My Bloody Revenge
Chapter 20: Fun Turns Bad

"Is it always this crowded?" Lyra asks looking around. Families with hyper active toddlers,elderly, teens, people in suits and women with too many bags can be seen everywhere. Walkingaround or sitting on benches. There seems to be no free space in this huge, three, storybuilding.

"Surprisingly it's a lot less out shopping than normally. Guess we got lucky today.” Lydoran sayscasually while looking around.

"I agree. Now we can walk around without getting stepped on or pushed around. Maybe thistime we can avoid someone losing their temper in the food court queue.”

"Aah yeaah..."Lydoran breathes out. "They were obnoxious, loud, indecisive, retards whochanged their minds more than a hundred times. If you don't know what to order then don'tget in line for fuck sake.”

"At least they didn't end up being your meal. Something to be happy about."

"But they were close to. " Lydoran admits grinning widely.

Lyra have been listening the whole time and turned pale at the mention that it could be evenworse. Glancing around she feels uncomfortable with the already existing crowd, then to replaceout its usually more only makes this shopping thing even less appealing. The later part of theirconversation helped ease her nerves slightly. She even smiled a little at the food queueincident.

"You okay, kitten?"

Looking at Lydoran she nods her head slowly. "Can I..ahm...hold hands with either of you? Idon't do well in crowded places.”

"Let's get our kitten lots of new stuff.” Lydoran says taking her hand.

"Yeah. Today we are really going to spoil you." Jaze agrees winking.

They go from one store to another gaining more bags after each one. So far, they haven'twalked out empty handed, not even once.

"Let's look for some jeans next.” Jaze says walking a step ahead.

While walking Lyra can’t help notice some girls giggle and point before whispering something toeach other. The group seems to be focused on Jaze and Lydoran. Looking around she can seeanother, smaller, group of girls also staring and smiling. One even winked at Lydoran.

“Was that flirting?" she wonders to herself stunned. Another new thing she never seen before.A girl who willingly seeks a man’s attention. Looking at Jaze in his black leather jacket, blue shirtunderneath, paired with low hanging dark blue jeans and white sneakers together with thoseunusual dark eyes and messy black hair. Shifting over to Lydoran she notices he also wearsjeans that sits low on the hips but black instead of blue with ripped details on the thighs. Blackhoodie underneath a black/white/red motorcycle jacket and black combat boots instead ofsneakers. All that black makes his silver-grey eyes stand out even more. Black hair neatly styledBoth are really tall and packed with muscles so she can understand the girl's reaction now thatshe thinks about it. Some stare at her the same way her family did and that only makes herconfused. She doesn't know them so why does it seem like they hate her?

"In here." Lydoran says dragging her into rue21, effectively stopping her train of thoughts.Stopping in the jeans section Lydoran gently releases her hand and skims through theassortments displayed in various shelves and racks. Together with Jaze they pick out severalpairs while she stands a bit awkwardly to the side but still within touching distance.

"Hello, can I help you two with anything?" a girl asks, big smile plastered on her face.

"Nope. All good here.” Lydoran mumbles not noticing the girl eye raping them both.

Jaze who notices it walks up to a clueless Lyra and puts his arms around her waist from behindmaking her lean against his chest. "Just point us towards the dressing area and we will managejust fine on our own." He says casually.

Lydoran looks up and over at Jaze, briefly wondering what he's doing before catching on andfollowing. "Here love, try these on for us." Lydoran says with a smooth voice and puttingemphasis on the word us "I bet you will look stunning.”

Feeling left out and puzzled by their strange behavior Lyra takes the pile of clothes fromLydoran without fuzzing but she silently wonders why he suddenly called her love and why thegirl gives her a hard stare. What is happening? The girl shows them where to go with a tight-lippedsmile

instead of the earlier bright one. Trying article after article takes time but Lyra

eventually manages to plow her way through the big pile after much effort. Wearing the lastpair, black, ripped, high waist skinny jeans she steps out for the hundredth time.

"Looks really really good on you, love.” Lydoran praises circling her then walks away.

"Where did he walk off to?"

"Probably to get you more clothes to try on." Jaze laughs humored.

"You really are spoiling me." she breaths out with tears in her eyes.

"Here try these on as well lov-"stopping mid-sentence he looks at Lyra with wide eyes. "Whyare you crying, love?"

"Happy..."Lyra mumbles wiping the tears away. "That's a lot of clothes Lyd."

"Lyd?" both asks simultaneously causing Lyra to blush.

"I call him Jaz and thought it would be nice to call you Lyd." she explains shyly.

Giving her a hundred watt smile he embraces her in a tight hug. "First time anyone given me anickname." saying similar thing as Jaze did. "Try these too and then let's grab something to eat.Promise, no more clothes hereon after."

Trying them on as well they help her gather the ones she likes and carries them to the registerwhere Lydoran offers to be the one paying. Afterwards it's off to nearest food court aspromised. Total time in rue21 was two hours which is a new record today.

"What do you want to eat?" Jaze asks putting down lots of bags under the table.

"Surprise me."

"Alright but no complaining later, okay.” Lydoran teases dropping the last ten bags next to theexisting pile. "Will you be okay waiting here alone, love?"

"I will."

"Are you sure?" Jaze asks worriedly.

"I promise Jaz." Lyra reassures hating that she's blushing. Nodding they walk away to get in line.Lyra follows them with her eyes feeling beyond happy. This is the first time she's even been in amall and trying out clothes instead of being told what to wear. No more corsets or big frillydresses with stockings and high heels. The feeling of normalcy is still foreign but she's gettingthere, slowly but steadily. Two people who has shown her more kindness these past monthsthan anyone has before without seeking anything in return.

"Well well well. Aren't you looking alive and happy." a raspy voice whispers in her ear, startlingher. Remembering that voice anywhere she doesn't have to turn around to know who it is.Despite knowing she still turns her head and comes face to face with Greg. Fear and panicwraps around her like a well-worn blanket. "Forgotten your manners, girl?" Greg taunts with acold sneer.

"P-ple-ase...don't.."

"Please don't what? Tell Elmir?"

Forced to have this grease ball hovering over her shoulder she only manages to nod, wishing forhim to just walk away and leave her alone. Fearing he might call EImir she sits there frozen,waiting. The consequences for this kind of misbehaving is going to be her death if EImir gets hishands on her again.

"Tell you what Lyra. Help me out and I'll help you in return.” Greg says licking his lips. Buryinghis face in her neck he slowly leaves sloppy kisses not the least bothered that they are in apublic place.

"Do tell, what kind of help you seek from a frightened girl like her.” a familiar deep voice saysfrom beside them. Silver-grey eyes gleaming with pure anger.

"If I were you, I would walk away." Jaze chimes in.

"Lyd...Jaz.." Lyra chokes out between big tears. Shifting Lydoran pushes Greg to the side beforepicking up Lyra in his arms and she in turn hugs him like a koala. Arms tightly snaked around hisneck and legs wrapped around the waist with her face tucked away underneath his chin.Lydoran easily supports her entire weight with one arm under her butt while his other handstrokes her back soothingly.

"Found yourself new fuck buddies I see."Greg leers eyeing the new comers. "Look, guys, I'msure we can come to some fort of agreement here, right?"

"Take him for a walk Jaze while I take kitten to the car."

And just like that her life took a horrible turn. Every progress she's ever achieved up to this dayjust got flushed down the drain in a blink of the eye. Feeling herself divert back to her formerscared self Lyra starts to tremble. Greg found her which means it will only be a matter of timebefore Emir comes to collect her.