They want to kill me?

I glanced at the clock in my hand. It was precisely two in the afternoon. Thankfully, Theo was able to get home early and invited me to meet up.

 

I walked into the small cafe in the alley. It's my regular cafe. This place is relatively quiet. I deliberately chose this cafe because my conversation with Theo was a secret. I didn't want anyone to know.

 

I sat at one of the tables by the window. A waitress came over to me. "Anything you'd like to order, Miss?"

 

I opened the menu book, pointing at one of the drink menus. "Just this."

 

The waitress made a note in a small book. "Please wait a moment. Your order will be made soon."

 

The waitress left. I squeezed my trembling hands together. My gaze traveled around with a feeling of uneasiness and fear. I wanted to talk to Theo immediately. Why hadn't he come yet?

 

I was distracted when my phone screen lit up and rang. Theo's name was on it. I quickly picked it up. "Where are you?"

 

"I still have a few things to do. I need some time." I heard Theo's exhale from the other side. "Looks like I'm going to be late. Are you okay with waiting a little longer for me?"

 

I nodded. "Alright. I'll wait for you."

 

The phone call between us ended. I exhaled, playing with my phone to kill time by scrolling through social media.

 

I gasped slightly in surprise when my phone rang again and showed Uncle Matthew's name on the screen. I swallowed my saliva and just stood still for a few moments, letting my phone continue to ring.

 

But the looks of the people around me, who seemed annoyed, forced me to pick up the call immediately.

 

"Where are you now?" Uncle Matthew's voice sounded restrained with emphasis.

 

It seemed like he had gone home. Ah, that's bad. I'd hate for him to grumble and catch up with me if I told him that I went to this cafe to meet Theo.

 

"I have important business with my friend. See you later." I quickly disconnected the phone from her.

 

My heart was racing. I was terrified. Quickly, I changed my phone settings to silent to avoid calls from Uncle Matthew.

 

I knew it was pointless. Uncle Matthew will call me back, but at least I can answer him later at home.

 

However, will I still be alive when I get home? Perhaps Uncle Matthew will kill me right away when I get home.

 

Ah, my head hurts. I covered my face, banging my head lightly against the cafe table. What should I do?

 

"Excuse me." The arrival of a waiter made me a little surprised. "Here's your drink order, Miss." He placed my order on the table carefully. "Please enjoy."

 

I nodded. "Thank you." The waiter politely left my presence.

 

Ice Chocolate Caramel. I quickly took a sip to calm my agitated feelings.

 

I tapped my phone screen to look at the clock. It's been more than twenty minutes since I waited for Theo. Notifications were floating on the lock screen, five missed calls from Uncle Matthew, and several messages he had sent.

 

I quickly put my phone in my bag without opening the message from Uncle Matthew, then took a slow sip of my drink. I was already feeling a little better.

 

"Nyla." I was startled by the sudden arrival of Theo, who sat on the chair in front of me. "Sorry, I came late."

 

I glanced at my watch. "You're exactly half an hour late."

 

"I'm sorry." He apologized again while clasping her palms together in front of her face. "Oh, you've ordered a drink."

 

I nodded slowly. "It's almost gone."

 

Theo was scratching the back of his head. "Can I get you another drink?"

 

I shook my head, looking down to play with the straw in my drinking glass. I felt uneasy. How do I tell Theo? Where should I tell him? The thing was, this wasn't someone else but my uncle.

 

"Why do you have that expression on your face?" I raised my face, and Theo leaned his face slightly forward with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong? What's bothering you? Didn't you say you wanted to tell me something?"

 

I nodded. "You know my uncle?"

 

"Of course I do." Theo chuckled. "Why, what did he do to you?"

 

Theo's eyes narrowed as he searched my face. His face looked worried, with a furrowed brow.

 

I stopped my hand movements, taking a deep breath. "I heard my uncle talking ...."

 

My eyes widened perfectly when there was a gunshot that made everyone in the cafe scream hysterically.

 

"Ahh!" people's screams were increasingly heard over the loud shattering of glass that fell on the floor from the gunshot. 

 

My eyes flashed rapidly, searching for the direction from which the shots had come. Everyone seemed to be running to and fro. Chairs and tables were falling all over the place. The atmosphere inside the cafe instantly became chaotic and messy.

 

I was drawn to two men in black robes with tall black hats and sunglasses who had just entered the cafe. In their hands were weapons.

 

The two men walked up, facing the direction of my table. Theo and I got up from our seats slowly. My pupils fluttered with tautly drawn facial skin as they pointed the guns in their hands at me.

 

"Come on, go, Nyla!" Theo pulled my wrist, making me come to my senses and dash to avoid the gunfire.

 

"Ahh!" I screamed as the bullet hit the vase on my desk. Any later, my life would have been in their hands.

 

My body shook with fear. Even my heart seemed to stop for a moment. I was terrified. Were those my uncle's men?

 

I kept running, jumping over broken plates and scattered cafe items. We tried to run out of the cafe through the back door. The cafe staff were running around, making it difficult for us to leave.

 

What now?

 

The shots rang out again. Some people crouched down while holding their heads. Theo and I seized the opportunity to get out of the cafe. We kept running. The gunmen were still chasing us.

 

The gunshots were accompanied by punches this time. There seemed to be a fight going on back there. I didn't dare look back. Theo held me so hard that it made my wrists hurt.

 

"Nyla!" Uncle Matthew's voice came from a distance.

 

Is he here? One of them is Uncle Matthew. So, Uncle Matthew wants to kill me?

 

I don't want to die.

 

I let go of Theo's hand, hurrying to speed up my pace. I ran alone, leaving Theo behind despite his cries calling my name. On the other hand, I also kept hearing Uncle Matthew's voice. I had to run faster.

The gunshots sounded closer this time. I cried. My body already felt tired, and even my legs were weak, unable to run anymore.

 

My eyes widened perfectly when someone suddenly caught my body until we fell to the floor. Gunshots rang out several times, making my ears ring with pain.

 

I covered my head with both hands. I closed my eyes with my body shaking violently. I was so scared. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die."

 

I kept mumbling with tears in my eyes. Anybody, help me.

 

"You won't die, Nyla." That was Uncle Matthew's voice. His voice sounded evident near my ear.

 

Was the person who caught me just now Uncle Matthew?

 

My body trembled even more in fear. I failed to escape from him. I didn't want to die in his hands. My heart was beating so fast that the pounding was deafening.

 

I shook my head. "Please, I don't want to die."

 

The sound of Uncle Matthew's exhaling could be heard clearly. My eyes opened slowly as I felt a warm liquid seeping down my shoulder. Is this sweat?

 

It isn't. My pupils dilate. It's blood. I moved my head slowly to glance at Uncle Matthew. My eyes widened even wider when I saw that the 34-year-old man's shoulder was bleeding profusely. He was severely injured.

 

His arms were wide open, embracing my body. Did he just protect me from gunfire?