After some time, Emma decided to relax and let the man drive her to wherever he was going. She was sure he was human and knew she could handle him if the worst happened. The man kept glancing at her as he drove, seemingly surprised even though he tried not to show it. Emma leaned back and relaxed, waiting for them to get to the destination. Fifteen minutes later, he stopped the car outside a building in a residential centre. There were many light poles in the area and not many people or cars moving around. It was also very quiet there, a nice neighbourhood.
“You live here?” Emma asked, glancing at a white house surrounded by a white wall.
“I believe you,” he said at last.
Emma smiled. “Why?”
“You’re not scared of me,” he stated. “When I started to drive fast, you seemed scared for a minute and I thought you were lying about being whatever you are. The way you seem unbothered says you’re not really scared of me. And I can’t think of a reason why any normal young woman wouldn’t be scared seated in a stranger’s speeding car.”
Emma smiled. “Cool. So, what are you going to do with me?”
He was quiet for a while. “I know I might regret this forever, but I was thinking of inviting you home. If your story is really true, I think you need all the help you can get and I’d feel bad sending you away without trying to help at this time.”
“If you believe me, don’t you think that’s a very stupid idea?” she said. “I mean I’m way stronger than you and you know nothing about me. Maybe everything I said was a sob story.”
It was at this point that the gate opened and the man drove inside. The man stopped the car a few yards from the gate which was now closing. The house was fairly small considering the other houses she had seen in the neighbourhood. The front lawn was wide and there was a pool at the lower end of it.
The man got out and led her into the house. The living room had blue curtains and brown furniture matching the top ends of the curtains. There was a couch and two love seats by the brown table. A few metres away was the dining room. At the centre of the dining room was a wooden brown table and matching chairs. The interior had cream coloured tiles.
“My name is Emma.”
“And mine is Andres.”
“Nice name, and a nice home. It’s lovely.”
“Thanks,” he said, putting his keys on the table. Emma realised the man was quick to trust. It either meant he was really like that, or was pretending so that he could buy time and attack her. She decided not to let her guard down until she was sure she could trust him. “You can have a seat.”
Emma sighed and sat.
“Would you like a drink or snack?” he asked.
Emma shook her head. “Nothing. I just need to think of a plan.”
“Why don’t you rest today and think of that tomorrow?” he suggested. “I’m going to try and make us some dinner.”
“What? So you can poison me?”
He chuckled.
“Seriously, that’s the only way you’d be able to put me down.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even thought of that. It’s alright. You can come and help, or you can pick snacks of your choice. I won’t force you to eat my food.”
“Aren’t you a bit tired to be cooking?”
“I always to cook when I have guests over.”
“I don’t care, I’ll just eat some chips and have a drink.”
He smiled. “Okay then. I’ll have the same. Come with me.”
She followed him to the kitchen. For a man, his kitchen was so organised. Emma wondered if he was the one who cleaned it or always hired someone to do the work. It looked so spotless. However, the kitchen was stocked with food items and drinks. Emma was almost spoilt for choice. In the end, she picked out two apples and a can of coke. She went to the cabinet and pulled out a jar of chocolate cookies. Andres decided to have a glass of cold milk and cookies.
When each had got what they wanted, they want to sit at the dining table.
“So, how did you come to be here?” Emma asked the man. “That’s if you were not lying about being from Canada.”
“I was not lying. The company I work for is international. So they offered me more money if I could accept the transfer here. I don’t like blowing my trumpet but I’m one of the best managers they have.”
“That’s great. You’re doing well for yourself.”
“Yeah, I guess so. So do you think that axel guy might try to find you here?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I want to think he won’t have a lot of motivation to look for me here but the man is dangerous. I will have to continue moving. I’ll find a way to get some money and I’ll be on my way. I don’t want to bring you trouble.”
“You’re no trouble,” he said. “I’m happy to have someone around. This house is so big and sometimes it gets very lonely.”
“Right,” Emma said, biting into an apple. She was silent as she savoured the taste and looked around.
Forty five minutes later, she was done with her simple meal and so was Andres. Andres took her upstairs and showed her the guest room.
“Thank you so much, Andres.” She said before going inside. She locked the door and undressed before going into the shower to wash out all the dirt and blood she had. She would have done so earlier but she needed the host to show her where to go.
When she was clean, she got inside the comfortable bed. The sheets were very cool. Emma could barely sleep that night. She couldn’t wait for morning to come so she could leave that place.