The Lifeguard

Chapter 24

I woke up in a strange environment. It was silent, but I could hear the waves crashing on the shore. The room is filled with odd aura. Everything looked normal, but odd. I didn't know where I am nor what is happening. My heart is pounding, scared. I want to scream but my throat is dry. I got up from the bed, and walked around. I tried opening the door, but it was locked. There are no telephones, or anything useful that I could use. I walked to the window to peek. There are no houses around. The only thing I know is I'm still close to the beach, but that does not change the fact that I'm frightened. I tried knocking on the door, calling for someone. None. No answer at all.

I don't know what to do. I'm trying to come up with something, but my mind is blank. I'm afraid. I'm alone. I'm oblivious. I can't believe this is happening.

I walked over to the door again. I pressed the side of my face on it, and tried to listen if there's anyone on the other side. I heard nothing. I kept my position for a while. I heard footsteps. It was getting louder, and louder as it comes. I grabbed the small table lamp near the bed. It has a long stick stand, easy to throw or use to hit. I hid behind the door and waited. My heart is about to drop. It's racing. Dear Lord, please help me. 

The door opened. I felt my stomach pull tight. I kept the lamp close to me, ready to use it as a weapon. It was the only thing I saw that I could use for defense. The door opened wider. I raised my hand, set. I was ready to hit when the person turned around. "Connor? What the hell?" I kept my hands up, wanting to throw the lamp at him.

He gestured me to put the lamp down. "Put it down," he says.

"What did you do? What is this?" Now, I am enraged than scared. He began walking closer to me. "Don't! Don't come near me." He didn't listen. "I'm serious. I will throw this at you if you take another step."

"Alright. Alright." He walked few steps back. "Just calm down, and let me explain. I don't intend to hurt you. I swear, I don't. Just put it down, and have a seat." I glowered at him, as I walk on the other side of the room. We exchanged spots. Now, I'm sitting down on the bed, while he was across me, distant.

I swallowed. "This is kidnapping. I can sue you for this."

"But you won't," he says with confidence.

"Why wouldn't I? This is wrong."

"Because you're gonna hear me out." He grabbed the chair on the side, and placed it in front of me. He sat down. "I know, you know." I didn't answer. "You don't know everything. You have no idea what is going on."

I scoffed, glaring at him. "I cleary have an idea. You kidnapped me because you don't want me to know whatever you're hiding."

He sighed. "No, Zoe. I'm not hiding anything."

"You lied to me."

"I didn't lie. What I've said... Everything I said is true." Connor didn't take his eyes off of me. His attention is fixed at me. "That's why I brought you here to tell you everything. I'm sorry if it had to be this way, but it had to happen." I didn't say anything else. I kept quiet for him to explain. "I don't know what you know exactly." Connor stopped, and took a deep breath.

I don't know if I'm ready to hear whatever he has to say. My heart is still racing. I still feel tense, even though I'm already trying to calm myself down.

He continued explaining. "My dad was a friend of your dad back in highschool. When Mr. Anderson began his business, he asked for my dad's help. They worked together for a long time in Anderson Group of Company, which is your family's main company. They worked together until they had to deal with a big problem that ruined their friendship. And of course, they had disagreements and fights. It came to the point that my dad was kicked out of the company because your dad was furious. He felt betrayed by my dad, but he was only trying to help him. He didn't do anything wrong, he did what he had to do which is say the truth." Connor went on about our dads. He told me what they fought about, and everything that happened regarding the situation. "There are no evidence that your dad was the one who wanted to kill my parents. But, Mr. Anderson threatened to kill my dad. That's the reason why we believe that it was your dad all along. We moved to Miami because we had to stay with Anna and Mikael. We started a new life."

I have no words. I don't know what to respond nor if I should believe him. It was hard to consume what he just said.

"Alexander and I had no idea about any of it. He only found out when Mr. Anderson found out about his relationship with Chloe. Mikael told us everything. So, Alexander and Chloe were forced to break up because it was the right thing to do. But they ended up running away instead of breaking up. I was there when the car accident happened. I met up with Alexander that time. I saw it with my own eyes. It was not an accident. A car purposely ran them. It was like... It was planned. The car was waiting for them, waiting for the chance to hit them. The only person who would do that is Mr. Anderson. He's the only one who have something against our family."

"He would never hurt my sister."

"I'm sorry." He tried to reach for my hand, but instead of letting him, I pushed his hands away.

I stood up now, facing my back to him. All this talk is unsettling. I turned around to face Connor. "Fine. Let's say you're right. Let's say he was behind all of it. But... That does not change the fact that you played me. And what? To get back to my father?"

He shook his head. "N-no. I didn't."

I scoffed. "You went on about trusting you and crap, but what did you do? You betrayed me like all of them did. You made me fall inlove with you!" I'm incensed, and hurt.

Connor stood up. "And you think I didn't? I've resigned at the hotel for weeks now... To avoid you because I love you!" He raised his voice. "Yes. I planned everything. I planned to meet you, and use you. Yes, I wanted to get back to your father through you... But that changed since I started falling for you. When I met you, I thought I wouldn't feel this. I thought I could go on with my plan. It all changed. You were clueless. You were innocent, and I just... I couldn't. Everything I said, and did is true. You think I wanted to fall inlove with you? Everytime we're together, guilt just takes over. I'm hurt because I couldn't tell you. I wanted you to know everything, but I can't bare the fact that doing so will break you."

"I'm already broken, Connor."