Jonea shuffled on one leg and limped. The effect of the drug has not completely disappeared. Her leg was still numb. The girl wanted to run, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Meanwhile, the men behind her drew nearer.
The street was so quiet because it was past midnight. The girl ran across the street and into a row of almost all closed shops. Jonea deliberately chose a road with lots of CCTV cameras installed.
Her efforts paid off. The men chasing her barely dared to come any closer whenever Jonea stood in an area clearly caught on the CCTV cameras. Her pursuers were also aware of that.
However, these efforts will only last for a while. Jonea could only buy time until they could ambush and drag her down or even kill her on the spot.
On the side of the road, several pedestrians had just left the nightclub. Jonea tried to blend in between them. At that moment, Jonea saw two men chasing her, getting closer. They're trying to catch Jonea.
The girl jumped out into the street. She was almost hit by an oncoming car.
The driver of the car pressed the horn loudly. He swore and was so angry at Jonea.
Jonea saw an opportunity. Instead of avoiding the car that almost hit her, Jonea opened the door and sat in the car.
"Hey, what are you doing?" shouted the driver. "You want to rob? Get out of here!"
"Sir, please. Please help me. Those bad guys are trying to catch me."
Huge men began to appear from three different directions. They tried to surround the car Jonea was traveling in, and one of them showed a gun under his jacket.
The man who was driving the car was confused and panicked.
"Go!" someone ordered from the backseat.
Jonea was curious to know if there were other passengers behind. She was too frightened and confused.
A man was already standing in front of the car and put both hands on the hood. The driver suddenly pressed the gas pedal to force the man to get out of the way if he didn't want to be hit.
"This is really crazy. Are you sure you want to do this, ma’am?" asked the driver to his boss, who sat behind.
Jonea felt like she was about to suffocate. She sat in front of the driver. The girl cried silently. Before the woman behind answered, Jonea asked for the driver's cell phone instead.
"Please, sir. Lend me your cellphone!"
"Insolent girl!" scolded the driver. "You've put us in harm's way, illegally hitching a ride in our car, and now you want to borrow a cell phone from me? Do you really want to cheat? You must have conspired with the men just now to trick us, right?"
"My friend had an accident. I have to contact someone so she can be saved."
The driver snorted. Jonea turned to the back seat and begged the woman sitting there. The atmosphere of the car is dark. Jonea could barely see the woman's face besides the flames from her smoking cigarette.
"Where did your friend have an accident?" she asked.
Jonea also explained the details of the incident location that she remembered the last time. Then the woman in the back seat took her cell phone and called the police.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Ma’am… thank you very much!" said Jonea gratefully. "I really owe you a lot of kindness."
Jonea wiped the sweat off her forehead. The girl realized that her sweat was mixed with blood. The woman in the back gave Jonea a handkerchief.
"You're too busy thinking about other people. You are injured but does not realize it. Let us take you to the hospital."
Hearing the mention of the hospital, Jonea panicked tremendously.
"No, ma’am! I don't want to bother you anymore. Please, drop me off here."
"The fact that you can get away without being killed doesn't mean you can live freely after this, Jonea."
Jonea gasped in surprise. "How do you know my name? Wh-who are you?"
"Insolent girl!" scolded the driver. "Show your respect to Mrs. Delamo. She already helped you, and you were being rude to her?"
"Mrs… Delamo? Suzane Delamo? The mother of Elmar Delamo?" Jonea almost gasped in surprise.
Now it's the driver's turn to stare. "How do you know about Young Master Delamo? Who are you really?"
Suzanne was silent.
"Ma’am, should we get this girl down here?" asked the driver.
"Take us home, Richard. Let this girl come home with me. There are many things I need to talk to her about."
While on the way to Suzane's house, Jonea didn't realize she had fallen asleep. The girl was so exhausted and had not fully recovered from the illness. As soon as the car stopped in the driveway of the Delamo family's house, Elmar was already standing there and immediately opened the back door.
"Jonea?" Elmar said frantically as he opened the back door and saw his mother come out.
"You worry more about that girl than your Mom? You insolent child!" Suzane hit Elmar on the head with her handbag and left him there.
On the way home, Suzane called Elmar and said Jonea was with her. The young man was at the club and rushed home immediately.
"Quickly bring that girl in and call a doctor for her!" Suzane ordered.
Elmar opened the front door and found Jonea sleeping. He was so grateful and breathed a sigh of relief.
Suzanne's personal driver approached and woke Jonea up. But Elmar held him back.
"Get your hands off this girl! Go and don't bother me."
"Young master?" the driver was scared and left Elmar alone.
"What have we done to you, Jonea? Until you become like this."
With great care, Elmar scooped Jonea out of the car and led her into the room. The mother orders Elmar to lay Jonea in the guest room. But, the stubborn Elmar refused and carried Jonea to his master bedroom.
"Mom, how did you get with her?"
"Stupid man! I should be the one asking you. What have you done to make that girl suffer alone out there? I know you're involved in all of this!"
Elmar looks frustrated. "Ed and I have been trying to find the culprits. When we arrived at the forest, everything was already in chaos. Ashley was found dead."
"Are you sure you don't suspect anyone?" quipped the mother while taking a glass of water from the refrigerator.
Elmar fell silent. He tried to divert the conversation.
"Aland managed to save Jonea and get her to Pack Hamilton before moving her to the hospital. Jonea will be safe there. In fact, we plan to visit him tomorrow at the hospital. But how did she suddenly be with you tonight, Mom?"
Bang!
Suzane slammed a glass of water on the table, and it spurted. She put her hands on her hips and glared at Elmar.
"Don't act like a coward, El. Immediately solve your problem and don't make life difficult for this girl anymore. You know well that your different lives will only make this girl suffer."
Elmar looked down. He knew what his mother was talking about.
Suzane had already left but turned around again, pointing at her son.
"And speaking of suffering, you know exactly what it means to suffer! If you really love and admire this girl, surely you will not let her suffer the same suffering you have experienced in your life, right, Elmar Delamo?"
Suzanne returned to her room. The women stood by the window and looked at the night sky while thinking about something.
"Why do I seem to see a reflection of myself in the past? Jonea, you really are a stupid girl. Women like us think too much. We think about other people's feelings and other people's needs while we can barely survive.
Just as Elmar brought Jonea clothes and towels, his cell phone rang. He checked it, and Aland's name appeared on it.
"Elmar!" Aland's voice sounded so panicked. "Jonea disappeared from the hospital. I can't detect her presence. Someone covered her tracks. Edison has also checked the hospital's CCTV, but we haven't found her yet."
Elmar clenched his fists tightly. "If you can't protect her, why don't you just let her go? If anything happens to her, it is our responsibility and fault."
"I–" Aland sounded desperate.
"What can I do to help you and put you at ease? Should I go out and look for that girl along the way?"
"Do whatever it takes to find Jonea!" shouted Aland.
So tired and hopeless, Elmar lowered his cell phone.
"Why didn't you tell Aland that the girl was here?" scolded Suzane.
Elmar jumped in surprise. He turned to his mother, who was already standing with a probing face.
"And why is it your fault and responsibility if something happens to this girl? What exactly have you guys done to this girl's life?"