The Things That I Know || George Michael

fifteen - because i was oblivious

"So, Mr Panayiotou-Jones ... would you be able to give a brief outline of what happened tonight?"

The probing from the police is very quickly making Levi weary; he is already shaken-up from the series of events that have occurred this evening — without having to relive them all again. Nonetheless, he nods hesitantly, closing his eyes to try and alleviate some of the nerves.

"Um, well, h-he texted me to tell me he'd found my daughter's toy cat. Uh, sh-she bought it today at Hamley's but she'd lost it on The London Eye. M-Mack was on there with us, and he found it. Um, so I went to pick it up from his room—uh, that's the room he was locked in, and um—sorry." He expels a jittering breath, trying his hardest to compose himself. "It's mad how horrible you can feel from a near-death experience."

"Take your time. This is the last question, anyway."

"Right." He steadies his respiratory pattern, before continuing. "Um, I went to his room. A-And then he started telling me he fancied me. And he said I should leave my husband for him. I didn't expect it. He tried to kiss me, and I pushed him away. Then I texted my husband telling him to get help, because I could sense something was ... off. And h-he didn't like that so he, uh ... he pulled a knife and held it to my neck. He threatened to slit my throat if I said another word. Luckily, George arrived with the receptionist right on time. I-I'd be dead without them."

"What happened after your partner and the member of staff arrived?"

"They, uh ... they burst into the room, and it startled Mack into dropping the knife. He tried to flee, but they stopped him. George told me to call the police, s-so that's what I did. I don't know what happened after that. They locked him in the room, but that's all I know. I-I just remember getting dizzy ... and I couldn't see. I remember feeling like I couldn't stand up. But I couldn't see anything that was in front of me."

"Sounds like you went into shock," the officer comments. "It's entirely normal after an ordeal such as this."

"I-I just feel guilty," Levi explains, hopelessly. "Because George told me all day yesterday and today, that he had a bad feeling about Mack. A-And I just disregarded it because I didn't think he was that bad. But I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. And George is going through so much right now as it is. His mum died only a couple of weeks ago. Th-They were so close. He isn't taking it well. And now we have this to add to it."

"And you said George is your partner?"

"My husband," Levi tells them proudly, despite how disturbed he still is. "I'd be dead without him. We've saved each other." He then shakes his head, as the awareness that the subject is irrelevant causes him to feel self-conscious about his words. "S-Sorry. I talk a lot when I'm ... when I'm kind of traumatised, evidently."

"It's no issue, Mr Panayiotou-Jones," the officer assures him. "But for now, we have no further questions. You're free to go back to your hotel, now."

"Thank you." Levi stands up from his seat, heading sheepishly out of the interview room of the station he's in. Luckily for him, the station is only down the road from the hotel by a few hundred metres; so he is able to make the short walk in five minutes or so. Still overcome with numerous mixed emotions, he can't help but shed silent tears as he makes his way towards the entrance doors to the reception. The male receptionist who helped keep the door for room 314 shut earlier has finished his shift for the night; Levi feels remorse for being unable to thank him for saving his life, despite getting word from George that appreciation had already been shown prior to him being questioned. He enters the lift, scanning his keycard weakly to request Floor Two. The lift doors close, before he is whisked up to the level he requires. Once he reaches the floor, he steps out of the lift, rushing to his room with a sense of urgency; he is taking no chances by staying in the corridors longer than is necessary. Finally, he makes it to room 247, swiping the card against the lock and opening the door.