"Lotus, will you grab my phone from my nightstand please." I turned and rushed into his room. I tried to ignore the still damp towel that had been discarded on the floor next to the dresser. I bulked at the smell of cheap booze and cheaper stale cigarettes. It reminded me too much of my ex. Just as I reached the nightstand strong arms wrapped around me from behind and I cried out in terror just before a hand clamped over my mouth.
"Scream and I slit your fucking throat bitch!" Erle hissed in my ear and I felt a sharp edge of a knife pressed to my throat. "I've been looking for you every where and I finally fucking found you! Did you really think I wouldn't fucking find you! Did you really think I would let you just walk away! You are mine! I fucking own you bitch!" He shook me violently as he spoke. I whimpered weakly as tears began to stream down my face.
"GET THE FUCK OFF HER!!" I didn't recognize the voice bellowing in rage but I didn't care. I felt the floor rush up to greet me as the knife went flying. My head smacked against the nightstand with a sickening crack and starts danced in my vision. I curled up as I heard a loud commotion behind me. A sound like a hammer hitting meat then loud expletives followed by roars of rage and a scuffle.
Loud as it was I could barely hear it all over the ringing in my ears. I could feel something warm and wet on my head. I whimpered softly trying to make the throbbing pain go away and suddenly the sound of the scuffle subsided. I felt warm strong arms wrap around me but I didn't flinch away. This man cradled me close and murmured softly to me as he held me to his chest. He smelled like pine and woodsmoke and mint and soap and witch hazel. It was a good smell, comforting.
I whimpered again as he gently lowered me to something soft. I could hear my father asking questions and who ever had hold of me stepped back as someone else came into my view. A bright light was flashed in my eyes and someone said something about a concussion. The ringing in my ears finally stopped but the room continued to spin sickeningly.
"Can you hear me? Follow my finger with just your eyes....." The guy with the flash light said as he slowly moved his finger around.
"Imma puke..." I managed to get out and suddenly I was wretching into a bucket that appeared out of nowhere.
"Let's get her to the hospital..... I can assess the damage better there." Said someone near by and an agreement was muttered as she was bundled up in a warm blanket and lifted off what I came to know was Brandon's bed. I could smell that same manly musk and I felt myself shifted as he handed to someone else after someone told him to put a shirt on first. I whimpered pathetically as I smelled warm cinnamon, coffee, sugar cane, cayenne pepper, saffron and other exotic spices. It was my father who held me now. He was speaking quietly to my mother and sister in Aramaic.
"This stupid boy look how he frets over her. Does he think I will let him marry my little lotus?" He sounded annoyed.
"Abah! This is not the time for such trivialities! Lotus is seriously hurt and you are upset that somebody is showing concern for her!" Jasmine chided sounding angry with our father. I couldn't help but be grateful that she had put him in his place. I was in no condition to deal with him right now. I weakly pushed against my father's chest and reached out for the comforting embrace almost instinctively.
"Whoa! Easy Lotus..... I've got you. It's okay." I heard his voice murmur softly as he took me in his arms. His voice was vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place it. His warm smell filled my nose and I relaxed into his embrace as he spoke to my father in perfect Arabic. "Let's get her to the hospital, Jasmine should come as well. I will drive." He finished in a firm voice as he lifted me easily and carried me to his vehicle.
At the hospital I got a ct scan and was told that they were going to hold me for a forty eight hour medical observation. It didn't take long for me to get a room. Once settled I laid back and tried not to think about Earl or how he had found me. I couldn't keep his words out of my mind though. The adrenaline was seeping out of my system and I found myself terrified of what had happened.
"My little Lotus... Your heart is racing... It is alright... I am here." I could smell pine smoke and snow and soap with witch hazel and mint and found myself relaxing despite my fear. I couldn't help but feel safe as he leaned in close to adjust my pillows.
"W...will you stay..... Just until I fall asleep..." My voice sounded small and weak even to my own mind. I felt him stop moving and I could tell he was looking at me.
"If that's what you want my little Lotus... I will stay until you fall asleep." His words were soft and gentle. A far cry from the man that had been so incredibly violent in his bedroom. I vaguely wondered who it had been that had saved me as I closed my eyes and relaxed into the pillows surrounded by Brandon's scent. Sleep came easier than it ever had for me, I felt safe and loved for the first time in almost a year.