Red String Of Fate

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

-- One Week Later --

I curled up against the wall and stayed quiet, listening out into the night for even the slightest suspicious sound. My shallow breaths echoed in the eerily quiet apartment. The silence hung threateningly in the air and I fumbled around my dark apartment for my phone. I hissed as I scraped my hand on a piece of glass and pulled back to nurse it. Reaching out with my other hand, I managed to land it on a familiar piece of technology. I felt a slight bit of relief wash through me as the weak light lit up. I selected my phonebook and hurriedly scrolled down my contacts before finally reaching the right one. I dialled and he picked up almost straight away.

“Re –” I cut him off as I whimpered quietly into the phone.

“Devon. Oh my god, come over. I’m scared.” My voice wavered as I spoke, terrified, into the phone.

“Where are you?” I could hear the running in the background, cars being summoned and orders being barked. “Reni, talk to me. Tell me where you are. Actually, never mind. I’ll trace the call. You just stay where you are. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Do you need me to stay on the phone?”

“Just come.” I slid the phone shut and brought my knees up closed to my chin.

About twenty minutes later, a small group of armed men kicked the door down with Devon and Kyler right behind them. I groped at the wall attempting to get up before feeling my legs give way and I collapsed back onto the ground, scraping my legs against whatever was there.

Kyler shone a torch at the wall and headed there to turn on the lights. The lights flickered on and I surveyed my apartment for the first time. I let my head fall back against the wall and let the tears well up. The living room itself was an utter mess. All the lamps laid shattered on the marble floor and furniture had been ripped apart. Everything was either lying on the floor chipped or shattered.

Kyler whispered something to Devon and he turned to order the men to sweep the place for anything that was left behind. Kyler headed over to me and knelt beside me. He gave me a one over and sighed. Helping me up, he led me to an armchair that someone had kindly righted its position and sat me down.

He grabbed the first aid kit and it was déjà vu all over again. Just like back at the kidnapping, he was down on his knees fixing my up from the injuries. Not that I expected much less, assuming that my apartment was broken into because of him.

“When did you buy this?” He began conversationally.

“The day I left the note. I needed somewhere to work.” I answered honestly.

“Reni, once again, you’ve proven that it’s too dangerous for me to leave you alone.” I felt my anger flare, knowing at once what he was insinuating but I was too worn out to argue.

“Whatever. I’ll come back.” I couldn’t care less anymore, I just needed to have a place to work. Suddenly, I remember the other rooms and I limped into the work room to check my work. The place was trashed. I felt horror bubble up and I rummaged the torn materials for my work. I collapsed onto the floor in relief as I picked up the still intact ivory dress.

“Wedding dress? Planning a wedding for us already?” I noticed him hovering behind me with a hint of a smirk lingering on his face. Strange.

“It’s for my client.” I snapped before softening my voice and asking, “Before we go back to your place, can pack everything in this room? Apart from the torn materials, I guess.” I eyed the ripped and wasted materials grimly and calculated the wasted expenses. Even though I did have quite an ample supply of cash, I did hate when things were wasted.