minute to escape. I ran outside, pass my father's security. They questioned me but I lied to them that I had to get my makeup fixed, on the account that my tears have left long streaks of mascara down my face.
They bought it.
I hurried down the path, they were security at the exit gate too. I had to get out of this wedding dress if I want to leave here undetected. So I headed into the hotel lobby, and approached the receptionist.
"Hi…" I greeted with a smile. She shared a look of concern.
"Oh girl what happened to you?"
I assured her I was fine. "I just need to get into my hotel room. It's is under my name Alina Etienne?"
She tapped away on her computer and nodded her head. "Here." she handed me the key. I smiled gratefully and headed into the elevator.
My room was on the fifth floor. I walked down the hall and turned the corner to where my room was. As soon as I put the key in the hole, I heard the elevator door open from afar and footsteps walking down. I hurried quietly into a janitor room that was at the end of the hall.
"She is here." I heard my father's voice along with Harris' and some other ones I don't recognize. They went into the room searching for me but came out disappointed.
"She couldn't have gone far. Search the hotel, question the staff. You, stay in her room in case she returns." then I heard footsteps recede.
I let out a breath that I was holding and leaned against the door. I was in deep shit. Is apologizing even safe anymore?
The door made no sound as I slowly opened it. I peeped into the hall and there was no one around. I stepped out and continued in the opposite direction of my room.
Was there even a way out for me? Where would I go?
There were some voices coming behind me so I turned the corner only to meet a dead end.
"Shit!"
I peaked around the corner and saw it was a couple of my dad's guards. I had to give it up, there is no where to run to except out the window. A frightening thought crept into my head.
I had two options… jump off a five story high building and be free, or live a
miserable and painful life as Harris' wife and the mother of his children.
I choose the former.
Tears began to blur my vision, I fucking hate my life right now. I slowly lifted a leg over the other side of the window, shaking uncontrollably.
"What are you doing?" my head snapped to the voice.
A man… shirtless, coming out of his room. He stopped short when he saw me, alarmed and trying not to say anything to scare me
"Look, I don't know what you are going through but this…" he gestured to my position. "…Is not the answer."
The voices came closer.
"Please help me." I begged, coming down from the window frame.
"No, I didn't mean to- please, they will hurt me."
He didn't move and held my gaze for a moment before stepping aside. I rushed in and took a huge breath of relief.
The room smelt like expensive cologne and something smoky. The lights were dim and an opened bottle of vodka sat on the mini bar table. I paced the room thinking of my next plan of action.
The man walked to the table and took a swig from the bottle, studying me in silence.
"You done?" he asked.
I froze. His voice was deep and his accent was thick. Russian maybe. He leaned against the bar.
"I- sorry," I straightened and squeezed my hands together to stop them from trembling. "Thank you. I just need to stay until they're gone. Just a minute, I'll be out of your hair."
He didn't reply. Instead, he just looked me over. Not in a perverted way, just assessing. My makeup was smudged, my hair loosened from all the running I had to do.
"Who hit you?" he asked.
My breath caught. "No one." he stared with a brow cocked.
"I mean… it's fine, I'm fine."
He scoffed.
"Look, I'll be gone soon just... could I borrow a shirt? Or pants? I can't exactly walk out there in this"
He didn't answer immediately and with a sighed he walked to the bedroom. A moment later, he tossed a black t-shirt and sweatpants my way. I fumbled and barely caught them.
"Thanks."
"Change, and when you are calm, get out."
My stomach twisted a little. I nodded and changed in the bathroom, washing all the makeup off before putting on his shirt. It smelt like him.
The pants were loose but luckily there was a drawstring.
When I came out he was standing by the window, cigarette in his mouth. Still shirtless.
"Thank you again for helping me out. I'll be going now." he frowned and narrowed his eyes.
"You're not leaving." he said.
I blinked. "What?"
"Your hand." he gestured. "You don't want to talk about it, that's fine but there is no way I'm sending a girl with bruises out in my clothes. Sit."
"I wouldn't-"
"Sit." I sat down reluctantly while he grabbed an aid kit from the drawer. He pulled a stool in front of me and took my hand gently.
"I'm Mikhail." he muttered and gently rubbed ointment on me.
"I'm Alina."