The buzzing in my ears mingles with the beating of my heart, the air entering my nostrils doesn't seem enough to fill my lungs, my mouth is dry, I try to regulate my breathing, but the oxygen burns my throat.

Chloe Steel.

"" A few more steps. Hold on! Just until I find somewhere to hide.

I whisper under my breath, trying to encourage myself.

And I see it, a container overflowing with garbage, it's separated from the wall. Cans, cardboard, food scraps scattered on the floor.

I jump between them, I slide carefully between the huge box and the wall trying not to make noise, I go all the way to the corner.

I enter without hesitation, slightly forcing my body, at first I could slide easily but little by little it became narrower, I walk backwards, I don't want to lose sight of the panorama, I let myself fall although I have reduced the space my thin and fragile body entered that corner, on my knees I rest my head and with both hands I cover my mouth.

I inhale and exhale trying not to make noise, but I don't know if I will be able to.

I hear the footsteps of the men who are coming for me, they are looking for me, I don't know at what point I managed to outrun them.

Roland, Frederick and James.

I'm so scared, I close my eyes and I still hear their footsteps, they are getting closer.

"" My God, don't let them find me.

I whisper again in a low tone.

"" Where is that damn girl! Keep looking.

The head of security Roland speaks.

"" If we don't find her, the boss will cut our heads off! Turn everything over if necessary!

Insisted the angry voice.

"" Yes sir!

Two more voices are heard that I know perfectly are Frederick and James.

"" Damn!

It resonates in my mind, I remain static I think I even held my breath.

The buzzing in my ears has increased, I feel the gastric reflux wanting to come out of my mouth.

I concentrate on it not being so.

"" Without making the slightest movement or noise you will die today Chloe.

I say to myself in thought.

"" Let's go ahead Frederick to the street on the right, James you to the left and I'll go down the street in the center.

It sounds more threatening than ever.

Suddenly something moves on my back, a shiver runs down my body again, I cover my mouth more forcefully, but it's useless a small moan escapes me.

The steps that were moving away stop.

I feel something walking on my back, my neck and going up to my head, I don't move, the rat's tail falls brushing my right ear.

The steps approach the container quickly.

"" I'm dead!

I say to myself, my tears inevitably fall.

In the instant that the footsteps almost reach my hiding place, the rat jumps off my head and runs away with another one stuck to the wall.

"" Oh how disgusting!

Frederick's voice is heard.

"" Let's continue where I ordered you.

I hear the footsteps moving away and I let out a sigh.

Unwittingly I smile, who would have thought, those little animals that scare me so much today, at this moment saved my life.

The tiredness finally falls on me, I close my eyes without moving.

The memories hit me with such brutality that they make me shudder.

I've been married to Joseph for 5 years, today I scolded myself for my idiocy, but at the time it was wonderful, in fact I was so happy, although I had to give up what I wanted most, my family, my status as heir to a consortium called Black and White, or B&W, with a business of buying and selling movable property.

It acquired houses, apartments, mansions, remodeled them and sold them at a high price. And what about the land, that was only leveled, fenced and sold again quickly.

My father acquired real estate at a low cost, Mr. William Steel has a very keen sense for detecting the urgencies of his clients and paying below cost, even so it was legal, he paid in cash and in a single payment, with this his clients were satisfied.

He amassed his fortune by leaps and bounds.

I, simply lived.

Yes, I was given a first-class education, in exclusive high-level private schools.

I am an administrator with a master's degree in sales, but what attracts me most is acquisitions.

I decided to follow my father's business pattern, it was no longer luck the bargains I found, no, first I investigated the properties that were put up for sale, their owners and launched an offer. Unlike my father, I didn't wait for them, but went in search of them.

In the business world; The greatest profit is achieved with the least investment.

Anyway, I met Joseph at the university and fell madly in love with him.

"Damn love!"

I recited as a mantra for the thousandth time in this last week.

I still can't move with my head on my knees, maybe it's the fear or tiredness, I guess my adrenaline state is over.

I sigh again with my string of hilarious memories.

I hit my head with both hands and cry in silence.

"Don't make noise!"

I remind myself, I close my eyes again and continue with my memories.

I can still feel the frustration I felt when I told my father that Joseph was my boyfriend and that I wanted to marry him, he had already proposed to me.

In response he shouted:

"What can I offer you? Sorrows, anguish, a bad life, he's a nobody Chloe. I don't accept it!"

Mr. William Steel had spoken, he didn't want him as a son-in-law, he had judged him without knowing him.

The harshness of his words made me cry, I even begged and even tried to blackmail him by arguing rudely.

