CHAPTER FIVE
She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was stepping into salvation or surrender.
"Was this a divine intervention, a miracle that had plucked her from the jaws of disaster?
Or was it just a cleverly laid trap, a wolf in sheep's clothing?
Had this stranger truly rescued her from the clutches of chaos, or was he merely leading her into a new, potentially more sinister, situation?
Cherry's eyes narrowed as she sized up the situation.
He was alone, which meant this wasn't an arrest.
Official cars and backup officers were standard protocol for taking someone into custody.
And even if the world saw her as vulnerable, Cherry knew her own strength.
She was a force to be reckoned with, and it would take more than one person to handle her.
She'd need at least two burly men to subdue her, and even then, she'd put up one heck of a fight.
So, this stranger's solo act suggested he wasn't here to take her away in handcuffs.
"But what did he want, then?"
"Hop in, ma'am," the stranger said with a courteous smile, his chivalrous gesture a stark contrast to the chaos she'd just escaped.
Cherry's heart skipped a beat as she slid into the car, the soft leather enveloping her like a warm hug.
'This has to be a miracle,'
She wondered.
The man closed the door behind her, and then settled into the driver's seat with an economical movement.
With a quiet click, he locked all the doors and windows, and fastened his seatbelt, his eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror.
"Listo(ready)?" he asked with a gentle voice.
Cherry nodded, though her mind was a battleground, with calmness and worry waging a fierce war.
One part of her yearned to surrender to serenity, while another part was held hostage by fear.
But as the car's air conditioning enveloped her, its soothing caress smoothing her skin, she finally let her guard down.
The fear she'd been holding at bay came flooding out, like a dam breaking free.
As Cherry gazed at the stranger, her fear was replaced by a flutter in her chest.
She couldn't help but notice the strong jawline, the piercing brown eyes, and the gentle smile.
Her flirtatious side, once dormant, now sprang to life, and she found herself tumbling headfirst into infatuation.
She subtly primped herself, smoothing her hair and straightening her posture, as she asked,
"Thanks for the ride, ¿Cómo te llamas? (What's your name)"
Her fingers absently rubbed her arms, a gesture that belied the sudden warmth spreading through her veins, despite the chill of the air conditioning.
The stranger's eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, as she waited for his response.
The stranger's response was courteous and cryptic:
"Cómo siempre (It's always a pleasure), ma'am." He replied , his name still a mystery.
"I know you wouldn't want to share your name, but don't judge me by my appearance.
I may look a bit mature, but I can assure you, I'm not that old."
As she spoke, she crossed her legs and playfully tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ears.
The stranger's eyes met hers in the mirror as only her eyes showed.
His smile hinted at amusement.
Cherry felt compelled to reveal her age, but as usual she didn't like telling her age, because they will view her as old, of which she didn't want.
Her honesty was compromised.
"I'm not ancient – just twenty-seven," she said, her rapid blinking betraying her nervousness.
"¿Cuántos años tienes(how old are you)?" The man asked.
"Solo Tengo 27 años! (I'm 27 years old)" She replied.
The stranger chuckled.
"Just three months, Miss Amy, and you're already forgetting your age?"
Cherry's eyes darted around as she searched for the mysterious Amy.
Or did he know about her real age?
She thought.
But she was alone in the car with the stranger, and his words only added to the enigma.
She turned back to him and asked.
"Who's Amy?"
Just then, the stranger's phone rang, shrill in the silence. He answered, his voice firm and brief.
"Yes, I found her there.
She was lying on the streets, so I picked her up and got her out of there."
He listened for a moment before responding,
"Understood."
With that, he ended the call and dropped the phone on the seat beside him.
Cherry noticed a sudden surge in the car's speed, the landscape outside blurred as they accelerated.
The stranger's eyes narrowed as he kept his focus fixed on the road.
Cherry became afraid.
"What was going on? Who was on the phone? And where were they headed?"
Cherry's anxiety spiked with unanswered questions from her mind.
"What's going on?" she demanded with unease.
"Who is Amy? And who was that on the phone?"
Her eyes darted around the car in an attempt to search for an escape or a clue.
The stranger's silence only fueled her frustration.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not Amy.
At least, I don't think I am. And I know we've driven way past my parents' house.
Where are you taking me?"
The stranger's gaze remained fixed on the road with an unreadable expression.
"Miss Amy, please, you need to calm down and try to rest," the stranger said as his voice softened slightly.
"You might have hit your head or the trauma is still affecting you.
I've been instructed to get you home as quickly and safely as possible.
That's where your treatment will begin. Just try to relax, okay?"
His words were carrying a gentle concern, but Cherry's mind recoiled at the mention of her supposed name and the cryptic references to her situation.
She felt afraid and confused, her thoughts raced with more questions.
What treatment? What home? And who was this man, really?
Cherry's patience had worn thin, and she erupted in a fiery outburst.
"Perdon!" (Excuse me)
"Who the hell are you to call me Amy?
Who the hell instructed you to bring me anywhere?
And what makes you think you know where my home is without asking me?"