Come Running [Season 1 Completed]

Chapter 36 (Season 2)

"Whitney?!" Kaiden stopped in his tracks.
"Kay, it's me. It is me, love." and she walked towards him.
He stood for a moment, cupping her face and searching her eyes. His face lit up and he wrapped her in his arms.

He couldn't believe it. It was Whitney. He wasn't going crazy. The love of his life was alive! It was so unbelievable.

"I can't believe you're back Whitney. I can't believe you're back my love."

*********
Jayla stood there completely flustered. Her heart shattered to a million pieces as she watched the two reunite in their love.
She slowly made her way to the side of the road and flagged a cab.

'I'd bet they didn't even notice me leave.'

*********
Kaiden was overwhelmed. The events of their past years and the moments they shared flooded his head.
"You need to tell me everything."
"Could we go in first?"
"Sure. Right, this way." He led her into his apartment and offered her a cup of tea. She looked weak.
"I was in Africa."

*********
At the foot of her apartment building, she found Elijah.
"Eli. What are you doing here?"
"Jayla. I've been waiting for you."
"Really? Is anything wrong?"
"I was in town and needed a place to crash so Jason lent me his place since he was out of town for a few days but..."
"His key card is with me, right? I'm so sorry. You look pretty jet lagged." Jayla cut in
"Very. I called you several times but you didn't answer. And neither did Chloe and Carrie."
"They're on a flight from New York. Right. My phone... where is it?..." She rummaged through her purse.
"Shoot. I think I left it in Kaiden's apartment."
"You were with Kaiden?"
"Uh... yeah"
"And he let you come home alone at this time of the night?!"
"....."
"I'm sorry. It's none of my business."
" Let's just go in now."
"Right."

***********
"Africa? What have you been doing in Africa for four years?"
"Hiding from my Britney and Marcus."
"What? Why?"
"They tried to kill me after I found solid evidence against them for the murder of my dad and step mum."
"You're kidding." He walked pensively across the room.
"But... your body... it was found at the apartment."

**********
Elijah and Jayla went up to her apartment.
"Here's the key card." She handed it over to him.
"I'm sorry you had to wait out in the cold for so long."
"Apology accepted."
"Jayla... could I ask you a question.... as a friend?"
"Sure... I don't see why not."
"Are you and Kaiden a thing now?"
"......"
"Never mind. Shouldn't have asked anyway."
"No Elijah, it's fine.... *deep sigh* honestly, I don't even know anymore."

************
"It was Joanne. She gave up her life to save mine." Tears streaked down her face.
"At the moment of the attack, Joanne hid me in an old closet in the laundry room and took my clothes and jewellery. When the hit men stormed the apartment, they murdered her thinking she was me."
"Kaiden, her screams for help haunt me till this day as they hit her, violated her and then took her life in cold blood. They burnt her body to hide all evidence. She burst into fresh tears as Kaiden pulled her into an embrace.
"I escaped and took a cab to the airport and with the cash in the jacket Joanne lent me, I flew to Ethiopia. I wasn't thinking I just wanted to go as far as I could from the US and the next plane leaving the US was to Ethiopia."
"But why didn't you call me? Why didn't you call the police?"
"The hitmen had some reservations but since Joanne had my mother's necklace and the ring you gifted me, which I never take off, they concluded that the body was mine. I couldn't call you because I knew they had my phone bugged and the police... Marcus' brother was the head of the local police department, I wouldn't go far with my case. Besides, I recognized a snake tattoo that Brian has on one of the hitmen."

He was enraged but resorted to not telling her the hitman was Brian. He tried to calm himself.

"I'm sorry you had to go through so much alone."
"I'm glad I did."
Kaiden raised his head to look up at her.
"I met amazing people in Ethiopia and I got to tour Eastern, Western and some parts of Central Africa as a missionary."

"You're a what?!"