the visitor(on hold)

part 5

My heart jumped when I heard my name. It was a very deep and raspy voice, but very clear. It called me... or rather whispered my name. I know I am alone in this elevator, and that is what's troubling me now. Panic has me again by its grip. I don't know what to do. Is it alright for me to open my eyes but risk on being face to face with somebody or something? Is it wise to just sit still with my eyes tightly closed and just wait for it to go away?

Seconds seemed like hours when I debated on what to do. Why hasn't help come? Did the guard on duty even see my signals? I should have used the stairs instead of this crammy elevator.

With all these thoughts going through my brain, I heard it again.

"Lani!"

And this time the voice came from in front of me, like in my face. For a second I thought I felt a hand touching a portion of my hair right about my neck, ever so lightly, but I am not certain.

"OPEN YOUR EYES! LOOK AT ME!" It was a man's voice, and he sounded frustrated.

I decided on staying still, but I slowly opened my eyes, braving myself on what I will see. A little bit blurry for having been closed for sometime, and with the orange glow of the emergency lamps barely helping, my eyes caught sight of a vague figure of a person standing just a step away from where I was sitting.

I was taken aback by the fact that I am in danger of being attacked by this stranger or strange thing. And with nowhere else to run... fear punched me in the gut so hard that I literally sucked in a big gulp of air and almost gagged myself. I feel so nauseated, I want to puke.

What to do? What to do?

The question is repeating in my head.

I let out a small cry but it sounded more like a squeak. I tried again, and nothing came out. Have i lost my voice?

I am fighter, but this time i wanted to cry. I felt so trapped in here. Could this be the end of me? Is this it?

I saw the blurry figure moved slightly towards me.

With nothing to else to keep me safe, I covered my face with my hands, as if these small shields will protect me from this attacker.

I waited for the blows to come, anticipating the pain that will follow.

"Please help me... please.... please ..." I heard myself say.

As the slow and soft footsteps came closer, I laid down on the floor and covered my face with my jacket.

.....

..........

.................

"Ms. Chan? Ms. Chan? Are you alright? "

The person calling my name touched my shoulder lightly. I cringed, scared that it was my attacker.

Then I heard the buzzing sound of a walkie-talkie.

"Yes, she's right here. She seems fine but...." the man continued talking to the radio.

A few minutes later, I felt being lifted and was moved to a much softer bed. This must be the help that I was calling for and they must be rolling me out of here in a stretcher. I quickly opened my eyes to take a look at my rescuers. I flinched at the bright lights. Have i been in that darkness long enough to feel this pain in my eyes now?

But thank God... I'm saved....

As my vision cleared, I saw my brother walking towards me, concern written all over his face.

Why is he here? And why are there so many police and medics hovering over me? I just noticed them now.

"Lani, oh thank God you are all right... I was worried..." my brother was saying while holding my hands.

I know... I was worried, too. I thought I was gonna die there. They must have caught the person who scared me to death.

" I'm ok... glad you're here.... i was on my way to your place because I had an intruder in my place, and he had followed me somehow in the elevator... have the police caught him? He almost attacked me in there, i was scared.... "

My brother and the medics who were doing tests on me looked at each other as if trying to understand what I just told them.

I was placed in an ambulance and my brother took the ride with me, on my way to a nearby hospital, i believe.

"Didn't the police catch him? They should have... he was just right there with me on the elevator where they found me." I explained to him.

He must be the stalker that sent me those flowers at work. Now I understand. The flowers started coming three weeks ago. They kept coming everyday and I thought then that it was just from one of my coworkers. I had my fair share of suitors so the flowers weren't such a big deal. Then a week ago, love letters written in black paper with red ink came with the flowers, but with no names, not even a small hint on where they came from. Sheena, the company receptionist who receives the mails and packages, calls the sender my stalker. The letters and flowers were sent from different florists.

"It must be my stalker who did this... he must have gotten hold of my keys and somehow made copies.... i told you about my stalker before, right? "

My brother just nodded. He's still holding my hands.

"Do you feel anything? Any pain? " he asked me.

"Not really... just a slight headache.... I'm ok Ross.... just help me have the guy found and arrested, so i could finally rest from this anxiety... this guy is really bugging me.... just yesterday, i called the police on him, he was in my room,...but he managed to slip out quickly... the police think i was making it up.... "

"Are you sure you don't feel anything besides the headache? How long did you have it?" He asked me again. He was not even listening to what i was telling him, and i'm kind of pissed at him coz i might still be in danger with this stalker roaming freely.

"I told you i'm fine, Ross... why are you asking me about how i feel physically when what I want you to ask me is if I was ok emotionally since I am being stalked by this unknown man."

"Her vitals are fine... no signs of injury.... we will run blood tests when we get to the hospital..." the medic was telling my brother. Why is he telling my brother, why not to me?

"Ross.... what's going on? " i asked him. His actions are kind of suspicious, even the medics who were in charge of me were different, somehow.

"Lani..., this might be confusing for you but i have to tell you that you have not been to work for three weeks, and...."

What is he talking about? Is he mad? I don't take days off from work if i can help it, i abhor tardiness and laziness...

"What do you mean? Of course i was working.... you know me better than that...." maybe he's playing a prank on me. But i know my brother, too. He's the more serious one between us.

"Sweetie... we have been looking for you for 3 days now... you haven't been to your place for a long time. We just found you at this abandoned theater a few blocks from your complex. Had it not been for a demolition crew that found you lying on the floor in one of the cubicles in the bathroom, i won't know what happened to you...."

I can't believe what i was hearing from my brother.

Can i wake up now?

Please.... let me wake up from this dream....