Chapter 11: Strange and Beautiful
I can’t believe it. "What is this?" As soon as I entered the room, the door automatically closed behind
as if the wind from the open window shut it for . My forehead creased as I continued to not understand what was going on.
Except for the open window, nothing’s wrong with this room, making it more suspicious. It’s empty, literally emptier than expected. The walls are as white as those from an asylum; there’s no sign of this room being used. Weird, it’s too weird as if El’s hiding sothing here and telling anyone that enters nothing is suspicious, so move along. No way. This is getting weirder, and in the back of my mind, sothing tells
that I need to get out of here.
Right! My friends! Ace and Andy can help . Ace’s smart, she can help
investigate if my parents’ death is true, and Andy can help
find clues for it.
"What are you doing?"
I flinched after the door opened behind
and heard that voice. El’s topless and only has a towel covering his lower body. His hair is still wet. Did he just co out of the shower? "Did the thunder and lightning woke you up?" He asked as if being half-naked like that is typical for
to see. "Does your foot hurt?" No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. There’s no way soone as rich as him would help
just because he thinks I’m pretty.
"I-I just got thirsty."
Before he can realize that I have already caught up in his lies, I need to get out of this place. "Right, I want to celebrate your birthday, but these scary n outside keep hindering Lorenzo’s trip to the mart." My forehead creased.
"S-Scary n?" Those people from Night’s household were the first people that ca into my mind hearing that.
"Yeah. Rember the convenience store near the back alley where I found you? They’ve been keeping lookouts there." A-Am I just near the Yamaguchi household right now? "They were all wearing black clothes with scary gazes on their faces. I think they’re searching for soone." I gulped after hearing that. "Are you... the one they’re searching for?"
I quickly grabbed El’s arms, stopping him from moving away from . There’s no doubt those n belong to that mansion. Even if he’s weird, I would rather stay here. "Please, don’t tell them that I’m here." He wouldn’t, would he?
"Of course, I won’t." I don’t know if I can trust his words. Even after being comforted, I still don’t know anything about him. "But are you in danger? Your parents were murdered. Are they after you now? Do you need help?"
I do need help. Maybe I should ask the police. "I-I need to call the police." But I suddenly felt weak as I leaned on El’s body subconsciously.
"Your foot’s bleeding again. If you’ll excuse ." He lifted
as we went out of that empty room. "Let
treat it again before you go back to sleep." Hearing him say that made
look at his face. I can feel his bare skin on mine, and he’s still dripping wet.
El should have at least changed his clothes first before carrying . "Oh right! It’s inappropriate for
to carry you like this without putting clothes on." He realized that after already putting
on the bed.
"Just wait a minute." He rushed to the walk-in closet, and he already had clothes on when he ca out. "Here, let
tend to that wound again." El changed the bandage off my wound as he knelt on the floor while I sat on the bed. His actions make
suspicious of him, but I also feel comforted by them at the sa ti. It’s weird.
Do my friends think I’m dead now, just like my parents? Or did they report
missing? If Night did kidnap , my friends would report it to the police. "Do you read or watch the news? Is there any report about a girl missing the past days?"
"A girl? You an you?"
I nodded, but El’s expression didn’t look like he knew. "I’ve been watching the news daily, but nothing about a missing girl is ntioned." Huh? How is that possible? I’m already missing for like a week. My friends would definitely report it to the police.
"That can’t be...." What if Night’s controlling the police too? "Are those n threatening people?"
El started putting treatnt to my wound as he sat on the floor. "They’re not threatening people perse, but their gaze makes them feel scared." He answered. "You know, the atmosphere and tension in the air feel like they could kill."
I gulped. W-What if those people kill
as soon as they bring
back to the mansion because I went back to our house and discovered that my parents are already... already... d-dead. Whenever I think about how much my parents suffered, I can’t stop the feeling of hatred from resurfacing inside my heart. "My phone’s done charging. Do you want
to call the police for you?" El asked.
"No."
El looked at
with confusion in his eyes. Who wouldn’t feel confused if a stranger who’s apparently in danger doesn’t want help from the police? If I report this to the police and Night really can control the police, my friends might get in danger because of . What if those people do everything they can to get
back? But why? I-If it’s the truth that my parents are dead, what use would I have to them?
"Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it."
El chuckled. "What’s with that? You doubted
before, so why are you suddenly thanking ?" This man really has to say sothing back. Although I still doubt him, I am thankful for his help. If he didn’t pick
up from the back alley, I would probably be caught again by Kenji and those n. And if he didn’t help
see our mansion, I-I would still believe that m-my parents aren’t gone. You might call
crazy, but I still hope for their deaths to be a lie. Everything I learned about Night is a lie, so why can’t this one be part of his lies?
El stood up from the floor after being done treating my wound. "I’m really kind, don’t you think so?"
I grimaced. "Saying it yourself makes it more unconvincing." El laughed because of that, and he ruffled my hair, causing
to frown. "Are you sure your hands are clean?"
El laughed as he pinched my nose gently. His husky voice makes his laugh sounds so deep. He’s beautiful and kind but also weird. "You can stay here no matter how long you want. I can help you cheer up." He smiled widely after saying that. I don’t know why I keep disregarding reality whenever El’s near. He’s that kind of person that pulls you into his world. I know right now that I’m being thick-skinned for doubting him while wanting to stay here to keep myself safe.
"Oh right, I’m going to get water for you. You should sleep after." He said as he went out of the room. It’s still raining outside, but there’s no thunder and lightning. I waited for him before lying down.
Will everything return back to normal?
"Happy birthday to you." My eyes went wide open as I got up after I saw El holding a cake while singing
a happy birthday. "Happy birthday, dear Ellie."
I didn’t know what ca to , but I couldn’t look El in the eye as tears started coming. It hurts hearing soone wish
a happy birthday when I feel weak and sad right at this mont. Even if I keep telling myself to stop making myself look weak in front of people, I can’t stop.
My parents should be surprising
with a birthday cake and singing
a happy birthday, but they’re not here. "Are you okay?" El asked after seeing
looking at the ground and silently sobbing. "D-Did I do sothing unnecessary?"
I shook my head. "I-It’s because." My voice kept cracking as I continued sobbing. "It makes
miss my parents even more." Admitting my hurt because of my situation doesn’t make
feel good. If only I could do sothing to get rid of this pain.
El comforted
with a hug again; if this continues, I’ll depend on this man to comfort
whenever I feel sad about my situation. It shouldn’t be like that; I know too well what will happen if I beco too dependent on others. It’ll hurt
so much in the end, and I won’t be able to handle it for the second ti.
I don’t know what to do anymore. It feels like I’ll burst out crying whenever I talk about my parents.
El placed the cake on the bedside table as he leaned toward . "Happy birthday." He said as he landed a kiss on .
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