The first sensation that I feel when I start to awaken is pain, my whole body is in pain. Then I remember, or was I hallucinating? I recall voices and light shining into the room, I couldn’t open my eyes as the light hurt them, but then I heard that voice again. He had such a soothing voice, the strange thing was that I felt him stroking my face and it didn’t frighten me like the presence of the other men did. He lifted me up and took me outside, I was sure I wasn’t imagining things because I swear I felt the breeze on my skin.

I tried to open my eyes but there was too much light. Someone else touched me but I didn’t freak out. I remember holding the guy with the calming voices hand and feeling protected that no one was going to hurt me while he was around.

Suddenly I realise that I can’t smell that horrid smell that had been my constant companion since I was kidnapped. In its place is the smell of leather and mint, it smells fresh.

I struggle for a while but finally manage to open my one eye and a slit of the other. I can still feel that my face is swollen but it feels like it could be going down. As I look around, I everything is blurred but gradually things start to focus.

I’m in a bedroom; there is a shelf full of books against the one wall and a desk with a laptop next to it. Turning my head, my breath catches in my chest, in a one-seater black leather couch that has been placed next to the bed is the handsomest man I have ever seen. His eyes are closed in sleep. He has longish brown hair with a tinge of red peeping through, there is stubble covering a defined jaw as if he forgot to shave. It makes him look wild and dangerous. I feel heat on my hand and realise that he is still holding it.

He must be the guy that lifted me up yesterday and stroked my face. Not only his voice but his touch also calms me. I feel like he has power over me. Looking at the hand that is holding mine I see how much bigger and stronger it is, compared with mine. He gives me such a sense of safety. His arm is tattooed with an intricate pattern to it. When I look at his chest I see how wide and muscular it looks under a dark blue tee shirt that says Elementals MC on it, with two wings placed under the letters.

I raise my eyes again to his handsome face and encounter the lightest green eyes looking intently back at me. I’m sure if I wasn’t so bruised I would be blushing from having him catch me staring.

“Hi Sunshine,” he says in that deep calming voice of his. “My name is Brandr. I’m guessing that you are Aria?” he asks with that penetrating stare that feels as if he’s gazing into my soul. I nod my head as I can feel my throat is still burning and raw, I doubt any sound will emerge.

“How’re you feeling?” How am I going to answer? I open my mouth and try to answer but as I thought no sound escapes. I try to lift the hand that he isn’t holding so I can press it to my throat, but I’m still so weak that I only lift if half way before it falls back down on the bed.

“It’s okay, don’t stress. Is your throat sore?” I nod again. “Can I give you some water?” before I can even nod he is stretching out. He lifts a glass with water from a side table that is placed next to the bed. I take a sip from the straw that he offers me, letting me sip at the water until I shake my head for him to take it away. Throughout this whole interaction his thumb has constantly been stroking my hand as if he will never let go.

“Does that feel better?” he asks with a worried look, even though my throat’s still burning like crazy I nod my head to try and appease him.

“I’m so sorry for what you went through, but I promise you that I will do everything in my power to never let anyone hurt you again.” The anguish on his face and the honesty I hear in his voice touches me deeply. Never have I felt as safe with anyone as I feel with him. Suddenly I realise this whole time we have been chatting not once have I heard any of his thoughts. How is that possible? I always hear every one’s thoughts, even my gran who I lived with for so long. I heard her thoughts all the time.

I used to be normal until I turned sixteen, then my whole life changed. One day as I was sitting in class listening to one of my teachers. I started to hear various voices at the same time, but about all random things. At first, I was surprised with the amount of chatter. When I looked around at the other students and I realised that no one was talking I freaked. I was confused, but just as suddenly as they had begun the voices stopped.

This went on frequently for a few weeks, where suddenly I would start to hear voices. When I mentioned this to my mother she screamed at me, accusing me of seeking attention, until one day the voices never stopped unless I was by myself. Over time, my gran and I realised that I was hearing people’s thoughts, however before that my parents had threatened to have me committed. But my Gran managed to convince them that I would be better off if I went away for a while. After various attempts by my parents trying to take me back to town, and after seeing my relapses, they finally allowed me to stay with her.

