Chapter Twenty
Javier Lorenzo
I ran to hide behind a pillar, making sure to keep my head low. I needed to see first how many of them are there.
A second later, two hefty dudes appeared at the top of the stairs and rushed to check on their friend lying lifeless on the floor. Why would three men need to keep one girl hostage?
Once I was sure that they are the only people, I aimed my gun at the one who seemed more alert. I pulled the trigger and he fell flat on the floor. Before the second one could reach for his gun, I took him out too.
I got out of my hiding place and ran down to the other end until I came upon a slightly opened door. I went inside and found ropes attached to a wall. This much be where Rosa kept Lula, but Lula wasn’t there anymore.
I ran out of the room, unsure of where to go. But when I heard the sound of a car’s engine, I rushed down the stairs and went outside. I caught a glimpse of Rosa in the driver’s seat before the car zoomed off into the sunset. I sprinted to my car parked down the street and got in, then turned on the ignition and started chasing Rosa’s vehicle. Although I had lost sight of her, I could recognize her car, I’m sure.
I took out my phone and called 911. I am certain that I am gonna get into trouble for taking the law into my own hands, but Lula’s safety matters more to me than anything at the moment.
I caught up with Rosa’s car going down a dirt road. The twilight was drawing near and I knew that I needed to get her before it gets dark, but she was fast as hell. I never knew Rosa to be this kind of person.
I saw her stop the car right in front of a cliff and dragged Lula out. Lula’s hands were tied to her back, I felt so sorry for her. I parked behind Rosa’s car and got out too.
“Don’t come any closer, Javier, or I swear to god, I will throw Lula into this ditch!” Rosa threatened, her eyes were bloodshot.
“Rosa, Calm down-”
“Don’t tell me to calm down, Javier! You leave me for another woman and you want me to calm down?!” She sniffled as tears flooded her face. “All my life, everyone I love has abandoned me. They just left me without a word; my mom ran off to another country and my dad died when I needed him the most. I can’t lose you too, Javier, don’t you get it?”
“I understand, Rosa, but this isn’t the right way. Kidnapping is a serious crime-”
She grinned maniacally. “Then I’ll take you both with me.” She pointed the gun at me and I closed my eyes. I heard a gunshot and opened my eyes, thinking I had been shot.
I saw Lula dragging the gun out of Rosa’s hands as they both fought. Rosa pushed Lula and Lula lost her balance and leaned towards the edge of the cliff.
“Lula!!!” I ran over there and grabbed her hand before she could fall off the cliff. My gun fell from my pocket and over the cliff-into the water at the bottom.
Rosa laughed heartily as she shot the tires of my car. “Now you can’t escape me.”
I ignored her since I had my hands full will Lula. “Hold on”. I yelled to Lula as I pulled her up.
Another gunshot was fired which knocked me off balance… I looked back and saw that Rosa had put a hole in her tires as well. What is wrong with this girl?!Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“I am gonna give you both to the count of ten to run before I blow both your brains out!” She started counting. “One-Two-”
I succeeded in pulling Lula up and we both started running towards the forest before the maniac behind us starts shooting.
“Three-four-five-”
The darn woods were still a bit far, so I increased my speed, hoping Lula had a little more strength to do the same.
“Six-seven-eight-”
“Just a little more, Lu.” I encouraged Lula as we both kept running.
“Nine-Ten!”
We barely made it into the woods and hid behind a tree before Rosa started shooting at us. It was a close call because my head was almost blown off if not that I was quick.
After a couple more shooting, she stopped. I peeped from behind the tree and saw Rosa loading her gun’s magazine. This was our chance!
I grabbed Lula’s hand and we ran deeper into the forest, far from Rosa and her gun. Darkness had finally taken over as the twilight gave way to the night sky. I took out my phone from my back pocket, thanking God that it didn’t fall over the cliff with my gun.
“No signal” I groaned.
“We need to make a fire, Javier or we’ll become wolf’s food”. Lula said through gritted teeth, the cold was doing a number on her. I covered her with my jacket.
“You’re right.” I used my phone’s torch to find some firewood. For the first time, my carrying around a lighter came in handy. I made a fire for us in the middle of the woods.
Lord knows we were lost, I couldn’t remember how we got to this part of the woods, just that we were running for our lives. I didn’t know which fate would be worse, getting attacked by a wolf or getting caught by Rosa. From the look of things, we would have a bigger shot at escaping from a pack of wolves than escaping from Rosa.
Lula laid her head on my shoulder as we stared into the flames. Crackling sounds filled the air as the fire wavered against the night wind. Her breathing had become steady after a while, but I knew she wasn’t asleep.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice cracked as she said these words. The walls around my heart came crashing down with just two words from her.
“Don’t worry about it, Lu, I already forgave you.” I don’t know if my words came out right, but I wanted to make her feel better.
She lifted her head off my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes. Her orbs reflected the fire in front of us and probably, the fire within. I felt her fingers caress my hair and my chin, leaving traces of heat in its path. My eyes fluttered shut as her fingers caressed my forehead; she must have magic in her hands. There is something about her touch that can bring me to my knees.
I looked down at her luscious lips and back up at her orbs. There was something about the way she stared at me that made me feel different. My breathing hastened as she inched her face closer, aiming her lips toward mine. My impatience got the best of me and I smashed my lips against hers, tasting her so earnestly. The cold of the night was long forgotten as our tongues danced in our mouths. She broke the kiss before I could savor her sweetness, and she said in a shaky voice:
“Please, Javier, make love to me under the moonlight.”