MY ALPHA BODYGUARD

CHAPTER 21: THE SEARCH

POV: Eris

"I barely see the road" Kevin said while driving our van in the middle of this stormy night. The ruthless wind scourged us as we escaped its enormous gape combined with the rain, like a thousand darts hitting our car which is the only thing that protects us from surrounding danger.

"Just slow down" Cindy said then took a deep sigh full of beating drums in her chest. The rhythmically sound of the car's wipers is more of a music of terror like a ticking bomb or a swaying pendulum hypnotizing the five people inside to be drowned in this dreadful typhoon.

It was literally a pitch black night and it is the headlight of our car which was the only thing that gives light on our way. Adding to the danger is the winding road like a narrow and an intestine full of lethal curves.

"Yes, Ma'm, we're on our way" Jerry said talking to my manager on the phone. "Uhmm, yeah, the nearest hotel was-- 40 minutes away from where we are now" he explained. I doesn't feel right. We are like in an endless tunnel of darkness and uncertainty. The wind gushed stronger on our windows telling us to hold on our seats tightly then, 'Boooomm!! Grrggggh!! Ggrsssshhh!!' a huge and horrifying roar suddenly heard like a huge winged monster cried and flap its massive wings on the top of the hill above us.

"What was that?" Marco and Cindy asked at the same time.

''Ma'am-- I can't .. Hello? hello?" Jerry yelled.

"Damn it, no signal" I said looking at the screen of my mobile phone. When suddenly several rocks, big and small, mixed with thick mud hit the side of our car that makes it sway a little bit.

"Kevin, what was that?" Marco cried with obvious panic straightening his back from his seat. Then another banged on the window that made it cracked and on the roof.

"I think huge rocks are falling from the hill" Kevin shouted, no, it's not a shout but it was loud enough to give us chills of fear and panic. Cindy turned on her phone's torch to see what exactly was happening outside. The car struggled to moved as the mud and rocks continuously crowded the road and pushing us off the path.

"Landsline---Landslide!!!" Cindy hysterically shrieked and looked back at us.

"We need-- Out... Out of the car!!!" she stuttered on shouting with her command. Then, the window finally shattered and the mud and rocks immediately gets in our van pushing us and putting everyone in danger.. Without notice, our van was now on the edge of the steep slope with a certain view to the unknown woods of darkness, a jungle of demise. The wind slashed our face and body sending coldness of nightmare. The rain instantly wet us though we didn't get out of the vehicle yet. Jerry and Cindy came out first and immediately ran away from the falling danger.

Marco as soon as he get out of the car, straightened his arm and reach me, helping me find my escape but I shockingly saw Kevin unconscious in the driver's seat. I turned back to help him. I unbuckled him and shook him and calling him. No response. His forehead was bleeding. The car slanted more down to the slope, "Eris!!" it's Marco calling me. Cindy and Jerry looked back and don't know what to do? If not for the lightning we wouldn't be able to see each other.

'Eeerrrrkkk!! the car screeched then gradually slipped down the sloped when I felt something hit my leg and back hard enough to blur my vision with pain. "Marco!!" I shouted. I know I'm crying his name loudly but he doesn't seemed to hear maybe because of the monstrous storm or maybe because there's no sound came out of my mouth.

''EEERRkkkKKK!!! the van then gradually rolled thrice? I don't know how many exactly when, thankfully, a group of trees saved us stopping the vehicle from rolling. "I'm sorry Kevin" I cried with the rain mixed with my tears on my face. I crawled out of the crumpled car without knowing where to go. I cried. Gasping. I yelled but no voice, no sound could create my throat. Every breath was suffering and each try to walk was pain. There's blood on my hands but I'm not sure if it is mine or Kevin's.

"Somebody please help!" I'm still not sure if I say it vocally or just in my mind. I crawled and crawled and held a tree and help myself to stand up. I felt dizzy, I felt weak all over my body when I stumbled and fall then roll down the slope until I hit another tree like an angry opponent punching me at the back. I coughed helplessly when an image of a human, a person, a man... ---running towards me. Marco? I don't care who it was.. as long as I know someone is here to save me.

"Aaaarggh" my head hurts holding my head and slowly sat up. Where am I? I asked myself the moment I realized this is not looks like any of the resort's room. Everything's in here looks old and creepy. Yeah I felt creepiness all over my body. What happened? Try to remember Erickson Williams! My heart started to beat faster as I dig deeper on my brain. Yeah, that waiter..

I walked out of the scene because I might be a nuisance on their new formed friendship. I took again the wine from the table before completely exited their flirtatious get together. Yeah, I'm a bit dizzy. I bumped on the waiter's shoulder, "I'm sorry" I apologized without looking at his face then turned back and continued to walk.

"Are you okay, sir?" he held me on my arm tightly.

"Yeah, totally" then I tried to walked away again but his grip was strong. "Let me escort you to your quarters, sir" he requested then smiled. I can still saw his familiar smile through the lights though a bit hazily. Without me nodding or anything he put my arm around his shoulders and his hand on my waist. What is happening? Well, some kind stranger offered some help, that's it. But-- I don't need his help.. I need to call Adam..

