Emilia’s pov
There were voices in my head, they sound far and seem to be whispering. I try to move but I’m stuck. My throat is parched and a side of cheeks hurt. I swallow, at least I can swallow. My eyes tightly shut, I try moving a finger, it worked. I tried another and it responds, giving me the reassurance that I’m alive.
I slowly part my eyes open and close it back quickly at the harshness of the light. The voices stop and I feel a hand on mine.
“Small ass….” He calls. I know this voice, I’m still alive. I part my eyes open again, squinting at the bright light. I could make out faces and i could tell I’m in a different place. I move my head slightly to meet Liam’s soft gaze.
“You good?” He brush strands of hair from my face. I shook my head negatively.
“Water” I croak out, the bitterness still in my throat.
“Here you go” Liam says, thrusting a glass of water to my face. I drank from it and I sigh in relief as it wets my parched throat. I sit up with the help of liam and I slowly take in my environment.
This wasn’t my house. I don’t have large drapes tied to bedposts. I don’t have blue duvets also.
“Hey… you’re safe now okay” Liam coos. I arch my brows at him. His hair looks tousled, and he looks stressed out. There was a bandage wrapped around his shoulders and a plaster on his forehead.
“What happened to you liam” I ask in concern. He sighs.
“Don’t worry about me… the only thing important now is that you’re safe” I raise my palm to my cheek, it comes in contact with a plaster i wince and drop my hand.
“Safe?” I ask and he nods. What happened?. I wrack my head to remember what had happened and it all came in a flush of memories.
I could remember the explosion at my house. My mind reels and I tighten my grip on the duvet.
“Liam!…. my apartment?…. what happened to it!” I ask in panic. I hope its not true, it can’t be right?. The only thing that reminds me of my dad can’t be in ruins. I sort his gaze for answers.
“Emilia…. calm down okay!” He reprimanded gently. I blink my eyes at him. Its true, the explosion was in my apartment. I shudder at the thought. Someone had planted a bomb in my apartment. Tears stung my eyes. What did i do deserve this. Who’s after my life. If liam hadn’t shown up , I guess I wouldn’t be alive anymore… Liam sits beside me and pull me close to him.
“Breathe small ass… I’m here now, nothing’s gonna happen” He coos like he read my thoughts. I couldn’t cry, it seems impossible. I still have my apartment don’t i?. I still have the room beneath. I’ve still got my dad’s clothes and stuffs which reminded me of him…. I still have my guitar. I close my eyes as his hands wrap around me warmly. Maybe its a nightmare, i hope I wake up sooner enough from it…
My eyes flutter open and I rub my eyes. I look beside me to see liam lying beside me and sleeping. I ran my fingers through his hair, careful so i wouldn’t touch the plaster on his forehead. The last thing i remember before i passed out was falling on me. He probably did that to save me.
He opens his eyes as i brush my hand slightly on his hair.
“Hey…” I smile and sit up. He brush his fingers through his hair.
“You okay huh?” He asks and get off the bed. I nod as my heart warmed at his words. He wasn’t alright, yet he was reaching out to me.
“Liam… you don’t look good too” I mutter and he chuckles.
“I’d be fine small ass…. come on let’s get you something to eat and I would introduce you
to the others” Huh? Others? i place my feet on the floor and he helps me up, a arm around my waist.
“Liam.. I’m good, you’re injured already and i can’t give you extra stress” I take his hands off gently and we entwine our hands.
“Okay this is better” I grin and he chuckles. We walk out of the large room with our hands entwined as i look around, taking in my new environment. The walls were whitewashed, and the floorboards were sturdy. We walk down a large staircase, and i stare at the paintings on the wall. It looks like a mansion, looks expensive, but ancient. What is liam doing here. We got to the end of the stairs which led into a large living room.
My eyes stop on Ryan and rose and they were playing chess. About six other guys were gathered around the table watching them, while chattering excitedly. I blew in my breath.
“Guys…” Liam calls and they look up. I stare at their faces, they look rugged.
“Hey… the little fairy is up” Ryan says and walk over to me. I smile as he pull me into a friendly hug.
“Hi Ryan….. hi guys” I wave at them and some of them whistle lowly.
“Damn!… she’s pretty!” A guy in bangs say.
“Yeah and petite too… Hi am Joshua… you can call me josh for short” He gets off the couch and grin. He’s got brown eyes and hair. He looks rugged and huge too. I took a step back and the rest burst into laughter.
“Your size is giving her the creeps man” One of them says and they crack up again. Josh raises his middle finger at them. I chuckle lowly.
“Hi josh” I wave and a guy jab him on his ribs.
“Don’t start flirting she is too good for you” The others cackled with laughter. Soon they were all introducing themselves. I smile warmly at them as liam still held my hands. Well all except rose. She looks really angry and was scowling at me from where she sat.
“You’re the girl who made liam angry these past weeks huh?” Josh winks and i blush.
“I’ve never seen him so worked up… he even barked constantly at us”
“Okay that’s enough guys” Liam says and I bite back my laugh as they go quiet.
“Emilia would be staying with us for a while, you all know what happened… I want you to treat her well okay?” They were nods of agreement..
“Sorry about that Emilia” One of the guys says and i nod. Rose gets up immediately. She walks close to us and gave me a hard glare before storming out. Liam sighs.
“I’d go talk to her” Ryan says and go after her.
“Let it slide guys, so who’s gonna fix food for our new guest… she’s hungry you know” Josh sprang up again.
“At your service ma” He bows and walks out while the others laugh. I like them already.
“Okay guys we would be upstairs okay” Liam says and we walk up the stairs and into the large room. I withdraw my hand from his and sit on the bed.
