Save Me From the Dark

Chapter 4: Abducted

Javier was heavily drunk after the party. It was 2 am in the morning. He was awkwardly staggering to the exit, in front of his eyes, everything was hazy and blurred. He felt terrible like he was about to throw up any second. He has not been that drunk since January last year at a night club. Clumsily, step by step, he had managed to leave the university and headed towards an open street to catch a cab. "Alec", he thought. "He has been flirting with me all night. God, it was almost embarrassing, he giggled inside. Though I started kinda likee that kid... But what would he think of me if he finds out that I work as a gay p********e at Broody Spirit Club, hmm? No, he would not even look at me. Cause I am disgustin’."

Javier was suddenly jolted out of his train of thoughts as he was almost deafened by the vociferous honking of the car that stopped next to him. Feeling too tipsy and startled by the car, he fell to the ground. Out of nowhere, someone's hands pulled him up and helped him to get into the pitch-black Mercedes. Javier could barely distinguish who was around him. All he could discern at the moment were two or maybe even three male silhouettes standing next to the car. Once he was seated, Javier was urged to take a gulp of water which he did not suspect was mixed with very strong sleeping powder. He slurred his words, sounding totally disoriented, "drive me to Crosston street 75... Waitt a minute... I neeeed to call my fry.." Then his head suddenly dropped on his chest, and everything sank into the darkness. 

 ***

“Good morning, everyone,” said in good spirits a Professor of Politics, Simon Borlazzi, to the class as he strode into the room with his old caramel suitcase. He opened the case and took out his lecture notes. He was preparing to give a lecture on the Peace of Westphalia and the origins of diplomacy as the class was excitedly humming; most of them talked about yesterday’s party. Andrea was sitting on the last row when she spotted Ralph, who has just entered the room. He saw her and decided to take the stairs to sit next to her. “Oh, no,” thought Andrea, turning a bit pale. Why did she care? For some reason, she always felt awkward whenever she saw him, though she always tried to hid that under the pretence of being composed and confident.

"Hi, can I sit next to you?" He asked in an unusually warm voice. "Yes. Sure," replied Andrea unblinkingly, then smiled. Andrea felt that the air between her and Ralph became charged. He felt that too but did not say anything. Ralph acted unperturbed, like everything was normal. When the professor started to speak, Ralph turned very serious, and they sat throughout the lecture without saying a word to each other-- both of them were too engrossed in the history of Diplomacy. Everyone in the class was industriously scribbling down notes after the professor; It was imperative if you want to get a good grade on a midterm. When the lecture was over, Andrea felt a great relief. Setting next Ralph over an hour was very awkward and nerve-wracking. She really wanted to leave the classroom as soon as possible. This tension was unbearable, and it was easier to stay away from him than deal with that uneasiness… But Ralph thought differently. That's why he caught her in the hallway and invited her to have lunch with him. She did not refuse, although the idea of spending more time with him potentially could make her feel even more uncomfortable and perplexed. On the other hand, she wanted to learn more about him, what he does, and why some people were nervous around him and treated him with reverence. 

While they were having lunch together, she learned more about Ralph. That he was in his third year. He also talked a bit about his very well-to-do family and an 18 years old sister who was still in High school. Then Andrea started to talk about herself why she chose to study at the University of St. Alexander and explained the reasons behind choosing to major in International Relations. 

"So, you initially planned to major in Literature? Because you wanted to become a writer?"

"Yeah," responded Andrea. "But you know I don't actually regret my choice because it will provide me with a lot of experience and knowledge. I also want to understand people better."

"I get that," said Ralph, a small but mischievous smile played on his face.

"You know you should try to attend one of the Students' Government's meetings. You might find it interesting."

"But I am not a part of the Students' Government."

"Well, you don't have to cause I am the president. And I can do almost anything," said Ralph nonchalantly. 

"Right," returned Andrea, rolling her eyes.

"It can help you to better see or understand people. How leaders organise people. If one day, you consider becoming one."

"You mean I should become a leader, I dunno. It seems too time-consuming, to be honest. I prefer to be alone… It helps to think. And I am not into telling people what to do..."

"I see a lot of potential in you, Andrea," he said earnestly, his eyes strangely glared. 

After they had lunch, Ralph suggested going outside to walk at the park under the high oak trees that grew nearby. They were utterly alone. Usually, after lunch, there were quite a handful of people who liked to come there to sit on the benches and study or read under the old oaks. But now, they were completely alone. They walked together without saying a word, enjoying the peace and calmness of the trees for about fifteen minutes. Then Ralph suggested sitting on the bench under a particularly 300 years old oak. Its bark seemed ragged and scruffy at places; it was also very tall and had numerous thick branches. It was autumn; therefore, all the trees had their leaves to turn into assorted colours. The scenery was indeed beautiful. If you turn your head around, you will notice branches decorated with leaves of multifarious shades and tinges of green, red, and bright orange. A playful breeze was coursing by, causing some leaves to fall gracefully from the trees to the earth. Andrea's chestnut hair was tossed across her face by the wind. She faintly blushed on that and put her hair up. However, she missed one strand and left it to hang in front of her face. Before she would put it back, Ralph gently put the strand behind her ear. When his cold and at the same soft hand stroke her face, Andrea started to blush even more. She tried to stay composed and not to show her emotions. In her mind, Andrea thought, "Don't trust him. He can turn out just like David. He might be just playing with me." However, her eyes said otherwise; they were glistening with a new emotion. Was she fond of him? But she did not even know him well!

Then she thought of a particular question that was on the tip of her tongue that bothered her since yesterday.

"Ralph, why didn't you stay at the party last night?" Asked Andrea nonchalantly. 

"I had a meeting," said Ralph, in a dark voice." Then for an unknown reason, he moved a bit away from her. 

Andrea intuitively felt that he withheld the information from her, something that he did not want to share. She wanted to know why. If they are going to be friends, she has to know more about him…

"With who?" she tried again in order to get more from him. Andrea wanted to have a clear picture of who Ralph is. In her experience, when people don't want to say something, they might be hiding something quite serious. After what happened with David, she tried to be more shrewd and careful. Be in control of her emotions. That's happened when she was blindly in love with David. She believed almost anything that he said because she did not want to lose him. He did not tell her anything. That he has been a part of some stupid gang that was taking and selling drugs. He has been lying about it for years. When she found out about it, things just escalated, and she and David had to break up."

"With some people," said Ralph. Then he paused for a few second. Looking deeply into her eyes, he went: "I don't want to lie to you. And I won't.'

'But I won't tell you anything about that meeting, Andrea, and what I did…" he said that with an edge to his voice, with a grim expression on his face, he moved closer to her, took her hand into his. Andrea felt a sudden tingle passing through her libs, "I want you to know that I will never lie to you. But there are things that I can't say." He kissed her hand. "Goodbye, Andrea," said he with a sad but determinant expression on his face. Ralph raised up and left her all alone on the bench under the old oak tree. Andrea knew why he resolved to go; he did not want to tell her what he did yesterday. Also, she was certain he did not want to lie to her. She knew that Ralph had something to hide. That is why he didn't want to tell her or couldn't tell her anything about what happened after the party. Andrea rolled her eyes, "another mystery, man." The touch of his hand still lingered on her hand. 

Then she remembered something extremely important and urgent: she opened her phone and looked at the picture of her hugging her mum in the living room a year ago. A few tears cascaded from her eyes; she wiped them on a sleeve of her cardigan, "I am coming, mum…"