Restart

Chapter 50. Safe

"Alexander?" I cry.
"Claire? Where are you? Oh my God! Are you ok? Tell me where you are." His voice is shaking.
I can't speak. I am crying my heart out and I can't even breathe. I am now at the hotel's lobby and this man approaches me.
"Are you ok Miss?"
He helps me sit in a chair while I tell Alexander where I am.
"Yes, I am ok. Please drive carefully, I am safe now." I manage to say in between sobbing.
"I am on my way love. My sweet girl, I thought I lost you!" He is now crying and I am afraid that he'll have an accident, driving in that state of mind.
"Please Alexander stop speeding, I can hear the engine roaring. Please my love, you have to come here safely. I need you!" And by saying that I remember Michael.
I turn towards the man that helped me and I tell him to call the police. He asks me which room number the man that attacked me was, but I didn't know, so I give him his full name and another man runs towards the reception to track his room. I look up and there are a lot of people around me, looking worried and curious about what caused this horrible looking appearance of mine. I feel I can't swallow feeling my throat dry and harsh, then a sweet old lady offers me a glass of water.
"Here sweetie, drink this." She kindly says, while rubbing my back with one hand and holding my shoulder with the other. Without much consideration, I lay my head in her arms, as I always do when I need a place to hide and feel safe.
"It's ok now. Don't worry about a thing, you are safe." She comforts me, softly caressing my hair.
"Claire!" I hear Alexander's voice and I finally see him. I stand up and ran towards him, collapsing in his arms. I cry so hard that I can't catch my breath and he is crying along with me, holding me and telling me it's ok.
"Are you ok? That's all I need to know." He begs.
"Yes.... Alexander it's Michael."
"What about Michael?"
"He is alive, he is here."
His eyes go dark and he looks around.
"Where is he?" He roars.
"I don't know, please don't leave me!" I beg.
"Police are on the way sir." A man informs him.
"Close the hotel's doors. He mustn't escape." He demands.
"We already have sir. There is nothing to worry about, just stay here to comfort this poor girl."
The police comes only a minute later and two officers approach us while others rush in the elevator.
"Are you ok miss?" The policeman asks.
"Yes. Please leave me, you have to find him." I plead.
"Don't worry about a thing. We have him."
And by saying that, the elevator's doors slide open and there he is. He is now wearing handcuffs and he is escorted by several policemen.
"You bastard! What did you do to her?" Alexander threatens, as he left me and is now running towards him. The policemen prevent Alexander from reaching Michael and he is furiously asking them to let him go. Thank god they don't as I am pretty sure he'd kill him with his bare hands.
"Alexander....COME BACK!" I hysterically yell and he is in my arms before I even finished saying it.
"I am sorry my love. I'll never leave you again. I am here now and he can't harm you, not any more."
He picks me up on his arms and he is heading towards the exit, while telling a policeman he would take me later to give a statement. The man agreed and gave Alexander a card with his contact information.
He gently places me in the car and starts driving.
"Should we go to the hospital first?" He gently asks.
"No, he didn't touch me" I say, but my voice can barely be heard from all that screaming earlier.
I hear him exhale a big breath he was holding obviously relieved. He is driving, holding my hand and kissing it every 10 seconds apologizing for not being able to find me. My sweet Alex... my love. It's not his fault.
Michael is alive... I can't believe it!
"Dad, I found her. She is ok and we are going home.
"Is she ok? What happened? Where was she?" His father asks.
"I can't explain now, as she has been through a lot, but she is now safe. I'll call you later."
"I am so sorry I didn't call you earlier. Last night when I saw him I fell into shock and I was unable to move or speak. He had turned off my phone and I was so scared, I really was. He is delusional and dangerous and I collapsed from the psychological pressure I was enduring, but when I woke up and saw I was in his arms right next to him, I managed to come around. I finally got control over my body and I was again able to move, I confronted him about everything and then I ran down the lobby. He told me everything and it was even worse than what I imagined, as I now realize he is truly a sick man."
His eyes are wet again but he doesn't say anything. He just holds my hand tight, while rubbing it nervously with his thumb.
Then he dials a number again.
