Rediscovered

Chapter 2

I woke in a hospital bed and my head was pounding.The lights are super bright and blinding. I slowly hold up my hands to

the light and try to will my eyes to adjust. I see Jessica, and Jake sitting at my bedside. “What’s going on?” I asked stupidly

as if I didn’t already know. I remember the restaurant and the bathroom door hitting me in the face. “Girl you lost a fight to a

bathroom door.” Jessica said laughing. “Oh yeah, huh. But why

am I in the hospital?” I would assume my headache is from a

wine induced hangover, did something else happen? “Well let

me go get the doctor.” Jessica left and I was left alone in the

room with Jake. “How are you feeling?” He asked with such

sincerity in his voice. “My head hurts pretty badly but that’s

probably from all the wine I had.” I said with a small chuckle.

He looked at me with concern what looks to maybe be regret

and stood to walk towards the door. “Why did you come to the hospital with me?” I asked with pure curiosity. He stopped and turned his gaze back at me and said “I wanted to make sure you were okay, I feel as though I should have been there to stop you from getting hurt.” As if he had realized he had

said too much, his back stiffened as he turned and walked out the door.

Shortly after Jake had left, Jessica and a doctor walked into the room. “I have some bad news and good news.” The doctor said without looking up from his clip board. “Good

news is, you don't have a concussion. Bad news is, you had a pretty nasty gash to your forehead which we were able to stitch up, but it will likely leave a scar .”

"Thank you doctor, I think a scar I can live with" I replied with a small smile.

“Since there is nothing to worry about, I will have you discharged soon, shouldn’t take more than an hour or so, If you feel any dizziness or nausea please feel free to come back in.” The doctor turned to walk out before I could respond. Next thing we knew Jake was walking back in. "Hey, sorry to rush out like that... After your discharged would you like to get something to eat?" Jake asked. Jessica answered before I could open my mouth, "That would be awesome, we should get pizza or something! What do you thing Mar?" she says as she turns to me. "Sounds good to me."

After spending over an hour waiting to be discharged I was glad to finally be out of the hospital. Jake, Jessica and I went to a local pizza shop before he had to go, I oddly missed him even though I barely know him. It could be his calm yet oh so strange behavior that intrigued me. Before we went our separate ways he gave me his number, it's been a few weeks since then and I have thought about calling

him a few times. Then I would think, if he wanted to see or call me, he has my

phone number as well, and I left it at that.

I have been taking it easy for the last few weeks and I finally decided it was time I headed to my office to check if there was any new cases. In the mail was only some bills and junk, and spam littered my email, but there was two voice messages left on

my phone. I hit the play button and sat down to listen.

“You have two new messages, Message one”

*heavy breathing* I know you, I can see it happening.YOU’RE DONE!

“Message two”

*heavy breathing* I told you it would happen, if only you kept your nose out of others business this all could have

been avoided.”

“End of messages” *beep*

My blood boiled, who was that and what is happening? The first message was sent the morning of my accident at the restaurant and the second one was from today. I couldn’t move, I was frozen in place with anger and confusion. Who was that? I didn’t recognize the voice it was to muffled and the machine didn’t give a number. This was getting all too weird and creepy.

I decided to leave the office and head home; there is no way I was going to stay there after those messages. As I was walking to my truck I saw a man standing at my door, he was leaning against it so casually I thought I was walking towards the wrong truck. As I looked around I only saw a few other cars and no other trucks. I approached the man with my hand on the gun in my purse I keep for protection and was about to yell at him to get off my truck when he turned

towards me and I that's when I recognized him right away. It was Jake; my heart did a little flip flop in excitement until I saw the look of rage on his face. I was confused and was about to open my mouth to say something before I heard a loud snarl come from behind me. I turned around expecting to see a wild animal except that it wasn’t an animal. It was the man from the restaurant in

the red hooded jacket. He was crouched down with his lips pulled back as another snarl left his mouth.

“WHAT THE f**k!” I screamed while pulling my gun out and pointing it at him. “I WILL SHOOT! STAY AWAY!” I yelled at

him. He stood straight and laughed. What is wrong with this man? I asked myself. Suddenly he started to run towards me and before I had a chance to shoot a single round I was yanked into a car and was being driven away.

