Elle POV.
She haven’t came back yet, I’m waiting for her but she’s not back, I call but the phone is always turned off, it says leave a message, I left one, I left two, I even left ones where I’m screaming and crying for her to come back but no answer, she never called back.
Paul my friend, the one who saw me suffer through the week, I stopped bothering with make-up, it’s only doing harm and not much of good, I still look like the dead after putting some of it on my face, I decided to skip most morning. I broke and told him everything, he knew Devil’s work, I didn’t dare to tell, to say she’s a hired killer, she’d kill me for sure if I do that, but he knew, I didn’t know how he knew, I should ask him.
But for all now all I care about is him pulling some strings and asking about my Devil, I’d do anything to keep her safe, I just want to know she’s safe, even if she doesn’t want me anymore. Paul took his sweet time getting back to me, every time I asked him, he said it need more time, that these things don’t come easily, he’s still working it through, no matter how much I wanted him to speed it up.
By day three I was on the verge of another mental breakdown, I tried to hold the tears in, but it’s not easy, the pain is too great, I haven’t cared for someone like that before, I think I’m in love, but what if she doesn’t love me back. Paul said we got to meet outside of work, we’re going somewhere to talk, somewhere private, if anyone else told me meet them in a random place I’d say no. But it’s Paul, he’s my friend, and I trust him, he wouldn’t hurt me, I’m sure of that, my gut feeling says to believe him and so I do.
For once I wasn’t dressed in my work clothes, instead I had sweats on, they weren’t even mind, all Devil bough me was girlie clothes, not what I need right now, instead I decided to borrow some of her sweats, a bit big on me, but they would work. I had my own shoes and put my hair in a messy bun, I looked a hot mess, minus the hot part.
I walked toward the park where we are meant to meet, I found my friend not long after getting there, he was sitting on one of the benches, I went and sat next to him, he looked at me with a sad smile, that can’t be good, he got bad news for me, I could feel it.
“Paul, you okay?” I ask him, but his smile stays on his face, this feels like the beginning of a really sad chapter.
“Sit Elle, I got something to tell you about” he states, I just nod knowing this won’t end well, not for me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him, I know it wasn’t.
“You know how you write stories?” he asks, I nod my head yes, I do know, I’m an author after all, I know all about stories, the happy and the sad ones.
“Once upon a time, when I was even younger than you, I used to get in fights, not the regular fights Elle. The underground kind, of fights, you know?” he says with a smirk, I think I knew what he means.
“You were an underground wrestler?” I ask him.
“I prefer boxing, and yeah that” he says shaking his head like he’s remembering an old memory.
“That’s so cool did you win?” I ask him all interested in what to come from his part of the story.
“No Elle, I almost died, it’s a miracle I made it far enough to get my ass saved” he says, well that’s sad, I didn’t want my friend to die, he’s mine now!
“Don’t die Paul” I tell him feeling tears fill my eyes, after the whole Devil situation, I’m not ready to lose my friend either, I don’t want to ever be that lonely again, being alone is scary, it hurt so badly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t die” he says with a smile making me breath in relief, he’s not going to die on me, thank god.
“Want to hear the rest of the story?” he asks, now I’m interested, I really wanna hear the rest, I know he’s not a boxer anymore, he never shows up with any kind of bruises, he’s a good guy, unless he wins often.
“A man saved me from myself, Elle, he came in at my worst. I won a match I was supposed to loose, made some big men lose lots of money cause of me, in revenge they took me, they beat me to death. They almost succeeded, breaking my right side of my face and skull, if it wasn’t for the man who saved I’d be dead now, they had to put some metal plates to get my face fixed again” he says.
“You a robot?” I ask in a joking manner, better joking than crying.
“Yeah, I can see in X-ray mode” he jokes back making me smile.
“After that I never went back to boxing again, I stayed with the man who became a good friend of mine, I count him like an older brother really. But few months back, I had the smart idea of having a friendly match with one of my old opponent” he says with the same smile, but he couldn’t make it into a joke I was mad at him now, I looked at him with wide eyes how could he!
“How could you! after almost dying? What if something bad happened to you?” I ask some lone tears going down my face, I can’t help being emotional, emotionally I’m exhausted, physically I’m all spent, it’s a miracle I’m here where I am right now.
“Calm down Elle, it’s okay, I got my arse kicked for that afterward no worry” he says, making me calm down, he deserves whatever punishment he had coming.
“As punishment my older brother decided that if I like fighting so much, I could use some maturing and learning to think before I act. He sent me on an undercover work, my job is to get him information about our enemy without dying, dying is really bad you know” he explains.
“Like a spy?” I ask trying to get to understand what all this story is about.
“Yes, exactly like that, I’m using my cafe work as cover, Elle I never even went to a college” he says making me freeze, he’s been lying to me the whole time, my heart skip few beats, am I even safe here with him?
“Uh…maybe I should…” I say not knowing how to get away from this situation, it’s not looking any good for me.
“Relax, I’ll never hurt you. I trust you Elle it’s why I’m telling you my story.” He says, well he is right, he won’t be telling me all about him if he doesn’t trust me, unless if he’s gonna kill me once he’s done.
“Now what?” I ask not knowing how things would end for me after knowing all those things about my not so innocent friend.
“Now I asked around, the people who I spy on, they have your Devil” he says making my heart to stop, the air inside my lungs just froze.
“Have they hurt her? When would they let her go?” I ask quickly.
“They haven’t hurt her…much” he says sending new wave of pain and tears through my body, she haven’t left me, she’s hurt.
“They’re not letting her go Elle, not unless it’s her dead body you want” he says.
“No they can’t do that we have to save her” I plead with him, she can’t leave me, not like this, she can’t die.
“I think I know a way to get her help, but Elle he’s gonna ask for a price, I don’t know if you’re willing to pay” he warns me, this sound like a cheese poem.
“I don’t care Paul I’ll do it” I say not thinking twice about it.
“Then it’s time we meet my boss” Paul says getting up on his feet.