"Paul, I found her. (He pauses listening to Paul) Yes, she is fine don't worry, I am now taking her home. (Again pause) I think it's better if you speak with her tomorrow, she needs some rest and I am sure she'll explain everything to us when she comes around, as really at this moment nothing seems to make sense. (Pause, while Paul is talking) Look, all you need to know is that she is ok..."
Is he talking to my Paul? How did he find his number? And I interrupt, as I realize how worried he must also be.
"Give me the phone." I ask him and he immediately passes it to me.
"Paul" I say in a hoarse voice.
"Claire, are you ok? What happened?" He says in one breath.
"He is alive."
"Who? Noooo! Michael?" He exclaims.
And I start crying, so Alexander takes the phone from my hand and tells Paul that I will call him back when I am feeling better, assuring him once more that I was now safe and unharmed.
We finally reach home and he carries me in, taking me straight to the shower. He gently undresses me and cleans my body, using his soft hands to wash Michael's scent and touch away. How could he once again know exactly what I needed? He hugs me after wrapping the towel around me and again he picks me up taking me to my bedroom.
"I will leave you only for a minute, to get you something comfortable to wear and then I'll make you a hot cup of tea." He reassures me.
I don't know how long has it been, but I am in his arms, sitting on his lap and my head is placed on his chest, as I am hearing the comforting sound of his heartbeat. I am now feeling completely safe but neither of us can talk, as obviously his agony for losing me, was just as overwhelming as mine, or maybe even worse as I was passed out most of the time.
I don't know how, but I managed to sleep, as I woke up to find myself lying down next to him in bed our feet intertwined together. He is still asleep and I carefully crawl away, trying not to wake him up, but his eyes suddenly open.
"Morning beautiful, well it's actually afternoon but who cares. All I care is that you are here safe in my arms." And he comes to me, hugging me tight and kissing the top of my head.
"I can't believe he is alive. Michael is alive." I say mostly to actually digest it myself.
"He won't hurt you again, my precious. I will kill him and I mean I will actually hire someone to literally kill him."
My eyes open wide to the realization that he is actually being serious about this.
"No! That's wrong Alex. Besides, I am not afraid of him. I confronted him, with everything I had, surprising myself even."
"That's my girl!" He smiles and all my fears disappear.
Alexander went upstairs to get us something to eat so I decide to call my mom.
"Hello sweetie!"
"Mom, for God's sakes, why didn't you tell me Michael was alive?" I say in tears.
"No! Did he contact you? I told him to stay away from you and I called the police. He had the nerve to show up to my house, asking where you were."
"Mom, you should have told me. Why on earth didn't you?"
"I didn't want to upset you honey and especially after seeing how good you finally were doing and all the amazing progress you've made."
"He is here! He basically kidnapped me as I was so shocked to see him, that I couldn't resist, so thanks for the warning mom."
"Sweetheart, are you ok? Where is he now?"
"I am fine! But not thanks to you. The police have Michael and we are going there later to explain what happened."
"Oh, thank goodness. Do you have anyone with you? I am getting the next plane there!"
"No, please don't. Alexander is with me and he will take me to the police station."
"Your boss?"
"My boss who is also my boyfriend." I say while imagining her with her mouth open wide from surprise.
"You are being reckless again, rushing into things. Why would you be involved with someone so soon?"
"Mom, really? I have just escaped Michael and all you have to say is some judgmental nonsense about me being in a relationship too soon? You know what mom, no, definitely don't come to New York, as you are one of the main reasons I left London. You were never truly supportive of me, by worrying more about what other people thought, instead of your own daughter. Oh, and next time don't hide anything from me, as you could have been the reason for this situation to end up really badly."
"Really? You are blaming me for this?" Claire you chose that awful man and I accepted him in our lives as per your request..."
"Mom, spare me the drama please!" I say cutting her off. "In time, you were more in love with Michael, than I was and yes, he was my choice but then he betrayed me and proved me wrong in the worst way possible, so I would appreciate it if you had warned me about his resurrection. Anyway, I have to go."
She was actually right. There were all the alerting signs, which I chose to ignore over and over again, allowing the situation to get out of control. Three times I left him and I would always return to him, cherishing the happy moments we had and only wanting more. Where did that Michael go? He was nowhere to be found when I looked into his eyes, facing him this morning. Insanity is all I could see and I had caused that. I should have known better and help him face his jealousy issues, so that he could overcome them. I wonder what he is thinking at the moment, while sitting in a cell.