Page 2 of Dream Girl
“A pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be out here alone.” He grabbed me, trying to pull me off the bench.
“GET OFF!” I struck out with my fist as blood roared in my ears. “Don’t touch me.”
“Ooh, a fighter,” one sneered, getting close to me.
“What do you think you’re doing?” A large officer stormed over.
“Don’t you dare run,” another uniformed officer said to the others. “Freeze, all of you!”
“We found her on the bench,” one said, putting his hands up. “It’s not what it looks like. We were gonna call someone.”
“Were you?” The officer’s eyebrows rose.
My body shuddered as I shrank away from them, making myself small on the bench, hands up. I wanted them all to go away so I could figure out what the hell was going on.
“Miss, you can’t sleep here. After I get your statement, do you want me to take you to a shelter? You can have a hot breakfast and, if you want to, maybe someone can try to help you out?” the first officer suggested, his look softening.
At least I thought they were police officers. So many things crashed around in my head, confusion overwhelming me.
“Where am I? What if they get me?” My chest heaved with anxiety. I was supposed to be running away from someone. The idea of being caught made a sob rise in my chest, mixing with my panic.
No, they can’t catch me.
“Who?” the officer asked, voice kind. He looked at the other guys. “Them?”
“No.” Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to press the memories out. “Someone else. But I… I don’t remember.” My voice was a whisper as I opened my eyes. “I have no idea how I got here.”
“You’re hauling us in?” one man said, as the second officer cuffed them.
“You were trying to assault her,” the second officer retorted, as the first called for backup.
The first officer studied me. “Do you remember who gave you those bruises?”
I frowned and looked at my arms, mottled purple peeked out from my sleeves. When I touched my face, it was tender, and I winced.
What happened? It was dark, I was scared, being chased…
“No. Not them. The people chasing me… I think.” That seemed about right.
“Some people chased you, and you ended up sleeping here in the park?” His voice was soft and not accusing. “It’s a little cold for that.”
“Yeah.” My teeth chattered. “Everything’s a little foggy.” I rubbed my head, willing myself to remember.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
My mouth opened to answer, but nothing came out. I had a name. I could almost hear it. Looking around, my heart pounded with panic. “I don’t know. Where am I? How did I get here?”
“You don’t remember your name? Do you have an ID or your phone?” he asked.
“I… I don’t have my purse.” I frowned. It seemed like I had nothing with me—no phone, no wallet, and no ID. I looked up at him, confusion making my heart thump in my chest, my throat swelling. “I don’t know what’s going on.” Tears pricked my eyes and dizziness washed over me.
“That’s fine,” he soothed. “We’re going to get you checked out, and then I’ll bring you to the station so we can figure out what happened. Come over to my car with me?”
“Am I in trouble?” Unease coursed through me. Iwasin trouble. Big trouble. I just couldn’t remember why. Or what kind.
“No, you’re not in trouble. You look cold. Let me get you a blanket.” The officer led me to his police car.
Opening the car door, he had me get in. Taking a blanket out of a plastic wrapper, he draped it around me.
