Running from Him by YH Yohi

Chapter 19: Illusions

Continuation from 'Run 2' chapter

Pari knew how this went. She would wake up to find herself in an isolated place far from civilization. Would it be a house on a beach, a dungeon in the basement or straight to a grave in the forest? It all depended on how Arin saw her, as a burden, a threat or just nuisance. 

In the hazy state of mind, only one thing was clear. Arin was a cheating, lying bastard who played with her, and now that she found out his secret, he surely wouldn't spare her.

Her head throbbed as she rubbed her eyes, pathetically trying to anchor herself on whatever she was sleeping on. It felt soft.  She quickly blinked away the dizziness to take in her surroundings. Surprised, she was at home, his home. She heard muted rattling on kitchenware downstairs, followed by the thumping of heavy footsteps. He was coming for her, with a knife? 

Her bile rose to her throat, she scrambled for the closest thing she could find, a comb? great she's definitely dying today.  Suddenly the door swung open and the sight in front of her was shocking to say the least. Arin stood there with his usual 'kind' smile and a trail with her favourite dishes. This seemed like a replay of their lazy mornings before she found out. 

'Why the frown? got up on the wrong side of bed?' Arin chuckled as he sat near her feet, placing the food on a nearby table. He watched Pari frozen with a bewildered look and reached out to touch her forehead, Pari instinctively retreated 'Pari what's wrong, are you feeling unwell'

'Arin, drop the act' Pari demanded, anger slowly boiling. Did he really think she was stupid?! That he would act like nothing happened and she would play along. Arin huffed and looked up regretfully. 

'Pari, I'm really sorry, but it's not what you think. I promise'

'Ha, not what I think, I'm not blind Arin, I know what I saw, you were there'

'Yes, I know I was there, but i swear I didn't do anything' Pari only scoffed 'You're a liar Arin, it's clear as day, you are nothing but a disgusting liar'

'Pari, I promise, please I'm begging you I didn't cheat on you'

'Yes you...what? Cheat?' Pari was dumbfounded, what a turn of events. 'Wait, what? You cheated on me!'

'No, i didn't that's exactly what I'm telling you!' He shouted, looking frustrated

What the hell is going on

'Arin, I don't know what you are talking about, I'm talking about what happened at bluestone hotel'

'Yea, I know. That's exactly what I'm talking about. I can explain' Pari was dumbfounded. She sat quietly as Arin kneeled before her and began explaining'

'Pari, I don't know and I don't care who told you, or how you got to know my room number. I don't care if you were stalking me, but I have nothing to hide. I had a business meeting yesterday night and I drank too much, it was too late to call Tarin so I booked the room. I was alone in that room, you have to trust me. You need to trust me.'

'Wait, you're saying I followed you to see if you're cheating'

'That's what you told me, well technically shouted'

'No, no Arin. stop lying'

'God Pari, please stop. Here take you're pills'

'Pill for what? Are you trying to drug me again?!'

'Pari, its you're vitamins, check it for yourself. You literally fainted in front of my room. I know you are stressed but...'

'ENOUGH!' Pari shouted, this man is treating her like she's delusional. She knows what she saw.

'Pari please'

'Arin don't you dare try to fool me, are you kidding me right now? You thought I'd fall for your stupid trick' She shot up and dashed to the front door, she found her back by the living room and grabbed her keys. She hastily got in her car, she needs to check again, to prove to him and herself that's she not insane. Arin quickly got in the car as well.

'What are you doing, get out!'

'No, Pari. I can't leave you alone in this state'

Pari furiously banged the steering wheel 'I had enough of you men treating us like idiots, you want to come. fine!'

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Its been nearly 15mins. Pari stood in the hotel hallway. Frozen. 

Impossible, how did room 418 magically appear. Arin kept looking at her, like she's sick and she hated it. 

'No...' Pari traced the number plate

'Let's go home' Arin came to hold her arm, but she yanked it away. Maybe they just switched the name plates. 'Arin, call the receptionist, get the master key'

'Pari please..'

'Now!' 

'Alright, calm down' Arin left to the side, still looking worried

Pari rang the bell 4 times, but nothing happened. the keypad didn't appear. She tried it for every door in the hallway. How's that possible? The bellboy soon showed up with the key and Pari signaled him to open 418. 

It was dark just like she remembered it. She was right!

'Switch on the light' Arin instructed the boy. Soon the light poured into the room. 

It's official. Pari is insane. It was an ordinary room.  

Nothing out of the ordinary.  Pari searched everywhere. What if there is some hidden door, a passage. She searched everywhere humanely possible, under the bed, inside the cupboard, even the bathroom. But nothing. She got the cctv checked but oddly, she wasn't there is any of them, only the part she snuck into the hallway was there. Even the men she saw entering the hidden room weren't there, as if they had disappeared into thin air.

In frustration she threw her car keys at the wall behind the bed...tap.

Arin slowly walked up behind her, carefully he held the back of her neck, gently kneading it. While his other arm snaked around her waist, holding her close. His chest rose and fell gently as he leaned against her head trying to calm her galloping heart. 

'Arin, I know I found crazy but I know what I saw. Come on, how is it possible that someone, days back could predict that you would be here, at this precise time, unless there's something to hide'

'Pari, I stay in this room everytime I have a late meeting. 418, whoever you told you that must have known I had a meeting. Who is it?'

'I don't know' 

'It's alright, I won't ask you anything more. I'll figure it out. You are already stressed from work, please don't hurt yourself' Arin begged. 

Pari, for a moment, felt bad for him. She couldn't ask Jordan also, even in the 'illusion', if it is one, Jordan didn't help her out. There's no one who could prove her sanity. She had no choice but to give in, for now. 

She turned around and reciprocated his hug, snuggly into his chest. A part of her wished everything she 'saw' last night was a bad dream. And maybe it was. 

But there's nothing she could do now. She didn't even have the will to search for the person you left the anonymous note, maybe it is what Arin said. Maybe she was disillusioned, what else could explain a huge club disappear in one night. 

With no plausible explanation, Pari followed Arin quietly, barely making eye contact with him the whole ride home.

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Hey guys! I hope you'll like how the story is turning out. I have always been a fan of romance-thrillers with strong female leads who won't shy away from kicking your ass and antihero male leads. Excited to write this story that's been stuck in my head for far too long.

Write down in the comments who you think left Pari that note!

Hint: We already met that character before, just keep your eyes and mind wide open.

xoxo