I turned to look at who was driving and was relieved to see Jake. I put my gun back into my purse and adjust myself to look at Jake better.

"Do you know what's going on?" I asked.

“What is your home address?” He asked. "That's not an answer. Tell me what's going on first." He didn't answer again. I was getting upset and impatient.

“Who the hell was that guy? Why did he come after me? Why was he making that noise? How did we get into your car so fast? I need to get my truck. ANSWER ME!” My questions came out in one breath so quick I didn’t think Jake had understood any of it.

"I will explain everything once you are safe now tell me your address."

I wasn't sure if I should really trust him but I gave him my address so I could get some answers.

We get to my house and he starts to look around and it almost looked as if he was sniffing the air. “Stay in the car for a second. I will need your house keys though.”

"No, I will come with you." I snapped at him.

He put his hand out for my keys and just squinted his eyes at me. "We don't have time for this Mar, just give me the keys." I rolled my eyes and just before I handed them to him there was a loud thud on top of his car. “Oh my God! What was that?” I screamed out while looking around. He threw his car in reverse and we took off away from my house. I am starting to get scared as to what is happening and I start to hyperventilate. “Calm down and just breath, everything will be fine. We just need to get out of here.” He said while trying to reach for my hand and then pulled away with hesitation.

“Do you know what is going on? Why are people after me?” I asked in such a shakey voice I wasn’t sure how I managed to get it out. “Do you remember the last case you were working on that you told me about the first night we met?” he looked at me for a brief second before looking back at the road. “Yeah, what does that have…” My voice trailed off as I realized what was going on. “They are coming for me because I took something, rather someone from them.” I put my face into my hands and started to cry at the realization as to what is happening. “That doesn’t explain why your helping me.”

“I will explain more once we are

safe. Short version is that I work for an organization that tracks people like them down. When I saw that you were

investigating some of their victims I had to meet you and make sure you didn’t get caught in their trap. Yes I knew who you were before we met, I didn't mean for this to happen the way that it is.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Everything was far from clear now as to what exactly was going on. All I could

think is that I should never had taken that case, or had left when I saw the first signs of danger. Also why is he acting the way he has been, he could have just warned me and offered to help me catch these maniacs. What he said doesn’t explain much, but it was a start. “Who are they?” I asked

the question, the more I learn the sooner this will be over. “We don’t know if they go by any group names but the ring leader is known as Headmaster and he has his female accomplice known as The Mistress.” He paused and looked to be focused on something before continuing. “They kidnap women and… they wipe their minds and use their bodies for horrific things.” I realize he doesn’t know much more than me, except for the names of who runs the s**t, so it is going to take some time to solve. I look out the window and see in the side mirror a red truck similar to mine following behind us.

I turn around in my seat to get a better look and recognize the license plate. It was my truck. I turn back around and look at Jake “Who the f**k is driving my truck!?”

Jake looks into his rearview mirror and curses under his breath before he steps on the gas without saying another word. He starts to make a fast and hard turn

while maintaining speed. Knowing my truck, I knew it couldn’t make the same turn and we would surely loose them. Jake makes a few more turns and quickly pulls into an alleyway and kills the lights and engine.

“I think we lost him, for now” Jake said while keeping an eye behind us.

I shake my head “Where am I going to go? I can’t go back home now” I was talking more to myself than to Jake but he

replied. “You can stay with me and my brother, we can work together to solve this and we can keep you safe.” He looked at me then out his window before

continuing, “Until we catch these guys, then you can go back home if you like.” He said the last part with what sounded like

a pained sadness in his voice. “Um, maybe I can stay with Jess, she lives just inside the city.” I really didn’t want to stay with

two men I didn’t know but at the same time I didn’t want to sound ungrateful and straight out refuse his offer of help and protection. “Unless you want to put her at risk I don’t suggest that.” I took a second to think, he's right, I don't want to drag her into this. With a sigh I respond “Your right…… Well I guess I have to go with you then.” As I look out my window I can't help but think that I don’t like where this is going, and I apart of me is wondering what will become of my truck, I really loved that truck. I have a sad feeling I am never going to see it again.

Once we were sure we lost the guy who was following us Jake pulled out of the alley and got back onto the main road. We started to head towards the inner city and I knew this was going to be a long ride.