•Previously•
"Don, Tyra, she's dead. It was Veronica."
"The medicines you bought for Madelaine. Did you drug them?"
"No Don, I would never do such a thing. I bought them from our most trusted pharmacy and they gave me new unopened bottles of medicine I checked it myself."
"Why did you do it?"
"She threatened me."
"You're Velix's sister. Why did he send you?"
"Because my whipped brother needs somebody to be his spy."
"There's your favorite guy, Clara, the one who was supposed to protect your daughter is a murderer."
"Find out what Tyra knows that caused Veronica to poison her."
"Where are we going? Did something happen?"
"I need you to trust me, can you do that?"
"Yes."
"This is not the end, I'll make sure of that."
"Come on, from now on, you'll live with me in our new house."
"I overheard everything and I have a better plan in mind."
"I'm counting on you Romano."
·•♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·♪°•·
•Now•
°Madelaine's POV°
"I still don't understand why I can't just stay with him?" I looked next to me at my mom as she sat quietly on the taxi ride we decided to take after walking for 5 minutes straight and my heel broke.
"Because he's a killer-" The taxi driver shifted his eyes to us from the rear mirror, his eyes widening. "Killjoy." Mom coughed out.
"That he is." I agreed and closed the argument for later when we are all alone at our 'new house'.
We soon arrived at 'our new house'. It was located on the bad side of the neighborhood where not a single sound was heard but the wind gushing and dead leaves crunching as we took our steps toward the house. We stopped in front of a grey-ish two-story house.
It looked like it hadn't been touched by a single person. The spider webs on the door, the porch, and the brown dead leaves that piled up on the lawn confirmed it.
Mom rummaged through her bag likely looking for the key, hauled it out, and opened the door. She twisted the door open and flicked on the lights.
I coughed as gusts of wind blew from within the house and specks of dust got into my mouth and nose. "Shit." I cursed.
"Sorry, this is the only house I've managed to find online and the one with a reasonable price, you can stay at a hotel for a while if you want. I have some money you can use..." She zipped open her bag again and took out her purse.
"No mama, it's fine. This will do." I gestured to the house and smiled at her.
"Okay, I guess we should clean up a bit." She nodded to herself and started taking out the cleaning supplies we had bought from the nearest store.
"Yeah." We cleaned for almost 2 hours and was able to finally finish it before 12 a.m. I'm starving and at this point, I don't care what time it was, I needed to stuff myself with food.
I knocked on my mother's bedroom door. "Ma, I'm gonna cook something, do you want anything?" I knocked a couple more times and when I got no response I gave up, thinking maybe she went to sleep. It's been a tiring day after all.
I boiled some water and put the instant noodle beside the stove. Opening the package, I poured the seasoning powder, dried vegetables, and noodles into the boiling water.
I fished out my phone from my pocket and clicked on the messenger app.
As expected not a single notification.
I'm deleting this app in 30 seconds if nobody bloody chats me.
It's like this person could read my mind he sent me a single text.
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Unknown number: Are you up?
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I was contemplating whether or not I should respond to this text.
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Me: I'm out as a light.
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The person was typing again.
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Unknown number: Right.
Me: Who's this?
Unknown number: Nik.
Me: Oh!! Nik!!!
Unknown number: Yeah.
Me: What's up?
Unknown number: I just wanted to check up on you. Did you both arrive safely?
Me: Yeah, we're good.
Unknown number: Good. What are you doing up?
Me: I was hungry so I'm cooking myself noodles.
Unknown number: Nice.
Me: *Sent a picture*
Me: 🍜🤯
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I sent him a picture of the noodles and some stickers too.
He took a while to respond so I took the time to change his contact name.
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Grumpy😒: I'm hungry too
Me: Come here and I'll cook you something😏
Grumpy😒: As you wish
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*Last seen at 23.57*
I scrolled through the chat reading all the conversations once more.
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Me: Come here and I'll cook you something😏
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Oh fuck.
What if he's coming.
I was saying it as a joke.
I turned off the stove and brought the noodles with me while staring at the message.
Will he be here? No way.
This is stupid. He won't come.
I pulled out the rusty stool from under the island counter and sat on it
*Knock knock*
No way.
I turned my head so fast, I almost break my neck.
I got up from the stool and slowly strode to the door. I peeped through the peephole and saw him.
I sucked a breath in and opened the door with a huge smile. "Hey. You really came." I stepped aside so he could get inside.
"Yeah."
"So how did you know where I live?" I raised an eyebrow as he scanned the house.
"Gps."
"Did you put a tracker on me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"In case you get lost."
"Where?"
"Ring." He pointed at the ring I wore daily on my finger.
I won't even ask how.
"Okay?"
He walked to the kitchen and looked down at the noodles from his height.
"Is this for me?" He asked and sat carelessly.
"Sure?" I smiled at him and he nodded.
He took a bite and then pushed the bowl to me. "I just wanted a bite."
Ok?
He chuckled, "It tastes weird."
"What was that supposed to mean?" I raised my eyebrows at him, daring him to say anything mean to my face.
"A good weird." He corrected and coughed.
