All The Dark Little Things

Chapter 21: Redemption

"Is she awake?"

Startled, I quickly sat up in bed, thinking I heard Mayoress Oda's voice along with the nurse's. But hands pulled me back down, and I struggled against them, desperate to leave. However, something sharp pierced my thigh, and I succumbed to sleep once again.

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My eyes opened slowly, just like the bulb at home. The harsh lights nearly blinded me, but they quickly dimmed. I looked up to see a man closing the windows and drawing the curtains to block the intense sunlight.

There was a faint humming sound, and the air smelled of antiseptic, a stark contrast to the stench of death in the prayer camp. It felt normal here.

A hospital...

I became alert and cautious. I discreetly reached for the pen on my desk, ready to defend myself in case the man turned out to be one of the people from the prayer camp. I refused to be caught off guard again.

The man paused, his back still turned to me. "I know you have a pen. Put it down, let's have a chat."

I chuckled inwardly, finding his attempt to deceive me amusing. Mayoress Oda had warned me that the prayer camp had many supporters. What if this man was one of them? How did he even know I had woken up and picked up the pen? Who was he?

With caution, he raised his hands in surrender. "I'm leaving now. I promise I won't harm you." Slowly, he turned around, and for a moment, I thought I was looking at Mr. Harrison, returned from the dead.

Fear gripped me.

"Mr. Harrison! You're alive!" Tears welled up in my eyes as hope surged within me.

The man simply smiled—a sad smile—as he reached into his jacket. I raised my pen defensively. "Relax." He pulled out a card hanging from a lanyard. "I'm with the police. My name is Detective Ezra Harrison."

The pen slipped from my grasp. "Let me guess; you're Dennis's uncle."

He didn't seem surprised. "I was there when you made the call. Dennis acted strangely afterward, so I asked him what was wrong. He told me everything and showed me the notes from my brother and in-laws."

I sniffled. "Why didn't you come to rescue me?"

He pulled a chair closer, seating himself beside me. "Because we needed evidence, Rachel. Your testimony is our evidence. Not only that, I sent Dennis in for a reason. He planted cameras where I instructed him to. We have video evidence of them almost beating you to death, Rachel."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "No wonder he didn't say anything but listened. Dennis was actually trying to save me. And he said he didn't have a plan." I scrutinized Ezra, trying to gauge his trustworthiness. "How can I trust you? Will you follow through?"

He scratched the back of his head, revealing a hint of the goofy Dennis in him. "You don't have to trust me. But do you trust Dennis?"

"He told me to trust his uncle. What if you're an impostor sent by the prayer camp?" I trust Dennis for no reason.

"Smart girl." He nodded appreciatively. "Well, I'll have you know that I am his only living uncle, and there can't be an impostor in the police force..."

"Bullshit!" I spat, ready to attack if necessary.

"No bullshit. In fact, not everyone here knows me. I often work undercover, but you don't need to know about that, do you?" He grinned, displaying a resemblance to the Harrison family. It was unmistakable, yet I hesitated to believe it. He must have sensed my doubt. "Okay, how about I eliminate your doubt by handing over the videos and files to the prosecutor, hm?" He took out his phone and made some calls, grinning proudly as he arranged for someone to collect the documents. He was a showoff.