“So what now liam…. my apartment is gone just like that, what of my neighbours!…. what of Nana” I falter on the last part. I’d never forgive myself if something bad happens to Nana, i just can’t believe i lost everything!. Liam puts his arm around me.
“Emilia…. do you love me?” I look up at him before sighing.
“Yeah i do liam but…”
“Then trust me when i say everything would be fine, those bastards who did that ain’t going to escape” For the first time i agreed with liam. They would pay!.
“Liam…. who are they?” I ask him and he sighs and take his hands off my shoulders.
“Lets just say…. they are bad people, and they won’t stop till I’m gone” I frown at him. This ain’t making any sense. There was a knock at the door and liam gets it. Josh comes in with a tray of food and drops it on the nightstand.
“Thanks Josh…” I mutter
gratefully.
“Anything for a pretty lady” He winks and leave as i chuckle. Liam uncovers the plate of food and it’s pasta. My stomach grumbles in protest as liam drops the tray on the bed.
“Damn!, did i just hear that” He smirks as he hands me a fork. I roll my eyes at him and he laughs.
“I’d be back okay…” He pecks me on the forehead and i nod. I stuff food in my mouth as liam walks out of the room. I chew on my food thoughtfully.
I can’t believe any of this. I never believed anything of this sort would happen. I’d be living here for a while… somehow the thoughts is giving me the creeps. Rose action gives me the feeling that things ain’t gonna be easy. I remember sandy and Becky, Nana and mr Alex my nosy neighbour. The other tenants too. I hope they are all fine. I sigh dolefully. Things ain’t going the right way, everything seems wrong and it seems the moment i get out of trouble, i fall into another one… more complicating. I sniff back tears that threatens to spill out. One thing I’m sure of is, Liam’s with me, and with him, everything would be fine.
Becky’s pov
I pace about the living room thoughtfully as Harry sits on the couch watching me carefully. It’s evening already and there weren’t any update on sandy and Becky. Good God!, i know i haven’t been a faithful servant but please keep my friends safe. I had left Emilia’s compound hours ago. Harry had come to pick me, but not when i had made sure that Emilia and sandy weren’t among the injured ones and there were no recorded deaths. Thankfully the neighbour beside Emilia, Mr alex, was out that night. Whatever explosion had been directed at Emilia’s apartment. It had only exploded in her apartment while the cause of the other house almost burnt down were as a result of fire. Nana had sustained injuries while she was trying to escape, same as the rest of the neighbours. It was worse cos it happened at night.
If Emilia and sandy weren’t in that apartment then where could they be, their phones are switched off and dylan was almost mad with worry. He said he’d look for her and if there’s no progress we would file a report. I don’t know what to think anymore. I wonder if they are somewhere safe.
“Baby…. come on stop this you’ve been pacing for over an hour now… come sit with me” Harry says and i sigh. I sit beside him and fold my arms, tapping my feet in agitation.
“Harry…. i wouldn’t be myself if something bad happens to them, I can’t bear the thought of loosing them!” I mutter tearily. He puts his arm around me and sigh.
“I told you to stop bothering yourself Becky!, Emilia and sandy are gonna be fine” He states reassuringly. I sniff and nod. We were all doing fine these last weeks, not until last night. How can they just go off without a word!.
The door bell dings and I sprang up and dash for the door, opening it to reveal…. sandy and dylan. I gasp as she walks in tiredly.
“Sandy!, where the fuck were you!” I yell immediately as Dylan closes the door. She sat down tiredly on a couch.
“Take a chill pill Becky, I’m good” Her voice sounds tired, and her hair dishelved.
“I found her in her car Becky… not too far from my apartment. She slept in the car, with her head on the wheels” I gasp as Sandy bit her lips.
“Don’t blame me Becky, Dylan caused it…”
“What the fuck do you mean Sandy” He growls. Harry and I exchange looks.
“If you had just said sorry I probably wouldn’t have slept in the car”
“Apologize, if there’s anyone to apologize sandy, it’s you!. what the fuck is wrong with you huh!” Dylan snarl and she goes quiet.
“Fine!… I’m sorry, I messed up big time and I’m sorry… tell me we haven’t split up for good dylan” She pleas with a teary voice. Dylan stares at her for what’s seems like ages.
“I’m never giving up on you sandy…. Even if you act like a witch sometimes” He says and I smile. Sandy sprang up and threw her arms around him.
“Thanks so much D…. I love you” she mutters and I blew out a breath. Thank goodness for that. He withdraw and Harry and Dylan exchange greetings. They weren’t all that close though.
“So… any news on Emilia” Dylan says and sandy arch her brows.
“Emilia!, what happened to her Becky!” she asks in alarm. I sigh.
“Sandy…. don’t freak out okay… there was an explosion in Emilia’s apartment” I watch her go white with shock.
“Explosion!??” She whisper lowly and I nod.
“I went there to check if you slept in her apartment, when I saw her house in ruins. The firefighters said they weren’t any corpse…. only injured persons. She places her hand over and mouth.
“Holy Jesus, What caused the explosion Becky!, where is Emilia!” She rasps, bringing tears in my eyes.
“I don’t know sandy but I haven’t seen her since Friday”. Now it was Sandy’s turn to pace about the room.
“Do you think…. she’s isn’t out” Sandy voice out and I shake my head.
“Yeah sandy…. and I hope so too” I sigh and go over to the couch to sit. Silence descends in the room. Where could she be for Pete’s sake!. sandy sits across me and she begin to chew her nails nervously. Dylan sighs and scoop close to sandy.
“I was thinking guys, how about we tell the cops the truth and nothing less than that. Let’s tell the cops she knew about the criminal, and turn him in to the cops…”
Sandy and I froze to our spots as our eyes stops on Dylan.