Chapter 108

Chapter 108
"The escaped"

The smoke slowly filled the pink room as the fire went up through the cloth ladder I had invented. I snapped the knife and cut the cloth ladder to prevent the flames from rising up to the window, and I did it quickly. I coughed hard from the smoke I inhaled, which seemed to penetrate past my esophagus and into my lungs.
But the smoke didn't stop streaming into the room, and this time it was coming in via the lobby door.
"How did the smoke get there?"
I raced to the door and flung it open, horrified by the dense cloud of smoke emanating from the living room.
"What happened?" Due to the caustic effect of the smoke, I coughed and had difficulty breathing.
I ran down to the living room, and what I saw shocked me. There was also a fire outside the house.
"There was a fire in the house!" I coughed and coughed.
I slipped on the living room floor, which was fogged by smoke, and it was getting hotter. I dashed to the kitchen and noticed that the windows were turning crimson from the fire outside.
I raced to the cleaning room, took out the bucket, filled it with water from the faucet, and attempted to put out the fire that was spreading throughout the home. But the more I pounded water on the glass, the angrier the fire became, and gradually the smoke impeded my body's oxygen flow, spreading poison in me. The kitchen was on fire, so I decided to return to the pink room.
The only way out was through the small window, which I had to force my body into. I drew the curtain in the living room and covered my body. I had to make my way back to the pink chamber. My feet, on the other hand, were not cooperating as I made my way back upstairs. I continued to tumble and then struggled to get up and make my way back to the pink room. The fire started on the bottom floor and spread to the upper floors.
I have a slim chance of survival if help arrives.
In the pink room, I turn on the faucet and turn on the shower, allowing the water to flow freely. And I hid wet clothes under the door. Smoke had to be kept out, as that was the only way to postpone my death. Then I went to the shower room and sat under the running water. I walked away from the cold shower as it began to feel hot. The hot shower turned to boiling water, forcing me to exit.
The smoke was beginning to fill the room, and the blanket mask I was wearing over my mouth and nose wasn't stopping my coughing. I collapsed to the floor as my breathing became harder, as if all of my senses had shrunk and my skin had melted from the heat. Then my recollection started to fade. And my last thought was, "This time I'm going to die."
I closed my eyes and began to accept that my death would be by fire, not bullets.
Then, from the smoked room of the playroom, a door was slammed open, and images emerged. I couldn't tell if it was a part of my dream. My body remained motionless as the person picked me up. His face was hidden behind a shield. I assumed it was the firefighter who arrived on time. And everything became hazy as my body was dragged from one location to another.
Yes, I am already gone. And then everything went black. However, a screaming voice could be heard, and it was the voice of a known acquaintance.
"Wake up, Catherine! Wake up! "
The voice was irritated with me. But he didn't scream out my name, Monica. He was yelling Catherine's name, "We have to take the leap. Please be patient! "
Then I was back in the real world. We were in a different room with less smoke. And the dude was tying me up and opening a window without any fire.
"We have to jump, Catherine, and you'll be tight in my back."
My head was still spinning. It was hot and cloudy everywhere. But I have to pay attention to what he says.
He dragged me into the window once more, "Cathy, we don't have much time. This is our last chance," He climbed the window while holding a rope, and I was also wrapped in a rope. Then he drew me out to the window.
"Hold firmly to my back, Cathy; whatever happens, don't let go."
And I did exactly what he instructed. I grabbed his back with my last power as we climbed down through the window. And everything turned black when we touched the ground.
The next thing I remember is being hoisted again and being loaded into a van as we left the area. We're driving fast, as if we don't want to be seen at the fire site. We were crossing with some fire trucks on their way to the burning old house after a few minutes.
I was too weak and horrified by what had happened to react, so I let everything happen according to its natural course.
After a few hours of driving, we came to a halt beside the white house, and the guy carried me to the roof. And a woman in a white uniform approached us and led us to a bed, where I was hooked up to oxygen. My lungs began to relax, and my thoughts drifted off to slumber.
When I awoke the second time, I was already in a conventional bed and in a room. It wasn't a hospital room; it was just a regular room in a house. My body was still suffering, so I walked carefully over to the mirror over the dresser to examine my face and body. The mirror was an antique found in an old house.
What am I doing here? And who exactly was he?
The door opened, and an elderly woman with a bright smile approached with something on a tray.
"Perhaps you need a good breakfast," she said as she placed the tray on the room's side table.
I asked her, looking at her. "Where am I?"
"My name is Soledad, Dave's aunt," the old woman stated with a smile.
My heart skipped a beat as I heard the name Dave.
Dave? " You're Dave's Aunt? " I was perplexed.
