Only Darkness Lies

Chapter 25

The bartender was dead and there was chaos in the bar. The man who had shouted at Elvira was now pale with fear. He tried to run away with all the others. Screams filled the air, people were terrified and trying to get out of the place as fast as they could. No one cared who died or lived, stumping on others, not even bothering to look down. But even after all the chaos, no one died or was severely injured, except the bartender,whom Elvira had killed. All that time, she merely stood near the dead corpse, watching the chaos and fear that she had created.

When everyone was out of the place, she quietly got out to move to the hospital. She was determined to deal with Ekom once and for all.

On Elfred's side, he had reached Tinpole after his 4 days long journey which he undertook without taking much rest on his way. Though he was tired, he could not waste any time and hurried towards the address that was given to him, unaware of the threat approaching Ekom.

It was around afternoon when he reached the hoapital, which when compared to the journey he had just finished was nothing to him. He hurried to Ekom's room and was shocked to see him in such a bad condition.

Ekom noticed him right away, his face lit up with hope, the same hope that has kept him alive until now. Elfred's mere presence somewhat assured him that he could make it, that he didn't need to die. Finally, he could think of something other than Elvira and the danger he was in. He could think of living, though his life won't be the same without Kin and Monre by his side, but even in his daydreams, he treasured them in his heart.

Elfred asked him about his condition right away. Ekom smiled and said "Well I'll be better now." He explained to him about Elvira, never mentioning her name once as he himself didn't know it.

After listening to Ekom's explanation, the first thought that crept into Elfred's mind was "How can someone, human be so powerful?" It reminded him of Elvira. In his thoughts, she was the only person who had such power.

He knew she was capable of doing something like that but his beliefs won't let him see her in a different light.

Elvira could never do something so horrifying as to go on murdering innocent people.

He spoke to some nurses about taking Ekom to his home. He was afraid that Kin's and Monre's murderer may have already found out about Ekom's whereabouts and may attack him whenever she gets a chance.

To ensure Ekom's safety, he thought it would be best to take him home and look after him there. As Ekom could be better guarded there. He consulted Ekom about his plans and Ekom agreed. He was convinced that it was their safest bet for the time being.

It could delay their fight with her and also, it will give them time to think of a strategy to use against her.

Elfred hurried to the receptionist to ask her about the formalities he needs to fulfill before taking Ekom with him. The receptionist explained him everything he needed to do and he quickly completed all of them.

The nurses got Ekom all ready to leave the hospital. Taking Ekom with him, Elfred halted a cart and asked the cartman to drive them to Arrison hill, Ekom's living place.

Only a few minutes after they had left, Elvira reached the hospital enquiring the receptionist about Ekom, unaware that he had managed to slip past her.

The receptionist informed her that they had already left.
"They?"she questioned.
"Yes, he and the other person, who knew him."
"Where to?" She asked but the receptionist politely refused to provide her anymore information. It was against their rules she said.

It posed a bigger problem than it seemed. Not only did she lost track of him but she had also killed the bartender at Zine. Now, there was no one else she could think of to take help from and gather information about Ekom. Also, the fact that someone was with him meant that she could be in danger.

She thought of a plan to retrieve information about Ekom from the hospital, which she will initiate at midnight, in the darkness. She had to confront Ekom before he could initiate his plans.