IN LOVE'S EMBRACE

CHAPTER 48: ANOTHER HAS BEEN SAVED!

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."— Luke 15:7

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JOHN PIERCE

I firmly held onto my cart and tried to steady my breathing. The name John was a pretty common one; I couldn't possibly be the only one with that name in the whole mart. He was probably calling a different John.

"John Pierce!" The voice called out again, but this time it sounded closer.

There was a possibility it could be a different John Pierce.

I began walking faster in a bid to lose whoever the caller was. The voice sounded familiar, and that scared me even more, but I was too disoriented to decipher who it was.

A hand latched onto my shoulder, and I froze. From its grip, I could tell it was a male.

"John?" He gently tapped me. I sighed and turned around.

There was no need to hide or run from the inevitable. I would have to face them someday.

My eyes widened a little at the sight of Arthur. He was the last person I expected to cross paths with first.

If I was surprised, then he was flabbergasted. His mouth almost hung open as his eyes raked over me in disbelief.

"Oh my good Lord! It really is you!" He exclaimed, covering his mouth with his palm.

"How?, Where?, But they..." He rambled on, still carefully observing me.

I frowned in confusion, then it clicked. Of course, at some point, Arthur would have noticed I was gone and would have tried to reach me. Although he might have just thought I traveled and needed space. It was very surprising to see him reacting the way he was. He couldn't have possibly known what happened, could he?

"Are you okay, Arthur?" I asked, truly concerned.

He looked at me like I was crazy and scoffed. "Am I okay? I should be asking you that!" He half yelled, and I frowned.

What does he know?

"You should?"

He scoffed again. "John, you have been missing for two months!" This time, he yelled and attracted several people's attention.

He took a breath and composed himself.

"Let's get out of here. There's a cafe next door; we can talk there," he suggested, already walking ahead toward the counter.

"I'm not sure I'm in the mood to talk," I voiced, holding onto my cart, and he halted in his steps.

I wasn't sure I was ready to talk to anyone about what I had been through, especially to those who couldn't relate. I'd rather be home right now, eating and chilling with my fellow scarred people.

He turned around and looked me square in the eyes. "I was the one who sent the police to wherever it was that Don kept you. Still don't wanna talk?" he whispered with a pointed look.

Wait!, What?!

My eyes widened. "Lead the way," I said with a nervous chuckle.

He nodded and gestured for me to come along. We sorted out all we bought and were out of there as quickly as possible.

The smell of coffee and freshly baked bread were the first things to hit me as we made our way into the small but cozy cafe. I sighed, relishing the feeling of being in a place like this after so long.