Rena: Code 143

3.10

My phone ringing in my ear roused me from my sleep. It was loud and irritating as I blindly reached for it in the dark. Mad that I hadn't put it on silent last night, I grabbed it before opening one eye to see who was calling me. It was an unknown number. Excellent, just what I needed when I have work in the morning. I pressed decline and then looked at the time, which read two thirty. I yawned while I put the phone on silent and placed it back on the table beside my bed. Then I quickly got comfortable, closing my eyes.

Not even a second later, the phone buzzed. Making noise as it vibrated on the end table. Without opening my eyes, I ended the call and turned over. However, to my annoyance, it started to ring again. I groaned, turning back over to the phone, opening my eyes this time as I gripped it in my hand. It was the same number. I hung up again. This time, seeing my notifications pop up on my screen. Not only did I see that number through my notifications, but it seemed whoever this person was had been calling me for a long time. What the hell? I didn't have time to question it before my phone started to ring again. Wanting to know who it was, I accepted the call, holding the phone to my ear.

"Who is this?" My voice rumbled with drowsiness.

"Nicolaus," I paused, blinking away my sleepiness, thinking I may have heard the wrong voice on my line.

"Rena?"

Why was she calling this early?

"I'm s-sorry for calling you at this time, but I had no one else to call." I sat up at the sound of her voice. Traces of my sleep left me as my body became alarmed. She sounded panicked. She said, "I-I don't have anywhere else to go." I instantly got up from the bed, making sure the phone didn't slip from my hand.

"Where are you?" I was trying to keep myself calm as I quickly went to my closet to put on sweatpants and grab my shoes. Not bothering to put on a shirt as I hobbled to put my shoes on quickly.

"I-I-I don't k-know," her teeth chattered and my heart began to pound more. "I-I've been walking for so long. I'm so scared-I-" She was outside? It was pouring out. I grabbed an extra jacket for her and then ran out of the bedroom. Though I was reaching to panic over her well-being, I needed her to tell me where she was. Describe it, somehow. I had to calm her down.

"Rena, I'm on my way to come to get you. But I need you to look around and see if you can spot anything familiar. See if there are any street signs, anything," when she didn't say anything, sobbing on the other end, I tried again. "Όμορφη αγάπη μου, I need you to look for me, ok? Once you do, I'll be there as soon as possible, ok? I promise." Pretty Darling.

When I ran down the stairs, I saw Sean coming in through the front door. He must've been coming back from another night out. He gave me a confused stare as I went to find my keys. Sean knows I'm never up at two in the morning, even if it involves work. So something must be wrong.

"Y-yes. I can look," she said quietly her voice shaking. "I-um I see a bus stop nearby and..." She started to tell me where she was. While Sean came to me in concern since I must have looked panicked. I put the phone on speaker and then muted myself.

"What's going on-"

"I need to get to Rena." I looked under the couch to find my car keys. From now on, I was going to put them on the table. I stood up with the extra jacket in my hand. I still listened to Rena as she spoke on the phone.

"Is she alright?" Though Sean was upset, Rena was the woman he had felt a connection with. He didn't want to admit that he still liked her. Wanted her. But I knew him too well. So when showing concern for her, I wasn't surprised. It was a twist of fate how we met the sweet woman. But I was too unsettled by the prospect of her being alone and in danger right now. I didn't have time to talk to him.