Chapter Seven

Three days later.

BANG! BANG!

"Ah," I screamed at the sound of the loud gunshot, my cry echoing through the huge glass box  I stood in. I tried to run towards the body that dropped from the metal chair but instead crashed against the transparent glass head first. 

"No!" I yelled at the two people who stood over the body, but they couldn't hear me. I watched as they moved toward the other two men tied to similar seats. The men shook their heads wildly and tried to speak, but the cloth that gagged them only let out muffled cries.

"No, let them go plea---"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I screamed again and covered my ears with the palm of my hands. As I watched the other two bodies fall to the ground, I trembled and hugged myself.

The two murderers began talking in low mumbles while I stood there watching them. My words; they were gone.

The woman had her back to me so I couldn't see her face. She wore a tight leather catsuit and her ombre hair flowed in waves past her waist. The man wore a black hoodie that covered his hair, gloves that covered his hands and a bandanna that only revealed his blue eyes.

The place we were in was dark, with light bulbs that concentrated solely on the people inside the room like a lam light.  I followed them in my glass prison, my head pressed against it and my eyes wide. As they made their way to the other side of the room, my heart beat faster.

As the man raked his AK 47 gun, I took two steps back and another two forward when I saw who their focus was now on.

God. Oh god, no.

The pregnant maid shook her head and pleaded with her eyes. Just like me she was unable to form words, but unlike me, it was due to the cloth that gagged her.

The room suddenly started to heat up. I could literally feel it.

I felt suffocated, breathless, defend-less and worst of all; utterly useless.

The woman walked behind the maid, finally revealing her front frame. However, her face was still a mystery. Her hair curtained it, only giving a glimpse of her jade green eyes. I gasped then screamed in agony when I noticed what she held in her hands. I knew what she was about to do, so I tried to look away but couldn't. Then tried to close my eyes but it was just as useless. They were glued to the scene and to the knife; which was sparkling in the darkness as if carrying it's own illuminating light. So I did the only thing I could do. The only reaction my body could muster.

I screamed...

And screamed...

And screamed...

Then - wush... Silence; it dramatically enveloped the room when the woman lifted her head and tossed back her hair. "What the..." My eyes widened in shock as I stared at her. She was... me. How was that possible?

As my other self lifted the maids chin to expose her neck, I recovered my hanging jaw and yelled from the top of my lungs,"No! Eliya don't." I banged on the glass prison hard to capture her attention. "Eliyana! Eliyanna!" She positioned the knife at the wailing woman's throat then...

I woke up screaming and panting as I sat in the middle of my sweat drenched sheets. "It was just a nightmare," I reassured myself for the hundredth time, but as usual, it did nothing to calm my nerves. I've had this dream every time I closed my eyes and like always, woke up with my heart beating a million miles per hour and sweat dripping down my body as if my AC wasn't on. Hugging my knees to my chest, I buried my face between my legs and cried my heart out. Again.

I was afraid to sleep, afraid to speak, afraid to go out and worst of all, I couldn't do anything or talk to anyone about it. That poor woman's partner lost everything in one night; his wife and child. Did he even know what happened to her? Did Roman at least have the decency to give her back for a proper funeral?

My thoughts, they were running wild. I could feel the wheels in my head spinning out of control. It felt as if my head was going to explode. I needed it; the one thing that kept me sane when my nightmares attacked. I reached out my bedside table, blindly searching for it. As my hands finally wrapped around it's silky frame, my heart skipped a beat as I impatiently opened it.

When the wrapper finally came off---

"Ah."

...I felt like my life was ending.

One! There was only ONE left in it! What the hell was I supposed to do with ONE bar of chocolate and when the hell did it finish?
Without thinking twice, I threw the box against the wall then instantly regretted it. I knew it was ridiculous; the fact that I was too proud to go pick it up again.  So I just stared at it.

And stared at it.

And stared at it.

