IDTMB — Chapter six

The room was quiet, with only the sounds of the machine making noise inside. Arthur was sitting on the chair next to Ellie's hospital bed and there is a dextrose in her hand. She is already fine because the effects of the party drugs have worn off in her system. His private attorney has already handled the case that will be brought against Yuzon, and he will not let him walk outside pretending to be a victim. He must pay for his actions.

"Hmmm," Ellie says, finally awake after sleeping in the hospital bed all night. She slowly opened her eyes, and the lights in the florescent bulb were the first thing she noticed. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," Arthur replied solemnly from his seat, and she turned her head to him, her brow furrowed.

"Arthur? What am I doing here?" she asked, looking down at the hospital gown she was wearing.

"Don't you remember what happened?"

"What should I remember?" she asked, clearly unsure.

"Try to remember, Ellie," he said as he helped her rise from her bed and filled the empty glass with water before handing it to her. "You left the house and went to the bar," he said, spilling half of the tea as a hint that made her stop.

Ellie's hand shakes in fear as she recalls what happened last night at the bar. She can remember every detail of how the man molested her during her weaknesses until Arthur showed up, which is the last thing she remembers. Her eyes welled up with tears as she considered what would happen if Arthur did not come to save her. She will not digest it if the man succeeds in his plan.

"Stop crying. There's no need for you to cry," Arthur said as he took the glass from her grasp before she spilled it on the hospital bed.

"I'm sorry if I didn't listen," she said, wiping her tears away with her hands.

"After all, it was your choice, so why waste your tears now?"

She gives him a look that says she can't believe what she just heard from him. "You were there, Arthur, and you saw how that man molested me!" she yelled angrily.

"You know it's not going to happen if you just listen to me."

"I feel filthy right now how he touched me and I can still feel it, it's disgusting!" she cried, covering her face with her hands.

Arthur exhaled a long sigh. "Come here," he says, taking her into his arms and caressing her back to put her at ease. "Don't worry, no one will hurt you again as long as I am here," he said, kissing the top of her head, but she was too busy crying to hear what he said.

After the conversation they had when Ellie awoke, the two stopped talking. Arthur had already settled the charge in the hospital, and they were now on their way somewhere, and she didn't even bother to ask if they were going home. Ellie appeared not to be in herself, as she stared blankly out the window at the places they were passing through. What happened last night is still haunting her and replaying in her mind, making her feel disgusted with herself.

"Why don't you sleep so you can rest?" Arthur said as he caught a glimpse of her.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to our house." Instead of minding what he said, she just answered another question.

"You'll see, and don't worry, I already texted mom that we're together now so they won't worry." Arthur's voice isn't as cold as it was the last time they spoke, but the man's words are still serious.

"Don't you have a job at the company? Perhaps your fiancee, especially your daughter, is looking for you."

"My secretary can handle the work for me in the company. She will just call me if they need me there so you don't have to worry," he explained, "And I already informed Rebecca that we're together so she will not going to find me."

"I see. Will you please stop in a fastfood restaurant? I'm really hungry." Ellie changed the subject as her stomach growled in hunger.

"All right, let's go to that restaurant." Arthur drives the car to their left when he notices a restaurant they are about to pass.

"Can you just take out some food?" she asked in her pleasing tone, "I'm not in the mood to go out in this car."

"Okay, you stay here, I'll order for us," he replied immediately without having second thoughts about it and take off his seatbelt before opening the door.

"Don't forget to add a burger and fries to my order!" she exclaimed before he slammed the car door shut.

After placing an order at a fast food restaurant, they continue driving while eating inside the car. Ellie had fallen asleep almost half an hour after eating and had just awoken to find that they were still traveling. They get further and further away from home, with no idea where they are going. The area outside the window is no longer familiar to her, and she wonders where they are. Even though she wants to go back now, she knows that if they do, their adoptive parents will bring up the arrange marriage again. For the time being, she will simply follow Arthur wherever he goes to give her a space to think about it.

It took them nearly five hours on the road since they left the hospital before Arthur finally pulled over in front of a cabin that was unfamiliar to her. It's very peaceful there because the cabin was built inside the forest, which is only surrounded by tall trees. A cabin made of oak logs, the natural beauty of the wood pulsing a welcome for those who have learned the ways of the forest to make it this far. It's a small, one-room cabin lit up by pleasure, the glow of which can be seen from miles away. The cabin is warm and inviting on the inside, with a fireplace that emits the warmth of devotion. A bed in the center of the cabin is covered in the softest cotton sheets and covers, allowing them to rest comfortably. Both the sunrise and sunset can be seen clearly from the back of the cabin, where there is a table with two chairs that is ideal for a couple watching the sun together.

"Who's cabin is this?" Ellie asked as they go out in the car, "Does the distance we traveled worth it to come here? Are you visiting someone at this cabin?"

"There is no one to visit here; I own this cabin," he replied, leaving her as he began walking through the doorway.

"His cabin, okay?" She can't believe she's with him in this kind of place and so far out of the picture that she can only imagine where they're going.

"Are you not coming?" He was waiting, looking at her, who was still standing where he had left her.

Ellie dashed towards him, and the two of them entered inside together. The space was not as large as the cabin appeared from the outside, but it was already enough to live. Arthur began putting woods in the fireplace to warm up the room. Even if it's still noon, the cabin was already cover by cold and the sunlight can't even enter because of the trees.

"Do you spend time here with Rebecca and Andy?"

When Arthur heard her question, he came to a halt and looked down at the matches in his hands. "No," he only said before starting the fire in the woods.

"So, what is this cabin for?" she asked, standing still. "Does mom and dad know about this cabin? This is too far away from home, and I'm wondering if you don't mind."

"This is my private property," he said as he turned to face her, taking the sweater from the couch and handing it to her. "Don't tell anyone about this place because you were the first person I brought here. I don't want anyone to get involved here in my place."

"Why did you even bring me here?" She can't take her gaze away from him, remembering the differences from the last time they saw each other years ago. She even notices an expression she had never seen before she left.

"I just want to distract your mind from what happened last night so you don't think about it again, and there's something I need to tell you later when I come back," he says as he walks past Ellie.

"Wait, you're going to leave me here alone?"

"I'm just going to the supermarket in the other side, and I won't be there much longer."

"I will come with you."

"No, you stay here. Don't worry, there are no bears here..." he said in sarcasm, "just snakes." he continued that made her eyes widened.

"Stop scaring me asshole!" she yelled at him after hitting his arm, "Go on leave me here and comeback quick!"