Kelvin's P.O.V I was about to march over to confront Richard when Anika pulled me back gently. "Hey, where are you going?" She asked, her voice laced with concern as she continued eating her cotton candy. "Look... I just saw something," I began, but a thought struck me. What if telling her causes more harm than good? What if she reacts badly to it? ___ 'Nika... I'm your friend, that's why I get to worry about you, that guy will only hurt you," I recalled saying to her earlier. "He won't hurt me and even if he did, it's my life, not yours, alright?" I remembered her firm reply before she walked away. ___ Anika had offered me a place to stay for the night after the whole incident, knowing I couldn't go out at that late hour and also to help distract her from Richard's words. We spent the entire night watching movies and playing games, but despite my efforts, I could sense that a part of her was still bothered by what had happened. I glanced in Richard's direction, only to find
Anika’s P.O.V "Stephanie!" I exclaimed. I let out a heavy sigh, running my fingers through my hair, as she rose from her seat, concealing her face from me. "I can explain," Richard said, his voice trembling as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "Go ahead," I replied, crossing my arms and fixing an angry gaze on him. My anger burned so intensely that I felt like I could split a mountain in two. I was already attracting attention with our argument, as onlookers whispered among themselves. A waiter approached us. "Could you please take this outside, ma’am? Your disturbance is affecting our other customers," he requested, but a stern glare from me made him retreat and leave us be. Richard scanned the surroundings. "Can we go talk outside? People are staring," he suggested, his tone laced with embarrassment. "Really? So you're ashamed to explain to your now-ex-girlfriend how you were caught kissing another girl behind her back on Christmas," I exclaimed. Laughter, whispers and
Kelvin's P.O.V "Thanks, you're my hero," Anika hugged me. "Where have you been all this time?" I turned to face her. "Do you know how worried I was?" I gently lifted her chin, drawing her closer. "I'm sorry, alright? I was just stressed." She hugged me and sniffled. "Are you crying?" I asked. "No," she replied, her head swaying slightly. She's drunk and not being truthful. I stepped back from the hug. "What happened?" I guided her to sit. "Did that jerk do anything to you?" I seethed. "No, you came before he could do anything to me." I sighed in relief. "Why are you drunk then? Why didn't you answer your calls when we were trying to reach you? Do you know I almost passed by this place, but my instinct told me not to? What if I hadn't come and that guy had taken you? What if—" She moved closer and kissed me, silencing me. That wasn't something I expected at all. I had no choice but to reciprocate, kissing her back and pouring out all my emotions and the pain I felt when I th
Anika's P.O.V I awoke to the acrid scent of cigarettes, nearly causing a pang of heartache. Gazing around, I realized I was in a dimly lit room, revealing a ghastly environment. The surroundings were grimy, featuring a ragged couch at its center. In the corner, a large box with a hole was present. The floor was strewn with cigarette butts, shattered bottles, scraps of paper, cartons, and splintered chairs. Attempting to rise, I discovered my hands and feet were bound to the chair. As I glanced at the figure before me, I let out a sigh and bit my lip. "Richard?" I laughed incredulously, masking my surprise. "I always thought of you as a charlatan and a scoundrel, but I never imagined you to be a kidnapper as well," I retorted, met with a sharp slap on my cheek, causing my hair to cascade over my face. His lackluster eyes bore into mine, his head cocked to the side. "I've been waiting a long time for this moment, and now that it's here, I find it quite satisfying," he grinned. "Y
Kelvin's P.O.V I rushed to my phone, picking it up despite the cracked screen. The content was barely visible, but I didn't care; it could still serve its purpose if that bastard called again. Exiting the office, I headed towards the elevator, fingers trembling as I tried to reach Laura. "Are you okay?" a concerned voice asked behind me, but I was too preoccupied to identify the speaker. Without hesitation, I darted into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. Though the voice sounded like Mirabel's, I couldn't spare time for guessing games. My focus was on rescuing my friend and long-time crush from the clutches of the demon named Richard. Exiting the elevator, I hurried to my car, ignoring the inquisitive and worried gazes of the employees on the first floor. Upon reaching my car, I continued dialing Laura's number, frustration mounting as the call remained unanswered. "Why the hell isn't she picking up?" I muttered, exhaling in exasperation. It was unlike
Kelvin's P.O.V We encountered two massive guards, armed from head to toe. One of them lowered his firearm and proceeded to frisk us for any concealed weapons, while the other vigilantly aimed his gun at us. They searched me first before moving on to Steven. After rummaging through our possessions without discovering any weaponry, and seemingly convinced that we weren't carrying anything harmful, one of the guards motioned for us to hand over the money we had brought. Complying, we handed over the bag. The guard inspected the bag's contents, breaking into a grin. He then turned to his partner, showcasing the money. The second guard reciprocated the smile, and they both returned their attention to us, guns still leveled. "You may proceed inside," the guard who had searched us announced. Exchanging a glance, Steven and I faced the guards. "What's with that look you're sharing?" the gun-bearing guard frowned. "It's nothing," Steve said to him. "It better be. Don't try anything funn
Anika's P.O.V I opened my eyes to a pounding headache, groaning as waves of pain washed over me. Slowly, the agony lessened, allowing me to take in my surroundings. The sterile white walls and medical equipment indicated that I was in a hospital. Originally disoriented, my memory quickly flooded back in a torrent of recollection. The kidnapping, the gunshot, the chaotic scene—each detail resurfaced with overwhelming clarity, leaving me breathless. "Kelvin!" The name escaped my lips as panic surged through me, compelling me to sit up. However, the myriad of wires tethered to me from various machines rendered any movement nearly impossible. My gaze shifted downwards, revealing casts enveloping my legs. Dread settled in as I realized the extent of my injuries. The relentless voice in my mind continued to echo, "You killed Kelvin," tormenting me with guilt and grief. Tears welled in my eyes as I grappled with the unbearable weight of his loss. "Kelvin!" I screamed, my voice thick wit
Anika's P.O.V Did he mean that? Nah, he probably just cared about me as a friend, as he had said. I sighed in frustration. The ache of missing him had grown stronger, and the longing to see him again was almost unbearable. Over a month had passed since the incident, and this hospital room had become monotonous and dull. I yearned for an escape, but with the constant surveillance from the vigilant nurses, it seemed unlikely that I'd be leaving anytime soon. The door swung open, and I glanced up to see Mrs. Birtch, or rather Caroline – Kelvin's mother – entering the room. "Hey," I removed an airport from my ear and set my phone aside as she settled onto the couch next to my bed. "How have you been?" she inquired. "I'm okay," I replied with a touch of falsehood in my voice. "Caroline," I began, pushing a few strands of hair behind my ear, "what's taking so long? Why hasn't Kelvin woken up yet? It's been months." Caroline sighed softly and settled onto the edge of my bed. "The d