A Rose Amongst Thorns

Chapter Nineteen

Arthit stared at Mike wide-eyed and darted to the door. Mike beat him there and locked it. Arthit walked backwards away from Mike, tripping over a rug and landing on the floor. He grimaced. Mike approached him to see if he way okay and Arthit scurried away from him clutching the leg of the dining room table.

"St-stay a-away from m-me! D-don't t-touch me." Tears started coming from Arthit's eyes, his body trembling.

Mike crouched in front of him and put his hands up.

"Arthit I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk. That's all. Here. Let me help you up."

"NO!" Arthit screamed and kicked at Mike.

Mike stopped and stepped back.

"Arthit please. I promise I just want to talk to you."

They were interrupted by the ringing of Arthit's mobile phone. Too scared to answer it, Arthit let it ring.

"HELP ME!" Arthit started screaming towards the door.

"Shut up!" Mike yelled at Arthit. "I told you I am not going to hurt you."

Mike turned his attention away from Arthit when he heard someone trying to enter the dining room. As he approached the door, Arthit slowly stood up and picked up a vase filled with flowers. He gradually moved towards Mike. When Mike opened the door, Arthit smashed the vase over his head and shoved past Oat to run down the hall. He franticly ran down the hallway not knowing where he was going. He ran from door to door trying to find an open door so he could hide. He finally found an open door, rushed inside and hid in a closet.

He held his hand over his mouth to quiet his sobs. His phone started ringing again and he panicked. With shaky hands he reached in his pocket and retrieved the phone. Seeing it was Kongpob calling, he answered it.

"Kongpob." He hoarsely whispered.

"Arthit. What's wrong? Why do you sound like that?"

"Help me. Mike has me. Help. Please."

"Where are you?"

"I don't know. Help me Kong. He's going to kill me. I know he is. Help me."

"Arthit. I need you to breathe okay. Take some slow breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Now. Did Mike kidnap you? Did he snatch you from somewhere?"

"No. I was making a delivery."

"Okay. Did you use your GPS?"

"YES. Yes."

"Good. Look at your phone and tell me what address was on the GPS."

"Okay."

Arthit's hands were shaking and his eyes were blurred with tears. He breathed like Kongpob told him and then read the address to Kongpob.

"Good job Arthit. I'm coming to get you. Stay where you are. Don't move."

"Hurry Kong. Please."

Just then Mike yanked open the closet door and grabbed Arthit by the wrist.

"KONG!"

Arthit screamed Kongpob's name and dropped the phone. Kongpob could hear Arthit screaming and then the call was disconnected.

Kongpob jumped in his car and raced to the address calling the police along the way. He approached the gate and was stopped abruptly by the guard. He rolled down his window and spoke to the guard.