The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 4 - H.E.L.P

Natalie remained silent. Her conscience was tormented for her actions. Ryther, being fully sober, shifted his gaze from Natalie and Reina, who exchanged glasses from time to time. Natalie sighed, drank a glass of wine, then sighed again.

“Nat, put that down. Drinking won’t solve anything.” Ryther said calmly. “You too, Silver.” He gulped when the two threw him a sharp look. Then they sigh in defeat.

“Arghh! This is my fault!” Natalie shouted, ruffling her hair. “I did not know it would turn out like this.” She washed her face with her palm. Carter already left after talking with her. She looked at her phone. 2:45 am. Her eyes focused on Vander’s face flashed on her wallpaper. Five of them are present in that picture. She quickly unlocked it and searched for Vander’s number.

“Doctor, I’m sorry. Reina and I will go there after we fix here.” She typed and sent the message.

“Dr. Vander will understand, Nat. Just give him some time.” Reina stretched her body. “It’s a little chilly, don’t you think?” Ryther exhaled and sat beside her. Reina felt warmer as Ryther put his jacket on her shoulders.

“Thanks, Thorn.” She smiled and slumped her head on his lap. “Let me sleep for a while.”

“Little brat. How come you drank too much knowing that we are on call.” Reina’s eyes widened. She felt as if her sleepiness flew out of the window.

“Hey, hey! Sleep now. How can you even operate in that state? Tsk.” Ryther pushed her head back on his lap and covered her face with his jacket. “Airhead.” He chuckled. “Ouch!” He leaped from his seat and sat again when Reina bit his lap. Reina removed his jacket from her face and shot him a dagger look.

“How dare you call me airhead?” She retorted. She looked like a little girl being pissed. Ryther laughed silently and gently stroked her hair.

“Sleep now.”

Natalie observed them jealously. “How can the two of you be so calm?” Ryther just smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders. Natalie’s upper right lip lifted. “Pssh.” She rolled her eyes. Her gaze then fell on her phone. No reply.

“Rein.” She called.

“Hmm?” Reina replied lazily. Hearing her hoarse voice, Natalie sighed.

“Never mind. After this, we’ll take a leave and go to Paris, okay?” She smiled and fixed her hair and face, then took her things. Reina only nodded her head slowly. “Hey, Ryther. Carry her to her room. Don’t you dare do something to her. I’m warning you.” She smiled. “Stay with her until I arrive. I won’t sleep in my room tonight.”

“Where are you going?”

“To Dr. Vander’s room. My guilt won’t let me sleep tonight, so I’ll apologize to him personally.” They completely knew how terrible Vander’s past was. So, she can’t bear letting him alone now.

Natalie took their things, and Ryther did as he was instructed. He covered Reina’s skirt with his jacket and slowly carried her on his arm like his bride. Natalie went first and opened the glass door, the lift, and finally, their room, two rooms away from Vander’s.

“I’ll get going now.” She said after making sure Reina was in the proper state. Ryther nod.

“Take care.” He spoke. Natalie smiled and took something from her bag. “Give this to her when she woke up without me. Merry Christmas.” She smiled and gave Ryther a small, silver box before leaving the room.

She stood outside Vander’s room and knocked multiple times. No response. She tried to call him, but he was not picking up. She called again, but still, no answer.

Knock. Knock. No response. Natalie runs her hand through her hair in distress.

“Doctor… look, I’m really sorry. We’re sorry. So please – hmm?!” She panicked when a strong hand with a handkerchief covered her mouth. There was a weird smell. Natalie tried to pull herself away from the assailant, but she failed. That person was triple her strength. Natalie tried to shout, but the man pulled her even more. Slowly, her vision turned black.

***

The blackout slowly faded away as Natalie opened her eyes. She felt like her head was so heavy it would fall. “Where… Where am I?” She looked at the surrounding. In her perspective, she was in an underground basement. The only source of light was a small bulb above her. The smell was terrible. More terrible than the decomposed body she often sees. She wants to puke. She stood up but was dragged back in the chair. “Arghh…”

Her waist, feet, and arms were tightly tied by a rope. It hurts. Her clothes were missing. Only her undergarments were on.

“Why is it that you are still beautiful even in pain?” The voice was familiar to her. Seeing the assailant’s face, she shrieks.

“Y-you - what’s going on?!”

“What’s going on is visible in your beautiful eyes, honey.” He howled and took a shiny thing from his pocket. Shiny yet deadly. Seeing the knife, Natalie’s eyes moisten. “Oh, honey. Please don’t cry. That water is not what I need from you.” The assailant crouched down in front of her and smiled eerily. “I love you. But what you did with him was too much for me to handle, Natalie.” He slowly slides the knife on her thigh.

“N-no- arrghh!” Natalie groans in pain. He smiled, seeing the blood. He then bent his head and slowly licked the blood from her thigh. It was a pleasure for him. But for Natalie, it was hell. His next target was her stomach. “Please… please stop it.” Natalie pleaded. But he did not listen. He slid his knife on her stomach up to her chest and did the same. Natalie shouted. Her skin felt hot as fresh blood spilled. Her body was shaking in fear. But she was tied, so she couldn’t do anything. Reina… Reina help me. Please…

But Reina was not there. She’s soundly asleep, assured that Natalie is safe. Little did she know that Natalie’s time was not on her forehead but was hidden on her pinky finger.

She felt the assailant crept through her neck. She forcibly shook her body to refuse, but the man’s strength overpowered her. The man bit her neck so hard until it bled. As he felt her blood on his mouth, he sucked it. After repeating it countless times, he stopped. But that did not put Natalie at ease. His eyes fell on Natalie’s bleeding stomach. “I always wanted to put something in there.” He grinned. “Now’s a perfect time.”

“N-no! No! Please!” Natalie’s fear crept throughout her whole body. The narrow straps dug deeper into her skin as she tried to release herself. The assailant laughed and removed his jacket, and loosened his belt. “HELP!” Natalie shouted from the top of her lungs. The assailant’s dark laughter filled her ears. “HELP ME!” She looked up and saw the assailant’s shadow figure covered her. She trembled all the more. She shouted over and over, but no one heard her.

“I hope you enjoy my company, honey.” For the nth time, Natalie’s ear-shattering scream filled the whole basement, overpowering his eerie laugh.