God it was calling me. How could I let it go to waste, especially when some people around the world couldn't afford it? It's inconsiderate. 

I quickly ran towards box and plucked it out. Savoring the delicious nutty flavor, tears streamed down my face. Those tears however, weren't due to my nightmare anymore. How pathetic was I? Crying over finished chocolate while my problems seemed to  get bigger and bigger by the second.

God, Roman Alexander being the wolf was something I just couldn't wrap my head around. He's probably the last person anyone would deem a criminal mastermind.

It was too much. I couldn't keep it to myself or live in the same city anymore; I had to get out of New York. Yes, that was it; the only solution. I needed to go back to New Jersey TODAY! Damn it with fresh starts!

Grabbing my phone from my bedside table, I tried to steady my trembling hands as I searched for the number I needed. "Pick, pick, pick," I chanted, tapping my knees impatiently.

"Ellie? Are you okay?"

Finally!

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Ah, because you're calling me at twelve midnight," answered my sister. Her voice though sleepy, was unmistakably worried. God, this was exactly what i didn't want.

I cleared my throat so it won't sound patchy...

"I wan-want to co-come back."

...Obviously, it didn't work.

"Ellie? What is it? Eliyanna!"

Don't cry, Eliya. Don't cry. Don't...  

"Are you crying?" Oh fudge! "What happened? Talk to me! Ellie?" She kept asking, and asking but I couldn't speak. Instead, I just bawled through the phone. Hearing her voice just melted me from the inside. I needed to be with her so badly right now. I should've looked for a job in New jersey like Shanina suggested. I had multiple offers. Why did I have to be so hell bent on coming back home? If I did what she asked none of this would have happened!

"Can I- I please come back Shani please. I promise..." *Sniff* "I promise I won't switch our names on the chore board when it's my turn. Please, I'll be good. I ju-ju-just..."

"Of course you can! I don't care about the chores. I'll arrange your room so you can come back tomorrow."

"No! No! Today," I screamed a little louder than necessary then calmed my voice before continuing, "Please! I want to come today." Thankfully, my sister agreed without asking any further questions.

After we hung up, I ran toward my closet, grabbed everything I could find and stuffed it into two large suitcases. As I walked towards the door...

Squeak, squeak.

The noise that followed my movements stopped me dead in my tracks. Without even looking down I knew I had on my pink glittery bunny onsie and matching bunny slippers. As if my life couldn't get any worst. I mean seriously, the hoodie of my onsie had five-inch long bunny ears that flashed lights when I press my tummy, while the bottom... dun dun dun... had a tail. Don't get me started on the slippers; the googly eyes attached to them bounced with every step I took. This was my favorite pyjama set, but there's a reason why it's only meant to be used indoors. I sighed loudly knowing that I didn't have time to change or empty my suitcase. All I wanted to do was leave, so I did exactly that.

Sniffling back a tear, I tried so hard to get the image of that poor maid out of my head but it seemed to be embedded. I hated myself for leaving her injustice behind. She didn't deserve what she got regardless of what she might have done.
Maybe her showing up in my nightmares was a cry for help. Maybe she needed to be with her family one last time.

I wanted so badly to leave it behind. To forget it. To go. However, my conscience couldn't let me drive futher.

So I took a deep breathe and turned my car around.

******************************************************************************

As the cold air brushed past my face, I shivered and stared at the people who entered and left the 26th Manhattan precinct. I didn't even know what I was afraid of. It wasn't like Roman and his pack could find me by the time the police questioned them. I would be long gone by then. So why the hell wasn't I proceeding?

My mind. That was it. It kept slipping back to the less fortunate people Roman helped every year. What would they do without him? How could I possibly bare that on my conscience?

After debating with myself for another ten minutes, I decided that the woman deserved a proper funeral no matter who she was. So I took two deep breathes...

In through my nose and out through my mouth.

In through my nose and out through my mouth.

... then walked up the stairs.

