VERA
Get back home, Ana! That place is dangerous. Once Ares found out you're staying there, I don't even know what will happen to you anymore!
My chest throbbed again when I read Vera's last text. I looked down at my inbox and there I saw a lot of text from Hector. I also saw Ares' name on his last text so I was forced to read that. The previous texts were purely just finding us and wanting me back but the ones that followed seemed that he know where we were.
Hector
What were you thinking? Why are you there?
Hector
Vera told me where you are.
Hector
Look, Solei. I know you're very mad at me, but please, don't punish me in a way like this!
Hector
I know my mistake and I'm sorry
Hector
Baby, come back here, please. Or get the hell out of there. Anywhere is possible, just not that place!
Hector
You're freaking me out, baby.
Hector
Damn it.
That was the last thing he said and was never followed up on again. I don’t know why I feel a thrill with every text he does. The complete words and the correct punctuation are not really hard to read. But when he does, I feel the impact on me is different. I can also see his face while typing these messages.
Isn't he coming here now? But it's almost late!
I glanced at this house again and it seemed that the light inside shines brighter. The light was already reaching my direction, so I felt nervous that they might see me there!
Before I could get up, my cell phone suddenly vibrated. It was Erika so I quickly answered her call.
"Hello -"
"Hello, Ana! Damn it! Where are you? Apollo is here! Amari is crying!" She shouted on the other line, so my eyes widened.
He got here that fast?!
I felt panicked when I realized what she said.
"Ah, eh, I'm coming back—"
"Stay where you are. I will pick you up. Damn it! What were you thinking going out at this hour?" I heard Hector's voice on the other line. He seems to have snatched the cell phone from Erika.
I bit my lower lip. I no longer knew how I would feel because of the variety of emotions. I don’t know what I will prioritize.
"Don't pick me up. I'm coming back—"
"You know there are CCTV cameras around that fucking house, Solei. Once you get caught, I will assure you that I can kill whoever lays their hands on you," he emphatically interrupted what I was going to say.
I felt even more scared because of what he said. I looked at the house again from behind the tree where I was hiding and there I saw an increasing number of men with guns all around. Shit!
"I-I don't know how to get out. There are men with their guns everywhere," I whispered to him. I heard him cuss multiple times on the other line.
I suddenly felt guilty for the persecution and concern I was giving to everyone around me. I also didn’t know what went into my head and I went here even though it was dark. Damn you, Ana.
"W-what am I going to do?" My voice began to tremble.
"Make sure to hide well. Wait for me there. No matter what happens, never come out where you are now. I'm on my way," Hector told me emphatically.
Once the call ended, I felt even more afraid and lonely. I hugged myself because of the cold breeze of the wind. I glanced at my cell phone again in case he had a text but nothing, so I sighed violently.
I felt like I was slowly being swallowed up by fear and anxiety and I didn’t know who to turn to for help.
I waited a few more minutes until my cell phone suddenly vibrated. I immediately answered the call when I saw it was Hector.
"Hector—"
"Where exactly are you?" He whispered to me from the other line. I looked outside the yard of the house but did not see a human figure there.
"I-I'm behind a big tree in the yard. On the left side of the house," I whispered.
I never heard him answer but he never turned off the call. I could only hear him seemingly gasping for breath and the strong gust of wind.
"Are you alone?" I couldn't help but ask him because I was also worried about his condition.
"Of course. I don't want us to find that easily," he simply replied that the tone seemed even ruder, so I was stunned.
"Okay..."
"I'm here. Where are you?" I heard him ask. Next, I heard the rustle of leaves in my right direction where the very back of the house. It seemed that someone was walking there.
Assuming it was Hector, I immediately stood up.
"I can hear you," I uttered. I was about to walk in that direction but my soul seemed to run away from me when I heard whose voice it
was.
"Are you sure she's here? Maybe she's gone away because you said you saw her earlier." It was Ares.
My whole system rumbled.
"Yes, boss. I saw her in the window recently. Peeking," said another man.
Suddenly my mind registered what had happened earlier when I peeked out the window and a man saw me! Fuck!
Those footsteps and crackles were getting closer and closer so I almost fainted. Just a fraction of this high fiber, they will see me here right away!
My whole body trembled. "H-Hector — oomph!"
I could not continue what I was about to say when suddenly, someone grabbed me and immediately covered my mouth. Before I could panic, I immediately smelled his familiar smell.
"Ssshh, don't make a noise," he whispered softly to me which I followed immediately.
I don’t know where he will take me. The only thing I saw was that as we turned into a seemingly secret road, Ares and a man were also exposing us. I thought they would see us but we immediately disappeared into the middle of the woods.
I was still speechless as we walked among the large trees. I don't know where else it's going. Only the bright full moon gives me courage because, without it, I am sure I will not be relieved. Even though he was still with me.
I heard a violent sigh from him again so I simply glanced at him. His forehead was furrowed and his eyes were just focused on the passage. I could feel his anger but he seemed to be keeping it from coming out because maybe he didn’t want us to fight.