Louisa's p.o.v;
"He's awake now. You can go and visit him. You can discharge him by tomorrow but that doesn't mean he's recovered from his injuries. He has to take medicines and should take bed rest for another two weeks." The doctor said and walked past me.
I entered the room and took a seat beside the bed.
"Thank you for saving me out of that shithole." And he coughed.
I took a glass of water and fed him while asking, "How did you get caught by them?"
"I was investigating the drug to the club manager at X province, someone hit me from behind and when I got my senses back, I was tied up in a room and couldn't move a bit. I thought I was going to die until you showed up. Thank you for your help. By the way, what were you doing there in a place like that?"
"I was kidnapped by them too, along with my friend."
"Your friend? Where's your friend?"
"I don't know."
"Did he get out or Is he still there?"
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know."
"I'll help you find your friend. I'm a cop. I can use my police force and help your friend."
"You're a cop?"
"Yes, but we have to report it to the station. Wait, you got me out of the place, right? Do you remember the location of that place?"
I shook my head and said, "Since It was dark when we came out of there, I remember it vaguely."
"You said you were kidnapped like me? How did you get out?"
"I stole a key."
"Wait, are you the girl who got out of handcuffs in less than a few minutes?"
"What?"
"While I was being held as a captive, I heard some people talking outside the room. They were talking about this girl who got out of the handcuff in a few minutes. How did you do that?"
"It's not a big deal. It's everywhere on the internet these days. I learned it as fun but it saved me in the end."
He nodded and said, "Okay, let's get out of this place."
I stopped him and said, "The doctor said to take a bedrest for another two weeks. You're not fully recovered yet."
"I have to finish my investigation. Those guys deserve to be put behind bars. I can't leave it like this. I have to go and…"
"Please, please take rest as doctor recommended."
When I tried to leave, he asked, "You didn't say for what reason they kidnapped you yet."
"Are you interrogating me right now?"
"You saved my life. I should return back the favour by saving your friend."
"It's fine. I'll find him by myself. And, for the question you asked me, I don't know why they kidnapped me and my friend."
"What's your name?"
"Heloisa Alves dos Santos, Faculty of philosophy at HK University. I'll take my leave. Hope you listen to what the doctor says and take care of yourself."
After coming out of the hospital, I headed to the house where I escaped from last night. I lied that I don't remember the place but I do clearly. How can I forget the place where I was held captive? I didn't think I'd be going to that house again.
After a while, I stood in front of the back entrance of the house. Last night, I thought I was saving my best friend until I took him to the hospital. Under the lights and the blood cleaned from his face, I realised that it wasn't my friend but someone else. Where's Bernie? Is he still inside that house? Why did Edgar mislead me? Did he play me?
When I looked at the back of the house, it was surrounded by the bodyguards. How am I going to get into this house without being seen?
Suddenly someone from behind closed my mouth with their hand and dragged me to a secluded alley. When I turned around to look who it was, Edgar was standing in front of me.
I grabbed his collar and asked, "Where's Bernie?"
"We let go of him the day we inspected the bar.
"What do you mean let him go? What did you do to him?"
"We let him go free. I'm sure he'll be at his place now. Before that, why did you come here again? What if someone sees you? Leave before someone else sees you."
"If you let him go, then why did you hold me captive?"
"That was Ace. We can't go against him. Now, leave before anyone sees you."
"Why is he searching for me?"
"No, he's not. To my surprise, he asked us not to look for you. By the way, what's the cop condition? Is he alive?"
I nodded and said, "Yes, he's good. Only some injuries to heal. Why did you help me and the cop to get out of here? Aren't you one of them?"
"Friends should help each other. Did you forget your own words?"
"I didn't mean it when i said."
"Whatever, get out of here. I know he asked us not to search for you but what if he changed his mind once he sees you. Leave the place and never come here again. Understand?"
I nodded and thanked him again before leaving the place.
At my apartment,
When I opened the door, I saw Bernie kissing a girl so passionately. I thumped my hand on the door and looked at them.
Bernie, "Louisa! How did you…" The girl left after something Bernie whispered into her ears.
"Looks like someone's enjoying their life."
"Louisa, I…"
I threw whatever I could get in my hand at him while asking, "Why didn't you come for me? Did you think I would never come? Did you think you can have this apartment all to yourself after I'm gone? Who's that girl? What is she doing here? Did you plan to sleep with her? If i didn't come here, you would have…"
Bernie hugged me and said, "Louisa, I'm so happy to see you."
I pushed him away and asked while grabbing his collar, "Why didn't you come for me?"
"They said they'll let you go after they find the stone."
