But it was too far off from the ground. I certainly wouldn’t make it without dislocating a vital organ. That is- if I make it at all.
"Where do I run to?" I turned to Charley who was seated on the floor next to Imelda’s bed, clutching his wounded stomach.
"You should have thought of that before you pushed the knife deep-"
"Only because you asked me to!" I spat in defense.
Charley groaned presumably not having much strength to throw a fist at me about who said this and who didn’t.
"Will she be alright?"
I was a bit concerned. I had just met them and now I have to leave again. But it was for their own safety.
"Don’t think I’m letting go of you just yet, Aurora." Imelda turned to me. "I will find you."
As threatening as that sounded I found it sensual.
"They are close. The Brothers of the late deity, you should leave now."
That was the confusing part. Leave to where? I had no where to go… I could run all night but they would find me at the end of the day. What’s the point of running when I can stay and fight?
"Is there a sacred place to hide in your home?" I asked Charley. At this point, I could hear loud voices from downstairs. They were already here. My heartbeat fastened at the thought of what would be of me once they found me again.
"There is a place," Charley groaned. I could only imagine the aches he was going through as he strained himself to talk to me.
"Point it to me."
He points at a corner. It didn’t seem to be a good spot to hide at all. He was sending me to the back of the curtain.
"That’s it?"
"Just go…" Charley spat out blood. From how wounded he was I wondered if he could indeed heal. But they managed to make me walk fine so I doubt they’ll have much aches in doing the same for themselves.
I rushed to the curtain. ’This is stupid’ I muttered on my breath before I went behind it. Getting in, I see a hallway that leads down to an alley. Confused but not having enough time to run back to ask Charley what this is, I proceed inside practically running.
I pushed open the door at the far end from where I was running and contemplated if it was wise to go in or if it was best I hide in the shadows. But I didn’t get the chance to make the decision. A hand pulled me from inside, making me go in without intending to… yet.
I turned frantically to see who it was that did that. Setting my eyes on the person, I calmed down my already panicked nerves. It was one of Imelda’s men, apparently, the one who came to divulge the news of intruders around her house. Even though I was okay seeing it was one of her men, I was still not comfortable.
I stared at him with suspicious eyes, wondering what he was doing there or how he got there.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him suspiciously.
"I should ask you, Ma’am. This isn’t a room for just anyone to be lurking around, especially a guest- newbie whatever they choose to call you."
"Charley sent me here. He asked me to hide here and stay put till they come for me. Trust me I am not prying, if anything I want to be far from here as much as possible. But I can’t, given the fact that the house is surrounded by…" I paused trying to remember the name they had called the people invading the house.
"Deities!" I snapped at him immediately after I recalled it.
The man frowned, seemingly not getting it quite yet. "Now why would the deities be in our house? I was there and watched them leave the house a while back."
That had me deep in my thoughts. So Charley didn’t lie when he said he didn’t hear anything that had gone on while he went out to survey the house for any potential threat. But I knew what had happened was too real to fake, it did happen because Imelda and charity were lying there in a critical state. I wondered if it was wise to divulge that information to Him. What if he thinks I was the one that put them in that condition, or what if he goes back there because he wants to confirm my words to be sure I wasn’t lying? There were so many ’what if’s’ that swamped in my head and I couldn’t arrive at a better decision of what he would do if I told him.
"Why- what happened?" The man’s deep voice brought me out of my reverie, and I blinked rapidly. My throat was dry and I looked up at his tall figure to meet his gaze.
"One of the deities died in Imelda’s room. She strokes a pose to show forth she killed him out of defense since more of the deities are on their way. She figured it’s best I hide. If they see me there they won’t take her words or conditions for it. Given the fact she already told them she did not know where I was."
The man nodded in understanding. "That explains it. Imelda never allows anyone here. Not even her numerous love interests. You must be of great importance to her and that means you are to me as well. I am Jack by the way."
I nodded my head, clearly not in the room to exchange pleasantries but because I was at a disadvantage, I had to listen and obey.
"Let’s get you somewhere safe." He said before he bent down and scooped me from the ground into his arms. I yelped a little in surprise, my arms quickly coming to hook around his neck as I tried to balance myself.
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"Where is this place," I drawled out after a while of walking to an unknown destination. I have been trying to calculate how all of this could fit in at the back of a curtain.