"Why are you here? And don't lie to me." I asked while slurping the noodles.
"I was worried." He admitted and scratched his neck.
"You don't have to, we're gonna be fine. Let's not pretend that I don't know about the guards you placed outside in that blacked-out van." I pointed out the window.
"That's not me." He voiced way too quickly.
I gave him a "really?" look and he sighed.
"Fine, that was my men. I had to know you're safe here." He said while hiding his face slightly. I saw him blush a little.
"Okay." I trail my fingertips on his cheek.
He smiled so innocently. "Do you wanna watch a movie?"
He shrugged, "Sure."
We watched tons of movies, shared our opinions with each other, and laughed at everything, trying our best not to make too much noise. I don't know when or how it happened but I managed to fall asleep in his arms.
♪
I woke up when I heard birds whistling, feeling all warm and cozy. I opened my eyes slowly adjusting to the sunlight that shone through the window.
"Morning." I craned my neck to the side and saw him.
"You're here," I said smiling softly. Loving the thought that he actually stayed the night. "Mama." I jolted up and frantically look around.
"She's not up yet." Nik said stretching out his arms.
"Are you not worried? You have to go now." I got up from the couch and picked up the fallen blankets.
"No, I'm taking you to and from school." He walked to the kitchen and grabbed himself a glass of water.
"What? No way. My mama won't be happy." I crossed my arms.
"Why won't I be happy?" Mama asked, standing in front of the kitchen door.
Nik choked on his water.
"M-Mama uh- he was just-"
"Leaving." He ran out of the kitchen and grabbed his car keys. "I'll wait for you outside Laine. I'm sorry Clara." He rushed his words and closed the door once he's out.
"What was he doing here?" Mama asked me covering her mouth as she yawned.
"He was worried and wanted to make sure we're fine. He's also my boyfriend." I huffed.
"I know he is" I was stunned. "He asked for my permission before asking you to be his girlfriend. Just please be careful around him. I don't trust the boy anymore, but I trust you dear." She gave me a small smile.
"I will mama. I love you." I hugged her tightly and she hugged me back tighter. "Nik will drop us at school and he will bring me back. Is it ok?" I crossed my fingers hoping she'd say yes.
"Yeah, it's fine. Text me when you're back here. Always." She pointed a finger at me.
I clapped my hands excitedly and went to get ready.
♪
"You coming?" Nik closed the car door for me and led me inside the school.
"No, I have things to take care of. I'll be here waiting when you're done." He pecked my cheeks and I waved him goodbye, watching him walk back to his car.
"They say there's a party tonight and everyone's invited!" A girl cheered to her friends.
"Where?" The other one chirped in.
"At Dallas's house." The other one answered.
"Cool, he's so hot and he hosts the best parties ever." They all screeched and fanned themselves.
"Ugh." Daisy groaned, holding her books. "School will be the death of me. Thank god we're graduating soon. I can't take more of this!!" She stomped her feet on the ground.
I giggled. "I know. Let's go, don't wanna be late."
She stopped me, pulling me with her to the opposite way from where the class should be.
"What?" I asked while trying to catch up with her.
"Cafeteria first. I need some snacks to be able to focus on math." She clicked her tongue and winked.
"Dallas's having a party tonight, you should come." She smirked.
"No Dai, I shouldn't be going to parties." She looked confused. "It's not safe for me anywhere," I added.
I ended up telling her everything as we made our way to math class, leaving out some parts here and there.
"Woah, no fucking way." She gasped.
"Silence." The teacher now stood up from her chair and shushed us up.
"We'll talk later." Daisy scrunched her brows.
♪
"And that's what happened." It was break time and I continued telling her the things that had happened for the last days.
"So you're saying that your mom got kidnapped by some thugs and they blackmailed you into giving back their sister or your mom dies? And the sister works for your boyfriend, Nik who's a businessman? Are you lying to me? None of this makes sense." She ruffled her hair irritatedly.
"Yea," I answered innocently, looking as innocent as I possibly can.
"You're lying." She concluded.
"Am not," I argued.
"Whatever." She gave up and chewed on her gums. "No reason why you shouldn't come. There'll be a lot of people there. No way in hell a person will be so stupid as to kidnap you when there will be lots of witnesses."
"You're right, but I can never be too careful."
She nodded understanding me, finally.
"I'll tell Dallas, you don't have to worry bout him. See you tomorrow." She waved.
"Thank you, Dai, see ya." I waved at her and walked to the now empty parking lot.
A black car was parked in the far corner of the parking lot. Nik never drives that car.
I felt eyes watching me from behind so I whipped my head to check. A hooded figure stood there beside the school building covered in black accessories.
I pressed the emergency number into my phone and held it close to my chest as I walked fast-paced out of the school zone.
"Laine?" Nik said from the phone.
"Nik, somebody's following me, did you assign your guard?" I struggled to breathe and continued walking as fast as my feet would take me.
"No, I told them to take the day off for today since I'll be fetching you." I could hear the movement of the person behind me as I ran to the crowded street.
"Nik, I'm scared." I spilled out. Not caring how pathetic I sounded.
