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Staffordshire University: Hanna's university (main building).

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"I need an order of Macchiato with an extra helping of milk foam, Pam." I called into the kitchen before resting my notepad on the counter.

Pam brimmed at me, her grey spiky hair contained by the hairnet. She was in charge of all the waitresses, including myself and was one of the only people who were nice to me here, with the exception of Sue.

She nodded in understanding and I muttered a small thanks before turning to attend to another table.

"You forgetting something, honey?" I turned around at the sound of Sue's voice to see her dangling my notepad between her thumb and index finger. She edged forward, a motherly smile on her face as she stopped in front of me. I smiled sheepishly before jutting my hand out to claim the small item.

Instead of handing it to me, Sue wrapped her hand around my arm before hauling us both to the side. Asking another waitress to attend to the table I was headed to, she turned to me, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"What is going on with you, Hanna? You're in a world of your own today?" She questioned quietly to which I tutted.

I moved slightly away and looked down before explaining.

"Richard came home around 12 yesterday. I had to cook what he wanted and wash the dishes as well. I ended up sleeping at around 3." I explained, a yawn escaping my mouth at the mere thought of sleep.

Sue raised an over-plucked eyebrow at this, folding her arms slowly. I bit my lip when I knew what she was going to say.

"When you say 'sleep at 3', do you mean you actually slept or is 3 when you entered dreamland, eh?" She joked, but the concern was evident, in her tone. Being a mom of a 20 year old herself, her motherly instincts came intact, when it came to me.

I smiled at the thought. Having Sue around, meant I'd never felt the obvious absence of a motherly figure in my life. She had always been there, whether it was to reprimand my wrong behaviour or praise me for my right. Rarely, had I spared a thought about who my biological mother was, with Sue around.

I looked down upon hearing her words, finding a newfound interest in the knit-work of the white sweater I was wearing.

"I may have had a dream or two?" I meekly admitted, letting out a small nervous giggle.

Sue sighed deeply at my words.

"Look, I-"

"Why are you both just standing around for?!" Steve's booming voice came from behind and I quickly turned on my heel to come face-to-face with the greasy-haired man.

"Oh, er- Steve- I" I let out, but he put a hand up to stop me in my tracks.

"Never mind that right now. Sue, get to the back and ask Pam to quicken up. I've got a man here in dire need of his waffles." Steve ordered hurriedly, pointing to the small door to the kitchen.

Sue tightened her hold on my arm for a fraction of a second before complying with a soft nod and making her way to the back, dropping the notepad in my hands as she did.

Steve watched her leave before his black, beady eyes turned to look at me.

"You, get over here. I need you to do something." He called, ushering me over with a wriggle of his index finger. I edged closer, hesitantly, trying not to suffocate on the overpowering smell of the aftershave he was wearing.

He looked over towards the tables, a sneer on his reddened face. He inched closer to me, pointing to a specific table. Following his gaze, compliantly, my eyes settled on an old scraggly man sitting on a table for two, alone.

He was facing down, eyeing the menu, a hand resting on his muddy white beard that reached the length of his chest. The other grubby hand drummed at the table, mindlessly. I stared down at his attire. The army green jacket, he was wearing, seemed to be too big for him; a similar plight for the cargo trousers he wore.

I turned to Steve, a confused look on my face.

"What about him?" I questioned, looking down when Steve's sneer was settled on me.

He tutted loudly, before curling a greasy blonde strand between his fingertip. I eyed him as he did so.

"What you need to be doing, Miss. Aset, is asking the bloke for a 'proof of payment'. I don't like giving out freebies." He drawled out, a spite in his tone at the mere mention of having to give free food.

I turned my gaze to the old man before settling it back on Steve, putting a stray black hair behind my ear.

"Well, he must have come here because he had money. " I reasoned pathetically to which I earned a glare.

To ask someone for proof of payment was, for me, humiliating on both ends. I knew, it had to be done sometimes, but I just couldn't stand the fact that I was judging someone so negatively, based on their appearance.

Steve pointed at the table yet again and I sighed, relenting before going towards the table where the old man sat. He didn't look up, on my arrival and I coughed awkwardly to get his attention.