"If my mother hadn't died, I'm sure she would support me in this decision."

"But she's dead and you do what I say, period."

For the first time I saw anger in my progenitor's eyes.

I lowered my guard for one more day.

Very early I made sure that my father had already left for work, I returned to my room, took out a sports bag, put in my personal documents, credentials, cards, the title of ownership of my apartment and my car, I sold my jewelry collection everything.

With that quick transaction I understood my father's technique, I felt it in my own flesh, I didn't care that they paid me below its value.

I went to the apartment that Joseph rented, where he lived alone, he had no family and I proposed to run away with me.

He accepted immediately with: "I love you" and a "I will follow you to the end of the world".

It was inevitable that I would laugh at myself, of course without making noise.

Finally, we went to the bank, I withdrew what I had in my savings account and fled from Blue City where my father was practically the king, but in Golden City he was not at all.

I also did my homework that in 24 hours I disappeared from my father's life, I knew perfectly well that in that other place, my dad's arm would not reach.

When we landed in Golden City we went to the civil registry and got married for community property.

My husband was initially reluctant to accept.

Very happy, we left the civil affairs office, we looked for a place for our celebration.

"What would you like us to invest in?"

I asked him anxiously while we ate in the mid-range restaurant, I knew I had to save for now.

"I don't know!"

Joseph played with his food without looking me in the eyes, his were light brown that I loved, his curly eyelashes, his small mouth that sketched the most beautiful of smiles cut off my breath.

I wasn't sure which feature was my favorite, whether the dimples that marked his smile or that gold crown on one of his teeth; I simply loved him.

His well-formed body could be appreciated even with clothes on and what to say about his curly brown hair.

I perfectly remember the emotion I felt when I saw him approaching me, my heart beating a thousand.

He cut his piece of meat with firm, manly movements and brought it to his mouth, I managed to see his dental crown and smiled sipping my drink.

"What if we buy and sell houses like your father? After all, you know the business, it would be very easy for you, I will help you."

He proposed with some emotion.

"No, I want to do something new."

I replied aggrieved.

He had no idea how much money he carried in that sports bag apart from the two changes of clothes.

After suggestions, some silly or crazy, we decided to dedicate ourselves to parcel service, a very profitable business.

I will never forget when after setting up the company, giving it a corporate name, registering it in the Treasury and making the corresponding payments, getting the necessary permits, we went to an automotive branch, we acquired a fleet: 15 small vans and five tractor-trailers to start the business in Golden City.

My heart beat with more force when before entering the branch he handed me a small favor of bills saying:

"These are my savings"wife"responding immediately; this is your contribution"partner"."

With prosperity blessing, in a short time, the work was increasing, which led us to acquire more units.

Forming a great team, he was in charge of hiring the operators under a strict and rigorous selection process, the administrative staff was very efficient: everything was perfect.

Joseph.

Yes, in just three years we were the f*cking kings of transport and the best thing was that I was getting out from under my father's shadow.

The following year I happily gave birth to a baby to complete our good fortune, we called him Nathan Smith Steel.

I smile through painful tears as I remember my son and cry again with more strength.

I get up little by little leaning one of my hands on the cold wall and the other on the garbage container, my legs are numb, I'm still scared, but I decided to get my son back.

"Damn Grace!"

You will pay dearly for each of my tears, the suffering of my son, I will collect it with your blood.

I whisper between my teeth.

I have obtained the strength that I felt I had lost, my motivation would undoubtedly be my son and for him I would do anything.

I clench my fists so hard, my hands are losing their color.

I breathe deeply, I walk slowly, leaning on the dirty wall, the journey to the exit of my hiding place was so long, as if I were in a dark tunnel, with an intense light at the end.

Chloe slowly slid her head out, pressed against the cold metal of the trash container, fearful, as if someone might suddenly take her by surprise and tear it from her body.

A screech startled her, she pressed herself against the container again, her body didn't obey, she began to tremble and her teeth chattered for long seconds, a faint groan escaped her. She took a deep breath and sharpened her hearing, but nothing, nothing was heard.

She gathered her courage and peeked out, raising her eyes she saw a rickety window swaying, held by wires, two more swings and it fell to the ground making a crushing noise, the surprise made her close her eyes.

She forced herself to calm down, sharpening her vision, she distinguished the disgusting panorama, garbage scattered everywhere, mixed odors resulting in putrefaction, made her nauseous. Flies, mosquitoes, and rats roamed the place.

The light became brighter, it was necessary for her to close her eyes intermittently to get used to it, she had no idea how long she had been hiding in that place.

She had to be extremely cautious if she wanted to get out of there alive and get her son back.

