The night was already dark, but then it looked more dark, more scary and more long. I tried to walk fast on the empty dark streets but my legs were shaking. Tears fell like a stream from my eyes, my heart was shattered and broken, I couldn't figure out any thing. Why my dad hooked up with Matt's mom when he already brought Sarah at home? What was wrong with that man? Actually, everything was wrong with that man. I couldn't stop crying and my body shivered. I felt like a complete mess and the reason behind all that was nothing but my father's negativity.

I was staring at the ground and walking slowly while my mind was completely lost somewhere. I remembered the nights when he used to call me and my mom violent names, nights when he used to slap our faces hard as if they were made of  wood, nights when he came home wasted and couldn't even remember his name, night when he killed my mother, his wife.

My mind was distracted by the slow voices coming from behind but I decided to keep walking although I was scared to death.

"I like her back." Someone said and the other one laughed.

"I think she is drunk. That's why she is walking like this. " the other thick voice said and I realized I was really walking like a wounded man. I started to walk fast by taking long steps.

"No. No. No. She's not drunk. She's listening to us." The third voice said and my heartbeat raised.

How many more???

"Hey, You!" A man shouted and I knew who he was talking to. I shut my eyes and opened them again,I  didn't stop walking until I was dragged backwards by my arm. I saw three men dressed in black shirts and jeans, no doubt all of them looked ugly and mysterious. I felt being trapped when the man who dragged me by my arm pulled me closer, the other two laughed when he did so.

"Where do you think you are going? " he said and I could sense alcohol from his breath.

"Leave my hand!" I said loudly,  trying to hide my fear by giving him an angry look but it didn't work at all.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.. Relax sweetie." The other man said and touched my cheek with his fingers.

"Don't touch me!" I said and jerked my head away.

"Why not? " he asked,  " Come with us,  we will have fun together." He added, his hand lowered to my shoulder, making me scared as hell.

"I said don't touch me!" I snapped at him and he laughed.

"Don't be scared, honey." The third man said, "just few hours of fun, that's it." He gave me a wicked smile and the three of them laughed.

"Let me go." I managed to say,  fear could easily be seen on my face but I tried my best to prevent my eyes from shedding tears.

"Is it that easy?" The man who had pulled me by my arm said with a clever smile.

"Let me go!" I shouted again, struggling to set myself free but the grip only got tighter.

"We will, tomorrow. " the man replied.

A car came across the street and stopped in front of us. Everyone stood still as I saw Darren coming out of the car, walking towards us.

"Leave her alone." He said in a warning tone but the man didn't listen.

"Not until the morning." The man replied and began to kiss me hard on my neck. A loud cry escaped my mouth as the man bit my neck. Darren stepped forward and dragged the man back, slapping him hard on his face. The man fall down but Darren didn't stop punching his nose until he bled.

I saw the other two men running away in the other direction. "Darren, stop!" I said and luckily, he agreed. The man got up and tried to run away,  fast.

"Get in the car." Darren said to me and I obeyed him. I sat inside and realised that it was mine. Darren had taken my car without asking me, but I decided to quit arguing because he was the one who saved me from the terrible situation I got myself in.

"Are you alright? " he asked when he got inside the car.

"I don't think so." I replied slowly and sighed. I was terribly scared, I just heard about the terrible thing my dad did, my boyfriend broke up with me and then I got surrounded by three wicked men in the loneliest night of my lonely life. The only miracle that happened was that I got saved by a person I never really expected to be there. What was he doing there? It really didn't matter. What mattered was that I was now safe with a half-stranger by my side and I was thankful to him for his help.

"Darren.." I said slowly

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for the help. " I said slowly, A cute smile appeared on his lips, but when I tried to do so, I failed.

"No problem. But can you tell me what were you doing there? I thought you went to sleep when you walked upstairs earlier." He asked being concerned.

"Nothing." I said, tears started to call again from my eyes.

God! Why couldn't  they stop?

"You seem upset." Darren said, " can I help?" He added politely.

"I am fine. Just take me home." I replied and he didn't bring that  subject up again.

I stepped out of the car immediately when Darren parked it in front of my house and walked inside. I saw Jack sitting on a chair with a bottle of beer in his hands, unexpectedly, Sarah was not there.

"Coming home this late?  I'm surprised. " he said with an evil smile. God! I hated him!

" You slept with Matt's mom?" I asked angrily and noticed Darren coming inside.

"Oh! Now I know what's it about. " he said, " yes, I did. Any problem?" He added calmly and came towards me.

"It's a wicked world, Lily and you are to stubborn to live in it." He said and without rethinking of what I was doing, I punched him hard on his face. He stepped back and looked at me with wide eyes.

"How dare you?" He snapped.

"Feels terrible, right?" I said, " but you deserve it. You deserve worst! Can't you just keep your hands to yourself?  How could you do that to Matt's family? How could you do this to Sarah? You're such a freaky mess, dad! You killed mama! You ruined my youngest and happiest days! You brought two people to live in this house when you don't even give a cent for it and now! Now you slept with Mrs. Tom? Matt was my boyfriend!  He broke up with me just because of you! Why dont you feel anything dad? Why is your heart as hard as a rock?  Just..... just get lost! Just die, dad!  Just kill yourself and leave me alone!" .
I said everything that came in my mind and I knew that I meant every word of it. My breaths were harsh and I realized that my voice had been louder than usual. I stared at the cruelest person of the world standing in front of me and then I looked around and saw Darren standing at the doorstep with his eyes full of shock and his mouth half-opened. If I were in a good mood, I would admit that he looked sexy. But I wasn't. I knew that he heard us, but it didn't bother me at all.

I had a lot to think about and a lot of my feeling and hopes were crashed on the ground. I went inside my room and closed the door with as much pressure as I could, leaving dad and Darren downstairs. I sat on my bed and cried. The pain was unbearable,  physical as well as emotional. My arm ached because of the tight grip of that man, but it was less than the pain I felt inside my chest.

It feels bad when someone hurts you,  but it feels more bad when your own dad is the reason of all your shames and sorrows. All my positive feelings were hurt in a worst way and I felt my heart breaking into pieces.

I looked up as I felt hands on my shoulder and saw Darren standing in front of me, his face calmed my nerves and I felt relaxed a bit when his hands touched my shoulder. I stood up at once and hid my face under his chest, grabbing the warm fabric of his shirt.

His arms tightened around me in response and I just let myself feel comfort inside him. Tears were still falling but the warmth of his body felt safer than any other place in the world. I felt better when he said," I'm always here for you, Lily. You're not alone."

He was right. He was there for me, comforting me by moving his warm hands on my back and over my hair, telling me that everything thing will be alright.

And I believed him.

----

Dear readers,

So how was it?
How did you find it when Lily finally took a stand and yelled at her dad?
What do you think about Darren?
A lot more good stuff is about to come.
Just stay tuned and dont forget to vote and comment. Because it means A lot.

Love,
Aisha Waqar.