Mania.

Chapter 10 - DAY 06

Chapter 10 – DAY 06

When I calm down, a knock was heard from the door. A tall old man wearing a suit brought us our food. I just realized that he is the first person I met aside from the doctor here in the hospital. He gave the doctor a look I don’t understand. The doctor just nodded at him.

These two are really weird. After serving our food, he instantly left. It was already two in the afternoon. Both of us lost track of time.

            The food gave me enough strength to continue. I got a lot of courage to finish the last part of my story. I took my medicine and emptied the glass of water.

            “How was it?”

            “Best food ever,” I burped.

            She just smiled.

            “I would like to finish it already.”

            “You don’t have to force yourself. We can just schedule for another session,” she said.

            “Please, I want all of these burdens be released already,” I insisted.

            She looked hesitant. I know she is just worried about my condition. After a long pause, she said: “if you insist.”

            I cleared my throat. “The very next day at twilight, we already reached the place where we will meet with the girl’s parents. It was outside an abandoned building just by the West Road. It was very dark and the car’s headlight is the only source of light. We waited for them to arrive. Emma, our hostage is at the back of our car still tied up. Robert has two pistols with him that he said Nick had lend him. He told me to use it if things got worse. We were wearing black mask to cover ourselves. They would really freak out if they found out that teenagers kidnapped their daughter.

“Few minutes later, a black expensive car arrived at the building. There, it carries an old man wearing an expensive suit and a woman probably in her forties wearing corporate attire. They asked us where their daughter was. Robert said that she was at the back seat of his car.

            “Mr. Hoffman gets a suitcase from his car. He opened it and it contains stash of cash. I heard Robert whispered to my ear with words: just a little longer. He grabbed the girl while I pointed the gun towards Emma’s parents. Mr. Hoffman laid five big cases in their side while Robert carried the girl in his two arms. Robert told me that I should stand by inside the car. He will just give me a signal when to drive and make our escape to avoid being tailed.

            “I waited patiently inside. I removed the mask now drenched in sweat I’m wearing. I listened to the walkie-talkie Robert gave me to monitor their conversations. It somehow goes like this:

“Is that really my daughter?” Mr. Hoffman asked.

“Of course old man,” Robert answered.

Robert removed the girl’s blindfold and I heard Mr. And Mrs. Hoffman both crying.

“Oh poor Emma,” Mrs. Hoffman said.

“If you can just give me the money I’m asking so we both can skedaddle.”

“God bless your soul young man. May He even have mercy left for you,” Mrs. Hoffman said.

“Oh that’s crap. During the past few days, I have already proven that there is no God,” Robert scoffed. “If there is, then I wouldn’t be right here.”

“Can you still hear yourself? What you’re saying is blasphemous,” Mr. Hoffman said.

Robert groaned. “I don’t need these parental lectures. If you can just give me the money. Instantly, I will hand you your daughter.”

“There it was the exchange of prices. Mr. And Mrs. Hoffman both helped each other to carry the suitcases, while Robert laid Emma in the middle of the ground. Robert removed his mask and opened the suitcases to confirm whether the money is fake and with the right amount. He signaled me okay and whispered on the walkie-talkie. He said: it is now finished.

“A moment later, I heard a loud scream. Then, I saw Mr. And Mrs. Hoffman crying.

“Oh, my daughter. Oh God!” Mr. Hoffman cried.

“Hang on Emma, baby. Mom and dad are here. Please, hang on,” Mrs. Hoffman said.

Mrs. Hoffman checked her daughter.

“Why, what’s the matter?” Robert asked.

“What have you done rascal? You little bastard! YOU HAVE KILLED MY DAUGHTER!” Mr. Hoffman growled.

“What? How could that happen? She’s still alive when we brought her here,” Robert said in his desperate voice.

“Emma is asthmatic. I kept on reminding you on the call about her inhaler. How dare you!” Mrs. Hoffman said at the top of her lungs.

“I saw Robert’s reaction changed. I think he has just realized what he has done wrong. Then, everything is too loud to be picked up in the walkie-talkie. I saw Robert waving at me to start the engine and escape from here. I started the car while he carries two of the five suitcases with him while running. The weight of the suitcases slowed him down. Then, I saw Mr. Hoffman get a pistol from his suit pocket and pointed it to Robert. I warned Robert about the gun but Mr. Hoffman fired it with no hesitation.”

I felt every hair of my body rise.

 “It hit the back of Robert. He fell to the ground and moaned in pain. Mr. Hoffman walked closer to Robert and fired another shot. Mrs. Hoffman who is mourning with the death of their daughter just watched her husband killing my best friend. Robert grabbed the pistol in his pocket for counterattack and pointed it to Mr. Hoffman. He is about to pull the trigger when Mr. Hoffman fired a shot at Robert’s right hand. He lost grip of the gun. Then, Robert said something to me through the walkie-talkie. He said: thank you for being my best friend. Take this money with you and start a new life. I’m sorry.

“Mr. Hoffman fired the very last shot on Robert’s head. After killing Robert, he’s eyes of a murderer now looked directly at the car I’m in. He cried at the top of his lungs and ran to me. I roared the engine towards Mr. Hoffman and instantly, hit him with the fastest speed I could manage. Blood splattered on the windshield. I cleared it out with the wipers. Mrs. Hoffman cried in terror.

“I have to avenge my best friend. She stood up and carried her daughter toward their car. She was running very slow. I don’t know what to do. She probably saw my face already. She may reveal this incident to the police. I know I have one option left. I drove the car backwards for the approach, and hit the pedal. Mrs. Hoffman is about to enter the driver’s side when I pressed her hip to their car against mine. Their car almost flipped out. The impact was so hard that I hit my head and legs.

“I cried so hard. I just murdered two people. I couldn’t manage to look at her face. Her blood shot blue eyes are staring back at me like she’s saying something. I sobbed very hard. There I was on an abandoned building with four dead people around me.”