Momentarily covering the sunlight with her hands, she noticed the bruised marks on her wrists, instinctively she lowered her gaze to her feet, her ankles hurt in the same way they were bruised, she was not wearing shoes.

Her delicate and white feet were dirty, mistreated, with cuts in some places from which blood came out.

She decided to run to the opposite side of where she heard her pursuers' steps disappear, she walked at a fast pace.

She felt nothing under her feet, she needed to flee from there and save her life.

She crossed through several foul-smelling alleys, she managed to perceive the aroma of that green herb in the distance, it caused her more fear.

She increased her pace a little more.

In the middle of that alley there was a billboard that had fallen, it was huge, almost the size of a car. It was fragmented in several places, some parts of the glass were no longer in place, she saw herself reflected in it stopping her race, she appreciated herself for a few moments.

Her beautiful blonde hair was tangled, dirty, her angelic face likewise, even so her delicate features were more than evident.

The deep blue of her eyes stole more than one sigh as she walked.

She was tall, her voluminous body was covered by a white floral dress, the dirt on it was far from looking cute, even so her figure stood out.

Deep dark circles marked under her eyes from not sleeping well, added to the smudged mascara gave her a deplorable appearance.

Without being scared of her reflection she continued on her way, first slowly and then she ran, the important thing is that she was alive, free, she would take care of the rest.

She ran with more strength, crossing the alleys that were becoming less and less hostile, she was definitely heading to a better place.

She had already crossed the entire red zone, poor Golden City, where she had been the queen and had never known that a place like that existed.

She walked among homeless people, drunks and drug addicts.

As she passed, she found some girls dressed provocatively, offering their carnal services to passers-by.

Dilapidated houses were seen, mostly about to fall.

A pack of dogs fought for the waste in the garbage.

She was five blocks away, further ahead, there was already a constant vehicular flow.

Her heart accelerated again, she walked, sometimes ran, and occasionally jogged in the direction of the moving cars. She imagined them as if they were warriors who would help her out of that dire situation.

When crossing the alleys she turned her face by instinct and managed to spot Frederick Roland and James, she hurried to reach the opposite corner, she leaned against the wall.

They were still after her, she held her breath.

They were on the previous street, in her direction.

She turned and ran in order to find them from behind, before she could escape the guards had dispersed.

At any moment she would be surrounded, thinking about that idea she was paralyzed.

Their voices were heard by her clearly.

"She must be around here!"

Come on, let's look for her over there. Roland ordered, as always in command.

It was her end...!!

Her hands were sweating, her whole body, her hair looked damp and her strong beats were reflected in the throbbing of her neck.

Bam...

Bam...

Bam...

That's all she heard.

She managed to see the black suit that James was wearing, his broad back and his height was well known to Chloe.

If she turned around he would see her there, paralyzed with fear.

Her body lost strength, she fell to her knees on the sidewalk barely supported by her scrawny arms.

"I won't be able to get you back baby!"

Her voice in a low tone came out accompanied by a painful sigh and she began to cry in silence.

Suddenly, a threadbare and foul-smelling blanket covered her from head to waist, a person sat next to her,

incredulous she turned to look at her and she smiled at her.

She was a beautiful woman with refined features, blue eyes, she winked at her.

Loretta Collins

She adjusted a knitted wool cap, quickly hid her hair in it, pulled the smelly blanket up to cover her head searing on her chest, crossed her legs, splashed wine all over her clothes, gave her from the bottle in the mouth and forced her to drink then she took a drink began to sing.

Her shrill voice caught the attention of James who hurried to ask.

"Have you seen a blonde girl with a floral dress barefoot and dirty around here?"

"Nope! Hee, hee, hee, I don't think I can see anymore."

Mmm she licked her lips to continue.

She focused on James, raised the bottle and took another drink, letting out a burp followed by a hiccup.

"I've got my sight back, babe, if you give me a kiss and some coins that are enough for another one like this, I'll even look for her. MMM."

The innocent old lady smiled showing her white teeth.

Chloe never looked up.

"Cheers my love! If you are interested in both of us we can give you a good roll, hic... You have no idea what things we can teach or do."

The laughter of both echoed in the dirty alley.

James covered his nose, disgusted, threw some bills and a card next to them.

"If you see her contact me, the payment would be very good."

He turned and continued checking as he walked.

Those two women did not move from there, her savior took another bottle from among her clothes, took the contents without separating.

Both embraced fell on their backs, their closeness gave her warmth.

Chloe perceived a sensation of protection from her savior, which allowed her to rest, even if only for a few hours.

Adding it all up she was resting protected by a homeless woman in a dirty alley, free and alive.