Katalina
“Katalina?” His voice trembled. “Katalina is that you?”
He took a step towards us. His face turned pale, his bright eyes were blazing with shock and confusion. His chest was heaving, and I could see the sweat oozing from his skin as it soaked him up.
My god, what is he doing here?
Every hair on my skin stood at attention. I suddenly had the urge to break free from Hoseok’s grip and run, but he wasn’t letting me go.
“Mr. Ignatius. Are you looking for me?” Hoseok, though holding me with an iron grip, turned to the apparition in front of me and asked.
Oh, how is he real? Hoseok can see him too?
“I just…” the ghost started saying, but stopped. His gaze was on me and I couldn’t help but shiver.
“Katalina, you, how is this possible?” He asked with eyes filled with confusion.
“Who is Katalina?” Hoseok asked and to my relief, he noticed his guest’s gaze on me. He instantly stepped between us. “Mr Ignatius. You are mistaken. This is Catherine, one of my staff members. Her name is not Katalina.”
Fuck. It just occurred to me that Katalina and Catherine are the same. Why did I do that? Why didn’t I choose another name?
Katalina is dead, you have to deny it. My mind screamed.
Such intense fear and confusion has never held me down before. Not even when my Mum pointed a gun to my head did I feel this petrified.
“Catherine, this is Mr. Ignatius. One of our special guests. He mistook you for someone.” Hoseok started explaining.
“AAA…” my brain went blank, and I couldn’t stop blinking.
“If you need anything, just let me know.” Hoseok continued, seemingly not noticing my awkwardness.
“Kitty,” He softly called my name. My heart trembled, but I knew I mustn’t acknowledge him. So, fisting my hands, I kept my head down and tried to slide behind Hoseok.
“Are you really going to keep pretending? I know it’s you.” He stepped forward, but I quickly took three steps backwards.
Hoseok let go of my hand and stood firmly shielded me. He looked so confused that I am sure he thought his guest was having an episode.
“Just tell me you are not who I think you are and I will leave” He stopped and said in a stern voice.
“I am not Kitty.” I quickly replied.
He chuckled.
Like what is funny?
“You know that thing you do when you lie? You just did it, Katalina.”
No shit.
What to do?
“Look, Mr…” I turned to Hoseok with an askance gaze, “What is his name again, please?”
“Mr Ignatius.”
“Yeah, that. I am not Kitty. I am Catherine and Hoseok is my fiance. Please, let’s not cause any misunderstanding.”
Hoseok’s mouth dropped. He was utterly shocked.
Seeing this, Huracio chuckled, and shook his head.
What a useless man! I glared at Hoseok inwardly.
“I am going back inside.” I snapped and dashed off, leaving the two men to sort themselves out.
I didn’t go back to the banquet. I hurried out of the event hall and exited the gate before calling Dean.
Luckily, Emilia and David had gone to the park to play. Once I got home, I went straight to my room. The moment I closed the door, I broke out in goosebumps and a cold sweat. My breathing became erratic. Unable to steady my shivering legs, I knelt on the floor, letting the shock wash over me. I was shaking so badly that my teeth were almost chattering.
By the time Emilia returned with David, I had packed four bags and was ready to leave, but had no idea where to go.
“What is going on, Kata?” Emilia asked the moment she entered the house.
“Mummy, I rode a horse.” David exclaimed and dashed towards me. He happily crashed into my spread out arms, giggling his delight, ready to tell me about everything they did at the beach.
“David dear, I kissed him, doing my best to remain calm. “That is splendid.” I then turned to Emilia. Huracio, he found us. We need to leave, right now.”
“Oh my god!” Emilia gasped. Her face paled and her body swayed like she would fall, but she quickly got a grip on herself.
“I packed a bag for you, where do we go, Emilia?” At this point, I was close to tears, but I needed to hold it back because of David.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Emilia and I stared at each other in fear, but none moved.
Then, my phone started ringing. I checked it and it was Hoseok. I quickly picked it and asked “Where are you?”
“At your door.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes. Open the door.”
“It’s Hoseok.” I whispered. “He should be able to help.”
“Uncle Hoseok!” David exclaimed excitedly. He started wiggling, wanting to get down so he could go open the door.
“David, Calm down. Stay with Emmy. Let me get the door.”
Emilia nodded and sniffed. She collected David from me and I went to open the door.
“Come in.”
“Uncle Hoseok!!” David called out excitedly. He wanted to get out of Emilia’s arms, but I glared at him.
“Behave, David. Stay with Emmy!”
I hardly shouted at him, so he knew something was wrong. He pouted like he was about to cry, but stayed quiet.
“What’s going on?” Hoseok asked the moment he saw the bags.
“I need to get out of Houston as soon as possible. Can you help?”
“You are leaving? Why?”
“I will explain later. Can you help us?”
“First, tell me what is going on.” He insisted, making me feel exasperated.
“I don’t have the time. I have to start moving now before it’s too late.”
I grabbed a bag and signaled Emilia to start moving. With David in one arm, Emilia grabbed a smaller bag and headed out.
“Can you help me with those?” I said to Hoseok.
Instead of helping, he grabbed the bag already in my hand and tugged at it, forcing me to stop moving.
“You are not going anywhere without telling me what’s going on. Is it about Mr Ignatius? You know him, right?”
“Hoseok, this is a matter of life and death. If you want to know, get me out of Houston. If you are unwilling to help, then don’t stand in my way.” I yelled at him.
Shocked, he released the bag and took a step back.
Gush, if I knew that losing my shit and screaming like a banshee works on him, I would have done it a long time ago.
Once my bag was free, I headed for the elevator. To my surprise, he was soon behind me with the last two bags in each hand.
“I will take you somewhere safe.”
“Thanks.” I said as relief washed over me. At least for once, he was coming through.
My relief was short-lived, because the moment the elevator got downstairs and opened, we came face to face with the devil himself and all his hellhounds.
Leaning on his car, with his arms folded across his chest, Huracio locked his hard gaze on me.
Chilled to my soul, my eyes darted around until I found Emilia and David, standing just a few feet from me. I instantly huffed. As long as my son and Emilia were safe, everything would be fine. I just needed to figure out what to do.
“Mr Ignatius, what are you doing here?” Hoseok asked in a stern voice. I guess by now, he had figured out that I was running from this man.
“Mr Kim, I should be asking you that.” Huracio replied in a stern, cold voice that had my inside instantly tied into knots.
“What do you mean?”
“Katalina is my lawful wedded wife.”
“…”
Hoseok’s face turned solemn instantly. Turning to me, he growled. “Explain that, Catherine.”
“He is lying. He just got engaged, didn’t he? How can we be married?” I snorted, trying to feign anger. But I wasn’t angry. I was scared shitless.
I have missed him, I hated him, I wanted him, but facing him, none of those emotions mattered. I was just scared. Scared of what would happen to the people around me. For some reason, I was sure that he wouldn’t hurt me. I was also sure he wouldn’t let those around me off. Topping that list was Emilia, her father, his friends, everyone who helped me escape. I was caught, and must figure out how to save these people. I sneaked a look at her. Emilia was literally shivering. She was scared shitless too.