"No no its okay, thanks" I forced myself to get out of his arms and to stood up straight but he's too strong compare to my dizzy head and confuse body. He accelerated his pace and somethings wrong with this guy. Finally, we reached the back of the kitchen outside and "this is not the way to my room" I complained, "can you please--!!" He then immediately nailed me to the wall and cupped my mouth with his huge hand and suddenly punched me hard that I groaned silently under his power that seemingly everything swayed, every space before my gaze slowly turns black and then.. and then..--- The door opened and a man entered and revealed his identity before me by taking off his black mask and cap.

"Tom!!" its not a question obviously, yes, no one would do this to me but him, Psychopath!!.

***

POV: Rein

"Did you notice anything suspicious to her in the past days?" Eddie asked, he's the new young policeman of my team, to one of the neighbor of the woman who jumped from the fourth floor of the SCX apartment.

"I don't know... I'm not sure... she just... uhmm always locked herself inside the house" the man answered scratching his hair.

"There's a man who visits her once in a while but I don't see his face-- he always visit her in the evening" another woman added holding a cigarette on her left and walked slowly towards Eddie while I examined the area and the dead body outline ardently on which I just finished inspecting her apartment as well. What's suspicious is on the psychological and medical report she has depression and substance use disorder but the meds here was not, if I'm not mistaken, antidepressant.

"Thank you" the young police said then immediately went towards to me, his police-detective team leader.

"I got nothin'" he said showing his small notes to me. I frowned and felt annoyed. It's another dead end but I'm pretty sure there's something going on this apartment building. The thing is and what's bothering me, I can't even get close to prove it. The management always denied us from accessing the CCTV footage saying the family's victim already settled for the case to be suicide. 'Settled' that's ridiculous. I got lost from my thoughts when Ed called me, "Ma'am, your phone's ringing"

"Yes, Cap?" it was captain Benson of our department.

"What? Called off?" I irritatingly raised my voice disputing his request of closing the case effectively now. "Sir, that's ridiculous!! The victim has bruises on her body sign of---- hello? Sir!! Sir...!!" he hung me up, yeah just like that. "s**t! not again!!"

"Ma'am, what are we gonna do?" Ed asked. "Drive the car" I walked to the car and opened it, "...and don't call me Ma'am, am not that old!" I hopped in. Eddie chuckled.

***

"Sir! you know this is not a suicide... the victim's body has..." I yelled at our captain of police department as soon as I entered room at his desk.

"Take this!" thudding the papers heavily on the desk and he straightened his sit with his feet crossed.

"Sir!! There's something wrong with the medical rep--" I shouted when I saw he's not even listening nor looking at me, "This is not the first time someone died on that apartment and every time you always covered it up as suicide!!"

"Are you accusing me?!! The family already agreed and settled with it--What's the matter with you, Lorreine?" he stood up and point his fingers to my face to try to intimidate me but sorry I'm not.

"Agreed? Settled? What did you AGAIN do this time?" I stepped forward closer to him and looked directly in his eyes. He put his hands on his waist ready to burst in anger, yeah, I'm ready for it.

"You watch your word!! Miss Ford!!" he point his finger again on my face straight and leaned closer to me.

"Rein, I think if that's what the family wanted, we must respect it. Besides they already took the body and did not want any autopsy" Eddie interrupted. I'm sure he just do that to avoid any intense fight scene. I smirked harshly.

"See, compare to you, this child understands better.." he sarcastically looked at me. "You better get this case and leave or ---"

"Ahhh, We will Sir ---" Eddie chuckled and get the papers and hold me on the shoulder to guide me out. I annoyingly shook my shoulders to get off from his hands then walked away on my own. That piece of trash!!

***

POV: Adam

It's been two days since Eris was gone just few feet from me and we still got no clue where he is or even if he's still alive. Damn it! It's all my fault. I clutched my fist and clenched my jaw in fear that I might loose him forever and fury to myself and to that asshole psychopath. All of these days, my muscles were tensed and my body like it don't even know how to relaxed and sleep or eat.

I couldn't sense him. Surely his far away but where. f**k! f**k! f**k! I will certainly ripped his body off until he wished we hadn't crossed paths.

My mate's parents and sister arrived the very next day the night he vanished right after Lily called them who told the horrific news about their son. My fists were still firmly closed like a rock while sitting anxiously on the back seat inside the police car. I asked Tyler and David to separately search also for my mate and directly report to me any lead while I begged Rein, the police-detective who is assigned in this case, to help them find Eris and thankfully they agreed. It was all over the news and magazines. The showbiz industry was in distress and his fans bashed me for negligence, and I couldn't blame them.

My phone rang and instantly I felt who it was, 'Tyler' name shown on the screen after I took out of my jeans. My physical suddenly tremble not in fear but in hope that peek out of my friends news. I thank him.

"Its Southwind" I growled inside of my throat fearlessly.

