Louisa's p.o.v;
Someone tapped on my shoulder, which made me woke up and i backed away as soon as to the touch.
"I really don't know where's the stone. Please, believe me."
While i was blabbering, that person said, "Louisa, it's me."
The voice. It sounds familiar. Who's this? I rubbed my eyes and looked at the person again while blinking my eyes to adjust to the light after being in a dark room for a while.
"Who's it?"
"It's me, Edgar. Louisa, are you okay?"
"Edgar?"
"Yes, it's me, Edgar."
After adjusting to the light, i saw Edgar face clearly. I moved closer to him and hugged him, "It is really you, Edgar."
He patted on my back and caressed my hair like my grandpa which made me breakout and i cried in his embrace.
He wiped my eyes and said, "Louisa, Why are you crying?"
"W-What are you doing here? What if someone sees you? They're Pandora gang. They'll take you down as soon as they spot you. Get out of here. Please, run from this place before someone sees you. Edgar, what are you waiting for? Just go!"
"Louisa…"
"Did you came to save me? No! Don't! It's dangerous. We're not in Ace's house. This is Pandora! Don't try to save me! Leave! Run! Why aren't you moving…"
I pushed him away and asked him to leave but he didn't. Instead he said, "Louisa, I joined phantom to spy on them. I'm not an associate who's trying hard to work."
"What are you saying? I don't get it."
When he was about to say something, Paulo came and ordered, "Don't give her anything except water." And left.
After he left, i asked Edgar, "What were you saying before and why did Paulo gave a order to you?"
Edgar, "Because i work for Paulo. I'm part of Pandora gang. I joined phantom to spy on them. I don't work for them. It's all acting and spying for the informations. This is where I work, Louisa."
"Are you betraying Ace?"
What did i just asked him? Why did i think of Ace all of a sudden? Why do i have to care which gang does Edgar belongs to? It's his thing to worry about. Not mine.
"I'm not betraying anyone. I'm doing my job. Now, let's get out of here."
"Why are you helping me? Who told you to do this?"
He unlocked the chains while saying, "I made a call to Ace. He's on the way here. When he comes here to save you, make sure to go with him. Don't argue with him."
"How did he react after knowing about you?"
Why do I keep asking nonsense? Someone get Ace out of my head!!
"He didn't do anything. Antonio tried to shoot me but Ace stopped him and asked me to leave the place."
"Who's Antonio?"
"Ace's closest bodyguard, the one he assigned to keep eyes on you."
That one! The one who tried to rape me.
"How did Ace and when?"
"Do you remember when I tried to ward off you when you came to the house again? They saw me and interrogated me about What happened. I let out the truth at that time when Ace asked other bodyguards to stop questioning me about you. I felt guilty."
"I couldn't get you. You went to spy on them but felt guilty and confessed."
"The adult world is more complicated than you think. Now, let's get out of here before someone sees you out of chains."
After we came out of the dark room, I noticed that we're in some kind of basement. That explains why the room was dark. Without getting caught by anyone, we came into a room.
Edgar, "It's not safe from now so you stay here. When Ace comes here, I'll knock on the door to give you a signal, understand?"
I nodded and said, "What if they know that you helped me?"
He let out a smile and walked out of the door locking it.
What does that smile means? While i was waiting, i thought about what i asked to Edgar before. When i heard Edgar was a spy in Ace's group, my mind thought about how Ace faced it. Why did i think about him? Edgar being a spy or whatever doesn't concern me. Like that Ace getting fooled by Edgar doesn't concern me too. It's their world.
I heard knocks on the door. Is it Edgar? Did Ace come to get me out of here?
The door opened and i saw Edgar standing near the door, he whispered, "Come quickly." And waved at me.
After we came out of the room, i saw people fighting against each other.
"What's happening here?"
"It's Ace group against Pandora. Don't mind them. Come with me. I'll take you to Ace."
After getting out of their sights, Edgar brought me to the surface where I could see cars surrounding us.
While we're waiting, i told to Edgar, "Come with us. I worried what will happen to you if you stayed behind."
"I can take care of it. Right now, the only thing you should care about is how to get out of here safely." And he patted my head.
After a while, we heard gun shots. Edgar and i squatted on the ground.
Someone tapped on me saying, "Come, let's go."
When i lifted up my head, i saw Ace standing in front of me bleeding all over his face.
Edgar, "Go with him. I'll take them."
Ace, "Thanks."
I hugged Edgar and said, "Please don't die." He patted me back while saying, "I'll try my best. Now, leave."
Ace grabbed my hand and we started running away from Edgar. The gun shots stopped after a while. Was the fight ended? I need to check how Edgar is.
"Let go of my hand. I should check Edgar."
Ace, "We don't have time for that." And continued running holding my hand.
I struggled to escape from his grip while saying, "No, i should look for him. Let go of me. Let go of my hand!"
