Beneath The Rain (18+)

Chapter 4 : Hidden

The investigator

          I've found a lead. There's a underground market near the motel I chose to stay in. Seems like this market is pretty popular and gets a lot of traffic so, large crowds, some things like human trafficking, drug deals, and others could get over looked by authorities.

         "My time to shine." I say sitting at my setup. I'm surprised to find there are cameras at this market, as I attempt to hack Into them I realize the coding is pretty simple. I spend what feels like only a few minutes looking through the rooms and streets until, the chills being sent down my spine. I look towards the window as I feel the breeze of the cool air, I realize how much time has passed, with the darkness casting outside and, my window is open.

        I didn't open my window. Quickly getting up, closing it, searching through the room. Being met with nothing, no sign of anyone or anything.

  "Maybe it was the wind." I sigh heading back to my setup. I glare at the screen feeling anger, sadness, and anxiousness. Then that bright blonde hair flickers across the corner of my screen.

  "It can't be, Ashley?" I ask myself looking harder at the screen hoping for anything at all to reveal itself.

  "Fuck this." I say pushing myself off out of the chair, picking up my phone, sprinting out the door, towards the location of the market feeling the cool wind through my hair.

  "Please be there." I say with tears forming in my eyes.

           Swerving through the crowds of the entrance, finding the building the camera was in. I head in. It's a restaurant? I look around looking for that blonde hair she was always so proud of. I find nothing walking around a few times, before finding a door in the back. Knowing theres no camera pointed at this door I head in. I'm met with a dimly lit room, as I walk through noticing this is the room I saw her in.

         Theres nothing just a table in the middle of the room with a couple of chairs under the only light. Heading deeper in, a hand covers my mouth.

  "Listen if you don't leave you'll be in the same place your friend's in." a voice speaks low in my ear. I shake my head violently getting my mouth free.

  "I can't, I have to find h-" They cover my mouth again before I could finish.

  "I'm not the bad guy I want the same as you but, I said you have to leave." The man says in a stern voice. He turns me towards the door, opening it, shoving me out. I turn as the door goes to close I see a glimpse of a something blue. I try to open the door but, I can't. I have to get to my setup.

       Running out of the restaurant, I should've worn better shoes. Heading back to the motel, as I get there I proceed to turn everything on but, the camera has lost connection.

   Did he shut it down? I go to switch to different cams, no connection on any of them.

  "No, fucking hell." I say frustrated as I slam my fist into the wall.

  "I was so close." I cry out. "I'm sorry Ashley, I was almost there, I almost had you." Moving to bathroom looking at myself in the mirror. Covered in sweat and dirt that was kicked up while I ran.

  "Time for a shower huh?" I asked my reflection.

        As the hot water touches my skin I feel everything wash away for a split second. Washing my hair, I hear what sounds like footsteps, turning off the water, wrapping a towel around my waist and stepping out.

  "Hello?" I call out. Walking out I see the window is open.

  "Hello? Anyone in here?" Is all I could get out, before hearing a thud from outside, jogging up to the balcony I look down, there he was looking up at me in the dead of night in that damn blue hoodie, by his lips he had no expression.

   "What do you want?" I shout, with that he smiles, turns, walking off.

   "Damn." I mouth throwing my head back. Time to move.

     The next morning, getting up, checking outside.

   "Of course it's raining." I sigh, getting my big suitcase out. Didn't expect having to move so soon. Only things having to be packed is my tech and toiletries. Booking my stay in a different motel around an hour away it was a little more pricey but, I'm still getting paid for coding games it should be fine. Booked a taxi for 10am last night thank god they had a cancelation. Heading outside with my 2 suitcases.

       "Ma'am do you need any help?" a tall handsome man in a suit looks down at me. That voice I know it.

  "Oh, that would be great thank you." nodding my head I hand one over as the taxi pulls up, packing the suitcases in the trunk, getting in I notice he's also getting in.

  "um sir this is my taxi." I say trying not to sound to bitchy.

   "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, but since you two were heading in the same direction I booked both of you." The driver smiles.

  "Well, thank you for telling me." I smile. This man, he seems familiar, he's handsome with his dark brown hair, golden brown eyes, and don't get me started on his physical.

        Looking over around halfway through the ride. I speak up, cutting the silence.

   "Sorry for coming off as rude and thank you for the help with my suitcase."

  "You're very welcome." He looks over flashing a wide smile. Stopping, I stare at him.

  "Do I know you?" I ask, tilting my head.

  "I don't think so." He turns his head. As I'm looking at him, his expression drops, my eyes widen, it's him.

       How did he even get the same taxi as me.

  "Are you okay?" Snapping out of it I realize I was glaring at him.

  "I'm sorry I zoned out." Turning my head, just stay calm don't let him know you figured it out. The rest of the ride was silent, both of us staring out our windows. The taxi comes to a stop.

   "Well, it was nice to meet you, Serena." He flashes one last smile, stepping out of the car.

   How the fuck does he know my name?

        After arriving and settling in. I make sure to order window locks that just hook on, also getting some small hidden cameras in the process. This room has two bedrooms, my setup goes into one while the other is where I'll be sleeping in a pile of happiness aka pillows. I spent the day searching the market again with the cams that I still have access to. Sadly the ones that I was cut off of are still not online. Finding nothing at all this time not even a glimpse.

           Was what I saw with Ashley's hair an allusion? Was my mind playing tricks on me? No, she was there if she wasn't why would that man have been there?

  "Where are you and who is this man that I seem to find everywhere?" I whisper, typing away on my laptop.