The Purge: Savior In The Shadow

7 - Followed

Rafi dropped to the ground and retreated himself back to the wall, trying to put as much distance as possible to the both of them. He looked at them with fear, breathing erratically. "I'm sure I scared you, and I don't blame you for that. We don't mean any harm." Melanie tried to reassure him, but it never stopped him from being scared.

"H-How long? How long w-were you s-staying here?" Rafi asked, looking at the man with utter fear and shock. "Who is this guy?" The man looked at Melanie, asking for confirmation. "That's just Rafi, Gaden. You can trust him." Gaden nodded at her and looked back at Rafi, sitting up from his bed. "It's been 4 years. Amazing how time flies, right?"

Rafi looked down at the ground, trying to process what he said. 4 years. For 4 years. So we've been staying here not knowing there was a man living with us. 4 years... Wait, that's the same year we hired Melanie. What is this? What is this?! What is happening?! These thoughts were swarming in his mind, giving him a headache. He held his head in pain, trying to make it stop... Until he remembered what he himself said.

"The food she served on her plate was enough for another person to eat."

Rafi gasped loudly, realizing she had been doing that to feed him when they were not looking. Melanie stood up and began walking closer to her, trying to check if he was okay. Rafi looked up, starting from the ground to her face, her face quickly turning into a terrifying one intent in hurting his family in his imagination. Melanie stretched her arm closer, trying to help until her hand got swatted away. "Stay away from me!" Melanie quickly pulled her hand away and took a step back, noticing Rafi retreating, his back already touching the cold surface of the wall.

"We don't mean any harm, we mean it." Melanie quickly reasoned, taking slow steps to not agitate him. "N-NO! STAY BACK!" His ears perked up and looked at the stairs, footsteps audible. "Rafi?! What is this place?!" Emilia shouted at the top of the stairs, fastening her pace. Emilia ducked her head, avoiding the beam possible to cause a concussion, and saw Rafi looking at her in fear. "Emilia?! What are you doing here?! Get away!" Rafi begged at the top of his lungs, desperate to keep her safe.

Melanie turned her head and looked at her. "Melanie?!" Emilia asked, raising her voice in shock. She noticed someone moving in the corner, her eyes slowly looking at the left in fear. The sight of an unsightly man sitting on a bed looking at her with his soulless eyes and soulless face made her take a step back. "Who are you?! And what are you doing here?!" She pointed at him suspiciously, her glaring eyes pointing daggers at him.

"I am Gaden..." He pointed at himself, bowing at her in respect. He looked back at her and said, "And she is my wife." He redirected his arm, pointing towards Melanie. Emilia was about to speak up, until she got interrupted by a noise.

*DING DONG*

They all looked up in caution, wondering who the person was this time. They all looked at each other, shaken. Notably, Melanie looked troubled, knowing they followed her on the way here. Melanie grabbed Emilia's shoulder, her whole body flaring up in panic. Emilia looked at her in fear, but that didn't matter to Melanie, for she wanted to keep Rowan safe.

"Whatever you do, do NOT let them come in, no matter what." Melanie eased her grip on her shoulder, Emilia taking the chance to walk up and check. Once she was gone, Rafi quickly got up and followed her, taking each step carefully on the cramped stairs.

"Do we have any weapons to protect them?" Melanie shot her eyes to Gaden, who was looking at her determined to protect them. "Yeah. There are knives in the kitchen." Melanie balled her fists, ready to take them down.

First Floor

Rafi looked at the peephole, noticing a group of people wearing red robes, their faces shadowed from their hood. One man spoke up, "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Wanderton. We are the Saviors."

To be continued...