At this, he looked up at me, a warm smile on his wrinkled face. I smiled back, only slightly though, before pulling out my notepad from the front of the apron, a professional look on my face.

"Good morning, sir. Welcome to The Groove and what will you be having today?" I asked politely, pulling out a blue pen from the back pocket of my jeans. I tapped the tip of the pen across the paper as I waited for his response.

His smile widened, the crinkles near his eyes deepening in intensity as his shaky fingers hovered over the contents of the menu. Slowly, he rested his finger down on the menu and with an affirmative nod of his head, he turned to me.

"Just a coffee for me. No sugar. No milk." He croaked out, an eerie raspiness to his voice. I gasped at the sound; it sounded as though he hadn't drank water for days and I felt the pressing urge to pour him a glass. Obviously, I restrained myself. He had asked for a coffee, not water.

I smiled with a nod, a shaky breath leaving my mouth. I turned to look over my shoulder to see Steve staring pointedly at me and I sighed. The old man was still smiling at me and I cringed at the situation Steve had put me in. I cleared my throat for a second time to which his eyebrows knitted together and I proceeded to speak the cursed words.

"Erm, sir, I'm gonna need a proof of payment. Please?" I tacked on shyly, my voice sounding a slightly higher pitch than what I was accustomed to. I recoiled slightly when, rather than getting insulted, the old man smiled yet again, a spluttering laugh escaping his mouth.

I glanced in Steve's direction, in a feeble bid for help, but his attention was already directed on another hapless waitress, his rather large backside facing me. I muttered a curse under my breath before turning to the old man who was going red with laughter.

He came to an abrupt stop, a smile on his face as he used the tips of his grubby hands to wipe the corner of his eyes. His gaze then turned on me and something about the look in his eyes made me gulp heavily. Thankfully, his stare didn't last long as he fiddled around with his jacket, his left hand reaching into his right pocket and retrieving a few coins, as shiny as though they had just been made.

"Will this be enough, Miss.?" He croaked, the bubble of laughter still evident in his tone as I eyed the coins, he lay on the table, wearily.

Just the exact amount of money for what he ordered.

I recounted the money, just to make sure before giving him a small nod.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, sir. Your coffee will be ready soon." I breathed out, turning to leave, but the grip of a frost-bitten hand on my arm stopped me dead in my tracks.

I looked to the old man in shock and watched as he opened his mouth to smile a wide grin, a line of pearly whites showed in its wake. I jerked my arm towards my body in a bid to free myself, but stilled in my actions immediately upon gazing at the look of solemn seriousness on his face. He raised a shaky finger to his lips to tell me to be quiet and I foolishly obeyed. Something about the old man, before me, had me quaking in my vans and I let my hand go limp in his firm grip.

He smiled at my compliance before hurriedly reaching into his right pocket yet again and pulling out something, his eyes never leaving mine. I couldn't quite see what it was from the way in which his large hand had enveloped it.

His eyes flitted around in a panicked manner before he turned to me yet again m, a crazed look in his eye.

"Listen to me, Hanna Aset and listen very carefully. I don't have a lot of time to tell you, so do not question anything I say. Just listen. Understood?" He let out gruffly and I nodded at his words, the urgency in his tone making me ignore the fact that he knew my name.

He looked around for a second time, this time much slower and then he pulled my arm, that he was holding, towards him, his palm enveloping mine. His tone was urgent as he spoke, the raspiness of his voice, sending chills up my spine.

"The time is upon us, Miss. Aset and your presence is needed. You will be guided and all will be explained. Just follow the instructions and all shall be well. But, do remember to tread carefully, Miss. Aset; there is a dark evil lurking. You shall do best to be quick." He rushed out, his palm squeezing the life out of my own. I opened my mouth to speak, as I processed the utterly confusing words leaving his mouth, but his crazed voice interrupted my own.

"All that you know will change." He spoke, his voice barely a whisper and, just as he said that, his eyes widened slightly as though he had shared too much. And, with that, he got up abruptly and retreated out the cafe, giving my palm a final firm squeeze.

