Falling Red

16

♠ It is hard to find a heart that is sincere to you for the rest of your life ♠

unedited

♦ V E R O N I C A ♦

I do not know how it happens but now I am running for my life. The last thing I remember is after leaving that annoying jerk boss of mine in the mall, I visit a few shops and purchase some dresses and makeup but after that I do not remember anything.

When I open my eyes, I find myself lying on the cold floor whereas a pair of eyes fixed on me as if I am a prey. Sha, from now on, I must see my horoscope before leaving the house! The feeling is annoying. I swear.

"Who are you?" I ask skeptically. Do I know him? He does look familiar but I am unable to grasp it fully. However, k********g me to detain here will surely not a task of a pure hearted person, and to say that I feel nervous and scared would be rubbish. Which person have I ever contacted turns a real gentleman? "Who sent you here?"

"You don't fear me?"

"If I cry will you let me go?" I huff. This thing has been with me many times, as a result I gradually become accustomed to it. Why wait my breathe when I have been living my life on the edge of a double edged sword! I look around the tattered room, it was still dark outside. I guess nobody--only Mia, has noticed my absence.

The man snorts and moves on his feet, "You can only blame yourself for your misfortune. It is not nice to block someone's path."

"There are many who think me as a setback but the main question is who the man behind you is?" I perk my brows. "You are sent by Romeo?" I cannot help but think more. Why would he send someone to kill me? Is it true that after finding a new outside daughter, he did not have any use of me? But more he doesn't know my location yet. Then this man?

"How do you know about him?" He gapes at me with his bewilder eyes.

I quizzically blink at him. "You really work for Romeo?"

Many assumptions poke their head in my suspicious mind and then a trace of disappointment fills my heart. Though I guessed it but still there was a hope or probably somewhere down in my heart, I really wished him not to be related to him. But it is all my wishful thinking. I exhale a heavy breath and comfort myself not to be sad for that person. He has never cared about me when I was near so why would he care about me now. He found a new daughter who was at his beck and call so why would he ever need an unruly daughter like me. I really want to laugh at my foolishness. Even after getting through so much I still hope that he would come to his senses and acknowledge her. Stupid. So stupid.

The man grips his fingers against my chin and the discomfort pulls me out of my thoughts. "Answer me. Who are you exactly? How do you know that person?"

"You want to kill me without knowing my relation with him?" I mock and cast my eyes upwards to match his but this time I notice a sense of excitement in it. This man definitely has some loosen some screws in his head otherwise why he acts so out of character.

"You. . . You do not talk rubbish just answer what I asked. Maybe I give you an easy death."

I tug my face from his hold and laugh. "This is your proposal? Have you ever heard yourself?"

"You bi*ch!" He points his pistol before me. "Forget it. Once you are dead, there is no need of all this."

"Wait!" I cry instantly. "Why do we not talk like two civilised adults? I am sure we can resolve this situation. Why do you have to put this gun on me?"

"Resolve or overturn? What tricks do you want to play?” The man let out an ugly laugh. “You really think you are smart, don't you? It is a waste to install the time because no one will come here."

Am I going to die here today? Fu*king hell, just like this! Really?

I have not found a perfect boyfriend yet, nor I have lived my stress-free life; even my bucket list is not fully completed. I am still so young to die.

However, before I think anything else, a gunshot rings in the air. Surprised and shocked, I shut my eyes and clench my teeth to welcome the pain.

“Red!” In the moment of numbness, a voice rings in my ears. A pair of soft hands, rubs against my skin as I dazily, still muddled, open my eyes to see his face once again. “Are you alright? You are hurt?”

For a moment, I feel my surrounding plays in slow motion. Everything passes by but my body feels cold. The chillness from my heart spread in my veins. I wonder am I really born to accompany the darkness.

“Red, are you listening? Red!” A small warm shake from him melts the chillness in my body. His eyes meet mine, and like a radiating sun in the sky, it engulfs me whole.

“Alex.”

“It’s me.” Why in my vulnerable moments he appears in front of me from nowhere? Why his presence makes me feel ease at heart? I still caught in a hint of wonder as I stare at him. Slowly, he leans forward and my breath stuck in my throat. However, he ignores my stiff posture, wraps his arms around me, lifts me up and walks out of the room. “Don’t worry. I got you. It’s alright.”

“You put me down, I can walk.” I struggle. I cannot let him enter my life. The more he entangles with me, the more his life will be in danger.

“You are hurt.” His words indirectly rub off my words.

“These are small skin injuries.” This in nothing new for me. I tilt my head and looks at him. Under the moonlight, he resembles like indifferent and aloof man. “How did you find me?”

He does not cast a glance but snorts. “You are so troublesome. Do you doubt that I deliberately let someone kidnap you and like a hero came here to save you? Those things only happen in shi*ty romantic novels not in real life. Do you know what would have happened to you if I had not arrived here on time? You should thank me instead.”

I roll my eyes. He is such a narcissistic. I just ask him a question and he praised himself to the sky.

“Where is that man?” I change the topic. Maybe in anger, he really drops me here to survive alone. A smart person should know when to bow down in a situation. “Let me down I want to look around the house.”

“John has already searched around. It will take time if you want to know the identity of that man.” He pauses for a moment when we arrive to his car. John instantly opens the door.

Before Alex put me inside the car, I eagerly face at John. “John, do you find anything about that man?”

“He will say the same as I.” Alex looks at me with a sharp gaze before turning his gaze to John. “Penthouse.”

“Yes, sir.”

Looking at John’s back, I do not know what to say. What wrong did I ask?