At first, they wouldn’t believe us, however after having explained what we thought was my illness, they saw proof. With time they realised that what we said was true, they couldn’t handle it. Since that day I have never seen them again.

Now at twenty-two I still have my parents somewhere out there but I’m practically alone. I heard my father’s thoughts that day when he realised that what we had said was true. He thought of me as a freak. Will Brandr also think of me as a freak if he finds out?

My gran took me away from people when it all started. We went to live on a small little plot just outside of the town, and it was great until the kidnapping. I had believed that I would always live there, even after my gran passes away. I would order anything I might need online, so that I would never have to go into the town. We sold eggs and vegetables which we grew on the plot. The money we made was enough for what we needed. When they arrived, I saw one of them destroying my herb garden by driving his pickup truck over our vegetables. If I were to go back to my home I would have to start all over again. I might have to go into the town to buy some of the seeds I would need as the nursery doesn’t sell online.

Looking closely at Brandr I wondered why I couldn’t hear his thoughts. Was it possible that the trauma that I went through has cured me? Or is it temporary and the voices will come back in time?

I hear a noise from the direction of the door. Turning my head, I see another man enter the room. Instantly my body tenses.

“I see you are both awake.” He walks towards us not taking his eyes off me. I can feel my breath catch and my body start to shake. Who is this? I’m sure he’s not going to hurt me, after all Brandr is here and he promised to keep me safe.

“Sunshine this is Bion.” Brandr is looking deep into my eyes as he leans towards me. “He’s our medic. He has been looking after you for the last few days.” What does he mean the last few days? How many days have I been out? He must have noticed my confused look as he offers me a tender smile.

“When you first arrived, you were in bad shape. Bion gave you a sleeping aid while he cleaned out your wounds and stitched you up. Don’t you remember anything?” I shake my head. “Don’t worry okay. I have been with you since we found you four days ago.” His words calm, me knowing that he had been with me while I was asleep. I know I’m being irrational after all he is going to have to leave sometime, but while he’s here I feel safe.

“Hello Aria, how are you feeling Sweetheart?” Bion is standing behind Brandr, looking over at me. Bion doesn’t look anything like a doctor, if anything he looks more like a model. Contrary to Brandr who has a handsome rugged kind of look; Bion is more of a pretty boy.

“She can’t speak. I think her throat is sore,” Brandr answers him, not once looking away from me.

“Do you mind if I look?” Bion is already moving around the bed as he asks. I look at Brandr cautiously. I notice he’s tensed up, but he nods at me in confirmation as if to appease my worries. I look back at Bion and nod.

“Okay Sweetheart open your mouth, let me see what is going on.” He has a small pen light with him that he flashes into my mouth. “Stick out your tongue for me as far as it will go.” I am fine until he places his hand on my cheek and turns my face towards him. As soon as I feel his touch my heart starts to race, and I can feel my breathing accelerate.

“Aria, it’s okay Bion won’t hurt you.” I hear Brandr’s calm voice, but the fear has taken hold of me, I know he’s not going to hurt me, but I can’t stop myself. My vision is tunnelling, I know if I don’t calm down, I’m going to pass out.

“Bion let go of her!” Brandr snaps. I know that it’s unfair as Bion was just trying to help me, but it’s stronger than me. I feel Brandr’s hands framing my face. “Aria breathe, I’m here, no one is going to hurt you.” His voice is low, intense.

I take a shuddering breath trying to calm my breathing as he requested. I can feel calmness start to embrace me once more, as I focus on his unwavering stare.

“That’s it Sunshine, just relax.” I feel a tear slip down my cheek at his gentleness. I had believed that I was going to die, and then everything had changed. Out of the darkness and despair I was sent a flicker of light to guide me and maybe erase the evil that had clawed at my body, mind and soul.

“Are you feeling better now?” Brandr asks. What feels like a few minutes later, even though I can still feel shudders rippling through my body, my breathing calms, and my vision clears. I nod, as I try to calm the worry that I can see in his eyes. My eyes start to close in exhaustion, I want to stay awake, but sleep takes over.

I hear Bion just as I’m drifting off. “I don’t know yet what happened to her throat Brother but I could see deep lacerations as if something was forced down her throat …”