I knew I looked like a crazy person with my tear stained eyes and ridiculous onsie, but Jesus Christ! Didn't these people know it was rude to stare?

Squeak squeak.

Have they no manners?

Squeak squeak.

I glared at the googly eyes on my bunny slippers. The thing fricking kept announcing me like a siren with every step I took. I felt like yanking it off and walking barefoot. But the uniformed assholes whispering about my mental state would probably have legitimate conformation.

Docking my head down, I made my way to the police woman talking on her phone. I cleared my throat and tried to keep a straight face. By her expression though, I knew I was failing. Miserably. "Hi, can I please talk to your chief detective? It's really im-important."

She put away her phone and looked at me concern. "Honey, are you alright? I can help you if you want. What is it?"

"Thank you, but I would like to talk to your boss, p-please." I cleared my throat. Again.

Hugging my hands around myself, I followed the cop when she asked me to. When I realized that I activated the lights on my bunny ears, I quickly dropped my hands to the sides. After a minute or so, she knocked on a door with the name plate: "Chief Rafael Josiah." When he answered we entered and she closed the door behind me. "Sir, Ms..."

"Holland. Eliyanna," I continued for her.

"Ms. Eliyanna Holland would like to see you." The Chief looked up and smiled at me then thanked the police woman. After she left, he asked me to take a seat on the leather chair opposite his side of the desk. I bit my lip nervously and hugged myself tighter. Every part of my body asked me to get up and leave before it was too late.

"Are you okay?"

I looked up from the ground I was absently staring at and nodded. Before I could stop myself... "I have information on Wolf," ... I blurted out.

His brows etched together, "Who?

"The Garza wolf. I know who he is."

The Chief stared at me for a while, as if he was trying to digest the information I had just spat out. "Go on," he said finally. I explained everything that happened that night including how he let me go the next morning. Maybe specifying the latter would reduce his sentence somehow. 

He seemed a little taken a back and shocked but didn't say much. Instead he thanked me for coming forward, asked me to wait then excused himself out of the office.

A nasty feeling rounded my stomach as I sat patiently.  I thought I would feel better if I did this, but all I felt was guilt. I Eliyanna Holland betrayed Roman 'the wolf' Alexander. What if I was the only person he let out of his grasp alive? God, I was worst than Randall, from the show "Recess".

After approximately fifteen minutes the detective came back in. "You have no idea how long we've been trying to find wolf and the Garza front men. You did something very big today, Ms. Holland, thank you."

I nodded and smiled weakly even though I heavily disagreed with his statement. I stood up and walked toward the door.

Snitch. Slimy loser sni--

"Oh Ms. Holland." I turned around and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "Before you leave could you show me the way to Mr. Alexander's house, please."

"I'm sorry, I can't. I have to drive all the way to Jersey tonight." I smiled apologetically.

He swung his suit on his shoulders and stuffed his phone in his suit pocket. "We can't wait till tomorrow to question Mr. Alexander. We both know he's a very protected man. The fact that he's the Garza wolf means he's even more shielded than we thought. If this gets back to him, we won't have the element of surprise. I don't want to make any mistakes when investigating someone as powerful as him."

I totally understood what he meant; Roman was a world wide figure and the head of a multi-billionaire organization. Bringing charges against someone like that could be very risky. However, I just couldn't go. I don't think I could watch him get dragged off to jail. He was someone I greatly admired despite the fact. Well, the Roman Alexander part of him at least.

As I was about to reject again, Chief Josiah spoke first, "You can't let your effort go to waste. Besides, if Mr. Alexander is The Wolf, the only way I can guarantee your safety, is to take you with me. If he knows you were the one who told me about him, he wouldn't risk harming you.The wolf has appeared to be a strategic person, he knows when to stay away to avert suspicion. This is also in your best interest."

I sighed in surrender knowing he was right. When the detective shows up at Romans house, he would know I ratted him out anyway. The Garza were rumored to worship the ground he walked on. He'll obviously know it wasn't there doing.