I watched, my mouth agape as his hunched figure rushed across the street and out of view. I looked at the empty seat in front of me; it was though it had never happened. I would have believed that too, if it weren't for the piece of paper nestled into the palm of my hand. Just what had he left for me?

I touched the crumpled piece of paper, in my hand, moving to open it. There were words written inside, in black ink and I looked closely to see-

"Hanna, what are you doing?" I felt the warmth of Sue's hand on my shoulder and quickly shoved the crumpled paper into the back pocket of my jeans.

Whirling around on my heels, I smiled at Sue, a look of innocence on my face.

"Huh, oh nothing. I was just serving tables." I spoke, gesturing to the tables around my vicinity.

At this, the confused look on Sue's face only seemed to deepen and she gestured behind me with a finger.

"You mean, the empty table?" She spoke, pointing to the table where the old man was once sat. Her tone was cautious as though she was talking to a mental patient and I faltered in my response.

My eyes flitted to the table and back to Sue in a vigorous cycle before I sighed deeply in defeat.

"Was there something you needed?" I asked, in a bid to change the subject.

Thankfully, Sue took the bait and with one last look of confusion, she smiled at me before pointing at her watch.

"It's 10.30am, meaning you have a lecture in half an hour." She explained, a smirk on her face as she knew I had forgotten yet again.

I yanked Sue's arm to mine to confirm the time and indeed she spoke the truth. With a hurried 'thanks', I took off towards the backroom, taking off my apron as I did so. Upon reaching the backroom, however, all thoughts of University were out the window.

I watched, with wide eyes, at the scene that played in front of me. Sour Steve holding a rather willing Esme on his lap, his tongue probing the contents of her mouth and his sleazy hands nestled on her rear.

I should have left as soon as I had processed the sight, but a gasp had left my lips before I could comprehend anything and both participants looked at me, anger in their eyes and saliva on their faces.

"You?! What are you doing here?!" Steve spluttered out, standing up abruptly. He had seemingly forgotten the woman who had been sat on his lap and she let out a yelp at the sudden movement before composing herself with a cough and straightening out the ruffles on her apron.

My cheeks heated up at the question as though I had been trespassing on his lawn and watching them through his window. Rather, it had been that they were sitting in the small back room that doubled as a staff room. I mean, the very sofa that they had been 'canoodling' on had been the sofa I sat on to eat my food, during breaks. I almost retched at the thought, but upon seeing the look on Steve's face, I pointed weakly at the lockers, on the left side of the room.

"I'm finished. Need coat and bag." I spilled in broken sentences, feeling the blood rush to my face.

At this, Steve's face seemed to redden even further as though he was angered that I had a reasonable explanation. I cautiously spared a glance to Esme, who stood twiddling her thumbs and looking down at the floor. Steve tutted heavily, dragging a hand through his oily blonde hair before motioning towards the lockers with a loud snap of his fingers.

"Get your things and get out." He let out and I more than willingly complied, rushing to the lockers and fumbling at the lock with my fingers. Only when I heard Steve tut again, did I speed up in my actions, hoping to God that he wouldn't fire me. Debra would kill me if I was fired.

I pulled my belongings out, not even bothering to put the coat on before making a beeline toward the door, my eyes facing the dirty-tiled floor. When I exited the room, I breathed a sigh of relief. If he had let me go, he probably wouldn't fire me.

I walked towards the exit of the cafe, a smile on my face at the prospect of fresh air touching my face after spending too long in the heated atmosphere of the cafe.

"Hanna!" I halted, my hand touching the door handle. I was tempted to turn the handle and dance off into the street, but I knew it would affect my means of getting a payment, so I remained still, listening to the sound of her shoes come closer.

I turned slightly when Esme arrived in front of me and opened my mouth to speak, but was abruptly pulled into a hug. I let out an 'oomph' at the sudden intrusion, my arms remaining limp at my side.

I was about to open my mouth to address and question the sudden show of affection, but her sultry voice spoke in my ear before I could do so.

