Misunderstanding

Chapter 29(Nathalie POV)

I knew that Anthony was behind me, his presence looming as I ventured through the bustling streets. However, I knew he couldn't strike yet, since there were too many people around.

 I ducked into one of the book stores, a chorus of heavy leather books greeted my hands as they brushed against the shelves. My fingers closed around a heavy, leather one. I heard Anthony's footsteps behind me as I turned into a corner of the library, where no one could see us.

As I expected, when I turned around, I was faced to face with Anthony. My fingers secretly slipped into my pocket, quietly activating the sound recording app on my phone.

Anthony parted his lips to speak, but I interrupted him, No, Anthony, I'm not going to murder anyone. Not Chase, not you, not my parents, not Nancy, I communicated.

Anthony's features immediately contorted with anger. I had never noticed that he had such serious anger issues before. "No, my years of hard work can't go to waste! You must kill Chase! Or else my father will-"

What your father will do to you is your personal affair! I refuse to murder anyone on the behalf of a liar! I'm not going to kill anyone. I just want to live peacefully, I told him.

Anthony's frustration deepened instantly. "You must follow through with this task, Nathalie or ese.. or else... Just... whatever you do, you must kill Chase!"

Could you repeat that?

Lowering his voice to a hushed whisper, ensuring our conversation remained concealed, Anthony took a step closer, his grip tightening on my arm. "You must kill Chase, or I will kill you. I am dead serious." 

A mischievous smirk crept upon my lips as I retrieved my phone from my pocket, playing back the recording.

 His own words echoed in his ears, draining the color from his face. "N-Nathalie, how could you?!" Anthony lunged for my phone. Swiftly, I hurled the weighty leather book, its impact striking his face and sending a rivulet of crimson streaming from his nose. I took the chance to dial nine one one.

"Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?"

I called for the bookshop seller to explain the situation. He helped hold Anthony down until the police's arrival, too.

***

Two hours later, I emerged from the police station. I felt fresh and relieved. After all, I had given the officers the evidence and the location of Lord. It's now time to embark on a new chapter of my life.

However, as I absentmindedly perused the daily news on my phone, a startling post caught my attention: my father had initiated a search party to find me. A reward of two million dollars awaited the individual who delivered me back. 

 Chill coursed through my veins. In a world driven by thirst and greed for money, public spaces were no longer safe for me. I had to leave before the post went viral.

I hurriedly entered a building - a shelter for homeless people. Rows of thirty bunk beds lined the room, the wooden floor creaking beneath each step, and the windows shrouded in hazy glass. A large circular wooden table stood at the center, adorned with a basket of fruits.

Majority of the people taking shelter here were older people in their fifties, sixties, and a couple in their twenties and drinking teenagers. I approached a drawer covered in crafts that were falling apart. Pulling it open, I retrieved a pair of rusty scissors and swiftly severed my hair until it cascaded just above my shoulders. The picture that Father had posted of me was a picture of me with long hair.

How did he even manage to get a picture of me? I hastily gathered a handful of blue masks and slipped one on, hiding my face. 

As my phone buzzed again, I retrieved it, only to discover that Chase, too, had initiated a search party for me, offering a staggering ten million dollars as a reward. Why were they so desperate to find me?

Did they want to torture me? Did they feel uneasy, so they desired my forgiveness to make themselves feel better?

But I don't ever want to return to those monsters. They have already completely broken my heart.