Chapter 17 - Keep awake

“I knew I would find you here.”

I gasp for breath. “Rick, what are you doing here, how did you find me?” I ask. My legs are trembling.

Where is Ben. Did Rick found him before he found me?

“I always succeed when I want something.” Rick laughs. It’s not the laugh I fell for, this is a mental laugh. “Rick, you need help.” I need to keep talking, hoping that people see me struggling. I don’t dare to shout for help.
Rick drags me with him across the promenade into a little alley. “Where’s Ben?” He asks.

I sigh relieved. He did not get to Ben yet. “I left him in Barcelona.” I lie. “I did not want to spoil his trip.” I continue.

Rick slaps my cheek. “LIAR.” he spits in my face.

Tears are running down my cheeks. “Rick… no…” I stammer. He hits me again and again. “LIAR, where is that son of a bitch. Where is the dick who stole my girl from me?” He shouts with his face close to mine.

“He did not steal me away from you Rick. You owe it all to yourself.” I look up angry at him.

“Do NOT blame anyone else for the things YOU did.” I throw at him.

“I.. Did.. Not.. Do.. Anything!” He hits my face with every word he shouts. My head feels incredibly clear and I look at him.

“You will NEVER get me back Rick, you made this mess YOURSELF. Now let me go.”

A scream leaves my mouth when he hits me again, with his fist. My head hits against the wall behind me and the world turns dark. My knees buckle but Rick is still holding me up. I fight against the darkness but I lose and my chin sinks on my chest. I only want to get some sleep.

“Lynn, hey Lynn.” Someone keeps tapping my cheek and calling my name. Can it stop please? I want to sleep.

I open my eyes a little and have to close them again, the light is too bright. “Lynn, open your eyes. You can do it.” the voice says and the tapping continues.
“Can you stop tapping already.” I mumble. I feel like I’ve got a bad hangover. I open my eyes again and see a face that goes with the voice. “Ah, I knew I recognized the voice, now let me sleep Ben.” I say and close my eyes again.

“Do you know what happened Lynn?” Ben asks. “Let me guess, you gave me a big pitcher of Sangria and I got drunk.” I reply.
But then it hits me and my eyes fly open. “Rick.” I pant. “Rick?” Ben asks.
“Rick is here, you need to get out, run, he’s after you.” I mumble. Ben sees the fear in my eyes. “He’s not gonna get me.” Ben assures me. “Can you stand up?” he asks. I try to sit. The world is spinning and I have to hold Ben. “I am not sure.” I reply and my voice breaks. Ben wraps his arm around my shoulders and shoves his other arm under my knees and lifts me up. I bury my face in his neck and hold him tight. “I’ll bring you back to the hotel.” He says. I drift away again and only wake up for a moment when he gently places me down on the bed.

I wake up from something cold on my face. I open my eyes. Ben is cleaning my face with a wash cloth. “Hi, how are you feeling?” He asks softly.

“Like I’ve got a bad hangover.” I reply. “Everything hurts. How do I look?” I ask. “Like you’ve been hit by a truck.” Ben replies honestly.
“I think you need to go see a doctor.” he continues. “It seems like a concussion to me, but maybe it’s worse.”

He gently cleans my face. And I feel a bit better.

“Did you take care when you walked up here?” I ask worried. “I hope he did not follow you.”

“I had to tell what happened when they saw me walking in with you looking like that, they will be on the lookout for Rick.” he assures me. “They will call the police when they see him.”

My head is pounding and my eyes keep closing. I only want to sleep.

The next hours go by in a blur. I am asleep and awake and I have no idea about place and time.
Every time I open my eyes. I look around to see if Ben is still there. And he is. He lies next to me on the bed.

Someone is opening my eye. I slowly shake my head. “Go away.” I mumble. There is a bright light shining in my eye. “A severe concussion. She has to rest. But you have to wake her up every hour, and ask her questions.” Some man with a bad accent is talking to Ben.

“Who are you?” I mumble. “It’s the doctor honey. Go back to sleep.” Ben assures me. And I drift away again.

Ben does what the doctor told him, and wakes me up every hour, asking me stupid questions.

When I finally wake up and actually realize that I am awake it’s almost a whole day after the meeting with Rick.

Ben is asleep next to me and I gently shake his arm. His eyes fly open and he looks at me all worried. “Are you okay Lynn?” He asks. I slowly nod. “I think so. My head still hurts, but I am not that tired anymore.”
“You want some food?” He asks. I shake my head. “No thanks, I am still nauseous.” I say. “No wonder, you got a severe concussion.” Ben replies. “I do want to take a shower though.” I say.

Ben jumps up from the bed and helps me up. “Why thank you nurse Giant.” I chuckle. And he laughs. “Be careful, I can leave you sitting here all dirty.”

I curl my lips in a smile and my face. My face hurts when I smile. “Well, Rick finally wiped the smile of my face.” I frown.

Ben helps me to the bathroom and I look in the mirror. I look like hell. Both my eyes have a black circle. My nose is purple, my lips swollen and my left cheek has a cut. My mouth falls open, and my lips crack.

I start crying. The salty tears hurt the wound on my cheek, but I can’t stop crying.

Ben undresses me and himself, and steps in the shower with me. He pulls me close to him. Stroking my back.
The hot water and Bens’ arms around me, make me feel better and the tears stop running. I feel anger instead of sadness.

Rick is gonna pay for this. I promise myself.

Ben is the sweetest man I’ve ever met, he helps me out of the shower. Back into my pajamas and holds me close against his chest till I am asleep again.

My dreams are wild but funny.

In my dreams I am chasing Rick with a unicorn. Until the unicorn pins him against a wall with his horn. Revenge has never been sweeter.

I wake up with a smirk on my face. “What are you smirking at?” Ben asks. I tell him about my dream. “And that, my dear. Is why I love unicorns.”

The doctor comes to see me again, he examines me. “Can we travel on?” I ask. “I don’t see a reason why not, just be careful, and take enough rest.” The doctor replies.
“I don’t mind staying here for a while, but I am afraid that Rick will find us here.” I mumble. “I just feel saver when I am on the road I think.” I say.
“If that’s what you want, then we’ll leave today.” Ben replies. “But they will take care of Rick if he arrives here.” Ben assures me again. I shrug. “I rather be safe than sorry.” I say.

We pack our things together. “Promise me we come back here someday.” I ask Ben. “I Promise.” he replies and softly kisses me on my lips.

I pull back. “Ouch.” It hurts when Ben gives me a kiss. “Sorry.” He pouts.

We thank the people from the hotel for all their help the past days and head off to the car.
“Do you want to drive straight to Seville? Or stay on the road for a while?” Ben asks. “Can you take the long route please?” I ask.

The thought that he leaves me in Seville suddenly hits me, and I have to bite my lip not to cry.