Chapter 34

Freshia Ava's POV

I've been stuck in this apartment unit for almost a week. Eros never left here either. I often see him working in the living room using his laptop and cell phone. To buy food, he just ordered and asked for it to be delivered to the front of the unit. He really is crazy.

Various ideas are already forming in my head, but how can I escape if Eros is always in this room with me for twenty-four hours? Again I can only sigh in resignation. I'm starting to get fed up with all this. Trying to talk to him was useless.

That night, I had just finished showering and decided to lie back in bed. Not actually sleepy, but I'm bored. While looking at the ceiling, I remembered the words of the people around me who said that Eros was a dangerous person. Especially Martin's last story, when he told me the truth that he saw Eros in front of my apartment unit before the incident of banging on the door of my apartment unit occurred. But I denied it and instead chose to believe in a crazy man like Eros.

I closed both my eyes. Fatigue enveloped my heart and mind. At that moment I remembered my grandmother again and missed her. I want those times to come back again and not feel it, the tears will fall from my eyes again. Suddenly, in the middle of the silence of my room, I heard the sound of the door opening. Someone stepped closer to my bed and then sat right next to me. He caressed my face and wiped my tears. I really recognized that those fingers belonged to Eros.

Then I could feel his breath near my ear, but I remained silent and deliberately closed my eyes. Finally I heard his voice whisper, “Freshia, be fine here. I'm going to leave for a moment because there's something I can't leave behind. I know that you haven't fallen asleep yet, so listen to me. Don't even try to run away again or else, I will make you feel worse torture than yesterday's strangulation, darling. Obey me.” Said Eros who then kissed my forehead.

Then he stroked my face again before finally getting up from my bed and walking out of the room because after that I heard the sound of my bedroom door closing.

My eyes immediately opened wide. Is this my chance to truly escape from this place? I thought. I immediately got out of bed and walked towards the bedroom door to put my ear to it. But I didn't hear any sound until finally, my hearing caught the sound of the door to my apartment unit opening, then a split second later the door closed. I felt a sense of relief.

Then, very carefully, I opened the door to my room which turned out to be unlocked, and tried to peek outside the room. When I made sure that there was no one outside, I dared to open my bedroom door wider and leave the room. After leaving the room, my gaze explored every part of this apartment unit, also checking the kitchen and bathroom. However, I really didn't find anyone besides me in this apartment.

Finally, I immediately decided to go back to the room and take all the bed sheets and long clothes that were in the cupboard. This time, I will try to escape via the balcony and ask for help from the residents of the apartment unit below me. I can only pray that the man is now in his unit so I can ask for his help.

After tying all the sheets I had into a long cloth, I immediately walked to the balcony and tied the collection of sheets to the iron balcony divider. I made sure that the bond was really strong. Then I tried to throw the sheet down. Very fitting. The cloth touched the balcony divider of the apartment unit below me.

Before launching my action, I leaned my body against the balcony divider and looked at the situation below. My unit is on the 9th floor, so obviously I'm at a decent height. To be honest, I'm really afraid of heights, but what can I do?

I don't know how else to escape if not this way. I took a deep breath and tried to gather my courage. I took a few breaths and exhaled slowly so that my body felt more relaxed until finally my determination emerged and I started trying to carry out my action.

With full calculation and caution, I tried to climb onto the bench that I had prepared near the balcony divider and then sat on the divider. Next, I grabbed the sheet that was hanging beside me and I started trying to climb down it slowly. I felt extreme pain in the grip of my hand as my body tried to rest solely on my grip. It felt like I wouldn't be able to hold on any longer until finally I felt someone's presence from below my body.

“Hey, what are you doing?” the man exclaimed loudly. He seemed very surprised to find me hanging above him on a sheet. "You are crazy?" he said again.

“Please, please help me,” I said softly but I'm sure he heard it because after that I saw him carrying a chair and he climbed on the chair, then leaned over the balcony divider. He tried to reach me. “Try to go down a little more so I can grab your body and pull it towards me. Because if it doesn't fit, we'll both fall down there."

He said as he turned his head downwards. With all my might, I tried to climb back down the sheets little by little until finally I felt the strange man hug my body and immediately pull me onto the balcony. Our bodies landed on the balcony floor so hard that I groaned.

I grimaced and the man in front of me did the same. Then he tried to sit up. "You are crazy! Do you really want to die?” He said loudly. He looked very angry. I tried to sit up and looked at him. Instantly his face turned softer when he saw my pale face. "What actually happened to you?"

"I apologize. Sorry for being a bother and putting you in danger too. First let me introduce myself, I'm Freshia, the resident of the unit right above yours."

The man seemed to sigh. “I'm Jerome.” He said briefly. Then after that, I started telling everything that happened to me from the start until I was able to do crazy things like that. He was surprised to hear my story. His eyes changed, showing concern.

“I'm sorry about what happened to you. So, what can I do to help?” He asked when we were inside Jerome's apartment unit. He invited me to sit on the sofa to make it more comfortable to tell the story.

“I don't need anything. I just want to get out of here. Can I borrow your cell phone for a moment? I want to contact my friend.”

“Shouldn't we report it to the police, Freshia? I thought it would be safer. Do you know who kidnapped you?”

I was silent for a moment and thought that what Jerome said was true. So, I agree with him. "In that case, okay. Yes, I certainly know. He's an acquaintance of mine. His name is Eros Robinson.” I said. I saw Jerome seem surprised when he heard the name Eros, but only for a few seconds because after that, he returned to normal.

“Then wait a moment. I'll take my cell phone in the room." He said then immediately went into the room.

Then a few minutes later, Jerome was seen coming out of the room. “Don't worry, I've contacted the police and they said they will be here soon to investigate your case. I'll make you a drink first." He said then went to the kitchen.

Almost half an hour passed when finally a bell rang in Jerome's apartment unit. I sighed again. My heart felt a little relieved. Jerome and I finally went to the front door to open it. My eyes opened wide when I saw the figure in front of me now. Eros stood with a straight face and a piercing gaze. “Damn! You lied to me?” I said to Jerome.

“Sorry, Freshia. But I need more money and I know Mr. Robinson is the one who will definitely give me a large sum if I help return you to him.” He said without feeling guilty.