Hugo's family has been greatly devastated since they came home yesterday. Even If they were not showing it, Hailey, who has been looking at them for a while, knew that there was something room with her brother missing.
She just didn't get it, since Hugo had given her a proper farewell. Although even if a day had just passed, she already missed her brother.
Verda and Hitano were reluctant to tell Hailey what was currently happening. When Hailey couldn't take it anymore, she stood up and went to her parent's side.
"Mother, what is happening?" she asked her worriedly. She could see the distress on Verda's face as moments passed by. Verda doesn't know what to answer. She was just staring at Hailey for a couple of minutes until a tear fell into her eyes.
Hailey panicked when she saw Verda crying. She immediately hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry for asking mother, I won't ask anything again." She anxiously uttered, trying to console her crying mother.
"N-No… It's alright." Verda tried her best to smile as she cupped Hailey's little face. "Can you leave me and your father for now? We will just talk about something important."
Hailey nodded. She silently turned her body in the direction of their bedroom and walked there.
'Why is my family acting like this?' She asked herself. She didn't get anything. 'Are they missing my brother like me?' She wondered as she sat on the floor.
She just started playing with her toys when she heard something next door. Hailey's eyes widened as she immediately stood up.
"That's in my brother's room, right?"
Hailey carefully opened the door of their room. She looked to the side and saw that her parents were busy talking to each other, that they didn't notice or hear the sound that she just heard.
Hailey slowly opened the door of her brother's room. Her forehead creased when she saw that the window in her brother's room was slightly open.
She scratched the back of her head as she watched the small gap from the window. "Is this because of air?" she sighed as her small feet walked towards the window's side.
****
"Did you get it?" Hugo grinned as he looked at Hendrix.
"Yeah," Hendrix uttered as he opened up his palms. He swayed his hand to the side, revealing a rectangular wooden box.
"Thanks," Hugo grinned as he knelt on the ground. He took the box by himself and place it near his bed.
"Let's go now," Hugo informed him as they both went downstairs.
Since Hugo didn't bough enough clothes for all of them, the five of them decided that they should go out today. He thought that it was a good idea as well since Jimon, Natalie, and Alliyah hadn't been outside for too long.
Hugo removed the ring from his finger, completely changing his look. Since Hendri has gotten quite popular from the videos of him posted online. He had no choice but to change his appearance as well.
Alliyah and Natalie looked so excited as they saw Hugo and Hendrix's silhouette from the stairs. When they said that they will go shopping today, both of them couldn't contain their happiness.
On the other hand, Jimon already looked happy as he saw how his friends reacted.
However, because they had to conceal their identity to not be recognized by anyone, Hendrix gathered them all on one side.
"I'm so sorry that we need to do this, but we need to somehow change the look on your face." Hugo deeply apologized.
The three people understood what they meant, so they didn't ask further questions.
It was for their safety, after all.
They were sure that if one of Julius's men recognized them, then they wouldn't be able to run away once again. They might even get killed and they do not want that.
"Let's go now!" Natalie exclaimed. She was the first one to move, followed by the rest. Hugo looked at the inside of his wallet. He stuffed it with a lot of money, making sure that all of them would be satisfied with all the things that they will buy today.
"Oh, I forgot to say this, but Alliyah and Natalie will b roommates. Jimon will occupy the other room while I and Hendrix will occupy the last one." Hugo informed them.
All of them nodded.
Sine Jimon was the oldest among all of them. It was just right for him to be provided with a room that will be his personal space.
For Alliyah and Natalie, they do not have anything to say since it was just alright for the both of them.
"We need to buy more bedsheets, blankets, and an extra bed frame for our room," Hugo uttered. Since he was rushing things yesterday, he wasn't able to buy those things.
"We can buy our own clothes now. You don't need to worry about us. We can just meet at the grocery." Alliyah suggested. She thought about it and felt that it would be too awkward if they will accompany them in shopping for clothes.
"Alright." Hugo nodded as he opened his wallet. He gave them enough money since the three of them will most likely buy a lot of items.
Hendrix and Hugo were the ones who went to the department store to buy the things that were essential to their apartment. They bought another bed for Hendrix and a couple of things more that will be helpful to them.
At the same time, Alliyah and Natalie were buying their clothes. Even Jimon had the opportunity to buy something for himself. His life right now is much more different from what he used to live in.
The three of them couldn't help but feel panic as they saw a few men going around. They weren't just any men, but rather, one of those men who abducted them and stored them in the hospital room.
Jimon who was the most rational among all of them thought of what t do immediately. Since they do not have phones, then they couldn't tell anything to Hugo and Hendrix.
A loud sigh escaped from his mouth. He held both of their hands and pulled them. Even if they were catching other people's attention, he couldn't care less. What was on his mind currently was how he could save Alliyah and Natalie from the fear that they were experiencing.
As if everything had flashed back in Alliyah's eyes and memories. Her knees turned into jelly. Fortunately, they were able to go out of the mall before her body collapsed to the ground.
She could feel her breathing starting to rag. She could see fragments of her memories in her mind. The memories of her being molested… the memories of her crying and begging, but no one listened.
Alliyah's body was shaking. Jimon couldn't do anything because when he tried to step forward, Alliyah's body would just shake more. He had no choice but to go to Natalie instead, whose state was much better than Alliyah's.
Jimon shook Natalie's body, pulling her out from thinking deeply.
"What happened?" Natalie's forehead creased when she saw that they were already out of the mall. The last time that she remembered was that they were inside the mall, happily strolling around,
"You can't remember anything?" Jimon froze in place as his eyes watched Natalie carefully.
Natalie shook her head as she looked around. Her mouth parted ways when she saw the current state of Alliyah. The woman was on the ground, her whole body was shaking, and her eyes were already swollen from crying.
"Take care fo her for a while. I will just call Hugo and Hendrix." Jimon strictly ordered her.
Natalie nodded as she knelt on the ground, trying to console Alliyah. However, it was as if the woman was already pulled to her own thoughts that she couldn't pull herself up anymore without anyone's help.
"N-No… please don't touch me." Alliyah pleaded in with a small voice. Her body trembled as she felt a strong pair of hands touching her hands.
But, even if she looked around, she couldn't see anything but pure darkness. "P-Please, No…" she begged and cried even harder.
Alliyah hugged her knees tightly as tears continuously stream down her face.
"Shh… I am here." Hugo uttered as he lightly shook Alliyah's body. "I won't do anything to you." He added in.
Alliyah's body froze in place when she heard a familiar voice.
"H-Hugo?" Her voice cracked. She cried even harder when she felt someone hugging her from the side. She tried so hard to see who it was, but her view didn't change. It was still stuck in the darkness.
"Yes…" Hugo breathlessly uttered as he looked at Alliyah with full of pity. "Let's go now, alright?"
Alliyah, even if she couldn't see anything, nodded. She closed her eyes when she felt that her eyelids had gotten heavier.
The only thing that she could hear before she lost consciousness was the worried voice of Hugo that somehow made her calm down.
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