After a while, we came to a nearby warehouse, "Why didn't you let me go!"
"Do you know how many bodyguards i lost to save you from that place? And, you're whining like a kid instead of thanking me."
"I know why you saved me. You must have known that i was after the red stone like Paulo did. That's why you got me of that place since you wanted the stone by yourself. Don't act like you did it out of some service…"
While i was shouting, i saw his shoulder bleeding blood.
When i tried to touch his hand, he stopped me, "What are you doing?"
"Let me have a look."
I unbuttoned his shirt and removed it to see his shoulder being bleeding. I tore the fabric from my shirt and cleaned his blood. The wound looked like he got scraped somewhere. After cleaning his blood, i tied a fabric around his wound and sat beside him.
"Thanks." It's weird to hear it from him. When i looked at him being surprised, he continued, "Let's check him after a while."
I nodded and sat beside him.
I woke up from sleep and realised that i was leaning on Ace. I got up and apologized, "I'm sorry, i didn't mean… does it hurt?"
"It's just a scrape, I've hurt more than this. Did you remember that i got a shot?"
"You don't have to show yourself strong. There's no one around. Believe me, it's hard to portray that we're strong all the time. It's okay to be weak sometimes."
"Wow."
"What?"
"I didn't know that you talk like that. I thought all you could speak was swear words. If you're portraying to be strong outside, then what are you under all this?"
I let out a smirk and asked, "I should be the one to ask you but you've ordered me to not to question. I dont know why but it didn't bother me when you ordered around. I'm supposed to be mad at you but i didn't after some time. Maybe somethings wrong with me."
He stood up from where he was seated and said, "I'll have a look outside the warehouse and check on Edgar."
When i got up, he asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'm coming with you."
"No, stay here."
"But i can…"
Before i finish, he said with a firm tone, "Stay here." And he walked out of the warehouse.
I can't believe what just happened. I had a talk with Ace, not with any swear words. But a normal talk. Did i just adviced him? When i looked at him, for a moment i saw myself in him. The part where he behaved like he's all strong. When i saw him, for a moment, i cracked a little and talked to him out of my mind. Don't! He kidnapped you for a valuable stone and tortured you. He saved you today again for that stone. Don't fall for it.
After a while, some bodyguards came in so i hid behind the big shipments. They said, "We're with Ace. We came to get you to a safer place. Where are you?"
I came out from hiding and asked, "Are you really with him?"
"Yes, we work for him."
"Where's he? Why didn't he come? Where did he go? Why did he sent you?"
"The situation got serious so it's better to leave. He asked us to take you to your place. Let's go."
"What happened? Did he get shot again?"
"It's better to leave soon. Come with us."
"I won't move unless i heard that he's safe."
They made a call to someone and gave the phone to me to talk. When i listened, i heard Ace's voice on the phone, "Go with them."
"Are you alright? Did you see Edgar…" the call was ended before i finished.
I let out a sigh of relief knowing that he's alright. Wait, why am I pleased? Something's wrong with me.
After a while, they dropped me at my apartment.
"What if they come back again? They knew where I live now."
"Ace asked us to be here. So we'll be near your apartment. If anything happens, don't hesitate to call us. If we noticed something wrong, we'll be in front of your door."
I nodded and walked to my apartment.
When i opened the door, it was empty. Bernie?!! Did they…. I got a call. Where's my phone? I looked around and found the phone near the bed. Bernie name was on the display screen. I hope he's okay. I hope he's safe.
I attended the call, "Louisa, i can't come tonight. I'm staying over at everlys. Don't wait for me and go to sleep."
"Okay."
The call ended.
I dropped on the floor and sobbed hard. For a moment, i got scared that i lose you too. I was scared to the point where i felt guilty. Bernie, you don't deserve a friend like me. I only bring trouble to you. I'm not a good friend.
Why is this happening to me? What did i do to deserve this? I don't want to get them trouble because of me. I can't let anyone hurt because of me. What should I do to end this? No matter what I think, there's only way to stop this. It's finding that stone! If only i have the stone in my hand, i can get away from this shit!
I wiped my tears away and made a call to Bernie, he answered, "What is it?"
"I'm going to stay at a friend's house for some days."
"What? Why? Who's that friend? Is it the friend you always talk about? Why so suddenly?"
"Why are you asking so many questions? For what question do you want me answer first?"
"When will you come back?"
"Isn't your girlfriend beside you? Won't she be jealous when you talk to another girl like this?"
"She won't because she knows about us. Answer me first, when will you be back?"
"Soon."
"What does that mean? Be specific. When will you come back?"
"I'm feeling sleepy."
"When are you leaving then?"
"Tomorrow."
"Then don't go before i come or else I'll come to your friends place to get you back."
I laughed and said, "Okay, okay. I'll wait for you."
The call ended.
I'll come back once everything gets over and settled.