"This is nice, isn't it, Hanna. I hope you have fun at University. Oh, by the way, if you tell anyone about what you saw, I'll ruin you. I think you've seen the particular influence I have over Stevey, right?" She cooed, her tone sweet as though she was lulling me to a peaceful sleep and I gaped slightly when I processed what she had said.

Stevey?

She moved back abruptly after that, a sickly sweet smile on her face and I nodded, implying that I understood. Her smile widened at this and she flicked her brown hair behind her shoulder.

"Good." She let out simply before trotting off, but suddenly she turned back again and I eyed her warily. She looked at me, over her shoulder, a smile on her face.

"I hope you like cake, Hanna." She said with a wink before skipping off towards the backroom, back to her 40 year old lover. I retched at the thought of it before turning the handle and rushing out into the street.

With the old man and now this, I had already established that today was not a normal day.

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"And, before I knew it, he had bought the lodge." Marie explained, excitedly and I listened intently. She was indulging in another one of family stories, this time being the time she had travelled to Canada as a birthday trip. She had told it often before, but honestly, I didn't mind. I lived family life vicariously through such stories and, many a time, I had dreams about accompanying her on these exciting family trips.

I moved closer to her on the bench, we were sat on, and looked at the photos she was showing me of the lodge she owned. We looked through pictures of her trips to Abu Dhabi, Chad, Paris and I smiled sadly to myself. I had never once sat in an airplane and I didn't even know what it was like to go to other places. I wasn't even allowed to sleep over at Marie's house, despite my excessive pleading.

After some time, we got up to head to the next seminar, this having been the only break in between. We walked in comfortable silence and I eyed the other people walking on the campus. Namely, a group that was also in our course. It consisted of 4 rowdy boys and 3 girls. The girls were talking amongst themselves animatedly, eyeing something on one of the girls' phones whilst the boys were pushing each other jokingly and I stilled at the sight.

What would life be like, if I had stayed with my biological parents and if I had a normal life. Would I have been part of such a group? Or, would I still be stuck, in the same place I was now?

"Earth to Hanna! Come on, let's go. We want to get there early, to get the best seats." Marie let out, waving a tanned hand in my face and I nodded, showing her I was okay. We walked to the top of the stairs, her discussing the coursework that was due tomorrow, but the sound of my name being called distracted me.

I turned around on my heels, as did Marie, watching as one of the boys from the group jogged breezily towards us. I gripped tightly on Marie's hand, watching as she glared at his approaching figure. I rolled my eyes at her anti-social nature, before turning to the boy, a nervous smile on my face.

He brushed his blonde hair back, a breathtaking smile on his face. His name was Drake and he was also doing the same course I was. His green eyes looked over at Marie for a split second before settling on me.

"Hanna, is it?" He let out, a deepness to his voice. His left hand was stuffed into his front jean pocket whilst his other hand was going through his hair. His lean body flexed at the movements.

I stilled at the sound of his voice. Sure, I had heard it, but never had he spoken to me or even called my name. I nodded softly at his words, cursing at the redness I could feel rushing to my cheeks.

He nodded in response before smiling, politely.

"Sorry to break it to you, but I think you've shit yourself." He said and then the polite composure was gone. I watched as he broke into laughter, though I was still confused until I finally heard what he had said and I stretched my neck around to look at the back of my jeans to see a smear of a chocolate stain all over my backside. I whipped around, shaking my head vigorously at his accusation, but he was too far gone with his laughter to notice me now.

He hadn't noticed, but the students around the vicinity had. Some laughed along with him, most of them being guys and I covered my face when I heard the click of a camera. I felt Marie's hand on my arm as she ushered me away and I followed her numbly, feeling the heated gazes of people boring into me. She offered me her jacket and I more than happily obliged to take it, despite having called it a 'grandma jacket' just this morning. God, what I would do to go back to that time.

I knew who it was who had done this and I cursed her in my mind.

"I hope you like cake, Hanna."

I felt frustration and anger all at one. How was I so stupid so to not see the motives behind her hug.

I couldn't see much now through the tears in my eyes, so I was thankful that Marie was taking the lead. I could still,