Running from Him by YH Yohi

Chapter 17: He's what?

Beware of your fiancé 

Those words wrung in her head, she couldn't wait any longer. She grabbed the book and search for the number he hastily recited. 

Ring....Ring.....Ring

No one picked up. She knew the message was from him. Nothing had happened out of the ordinary until he came running out the kitchen at her engagement. Besides no one hated Arin, even if someone actually did, 'beware', seriously?

She tried few more times. She was about to let it go but an ominous feeling hung over her head. Something was wrong and she had to get to the bottom of it, but she couldn't be careless about it. Arin was a known man, this information, even as a rumor could hurt his prospects and she wouldn't let that happen. 

Ring...Ring...Ring

"Hello"

"Malon!"

"Omg, my ear"

"No time for it"

"Hold your horses women"

"Malon its really serious"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes I am"

"But I really need to talk to you"

"Are you at home?"

"Yeah"

"Ill be there in 5"

"Thank you! And don't tell anyone, not even San"

"Okay"

The line cut, Pari finally felt like she could breath again. The straightened out the crumpled paper she didn't realize she was clutching onto. This was probably just some nasty scheme by people jealous of Arin. Yeah that was it. Was it?

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"Let's go over this again"

"Um" Pari nodded looking right into Malon's eyes

"On your enagagement a random guy bursts in wanting to talk to you, and when we does he gives you a weird set on instruction and then a few days later you get an even weirder message"

"Correct"

"Pari"

"I'm not lying" Pari cut in

"I didn't say you were"

"Then"

"Maybe you're overthinking, it could just be Arin's rival messing with you head"

"But there's no harm in checking"

"The message"

"No the guy"

"Why the guy?"

"Malon, I need you police skills right now"

"What the..."

"Track him down"

"How?"

"through his number"

"How do you know its..."

"I know its his and he has it right now"

"What?"

"He specifically said to call him 5days after the engagement"

"Then someone drops a message, mostly likely him today, even though its not 5 days...and when you call he doesnt pick up...sounds a bit sketchy."

"I know"

"Arin was worried its some nasty trap"

"It isn't?"

"I did think so too but something doesn't sit right. I'm sure this message is from him. He probably sent it because something happened"

"Then why bother?"

"His words...to stay alive, to check? Something like that. It felt wrong."

"So..."

"Track him"

"Pari that's out of my"

"Malon, just this once. Tell them I blackmailed you"

"Pari you do realize it can affect your career?"

"I know, I know but Malon I can't even sleep at night, I need to know"

"Alright, alright"

They spoke about many things before Malon bid goodbye promising to get back in a day or two. Pari couldn't wait, finally it would be confirmed that he works for Arin's rival and everything will go back to normal. She hid her book in case Arin happens to see it. 

He seemed too worried and wanted her to never contact a strange man like him. He looked cute fretting over it, but Pari had already memorized his number quietly. She was doing this for him. To accuse Arin of such things, her blood boiled. She would find the man, clear Arin of any suspicions and give that weird man a piece of her mind for playing such games.

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3 days had passed.

Ring...Ring

"Finally Malon, what took you so long?"

There was silence on the other end.

"Malon"

"Well, he was a bit hard to track"

"So?"

"Are you free to come down now?"

"Why did you catch him"

"You can say that" Pari's eyes squinted but she immediately grabbed her bag and keys

"Where?"

"Lantoor Lake"

"Coming"

Malon sounded solemn, unsure. Pari could help but feel nausea,  she just hoped it wasn't anything dreadful. After a few minutes she reached the lake. The view bewildered her. The entrance to the lake was yellow taped, there were police officers everywhere. If she wasn't mistaken it looked like the scene of a crime, a serious crime. 

She slowly approached the entrance, suddenly a hand touched her lower back gently. She looked up and it was Malon, but he didn't greet her with the same jovial smile, he looked straight ahead. Without a word, he gently pushed her forward and signaled the officer to make way. He quickly led her to the bank of the lake, making sure to hid her from the scanty reporters. It was an abandoned park cum lake that many didn't visit especially since the malls came up. But it was still a popular lover's park to hid in. 

So it explained why a crowd hadn't gathered yet. Malon continued to lead her along the bank to a secluded corner where the officers worked hastily. Behind the bushes she saw a slight bump. Her stomach churned.

Malon held a handkerchief against her mouth and nose and squeezed her gently in a reassuring manner. She came closer and closer. 

Her knees almost gave away, it was a rotting corpse. Tears pricked in her eyes, she looked away and at Malon. A puzzled look, she wanted, no... needed him to say it. Malon left out a deep breath.

"It's him, the man you asked me to track"

no.