"Behind it" - Cai Xukun FF (ip+sk ff)

Chapter 22 - Again

Natalie's POV

I woke up to the smell of some food. I slowly opened my eyes trying to get used to the light. Without any rush, I sat down on a bed and looked around the room.

There was no one inside and it wasn't my room. It took me some time to remember the events from previous night. Actually, I had no idea how I had ended up in the bed because the last thing I could remember was getting into Irene's car.

I didn't know what time it was but the there was one thing I was sure of. I was hungry as hell so no wasting more time I got up from the bed and made my way to the door. I slowly opened them and wander my eyes around the space.

In front of me there was a big living room with a small black sofa and tv with some strange electronic devices I couldn't even name and, probably, it was a good sign. The room was connected to the small kitchen that had black and white furniture. The whole place was clean as if it had been tidied up a minute ago. I had never seen such an esthetic place in my entire life. Even Kate didn't have such a tidiness.

"Good morning, Natalie," I heard a feminine voice and I looked into the direction of the source. I saw Irene with her hair combed into a ponytail. She wore sweatpants with an oversized hoodie and that was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Without heels the girl was much smaller what was making her more adorable. That appearance was a total opposite to her usual work style. Irene didn't look as demanding and scary as always.

"I hope you had a good sleep, finally in peace...if you're wondering how did you end up in a bed, it's because I just managed to carry you here from my car. I didn't have conscience to wake you up," the girl explained and I felt my heart skipped a bit. It was so nice of her to do so. If she had been a guy I wouldn't have thought twice and just be his.

"You could have just done that. I wouldn't be mad. I'm grateful that you even let me sleep here," I answered smiling sincerely at her as she patted my shoulder lightly.

"I made some breakfast. Let's just eat," she stated and led me to the kitchen table that was already decorated with pancakes and colorful fruits of different kind. I felt my saliva escaping my mouth as I sat down looking at the food in awe. "Hope you'll like it."

"I will for sure," I answered and immediately started eating as if it was going to be my last meal. I chewed the aliment peacefully when suddenly my mind fully woke up and I came back to reality.

Irene must have felt the change in my mood as she put the cutlery down and look into my eyes. "Do you have any questions or you're just worrying about your future?" she asked and I sighed deeply.

"I do have questions...but you won't be able to answer for them," I stated calmly looking out of the window. The sky was covered in grey clouds but it wasn't raining. Those clouds were just like me. Helpless. They couldn't even cry just like me. They looked lifeless and powerless.

How long it's going to take until I will be able to live again? I just wanted to go to work like any normal day. With no one haunting me. With no one keeping an eye on me so I can be safe.

Actions like that always looked good in the movies. That adrenaline you feel as the main character is chased or kidnapped...but it wasn't as interesting when I really was a victim. It was just suffocating. I was free but it felt like I was close in some kind of a big cage full of danger. You can do whatever you want...but you're not able to escape.

As I was lost in thoughts Irene turned on the TV. Trying to find a good programme to watch she ran across the news.

"Serial killer is back. Another brunette woman in her 20s found dead in the outskirts of the city. The police is carefully looking for trades but the culprit seems to be a really skilled and clever- " the sound from the TV hit my ear as I looked at Irene. She quickly turned the TV off probably regretting that she had pushed the red bottom on the remote in the first place.