Chapter 82 Eyes.
I woke up with a pounding headache and sat up in my bed with a groan. I pried my eyes open with an effort and looked round me. I found that I was in my room. How the hell did I get here?
I cracked my brain trying to recall what happened last night. I had a few drinks with my friends, I came back home a little drunk, I blurted to Ashely that I found her strange.
What the hell?! I told Ashely that I found her strange!
Fuck! It wasn't my intention to say it to her that way. I wanted to ask her about her life and background in a proper way, not in my drunken way.
But I guess I can always make things right.
That morning, she was already awake when I stepped into the kitchen. The smell of breakfast filled the apartment. Eggs and toast.
Hold on a second, did Ashely cook? She hated cooking and she almost burnt down my kitchen when she tried last time.
I was relieved to see that my kitchen was fine. But I was still in shock that Ashely is cooking. "What are you doing?"
She wasn't surprised at my words like she knew I have been standing there all along. Instead she stared at me over her shoulder with a smile. "Good morning Sir. I'm making breakfast."
"But you can't cook." I said like a matter of fact.
"That's correct. But I took my time to learn so I wont be a liability. Please have a seat sir." I did as she said warily and she placed a plate of fried eggs. It looks decent enough. "For you," she said with a soft and, almost shy smile and it made the inside my chest tightened.
I ignored the tightness and smiled at her. "Thanks, Ashley."
Later that afternoon, we needed groceries, so we decided to go together. In the car, we made small talk. I kept sneaking glances at her.
She's really beautiful. It disturbs me time think she might be up to fifty years. Well, I already know she might not be the real Mrs Ashely, but for now, I'll try to calm my mind.
The supermarket was crowded, as usual. We split up to grab different items, then met again near the checkout. She carried the heavier bags without effort and refused to let me help no matter how much I insisted.
She never seemed to struggle with weight. Not even once. That too is strange. Just who the hell is she?
Still, I kept telling myself I was imagining things.
On our way back, the sun was already setting. The parking lot near our apartment building was dimly lit. I remember thinking we should complain to management about that.
When we stepped out, three men appeared wearing hoods and mask to hide their faces. One of them held a gun.
"Give me all your money man. No questions asked."
Everything inside me went cold. Fear does strange things to a person. It sharpens your senses but dulls your thoughts. I stepped slightly in front of Ashley without thinking.
"Stay behind me," I muttered.
The man with the gun stepped closer. "Don't make this hard."
I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. My hands trembled as I reached for my wallet.
This wasn't a movie. I wasn't a hero. I wasn't going to fight a man with a gun. I just wanted to get out of there alive.
I pushed Ashley further behind me. "It's fine," I whispered. "I've got it."
But before I could even pull my wallet out fully, she moved.
I don't know how to describe it. One second she was behind me, and the next second she wasn't. She was in front of them. There was no hesitation or fear in her eyes.
The first man lunged forward and Ashely acted fast. She twisted and kicked the gun out of his hand. The gun flew out of his hand like it weighed nothing.
She moved faster than my eyes could track. A sharp kick. A precise elbow. A punch that sounded like something cracking.
One man hit the ground, and then the second followed shortly. The third tried to grab her from behind, but she flipped him.
I was in shock. He was twice her size, yet she flipped him without effort. He landed on his back with a groan that made my stomach twist.
In less than ten seconds, all three men were on the ground, writhing and groaning.
I stood there frozen in shock. I couldn't even breathe.
Ashely turned towards me annd smiled innocently like she hadn't just dismantled three grown men like they were cardboard cutouts.
"I learned Karate as a kid," she said cheerfully as an explanation, but my mind refused to accept that explanation.
I replayed the fight in my head. Her speed and strength was remarkable, almost inhumane.
The way the gun flew from that man's hand like it had been ripped away by something much stronger than a human girl.
And then when she fought, I saw it. It was a split second and it might probably be my imagination but I saw it.
As she fought, Ashelys eyes flashed red for a second. It sounds stupid and it's probably my imagination, but I saw it plain as day.
I swallowed hard. What the hell is wrong with me?
"Josh?" she called softly drawing me out of my disturbing thoughts.
I realized I hadn't said anything. The men were groaning. One of them tried to crawl away, but Ashley didn't even look winded
"I-I think we should go," I managed. And she only nodded.
The walk back to the car felt surreal. I kept stealing glances at her hands, there was not even a scratch.
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought I hallucinated the whole thing.
The drive home was silent, but Ashely tried to make conversation once or twice. "Are you okay?" She asked.
Just to remove the disturbing thought from my mind that she might not be human, I asked. "Does your arm hurt? He almost grabbed you." Maybe her answer would ease my mind.
"Nope. I'm fine." She said freely.
My heart pounded and my thoughts were spiraling. I had no idea how to interprete her answer, but it only made me more nervous.
When we got home, I practically ran inside. "Josh?" she called after me but I ignored her. I didn't mean to, but I just-couldn't face her. I hate to admit it, but I'm scared of her.
I locked myself in my room, and started pacing. My heart wouldn't slow down.
Okay, let's think logically. Maybe I imagined the glow. Maybe adrenaline distorted my perception. Maybe she really did learn martial arts as a kid. Some people are freakishly talented.
But flipping a full-grown man like that? Snatching a gun out of someone's hand mid-lunge? Not even breathing hard afterward?
And those eyes! They couldn't be just my imagination. I saw it clearly.
I leaned against the wall and pressed my hands to my face. What if she's dangerous? What if she's a murderer or a criminal? What did she do to the real Mrs Ashely?
The thought hit me hard.
What if she's been dangerous this entire time and I kept her in my house? I remembered her bloodstained hands that time and shivered in fear.
If shes dangerous, she could have hurt me at any time if she wanted to. But she hadn't. Maybe it's because I haven't known her true identity yet and that's why she kept me alive.
Or maybe I'm wrong about the whole thing and all was she has been saying is the truth.
I couldn't live like this-questioning my sanity every time I looked at her. I needed answers for my own peace of mind.
I don't care if she ends up harming me at the process. I'm going to ask her everything.