**************************************************************

The thirty minute car ride was silent except for the occasional directions I gave Chief Josiah. Stepping out the car the chief spoke to the gate-man who did the necessary checks, before sliding open the automated doors. When the car engine started again, I closed my eyes.

You're doing good Eliya. This is the right thing to do.

The car ride down the driveway seemed shorter than the last time. When we reached the main door, a blonde woman came forth and lead us inside.

I looked around Roman's study, where we sat waiting for him. It wasn't as big as his office back at RomeTech but it was as nicely furnished. He most have hired the same interior designer to decorate all his properties. He/she was really good. The offices weren't too fancy but you could tell the furniture was expensive. When the blonde woman came back to announce Roman's timeless arrival I squirmed on my seat. 

Pump pump.

Pump pump.

My heart; it was going to break my ribs!

After a few minutes, hours or days, I heard the sound of a shut door and footsteps that sounded closer and closer as it approached us. I wiped my sweaty palms on my onsie - damn this onsie - then wrapped my hands around my body.

Oh God, Oh God...

The office's doors swung open. Lo and behold, Roman came striding in wearing gray basketball shorts, a white T-Shirt and long black socks that stopped almost near his knees. The clothes made him look younger; more his age. As our eyes met, I inhaled a sharp breathe then looked at my slippers. God, he was so intimidating.

After a while, the room was still silent, I looked up and met Roman's blue eyes still on me. Or rather my bunny ears, which kept blinking lights. But I couldn't help it, my arms seemed to be glued around my waist.

Why the hell was Chief Josiah still quiet anyway? We needed to get this over with. I turned around to look at him, however, he seemed to be looking anywhere but at me. 

"Rafi, leave us alone. Thank you." My eyes widened at authoritative tone Roman used, but that wasn't what shocked me the most! The detective actually stood up!

He stood up!

"Where are you going?" I asked, my eyes following his figure. What the hell was happening right now?

He let out a big yawn and looked at me like it was obvious. "Home, I'm tired." I gasped at his reply and stared at him but he turned his attention to Roman. "Wolf what time are we meeting at the mansion tomorrow?"

Mansion? Did he just call him wolf? What?

"Julian will text you the details."

Click!

Oh my god. "You tricked me," I whispered more to my self. Then... "YOU TRICKED ME!" ...I barked again. "What kind of a world do we live in when we can't even trust the police? You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Before my brain could even process what I was doing...

Thump.

...I sprang up the chair and jumped on the chief's back without thinking twice.

"You crazy bitch!" he shrieked. I took a handful of his copper-coloured hair and pulled. Hard! "Ah, get off me."

"Fuck Eliyanna, what the hell is wrong with you?" I heard Roman ask, as if he honestly wanted to know. I felt his arms wrap around my waist - activating my glowing bunny ears again - before yanking me off the chief.

"You're fucking crazy," Chief Josiah cursed, as Roman placed me on my feet again.

Oh, god. Panic. It was crawling and slowly taking over my system.

"Chief, I'm sorry." My voice sounded so small even I didn't recognize it. "Please, I didn't mean to pull your hair or scratch your eyes. Just put ice on it. I'm not a violent person, I was just scared."

As he walked out I tried to follow him.

God. Oh, god. Oh, god. Just a few steps more. Ju---

"Eliyanna."

Oh, god. That voice.

"Sit."

What have I done?   

A/N

Hey cupcakes, I hope you enjoyed the double update. Who was expecting that to happen? It took me a little longer to write this chapter but I hope it was worth it. What do you guys think will happen next? Always eager to hear your thoughts.

By the way, I have great news! The next part might have a bit of Roman's POV. I'm not sure yet. I'm still debating on writing it or just waiting till later in the story. Let me know on the comments below. Your suggestions will play a huge part in my decision. You guys are my rock!

Please don't forget to vote and comment.

Xoxo... Tima.