Hidden Memories II

The man grabbed Helaine, hoisting her up as she thrashed in his grip, her small fists pounding against his arms.

"Let go of me!" she screamed, her voice cracking in panic.

"Little brat," he growled, his tone laced with irritation. "Stop making this harder than it needs to be."

But Helaine refused to stop. Desperation fueled her as she bit down on his finger, hard enough to taste blood.

"Ahh! You little shit!" he roared, instinctively dropping her to the floor.

Helaine hit the ground hard, but she scrambled back, her body aching.

With a snarl, the man lashed out—

Thud.

A brutal kick sent her flying across the room, slamming her against the wall. Pain shot through her ribs as she coughed violently, struggling to catch her breath.

The storm outside raged louder. Thunder echoed, and the rain pounded against the windows as if the heavens themselves were mourning.

"No!" Theron's desperate voice cut through the chaos.

Helaine's vision blurred as she tried to push herself up, her body trembling from the impact.

The man cracked his knuckles, his gaze dark with fury. "I'm gonna teach you some damn manners."

He grabbed her by the hair, yanking her off the ground. Pain exploded through her scalp as she gasped, and before she could react—

Wham!

He hurled her against the wall again, knocking the wind out of her.

Helaine barely had time to register the pain before his hand was around her throat.

"Actions have consequences," he hissed, squeezing tighter.

Her vision darkened. Air. She needed air.

Schink!

The man's roar of pain shattered the suffocating silence.

Theron stood behind him, a rusted knife buried in the man's leg, right near the knee. Blood pooled around the blade as the man dropped Helaine, who collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

"Run!" Theron shouted, his voice thick with desperation.

But Helaine's body wouldn't move. Her limbs were weak, her lungs burned, and her mind was spinning.

Theron didn't wait. He scooped her up, coughing violently as he dragged her toward her room.

Chew! Chew!

Blaster fire echoed from the front room.

"Kill that bastard!"

Theron stumbled into her room, kicking the door shut and locking it. Blood dripped from his side where he'd been hit.

Helaine's heart clenched. "Y-You're hurt…" Her voice trembled.

Theron coughed, forcing a weak smile. "I'm fine, little sis. We just… we just need to get out of here."

He staggered toward the window, rain pounding hard on the glass.

As he pushed it open, a rush of cold wind and rain poured in, soaking them instantly.

"Come on," he urged softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The door shook violently as the men pounded against it.

"Don't think you can escape!"

Helaine froze, her body trembling. Tears welled in her eyes, her instincts screaming at her to run, but her heart wouldn't let her leave Theron.

"Go, Helaine," Theron pleaded, his voice cracking. "Get out of here… now."

Her lip quivered. "But what about you?"

"I'll be right behind you. I promise."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

The sincerity in his eyes… she wanted to believe it.

Hesitantly, she climbed through the window, her clothes instantly drenched as the rain poured down harder.

"Come on," she urged, looking back. "Hurry—"

Crack.

The door gave way.

"GO!" Theron roared, pushing her forward. "Don't look back! Just run!"

Chew! Chew!

Blaster fire echoed from behind her.

Helaine didn't look back. She ran.

The muddy ground soaked her feet as she sprinted through the rain, her sobs drowned out by the storm.

But no matter how far she ran…

Her brother's promise echoed in her mind.

"I'll see you soon… I promise."

"After that day… I lived on the streets with nothing but my strength and wits to survive. And then… they found me."

Helaine, now sixteen, lay curled up in a filthy alleyway. Trash littered the damp concrete, and the stale stench of rot filled the air. Outside, the sun blazed mercilessly, but the narrow alley remained a pocket of cool shade—a small refuge from the unforgiving world beyond.

She was tucked inside a worn-out cardboard box, her body battered and exhausted. Last night had been another fight… and another loss. She'd been outmatched—again.

For the past four years, her life had been a never-ending struggle. Fighting, stealing, surviving. It was all she knew.

But that day… everything changed.

A rat scurried across the alley, pausing to sniff the air before vanishing into the shadows.

Then—

Footsteps.

Soft but confident.

A man strolled into view, hands casually tucked behind his head, moving through the alley like he owned the place. He didn't seem the least bit concerned about his surroundings—a dangerous attitude in a place like this.

Helaine's eyes narrowed, instinctively sizing him up.

The man glanced down at her—and gasped.

"Whoa!" He took a step back, eyes widening with mock horror. "Creepy-looking lady alert!"

Helaine's face twisted into a snarl as she pushed herself up. "I'm not creepy!"

But the man just turned around, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"Cy!" he called out, his tone exaggerated. "Help me! There's a creepy lady trying to kill me!"

A second figure stepped into view.

Cyrus.

Walking forward, he moved with the kind of easy confidence that came from years of living on the edge. His sharp eyes swept over Helaine, taking in her ragged state, but there was no pity in his gaze—just quiet assessment.

"Razek…" Cyrus muttered, placing a firm hand on his companion's shoulder. "This is the second time you've called someone creepy."

Razek shrugged, completely unbothered. "Well, they keep showing up."

Cyrus sighed but didn't press the issue. His focus shifted back to Helaine, his expression unreadable.

"Rough night?" he asked casually, his tone carrying just enough warmth to catch her off guard.

Helaine didn't answer, her guard still up.

Cyrus tilted his head, studying her more closely. Despite the dirt and bruises, he saw it—the fire in her eyes. The kind of strength you didn't teach.

"Tell you what," he said, his voice smooth but laced with intrigue. "You look like someone who knows how to handle themselves. And I could use someone like that."

Helaine's brow furrowed.

"Why don't you tag along with us?" Cyrus smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin. "Could be better than fighting rats for scraps."

Helaine blinked, her heart pounding. She didn't trust easily. But there was something about this guy—he didn't sound like he was offering charity.

"After that day… when they stumbled upon me… my life changed."

Helaine clenched her fist, her gaze falling to the faint scars along her knuckles.

The distant hum of the ship's engines echoed softly in the background, grounding her in the present.

"They gave me home, and treat me with care.." Helaine chuckled a little, "treated me like family, how you had said earlier, Evryn.." a genuine smile forming on her face.