"You mean, the small town of Southwind?" Rein confirmed as she looked at me through the mirror, "Bullshit! That's three hours from here"

"The person I was talking to just told me someone saw him at the gasoline station and it was confirmed by the camera footage" leaning forward as I reported to them. Rein immediately turned the car and Eddie sitting on the passenger's seat called to the police station on that said town. And also on the other hand, Tyler and David was on their way to that place to rescue their Luna the moment they found out the location but still it will took a while to search the whole town. While on our way to Southwind, I called his parents to told them about the might-be location where the suspect hide their precious son. I know how scared they are and it hit my heart to see them experienced this body-weakening and mind-shaking mishap that perhaps it can lessen their agony even a little. With these thoughts and feelings mixed together inside my system, I felt like I was struck by lightning of pain and woe thinking how Eris might feel right now. Fear. Terror. Forgotten. Unknown. How could he overcome these trauma? How could he experience all of this?

I'm coming my precious Mate! Hold on! Please be strong, I love you.

***

POV: Eris

Tom came back from the town with money and groceries on which he took my card and force me for the PIN. He's such a hopeless vagrant!! He became skinnier from the last time we met, his eyes seem get bigger because of his now long face and thin cheeks. He's filthier literally and his smell like he's.., "Since when your last bath, you ugly monster!?" covering my nose and mouth with my shaking hand. Why am I trembling?

"Ugly? You forget? You're crazy in love with me?" chuckling with a sly smirked. He handed me a tray of bread and juice.

"I gave you the money. Release me!!" its more of a command than pleading. Pathetic. How can he let himself turn into this kind of human being he is today. Yes, I hate him like hell but there's pity, I don't now why, I felt towards this individual. I snapped, 'He don't deserve your compassion, Eris'

"Hmmm!! just accept your fate" he grabbed my both cheeks that my lips turn like a puffer fish. I strongly swiped my face off of his dirty hand, his fingernails Oh My!-- and looked at him fiercely.

"That's my boy--" he tapped my head. "So tell me-- you want me dead?" he smirked, oh please, stop that devilish grin!

"Yeah!! I want you dead. I want you to rot in jail!!" I shouted then threw the tray up that made the juice to wet his front. It suits him. Immediately his palm swung open and hit me on the face. I also going to slap him but he caught it and instantly choke me with his left hand. If I just don't have this chain on my feet-- I cough inside while his grip became tighter.

"Is that why you hired people to beat me? !!! to kill me??" he shout right in front of my face that his saliva landed on my skin. I can't speak!! My hands were pulling his grip from my neck but he's too strong. "How many times will I say to you?!!!... What will I need to do to prove you I changed-- that I love you!!" he stopped.. his grip slowly loosened as well.

"I love you---" he stood up. "I love you Eris!! I love you!!" he shouted in front of me bending forward like a fool. "Why can't you believe that! huh? Why can't you forgive me? Because of that worthless bodyguard?" he walked back and forth in this small room. He's done, crazy indeed. And by the way, don't call Adam worthless, if there's a perfect image of worthlessness here, it's you certainly, dumbass!.

"Hiring people to beat you up? That's ridiculous!!" I still holding my aching neck. "Yeah, I hate you like hell, but I could not do it.. but I wish I could!!" I chuckled wickedly and angrily.

"People can change" he said then sat down again in front of me. "I've changed, baby. We-- we can start all over again-- huh!" he caressed my cheeks and I swiftly swiped it away from me. 'Baby? Eww'

"Coming from you? You're right, I don't even know who you are" I calmed my breathing. My body become weaker and weaker since day one, without enough food and water. I guess, it's already two days had passed since that night and its 'Adam' the only name that was printed on my mind. I miss him so much. I fear that I might not see him again. Adam, where are you?, please hurry, please find me. I don't know where am I. I'm scared. Mom, Dad, Erica I miss you guys too.

"Stop this lies Erickson!!" he again squeezed my face that made it hit the wall.

"Stop this nonsense!!!" I shouted under that force he press on me. "You're insane...!" I mumbled now with fear and a tear came out of my right eye.

"What's important is you're mine now!---" he laughed and you don't want to hear it. "And.. I can do anything to you and no one can help you!!" his eyes dilated and curved up a big smile.

"Get your hand off me!!" I protested then bite his palm. He slapped me and strongly lay me down and pinned me on the wooden bed that it screeched with the force. My back hurts that made me close my eyes when suddenly I felt his lips to mine.

"Let go off me!!" I railed, pushing him away just using my hands, arms, knees and all of my energy. Oh pleaseeee-- somebody help!! "Stop-- Tom-- you asshole!" I shouted as loud as I can that maybe someone can hear me.

"Asshole? Be careful using your words--" he chuckled that his breath touched my face and smelled its awfulness. Without hesitation he punched me on the torso, not one, not two but three. It was solid. I coughed each time then my eyes glitched and it felt like it became heavy.

"I'll make sure you'll be sore after what I am going to do to your tight ass" he whispered to my ear. I still struggled though I am very weak to move anything. My mind was begging him. He ripped in one blow my clothes and unbuckled my pants when--- he paused in what he is doing and-- suddenly a car was heard which, I think, just parked in front of the cabin.