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Another man, younger and brutish looking with a shaved head, came and stood beside him. "Yeah, I haven't seen you around here before, but where do I know you from?"
Both men were now squinting at me, and the younger one’s eyes started to widen in recognition, his cigarette falling from his hands as he reached for his gun.
"You're, you're Catalina!"
The older man's eyes widened and he also pulled his gun.
"Get on your knees little girl."
Suddenly, I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun. I gulped, scared shitless, and did what I was told.
What was going on?
I watched as another stepped up behind me and pointed his gun at my head. The older man, ignoring the protests of the man on guard at the gate, spoke into his phone.
"Sir, we have an intruder. Confirmed. We'll take care of it."
Intruder? Me? I thought I was protected here.
Shocked at what was happening, I watched as the man slowly took aim, and I knew at that moment I was going to die. I squeezed my eyes shut for what seemed like an eternity as I prayed for my life. When I opened them again, I was angry. Angry at the unfairness of it all. I was going to die, and I didn't even know why. I didn't do anything wrong. I glared at him, willing him to pull the trigger. The next second, hot liquid was spraying across my face, the sound of a gunshot ringing in my ears.
I tentatively opened my eyes. There were voices shouting, men running. I didn't pay attention to the chaos around me as I stared down at Nico's ashen face.
"Nico? Why?" I was confused.
Why were these men shooting at me? And why would he risk his life to save mine?
He barely knew me. I didn't even think he cared if I lived or died. Yet, here he was, lying before me, blood coming out of his mouth and chest. He was trying to say something and I leant closer, grasping his face in my hands.
"R-Run…"
Huh? Did I hear right? I thought I was safe here!
"Run!" he said urgently.
Evidently not.
I didn't wait to find out. I jumped to my feet, taking the man behind me by surprise and kicked him as hard as I could in the balls. I'd always wanted to do that, but no one had pissed me off enough to warrant it. I wasn’t even sure if I could do it.
The man dropped to the ground howling, and I darted towards the gate, giving Nico one last look as I ran out of the grounds and into the darkness. One thing was for certain. I had to get off this road. It looked private and I knew no one using it could be trusted to help me. I climbed down the embankment to one side, and slid down on the loose gravel, my arms flailing to grasp onto the trees for support. I began to slide faster and faster, out of control, the shrubbery scratching and digging into my skin as I lost my footing and began tumbling down the hillside.
Shit!
As I came to the bottom, I landed with a thump amongst some bushes, the air whooshing out of my lungs, making it difficult to breathe. I lay there for some time, gasping for breath on my back, hidden in the shrubbery, as I heard an ambulance and then cars and motorbikes racing out. I waited for the commotion to die down before rolling on my side and attempting to stand. Groaning, I lifted a hand to my head that was throbbing with pain, to find warm blood running down my forehead.
I have to keep going!
Climbing to my feet, I staggered along the roadside, taking note to stay close to the shrubbery should I need to conceal myself. I had no idea where I was heading but I knew I had to keep going. To get away.
Forcing one foot in front of the other, time seemed to disappear as I staggered along the open road that seemed to go on forever. I wasn't even sure how far I had gone when I finally came to some buildings. On closer inspection they appeared to be warehouses. They looked dark, possibly abandoned, and not the welcoming refuge I had been hoping for, but I desperately needed to stop. My head was pounding, my eyes weren't focusing, and I could feel pain all over my body from the numerous cuts and bruises from the fall.
Making my way between two buildings, I took a seat on an upturned crate and leaned my head against the metal wall. The coolness of the metal eased my head somewhat and I closed my eyes as I thought out a plan of what to do next.
Who do I contact? Where can I go? Who am I?
Frustrated that I only had more questions than answers, I leaned forward and held my head in my hands. I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I searched for a solution.
"I guess, first thing's first." I muttered to myself. "I have to find out who I am. I have to find someone to help me." I thought for a moment. "The cops. I need to find a police station."
