Almost Isolated

Chapter 20 - Hostages

"Wh- what? Is Julian with - with you? What are you doing?"

Margot had reached Neri through video call. She saw the Jones ghost in his cloud of mists, peering at her. And then she heard a shrilly voice on the background.

"OMG! Is Maddie with you?"

"It's okay. She's not afraid of Julian and she can see him too." And in a vindictive tone, Margot added. "You didn't want me coming over. So, I brought her along. In case you decide to kick my ass out, you'll have to kick hers too."

"But that's painful," Maddie said.

Neri saw the little girl's finger tugging the older sister's phone to take a glimpse of her. "Don't kick my ass. You can kick Margot if you like -"

"F*uck! That was just a figure of speech, stupid!"

Margot's face was replaced by the ceiling's view then the floor. Apparently, she was pulling the phone from Margot. And Neri recognized the place. To her horror, both girls were indeed inside the Jones' house.

"Stop it! You'll break my phone!" Margot said, almost screaming.

"I won't!" The younger girl insisted. "I just want to see Neri. Where are you Neri?"

"I'm in Lucena." Neri stared helplessly at Robbie who was silently listening to them. "I won't kick your ass, Maddie... or your sister. Just go home right now. Come see me tomorrow -"

"But we are still showing things to Mr. Julian," Maddie told her in the background. "Tell her Margot. We were doing selfies a while ago. And Mr. Julian was always a bright light. The camera couldn't catch him... Or it must be busted -"

"Ahem!" Margot adjusted the phone's camera to Julian's face who stood behind her cousin.

The ghost's blue eyes smiled candidly at her as if they were lovers. "Come home, my Alejandra. We'll wait for you."

"Alejandra? Why do you call her that?" Neri heard Maddie asked then her phone blacked-out.

"OMG! I'm out of juice. F*uck! F*uck -!"

"Language."

Neri gaped at Robbie. "Are you trying to be a parent to me right now?"

"Cursing doesn't suit you and it won't help."

She gathered, he was trying to calm her and she gave out a sigh.

Neri considered charging her phone to call her cousin back; she hurriedly put on the PPE coveralls, instead. "Let's go."

Julian got her cousins as hostages. She got to get home ASAP!

Wearing the white PPE coveralls, face mask and face shield, she mingled awkwardly with the hospital staff. Not that she didn't belonged there but with the sense of déjà vu. There were the painful feeling and the terror because of the pandemic and its death. But there was always the calling for service and obligation. Being at the hospital pretending as one of the staff was something shameful as she recalled quitting when there were people counting on her.

Neri was on her way out to the backdoor where she came in; someone in a green PPE coveralls was in a hurry. She managed to avoid him but bumped into a tall woman in grey PPE.

"I'm sorry -"

"And where do you think you're going?" The woman spoke in a sophisticated tone and with an air of authority. Her hazel round eyes moved to Neri's shoulder bag.

"I..." She didn't know what to say. She'd been mistaken for a staff. "Ma'am -"

"It's Doctor Zoila and as I remembered, I've sent you guys a memo regarding your duty today."

"Du-duty?" She saw Robbie by the door; he nodded at her as if telling her to run.

"You were supposed to extend your shifts today -"

"I'm sorry. I can't... I mean I'm not..."

The lady doctor gaped at her, horrified as Neri hastily walked past her for the back door.

Outside, Neri saw the three men from the house. They were still looking for her, questioning people coming in and out of the hospital. She panicked and made a dash for the street. Neri's intention was to get to the other side and away from the men when Robbie appeared before her. He pushed her that sent her falling to her back.

A speeding car had almost hit her!

Neri was shaking all her over when the driver in the car peered at her.

"Miss Beltran? Is that you?"

~oOo~

"You can just drop us off at the bus station, ma'am Soriano." Neri was already thankful, she'd managed to get into the lady's car before the three guys could take interest with someone in a PPE having an accident.

"Nonsense, I'm on my way home. It's a good thing I bumped into you."

Alma's smiled at the idea. Neri didn't know, she had a sense of humor. "Oh and sorry about that again."

"My fault," Neri said.

"And what do you mean 'us'? Are you with that nasty cousin of yours? I don't think she's allowed to go out, correct?"

Neri was in the passenger seat, beside the small lady. Robbie was in the backseat; he smiled sheepishly at her. "No... I mean 'me' not 'us', sorry ma'am. And Margot's not with me... thanks for that."

"That girl needs discipline."

"My aunt disciplines her... I think."

"Well... enough about her. Did you go visit the de la Cruz's house?"

"Err... there was no one home." It's a good thing Alma's attention was on the road. The older lady didn't notice her uneasiness.

How can Neri tell her, she'd broke in the house, stole something and was being chased by three men?

"Oh! That's a shame. Tell you what, I'll try to contact Miss de Leon when we get home."

They were driving in the main road; Alma pulled over by a pharmacy. "I already went to the market for supplies. I need to buy some medicine too. You can come or stay here."

The little lady fixed her face shield as she touched her short hair. Alma was looking smart in white polo shirt and beige pants. Neri felt weird, remembering she was still wearing the white PPE coveralls.

"I think I'll stay here and get out from this suit."

"Who were you visiting at the hospital?"

"Errr..." Neri's face flushed and gazed at Robbie in the rear-view mirror. She saw him shrugged his shoulders. How very helpful!

Neri didn't want to lie anymore. Fortunately, Alma wanted to get off the car.

"I'll be quick."

As soon as the lady left, Neri pulled the scrap book from her bag to check it out. Her fingers moved page by page, examining each picture and notes. Besides Alejandra there were no photos of Julian or John. And it had seemed, she never got married at all. Then a piece on of writing took her curiosity.

"Is that for real?" Robbie materialized beside her, checking out the note. "Then, I think you are really in trouble."