"Baby, I'm going to find you ok? Hold on please." He went silent for a while, I kept on walking through people in this crowded place. Trying to blend in, but with my uniforms, I don't think I'm doing that good of a job.
"Ouch." Somebody bumped into me, resulting in me falling to my knees on the rough ground and shattering my phone. "Fuck." I cursed silently as I looked up at the person.
"I'm really sorry, I was in a rush." The old lady helped me up and apologized. I told her I'm fine and she gave me an apologetic smile.
I gathered my broken phone and saw that my necklace was broken too. I gasped inwardly and picked up the broken pieces. "What the fuck?" I cussed out.
What shocked me wasn't the fact that my necklace was now broken to pieces. But it was the red blinking device someone had installed inside the necklace. I knew it wasn't Nik. It just couldn't be him, he said he planted GPS in my ring, not necklace. The necklace wasn't so important to me anymore and so I left it there while I seek for a place to hide around the corner.
I tapped on a young lady's shoulder, "Excuse me, may I use your phone to make a phone call?" She nodded and passed me her phone. I typed in Nik's mobile phone number and called.
He answered.
"Nik, this is Madelaine. I'm using this lady's phone to call you."
"Laine baby are you ok? Where are you?" Nik asked.
"I'm fine, I need you to pick me up at this cafe." I looked at the cafe's name. "It's called Rogue cafe."
"Ok, stay right there baby. I'm coming for you."
"Thank you ma'am." I gave the phone back to the young lady and gave her a small smile.
"Going somewhere?" The man in the black hoodie said beside me, smirking.
"No." I muttered to myself.
"You're coming with me." He grabbed my wrist in a tight hold that will leave a bruise.
"I'm not. Help!" I screamed as hard as possible. The people inside the cafe all turned to us, none of them helping but instead, they took out their phone to film us. "Please help me!"
None of them move a muscle.
"I'm sorry everyone, she forgot to take her medicine this morning. She was just discharged from the mental hospital yesterday. I'm taking her home now, I'm sorry again." He spoke loudly to everyone.
"No, he's lying." I cried out.
"I hope you get well soon honey." An old lady in the cafe said to me. All of them looked at me like they pitied me.
Humans.
He dragged me inside to the sleek black car with very tinted windows.
"Shut up woman!" The man slapped me across the face and that stunned me.
I whimpered quietly because that hurts.
I sat down, resting my back against the leather seat as they drove away from the cafe. I looked to my left at the man and my right at another man and think with my brain.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"You'll find out in a minute." The man said monotonously.
Soon we arrived in a forest.
"Bring her here." A man outside yelled.
They gripped my shoulder and pulled me out of the car like a rag doll.
"At least do it properly." I protest.
"Shut up, you're in no position to tell us what to do." The man scolded.
"Whatever," I mumbled.
They made me walk a mile! Imagine that.
"We're here." The man said to the guard who was guarding outside this small cabin.
"Bring her in, he's waiting." The guard said.
We got in the cabin, well me. I got in the cabin and the man closed the door behind me.
"Well, well, are we having a tea party?" I said looking at the antique teapot on the table.
"Welcome Mad." Said the guy who I expected to see.
"If it isn't the infamous Velix." I sassed.
"Sit down baby." Velix pointed at the sofa before him.
"No thanks. I'd rather stand than sit on the sofa that your ass had been before."
"Very nice." He smirked.
"What do you want?" I crossed my arms.
"You." He stood up from his seat and walked towards me circling me like a predator.
"Why are you so obsessed with me?" I said in an annoyed tone and faced him directly.
"Because there's nobody else in this world that looks like you." He played with my hair.
"Well, that's a shame isn't it." I removed his hand from my hair.
"You're different." He stated. "Braver." Again with the obvious. "Sexier."
"I know." I rolled my eyes at him.
He chuckled darkly and sat back down on his seat.
"Well, I'll be having so much fun with you after I kill you." He laughed.
"I knew you were sick in the head." I clasped my hands together. "Did you take your medicine? I am truly concerned for you." He glared at me.
"Shut your mouth." He spoke up.
"I will if you let me go." I blinked down at him.
"Now why would I do that?" He took out a stick of cigar from the pack of cigarettes and put it between his lips, lighting it.
He blew the smoke in my direction.
Geez.
"You will let her go if you want to live." The door was busted wide open and Nik came in with a gun in his hand and his men outside surrounding the area.
"I'm so tired of seeing you everywhere I fucking go," Velix said holding his cigar in between his fingers.
"I can solve that." Nik said pointing the gun at Velix's forehead.
"Wait, now." Velix put his hand on Nik's chest pushing him slightly away.
Nik didn't budge, instead, he stood his ground and clicked off the safety of his gun. His fingers wrapped around the gun easily and his pointer finger on the trigger.
"Any last words?" Nik shoved the gun on Velix's forehead.
"Rest in peace Mrs. Key." He said, looking at me right in the eyes with a wide-toothed smile.
"No!" I screamed as the gun goes off.
The blood splattered around the room.
"Mom." I held my chest. No...