𝐿𝑜𝓊𝒹 𝒮𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒

Chapter 10: Helping Hand

It has been three months since I had seen or had anything done to me since that hangman game. Yes, believe it or not a man snatched me from work just to play hangman. And here I was on the beach with Co-workers celebrating the 12th anniversary of having a great business. I felt troubled still and still deep down I was a little paranoid but it has been three months maybe I should finally accept that I can relax even if it was just a little bit. I have no idea why I wore a swimsuit I wasn't even going swimming. Although it was entertaining enough for me to watch the others splash around.

Hands roamed my shoulders "And why aren't you over there with the others? Are you afraid of the water being cold?" Mario teased

I turned myself towards him raising a brow "No... and I'm shocked to find you not with a woman. Did all of them turn their backs to you?" I snickered

"I'll have you know that I was the one turning women down"

"You? The man who absolutely loves the feeling of being in a woman? I can't believe this... are you dying?!"

He scoffed unamused "I'm not dying! I just want to enjoy myself for once... alone." I could relate to that a lot lately. No matter what I did throughout the day I couldn't muster up the energy to go out with people let alone social gatherings. The only reason I showed was because Mario had practically begged me to come. If he hadn't I would've been in my room lost in thought right about now.

"I can understand that. Sometimes being alone is clarity for a person. I mean, look at me, a lot of times I'm socially awkward and extremely shy around people," I now stood up

"I noticed," a chuckle escaped his throat and we began walking. "But seriously I need a vacation to clear my head," I nodded agreeing. Even I needed a break from all that has happened even if it was months ago. Mario and I had silly idle chatter as we walked around the beach. We had mostly made jokes while playing around near the water only giving the waves access to our feet. Other than talking our silence gave us comfort alone.

『••✎••』

Nightfall had approached and here I was binge watching my shows all the while stuffing my face with the pasta I had made. Yet there was something wrong I had sensed it. I searched every nook and cranny in my house but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. So why did I feel this way? I couldn't answer that question. The more I choose to ignore it the more it ate at me. Eventually, it became overwhelming so I found myself going to the kitchen arming myself with a large steak knife.

I opened the back door ever so slowly while creeping out. Nothing in my pool look unordinary but being observant like I am made me check the nine feet side before I left. I stalked over to the side of the house and noticed my fence looked slightly tilted to the right but 15 degrees. Someone who is heavy built, muscular, or just strong as hell did this. I reached out a hand and glided my hand at the top. It was just as I thought... blood. Someone injured must've hopped over here for a brief period to recover.

If they weren't in the pool or here that means they are probably on the other side of that house. I inhaled a sharp breath and walked quietly carefully putting my foot in front of the other. I peeked around the corner and saw the shadow's figure slouched on the ground. Thunder started the clap, it would start raining soon. The person seemed to be unconscious for the time being so I casually just walked up to the person and put the knife to their neck. The person's eyes flashed open showing they were going to attack but a yelp in pain told me they were badly injured.

Rain starting hitting us roughly "Here, let me." I was stupid but this person needed help and staying in the rain wasn't going to help him. I threw one arm over my shoulder "On three, one, two, three!" Pulling him made me feel like I would collapse any moment he was heavy. With much difficulty, we managed to get into the house. My legs were giving out so I threw him on the couch and fell to the floor with my eyes closed. When I got my breathing together the person in front of me made my eyes bulge out. It was Ace...

He looked at me through hooded eyes almost looking dead. He was gushing crimson from his side. I went to the cabinet and grabbed bandages, things of cleaning wounds, and stitches. Maybe it was because he was badly injured that he didn't shout his complaints my way but he was letting me tend to him. Even when I ripped his shirt and cleaned the stab wound he did nothing but flinch slightly but he did watch my movements like a hawk. It was then when I pulled the needle and thread out he spoke; "So, you aren't completely useless after all... how did you learn to tend to wounds like mine?" He tried to keep his voice firm and hard yet he wasn't doing a great job.

"I learned from my mother," I realized he spoke to try to remove his mind from focusing on the pain "I had someone close that would come over a lot. This person was a daredevil and no matter the case. The person always seemed to have wounds that required stitches. And since my mother was a nurse she taught me how to treat them," I was halfway finished patching him up.

"You learned well," was all he said and silence filled the room once more. When I had finished fixing him I questioned him "Why haven't you men tried killing me yet?" No response "Can you at least explain to me why you put me through hell at least?" Still no response "Why were you in my backyard? And give me one reason I shouldn't kill you right here right now?!" I was getting frustrated with him not answering me.

"You can't kill me. You don't have the guts. You're a woman and a good-hearted one at that. There's no way a weak, pathetic woman like you with your nature ever do something so sinister. Look around you, there is me, a bleeding man. Someone who helped kidnap you, someone who can kill you without hesitation, someone who is never to be trusted and yet here you are... a woman who has kindness in her heart to help me out the thunderstorm and patch me up,"

The sad part was I was speechless after what he had said. But I'm certainly not weak! I had let him in the comfort of my house not knowing who he was at first but I seen someone injured and my instinct was to help without a second thought. He could've come here to simply end me right now and I had let him in and helped. I was ignorant at this moment very ignorant. Someone should just strut along here and smack "dumbass" on my face. And even if I didn't show it on the outside I was petrified. I didn't say anything back to him because I couldn't argue with what he said. My breaths were starting to become uneven I needed to leave but because of the storm I left upstairs to go to my room and flopped down on my bed. The thought of my blood-stained shirt crossing my mind. Now, I have to wash my blanket.

Feeling angry at my stupidity I managed to snatch my blanket off and stomped downstairs. I halted my movements, he was gone. Fuck, I crept into the kitchen but he wasn't in there. Maybe he decided to leave. When I opened the garage door he was in my washing machine in nothing but his underwear showing his all glory. What could I do? I had already invited him in my house. So simply I ignore the sight before me, shoved my blanket inside and started the machine.

It was about an hour later I had finished Landry and was clean. And now I was in the comfort of my bed snuggled into my blanket. Ace, on the other hand, had disappeared mysteriously into thin air.