"Yes, and he told me about you, Catherine," she said as she leaned against the doorframe. "He informed me that you used to be in partnerships."
I felt a little weird chatting to Dave's aunt. And my wish had been granted. Dave had reappeared, and he had once again rescued me from the fire.
"Where is he?"
She grinned and approached me, saying, "Do you want me to escort you to him?"
"It's okay, I can cope; I've already gained some strength." I proceeded to the door.
She then directed me, "You can use the rear door from the kitchen."
As I opened the back door, I noticed a man's back frame beneath the tree. It had a rural atmosphere, with only a few houses in the neighborhood. I took a step towards Dave. As I could tell by his body, he had gained some weight.
I came to a standstill a meter away from him.
"Dave, thank you for saving my life."
He gently turned to face me with the same lonely eyes I'd seen the previous time we discussed him leaving the Morrow. For us, it was a nostalgic occasion. I couldn't help but cry as he glanced at me. "How did you get to know Dave?"
"I followed you all the way back to the Morrow from the island, where Roger had sent you," he groaned.
"What?"
"I'm sorry if I stalked you all the way until now," he sighed.
I couldn't put into words how I felt about his revelation. It hadn't occurred to me that he was following me until Rico mentioned it.
"Did you search for me on the island in a private boat a few days before I left?"
"Yes,"
"How did you find out?"
"I promised him I would never tell you about his secrets?" he sighed.
"Whose secret was it?"
"Dr. Rafael Morrow," he murmured, looking away.
"What are you talking about, Dave?" I inquired, becoming more intrigued by his fresh disclosures.
"It was all Dr. Rafael Morrow's idea to keep an eye on you, to ensure you were in excellent hands," he declared.
"What?"
"He summoned me the day you gave birth to your baby," he said as he sat on the wooden seat and added, "Because this is a long narrative, you can sit here and rest."
I approached him and sat next to him. And he began to remember everything.
"Dr. Rafael Morrow became concerned about you because he knew about Roger. He was a hired killer who pretended to be a driver in order to replace me as their driver, "he moaned once again. “His wife hired Roger to remove you from their lives after you gave birth to their son."
My jaw clenched. Rafael made me feel as if I were a pawn in his game. But I keep an open mind so that I may listen to Dave.
"The doctor had offered me a challenging job, and since I was once in love with you, I accepted it with the help of a tracker." He stared at me.
"Until you decided to change your face and name, I was waiting for you to come out, and it cost the doctor a lot of money to track you down with a new face."
Dave's revelations tied everything together. The lettering, as well as my baby's photoraps, and then there's the money.
"How did you get the money when I was still on the island?"
"Dr. Rafael Morrow sold one of his properties that was unknown to his wife in order to give you enough money to begin with."
I couldn't believe what Rafael had done to get me into a safe location.
"What do you suppose is the explanation for all his generosity and Rafael's favoritism towards me, Dave?" I inquired.
"Love," he stated unequivocally.
"Love?" I snorted.
"Yes, he was secretly in love with you, and he would go to any length to keep you safe, especially since you are his heir's mother."
I was surprised that Dave was aware of the adoption agreement.
He added, "The doctor told me about the adoption; he said you offered him your son." He then looked at me. "And there's one more thing I should know, Cathy."
"And what exactly is that, Dave?"
He looked at me and said, "I have asked you this before, and I want to question you about it one last time."
I just stared at him.
"Who is the father of your son?" he inquired.
"Rafael, Doctor Rafael Morrow, was the father of my son," I explained.
"What?" he asked, his face solemn. "Did he cheat on his wife with you?"
"No, it was Madam Mea's idea to have her husband's son born in me," I reflected, feeling mournful. "She gave me one night with her wasted husband, which she had long planned."
Dave stared at me, shocked, and said, "No wonder. He would do anything for you."
"He had no idea," I explained.
"How certain are you that he was innocent?"
My thoughts went from Dave's appraisal to what happened the night Rafael and I made love in their bed. He was, as I recall, a little wasted, but the manner in which he made love to me was different. I could feel his mustery in putting me at the pinnacle of bliss while we made love. In his touches and kisses, he was caring and generous.
"What are you thinking?" Dave inquired.
"Nothing, Dave, the past is the past, and there was nothing we could do about it," I said as I stood up. “I believe I should go."
"Where are you going?" he asked, looking at me.
I panicked again. "I want to get my son back from Mea because she was using him against her husband."
Dave's aunt abruptly interrupted us.
"Have you seen the news on TV?"
Dave took a step towards his aunt. "What kind of news, Aunt Soledad?"
"The house where you escaped, Monica," she shook. "A charred body of a man was discovered in the house, and everyone suspected it was Dr. Rafael Morrow."