Chapter 48: A DARK PATH

When I got to the hospital to pick Alda up, I found her staring out the window. This has become her new-found hobby. I walked in and found the food that was in the tray untouched.

Mike also told me she did the same with her breakfast and lunch. She just always looks so out of herself.

“Alda,” I called her name to draw her attention, but she didn't even look back.

"Alda, it's time to go. Remember when you told me you wanted to be away from the hospital? Then today is the day. Dr. Mike said you can be discharged, but he will be coming for your checkup from time to time.” I told her as I stood in front of her.

She still didn't look away from the window; she just kept staring out like she was seeing something. I looked down at her hands and noticed she entwined her fingers together as she held them tightly.

I placed my hand on top of hers as I separated them; she was beginning to hurt herself with her fingers. She finally looked down at me before looking down at my hand holding hers.

“Xender?”

“Yes, it's me. Let's go home,” I said to her with a smile. She was wearing a hoodie, so I covered her head with it. We can't risk anyone seeing and recognising her.

When she held my hand and followed me, I sighed in relief. I thanked Mike before Alda and I headed down to join Charles, who was already waiting for us in the car.

I told him everything, and he freaked out. I know he was not a snitch. Charles and Mike have been my trusted friends for as long as I can remember. They will never betray me at any cost.

When we got to the car, I opened the door for Alda as she sat down in the passenger’s seat. I waited for her to release her hand around mine, but instead she held on tightly. The plan was to ride in the front seat with Charles, but since Alda wasn't letting my hand go, I had to sit besides her.

She kept hiding her face inside her hoodie sweatshirt as she kept stealing a glance at Charles, who was already looking at her with pity in his eyes.

“Don't worry, Alda; he is a friend and my business partner. We are very close, and he knows about you. His name is Charles, and he is willing to help in any way he can.

She looked up at me before placing her head on top of my shoulders. I gave Charles a sigh to move the car, and he did. All through the drive home, she just held my hands and continued hiding her face on my chest, even when I told her the windows were tinted.

I let her lean on me. When we arrived, I took her upstairs to one of the guest rooms on the second floor.

“I will be right back, I promise. If you need anything, just call me, okay?”

"Okay,” she replied. I headed downstairs to talk to Charles before he left. I don't know why he changed his mind about staying here tonight.

“Hey men, thank you for tonight. I'm really grateful you drove us home,” I said, slightly hitting his shoulder.

“It's the least I could do. I feel bad for her; how was she able to survive this?”

“I don't know, but I need you to do something for me. Do you think you can hack into Mr. Sebastian’s phone? I need information. See if you can get me all the records about his way about with his car for the past four weeks.”

“That I can do, but you do know that even if he did kill Alda’s parents, he wouldn't want to leave a trace. That's why he flamed the driver to draw attention away from him.

Now people think Alda was also killed by the driver.”

“Just try to get as much information as possible while I gather mine. Just be careful, but I do know one thing: I will dance to the music of Mr. Sebastian if that's the only way to make him pay for what he has done.”

“I will be giving you an update, and you should be careful as well. If Mr. Sebastian is capable of killing, then that means this is a dangerous game.”

“I know; I will see you at work tomorrow. I need to go get ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“I have a visitor on her way, someone that can be our gateway to get to Mr. Sebastian.”

“Who?”

“I will tell you after meeting her today.”

“Okay, just be careful.”

“I will," I said as I watched Charles leave before I headed back inside to set the table for my little guest. If Alda said that her friend had a hand in what happened to her, then she might be the gateway to getting Mr. Sebastian exposed.

Alda's POV

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling blankly. I can't believe that a few weeks ago I was in this house drunk and woke up the next morning only to run away.

Now, I'm back as a what? I have no fucking idea; all I know is that I'm just here.

“You are so damn lucky,” I heard Siofra say. She has been gone for days looking for a way to open the portal that brought her here, but it has been a failure.

“How?” I asked, sounding so uninterested in the topic.

“About Xender, you are lucky to have him at a time like this.” She said.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” I said, still maintaining my boring voice.

“Aren't you the ungrateful one? You really don't know what that guy is doing to make you feel better.”

"Yeah, tell me about it. Is there any hope this time around? I can't wait to leave this godforsaken world. Let's just hope your planet is a better place than mine.”

“So you are serious about leaving your life here?”

“Yes, I don't have any more life here, remember.”

“Your parents are going to be so disappointed.” Siofra said as she lay besides me.

“I promised them I wouldn't disappoint them, but instead I ended up taking them to their early grave.” 

“You will feel better if you stop blaming yourself for the things you didn't do. Let me ask you something: How long did you date Seth?”

“I thought we both shared each other's memories, so help yourself with the answers you need.”

“Just because we have each other's memories doesn't mean I know the history of your life. Okay, let me ask you something: What is my favourite book, since you have my memories?”

“Who cares about that? Just connect to the spirit lady you said answers your calls whenever you need help, so we can both get out of here. I will help you save your kingdom while you let me start up a new life in your kingdom.”

“What happened to you? You are just like your subconscious. Where is the Alda who woke up alongside me? That is the part of you I want to see.”

“I didn't know I was dead then; I thought I still had the chance to rewrite my wrongs, but look on the bright side; we will be rewriting yours.”

“You will die if I take you back to Álfheimr with that vibe. I have been warned about the fight I'm up against, and I need someone who will match my vibe, but you on the other side have refused to be that person.” I yawned loudly just to get her pissed. I need her to stop talking.

“I will just go find the kitchen and get something to eat; I'm famished all of a sudden.” I said that and took off my hoodie, as I was beginning to feel so hot. That left me in my sleeveless top as I left the room.

I went down to the first floor and came across a refrigerator filled with both perishable and nonperishable foods and beverages. I grabbed the orange juice and closed the refrigerator back up.

“Finally, you decide to eat; I thought I was going to be the only one sustaining the both of us.”

“It's good to know I can never starve to death since I have you to sustain me.” I said. I grabbed a glass and poured the juice into it.

“That doesn't mean you need to starve; if you eat, you have more energy for both of us.”

“Shh, did you hear that?” I tried to get Siofra's attention.

“Hear what?” She asked.

“I thought I heard a voice I didn't ever want to hear in my life.” But I guessed my brain was just messing up with me.

“You mean the voice coming from downstairs?” Siofra asked, and that got me worked up. I turned and headed to the last floor of the building. There, I found the kitchen on the left-hand side, close to the backyard.

On the other hand, there is a very big passage that leads to the sitting room. The voice became louder and more clear as I approached the door. And just like I thought, it was her. She was sitting a few metres away from me, laughing like she wasn't involved in what happened to me.

I felt it—the anger was boiling inside me just like it did at the hospital.

“How dare she ruin my life and act like I never existed?”

"I told you, they don't fucking care about what they did to you. They will kill you again if they know you are still alive by chance.” Siofra said, but my anger has awakened something inside me.

“Not if I kill them first, and I'm going to start with that bitch. I will make sure she dies a painful death.” I walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the kitchen knife as I headed for the sitting room.

“No, that's not what I meant; Alda, drop that knife at once.” I could hear Siofra say something, but her voice sounded distant. The only thing on my mind at that moment was to hear Anna's painful scream as I stabbed this knife into her heart.