"So you just left me like that."
"They said they'll keep you safe."
"Safe?"
He held my hand and asked worriedly, "Didn't they? Did they do anything to you? What did they do? Let's report them to the police."
"They didn't do anything."
"If you're here, that means that they found the stone. Didn't they? How did they found it? Is it the guy who stole from the bar hostess?"
"They didn't found the stone yet."
I took a seat and asked, "Who's the girl?"
He sat beside me and said, "I'm dating her."
"Dating? When did this happen?"
"A week ago."
"I'm sorry for talking bad about her. I didn't know…"
Before i finish, he hugged me and said, "It's fine. Since you apologised, I'll let it go." And gave me a smile. He stood up and said, "I asked her to wait for me. I'll go and see if she's still waiting. And, get a shower, you smell like medicines." And left the room after giving me a quick hug.
When i sniffed myself, i smell like medicines like Bernie commented.
After a shower, i dropped on the bed and looked at the ceiling. Seems like i came back to my routine life. Part-time job! Let's look if they still accept me.
After a while, i came to the J restaurant to meet the manager. After asking permission to meet the manager, i came to his cabin to talk to him.
"Hello, sir."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry for disappear like that, Sir. Can I continue working here…"
Before i finish, he said, "I thought you found another job with nice pay. Didn't expected you to here. You disappeared without a word and came here to ask about the job again. What do you think this job is? I don't need your apology. Leave."
"Sir, if you give another chance, I'll make sure to use it well."
"Louisa, i asked you to leave."
"It's not like there's only one restaurant in this whole country. Give me the money for the days i worked here. I'll leave once you handed over my money."
"When you apologised to me, i thought your attitude changed, but it never did." He placed the money on the table and continued, "Take the money and leave at once."
I took the money and walked out of the restaurant. I should find another part-time job quickly before the semester starts. Otherwise, I'll be in trouble.
One month later,
Bernie, "I'll come late tonight so have dinner and go to sleep early."
"Okay." I said while watching television in a couch.
"Did you find a job?"
"Yeah. I got one in the college as a library assistant."
"Doesn't sound like you. How did you get it?"
"Mr Randall forced me to take the job for my credit score."
He laughed and said, "Don't forget to lock the doors."
"I'm not a kid. Just go already."
After Bernie left, I continued watching television. Without my knowledge, i slept while watching television.
I woke up to the sound of banging on the door. Bernie, idiot!
"Wait! I'm coming."
I stood up and walked to the door and opened it while rubbing my eyes. After he walked in, i closed the doors and walked back to the couch to lay down.
"I thought you'll stay at her place for the night. Why did you came here?"
"I didn't have any other place to hide." It wasn't Bernie's voice. But more like the guy who… when i looked at him, Ace?
I dropped on the floor and looked at him with fear, "What are you doing here?" I searched for something to defend from him.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
When he tried to walk towards me, "Don't come near me! Stop right there!"
When he took a step forward, he stumbled and fell on the floor holding his stomach. He didn't move after he fell down.
"Hey! Wake up!"
He didn't respond back. Did he die? I stood up and walked to him to check him. He was laying on the floor pressing his hand against his stomach. I took the hand and saw blood on him. Shit! What the fuck! Did he really die?!
I locked the doors and came closer to him and checked his breathing by keeping the finger near his nose. I felt hot breath against my finger. I let out a sigh of relief after knowing that he's still alive. What if he died after sometime? Why are you making a trouble for me?
I made a call to Bernie but he didn't pick up. Looks like he's enjoying his date night.
I squatted beside him with the first aid kit and cut open some part of fabric in his shirt and saw the wound. It looks like he's been shot! What the hell! Are you kidding me???
I came to the nearby drugstore to buy medicines for the gun wound and bought something along with it to not to look suspecious. I can't believe I'm spending the money earned from part-time job for him.
When i came back to the place, he wasn't there. Where did he go? I'm sure i locked the doors before i left. I heard some noise from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen and found him holding a knife in his hands trying to get the bullet out of him.
"You're going to get killed."
He walked to me and took the medicines from me. He took a seat and took the medicines out of the bag.
While he was staring at the medicines i bought, i asked, "Do you know how to do it?"
He nodded and began the process. He took the bullet out using a sterilized scalpel and applying medicines to his wound. After he was done with the dressing, he laid on the couch.
"Aren't you leaving?"
He didn't respond and laid like a log. Did he die? When i looked at him, his chest was rising up and down. I let out a relief that he's still alive. Wait! Why should I feel relieved? He's the monster who tortured me like a slave. I'm not going to let him go like this! I'm going to call the cops!