"I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU."

I heard a phone ring before the man's soft and warm lips gently pressed on my forehead. I couldn't see his whole face clearly because of our position, but I managed to see how perfect his prominent nose was.

"Got to go." His voice was low, deep, and cold.

My eyes blinked as the rays of the sun hit my face when he moved and left. 

"Ingrid, you're here!" Someone called my name which made me turn to my left.

There, I saw my old friend walking towards me. It was Macey, the granddaughter of our nation's president. We used to hang out before I got kidnapped two years ago.

I blinked as I let go of the rose on the ground. How many minutes was I stunned that I didn't even realize that Macey was coming to me?

"Hello, Ingrid! I missed you! Let's go to our school together!" Macey pulled me by the right hand. She didn't notice the rose that fell at her feet.

I went with her but I was still uneasy. I unconsciously touched my forehead. I could still feel the soft and warm lips of the man who placed there a gentle kiss.

But where is he now? Why did he suddenly disappear?

...

I WAS RESTLESS.

I was already home yet my mind was elsewhere. It was late in the evening and my body was worn out from the day's episode, yet here I was wide awake.

A.W. Just who the hell are you?

I hid that mysterious man's note in my drawer. My heart was pounding as I touched my neck. The concealer I used to cover the tattoo had faded and the barcode could be seen.

I glanced at my one-year-old little brother, Baby Aki, who was also still up playing inside his crib. His chubby cheeks bounced as he gnawed on his toy.

I stepped towards him and watched him play. "Hello, handsome baby!"

He ignored me but continued gnawing his toy, drool dribbling on his chin from his cherry-red lips.

"Why are you still awake, baby?" I reached for him and patted his head. "How would you grow if you don't sleep?"

His sharp nose was prominent even as a baby. His eyes had strong hints of gray. 

I feasted my eyes on him – something I wouldn't grow tired of. It was heartwarming when he turned his head my way and smiled at me.

"I love you so much, my baby," I said with a smile.

...

IT WAS NOW THREE in the morning but I still couldn't sleep. I decided to go out of my room to get myself a glass of milk, but I stopped in my tracks when I heard voices in the kitchen in low whispers.

"What should we do, dear? Our business is done." It was my mom. 

"I don't know. I have no idea why this is happening to our family. I did my best to save our business, but now it was gone. We have left with nothing now and I'm worried for our children's future."

I hastily wiped the tears from my eyes as I slowly backed up the stairs. I was hoping they wouldn't find out I overheard them. Daddy didn't want to be eavesdropped on. He would get angry but I knew it was just a façade. He loved us and he was doing his best to protect us.

I was in the middle of the stairs when I noticed a shadow pass by our main door. I glanced at the corridor leading towards the kitchen and saw my parents still there.

"Mommy!" I shrieked as another shadow rushed towards me.

The shadow yanked me violently towards him. I tried to catch his face, but I only saw his eyes peering from the full-face robber mask that covered his head.

"Ingrid!" My dad sprinted from the kitchen. But before he could get to me, he was captured by another big guy with the same full-face robber mask. The burglar strangled my father and pointed a gun at his head.

"No, please! No! Don't hurt us, please!" my mom cried out. Two others wearing robber masks held her. My parents were dragged into the kitchen and then gagged.

"Please, I beg you. Please don't hurt my parents," I begged the burglar who was pinning me down.

"Why would we do that? We're here to steal from you. But since we're already here, we'll make the most of it." He ripped my nightdress and tore it away from me.

I cried out as he struggled to wrench my clothes away.

The burglar who held me removed his mask. I saw his face and was scared more than ever. He looked to be in his forties. His long, wild beard wasn't enough to hide his acne-stricken face.

The other burglar still wearing a mask roared into laughter. "Be quick. I'm next!"

I was sobbing yet I was able to make out his eyes – they were red, and his pupils were dilated. There was no doubt in my mind that he took some illegal drugs beforehand.

Then memories came flashing back.

Two years ago, when I was kidnapped, I was raped by a guy whose face I couldn't see. I just knew that he was drugged by my kidnappers. 

But as much as I wanted to, I could not loathe his hands that touched me all those years ago. While I detested the rough hands of this burglar, I could not hate the hands of the guy from before.

A.W.

I shut my eyes tight. I remembered how he found me the second time and told me it was him who raped me. He was the same man who saved me yesterday and left me with that note.

He said he'll be back for me...

He said I'll be safe while he lives...

The burglar was able to rid of my clothes. I was only left with my underwear and he was amused when he saw my tattoos.  "Would you look at that? You're a wild one hiding behind an innocent face."  

"Tattoos on her neck and between her thighs," the other one cackled. "So this is allowed in high school?"

"Maybe if you're rich. You can simply pay them off so you can do whatever you like."

"Pity you! We're going to take everything from you tonight!"

"Please," I begged. "Please..."

A slap on my face racked my body. "Shut up, you little slut! I bet you're no longer a virgin!"

"Please," I cried. "Have mercy on me!"

A.W., wherever you are... Please... Save me!

The burglar had removed his shirt and was about to devour me when he suddenly went rigid. He spouted warm and sticky fluid and sprayed it across my neck and chest.

I screamed when I found out what it was. Blood! The burglar's body fell beside me with a thud.

"Fuck! Who the hell did that?!" The other burglar shouted as he knelt by his slain partner. Before he could raise his gun, blood spurted from his mouth, smoke emitting from the hole in his forehead.

My eyes were blurry from my tears and the blood but I did my best to get up. A tall man wearing a black shirt and fitted faded jeans walked towards me.

"W-who are you?" I noticed he was carrying a bundle in his arms.

My eyes widened when the little boy moved as if he was starting to wake up.

"Aki!" I sobbed and felt relieved to know that my little brother was safe.

The man gave Aki to me, then stood up and walked towards the door. He was carrying a revolver with his left hand, smoke wisping from its barrel, an indication that it was just recently used.

"W-wait!" I shouted after him.

He halted but didn't look back. "Call the police," he said in a low and cold baritone.

He was already out of my sight but I was still dumbfounded, rooted to my spot, holding Aki tight. Moments later, I heard four gunshots.

Aki giggled and then clapped his small cute hands, unaware of what was happening. 

I glanced at the phone next to us. Call the police... That man's words resonated in my mind. I reached out for the phone. Just as I was about to dial the police's number, realization dawned on me and made me pause.

That voice... That hard, deep, cold baritone voice... That was A.W.! 

He kept his promise – he saved me!

JF