"Do you think I will just forgive you for disrespecting me?" The crazy doctor snarled, his deep voice physically itch my ears. He grabbed my neck and push me to the nearest wall.
Like how I imagined him to do after pulling that stunt.
"Do something funny again and you will know how I play real torture." He warned me and this time I am certain that he's not just fooling around like before. His voice warning me made my whole being tremble as I cough, having difficulty in breathing.
I'm doomed.
"Do you understand?" He asked and I can't help but to just nod my head in agreement.
"Use your pretty mouth, baby girl." He demanded still burning holes in my face as he loosened up his grasp on my neck. I inhaled a large amount of air when he completely let me go.
"Do you, understand?" He repeated and even I'm still heaving, I mumbled a small yes with a croaking voice. He stands up, satisfied, and walks to the door.
"You can take a rest in here." When he read my confused expression he continues, "This is your new cell. I think you need a new environment." He turned his back at me and leave the room and I heard the door locked.
I stand up after a while of just staring at nothingness. Why would he wants me to be in his room where I can easily just jumped over the window to leave this place? Did he actually think that I will not try to escape again?
I stared at the door. I can hear something inhuman noise outside of it like he's dragging a heavy body out of the room below with a rough grunt. I bet he really is.
Standing up, I walked towards the window. As expected it's locked but I tried to open it anyways. I think I can break it if I really tried but guess what, I don't have the guts to do so. For the second time, I looked back at the door thinking, it's nerve-wracking how that crazy doctor can be so confident.
Sure, he can be and I think he knows I wouldn't dare to do something stupid. At least for now. It's really scary how he can change from being that cute shy man one moment then a lunatic the next.
He really has a very serious mental health issue.
---
"Andrew Castro." Eric placed down a file on the monitors' desk. James looked up from his slumped position on the table as he's in charge of watching over the CCTVs. He arched an eyebrow.
"The who?" James asked as he skims through the file and the 2x2 photo of the man caught his attention. He turned to look again at Eric who's smirking widely.
He looks a lot like that crazy doctor.
"He's a doctor at another shady hospital downtown." Eric tipped him but his gaze hardened after. "He's the doctor of Josiah Lee, who is earlier declared as a missing person 12 hours ago." He added and James didn't know what to say.
They didn't know it for sure but it's pretty convincing that this doctor is that crazy doctor they're looking about.
And he didn't know if he should be happy they got a really big clue about the case but the idea that the crazy doctor must have a reason to look for another victim is just unsettling.
What happened to Aurelia? Why would he look for another victim?
"And just letting you know that Josiah Lee underwent a small bowel transplant conjured with a liver transplant," Eric heaved a sigh and continue, "and that, apparently without consent." James just stayed quiet.
He's silently afraid because that crazy doctor got bolder and bolder and the case is getting bigger than anticipated. That doctor surely has a backer for him to act carelessly like that.
"But I think I know where exactly he is." Eric then said and James with widened eyes looked up at him.
"For real?" He asked voice slightly trembling as he's not talking much in the past days. Eric smiled timidly and nodded, he tapped James' shoulder to cheer him up a bit.
"Yes, so go and take a bath because you stink man." Eric joked making James laugh. "We will go after so take your time." He advises and looks at James' back as the latter man stands up to go to the bathroom.
Eric sighed as James disappear from his sight. The action will begin soon, he thought.
---
Making myself comfortable in the unexpectedly soft bed, I sighed. I think five hours had passed and it's really deep in the night. The moon graced the locked window a beautiful somber light and I realized I missed the outside world.
When I breathe the air outside when I tried to escape, it's like the first time in months. Though, that crazy doctor has claimed that it's just been three days since. It's like a long time ago when I just ignored such trivial things but now I'm craving for it.
I heard a clank from the outside. This room has thin walls that I can hear anything outside, not like the room where I previously had stayed.
Sitting up from the bed, I wonder if that's the crazy doctor. He didn't come back or check on me since he left me alone to clean the room below. I'm seriously hungry now but I'm still adamant about my hunger strike from the very beginning since he kidnapped me.
"Shhh," Someone hushed, and I stand up, alarmed. I heard careful footsteps from below. I think they are checking the rooms in there. Are they burglars?
I faintly heard someone gagging and I nearly chuckle for I'm sure it's because of that rotten smell I already got used to. After a while of footsteps patting stealthily, I heard them on the partly wooden stairs. The intruders are coming on the second floor!
I panicked. Not having any clue on what to do I looked around the room. Should I call for help or hide from them?
What if they kill me the instant they saw me? And what if they're the pals of that crazy doctor and they're just here to test me or something?
Before I can ponder more about the never-ending what-ifs the door of the room shakes like someone is trying to open it. I don't know what to do but I tried to fit myself under the bed.
But before I can successfully hide in there the door opens, causing me to bump my head on the bed in panic.
"Lia?" Someone called me and I immediately crawled back to see who owns that familiar voice. Even in the darkness, I can see the familiar brown hair I also surprisingly missed that I nearly cried out of excitement.
"...James?"
---End of Part 1: Escape
*Up Next Part 2: Hide and Seek*