Thorns of Roses

Evil and Vile

Song for this Chapter:

Lowkey-Niki

CHAPTER 98

ERIKA

I can’t believe I let myself in this situation.

But the truth is, do I even have a choice?

In the span of just an hour, my whole life turns upside down. My life suddenly wasn’t my life.

But just when can I let this happen?

I have to do something, I have to be smart in this situation.

I have to get out of this hell, unsated and alive.

But the biggest question of all is; How?

Looking across the room for this man is scary.

But sitting beside him felt like deadly.

I am shaking nonstop as we took a familiar route to the port of Forks. It’s only me and him and the man who is name is Angus and the designated driver inside this luxurious, sophisticated limousine.

But I don’t have any time to gawk nor appreciate the ride.

I am scared.

Beyond that maybe.

I don’t know where he’s going to take me. I don’t know what he’s going to do with me. For years, from the movies and series and even in books I have read for the past years, the Mafia King is always the bad guy. The Mafia King is just pure evil and vile.

And in real life, one of the Mafia’s dirty works were human trafficking.

Is that where I am going? Am going trafficked in some place here in America or overseas?

Anxiety took over me as I am sitting and thinking nonchalantly about my future.

A tear escaped my eyes when I realized that I didn’t get to see Cora one last time.

Cora—how is she going to be if she figures out what happen to me? how can I be so sure if she doesn’t have the same fate as me as long as Papa’s alive?

He can do to her what he did to me. in time, he will do just the same to her, and Mama would allow it to happen just like she did to me.

“I won’t do anything to you.” I heard a familiar growl from beside me.

“Then why did you take me?” I took the courage and the moment to ask him. “—why would someone like you take someone like me? A woman who has nothing but a life in Forks?”

He sighed while looking intently on my eyes “What someone like me like?”

“Just like my Papa says, you are the Mafia King. You wouldn’t want something in me unless a business money. Where are you going to take me?”

“Pennsylvania.” He just said plainly.

I swallowed hard, Pennsylvania? That’s 2,844 miles away from here. 42 hours if you drive nonstop.

But I don’t know if I will be able to escape, I will return here in my parents who just sold me. maybe I will, but without seeking help from Nigel to get Cora away from that house.

“I know what you’re thinking” he said as he took a drag of his cigarette that fills my nostrils.

“You do?”

“I won’t trafficked you, I am not doing some kind of sort.”

That’s a relief, I nod. then why? “Sure.” I took a deep breath “Then why did you take me? “I looked at him in the eyes, wishing I could get something from him.

“Because you remind me of someone.” He looks at me intently as I feel some emotion out of him that I can’t quite pinpoint. Sadness? Guilt? “—you’re going to stay in one of my mansions in Penn.”

“I have a job here in Forks.” I say, hoping he would say yes. And if he does, I know Nigel will be there and I will ask him for his help. “—I was just hoping if we can drop by and will just say goodbye to my co-workers and my manager about my leave.”

Please say yes, please say yes.

“We don’t have much time. They will live even if you don’t say goodbye.”

Damn it!

“What’s your job here though?”

“I am a waiting tables at the local diner here, sometimes I am a freelance photographer just around here.” My gaze turns to the busy streets of Forks. I’m going to miss the place.

This is the only life I have ever known.

“Photographing? That’s interesting.”

“How come?” although at this point, I am seemed to be more relax that he’s not going to trafficked me, but there’s still a scary feeling that lingers inside me for what will happen to me next.

“I mean, that’s some sort of my hobby.” Another drags of smoke. I don’t have the courage to tell him to stop even if I wanted to.

I nod “Nice.” I sighed “I love painting too, but my Papa told me there’s no money in it.” I smiled sadly at the thought.

He stopped and just stare at me.

What the f**k is his problem?

“What?” I pressed.

He took my hand and looked at my arm, it's as if he's looking for something and when I think he didn't find what he was looking for he just took a deep breath, leaned back in his chair and shook his head in frustration.

“What are you looking for?” I pressed, getting some more details. If you look at him closely, you will notice that he’s deranged or something.

“Nothing.” He shrugs.

Then an idea pops up. He says I am reminding him of someone, and just now he’s looking something in me, maybe that was meant for that certain someone.

I swallowed hard “I am not the one you’re looking for.”

He looks at me, I got his attention “How sure you are that you aren’t?”

“I should remember someone like you if I ever met someone like you in my life, but no.”

“What do you mean?”

I can’t tell him that I am suffering from a long-term amnesia. And have him something in me.

“How long will you let me stay with you?” I ask him sadly.

“Until I die.”

My head snapped back at him in surprised, because that is when I realized the depth of the situation I am in.