Episode 3

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...

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."