Episode 3

Chapter: The Visit

"My child," I whispered urgently, "go see if that man in the bed is still asleep. If he is, hide him and then come to me. Don't say anything, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy, I'll be right back," she replied obediently, her footsteps light.

Knocks echoed on the door.

"Yes? Who is it?" I asked, trying to sound calm.

"Hello, good evening. Could you open the door? It's urgent…"

"Yes, tell me, what do you need?"

"We're looking for this person," he said, showing a photo. "By any chance, is he here?"

"The truth is, no, gentlemen."

One of them raised his arm, pointing a gun at me.

"Can we check?"

"Sure, I don't see why not. But you could put that away, my daughter will get scared."

They looked at each other, hesitating. Finally, they lowered the gun and nodded.

"Come in…"

"Mommy, who are they?" my daughter asked from the hallway.

"They're undercover police," I said, looking at them coldly. "They're checking to make sure everything is okay, right, gentlemen?"

"Uh… yes, of course. We're police. We're on an important mission," one of them stammered.

That woman is scary… she seems so harmless, the other thought, without saying a word.

"Come on, there's nothing here," they said after looking around.

"Goodbye, police," I said without emotion as I accompanied them to the door.

When they left and I closed it, my legs faltered. I collapsed to the floor, gasping.

"That was close… Ash, why didn't I ask that guy's name? That way I'd know what it is…"

"Where did you hide him?" I asked my daughter when she returned.

"Where always, Mommy. In the secret hiding place. Did I do good?"

"More than good, my child. We've saved ourselves from dying."

"Because they were bad?"

"Yes, my child. They were very bad. You see what trouble you got me into… let's close the door well. We're going to take him out."

We entered the room. The two beds were made, as if no one had used them.

"Okay, Mommy. Take him out. He must have gotten hurt. I'll get the first aid kit."

I approached, looked for the hidden button, and pressed it. The mattress slid to one side with a dull thud. A man emerged from below, but the abrupt movement made him bleed.

"Here it is, Mommy."

"Go take a bath. It's time to sleep."

"Are you going to sleep with him?"

"No, I'll sleep with you. Don't ask questions. Go quickly."

"Okay, Mommy," she replied, disappearing into the hallway.

As I treated the stranger, I couldn't help but think about my daughter's father. About that person I had loved so much. Surprisingly, she didn't mention him to me today. Is it because of you?

I shuddered when he took my hand quickly and forcefully. I looked at him surprised.

"What the hell!?"

"Who are you?" he asks, his voice tense and cold.

"I should be asking that… If you're okay now, can you leave my house?"

"Oh my God… he has beautiful eyes," I murmured, unable to help myself. His drooping eyelids didn't completely hide the deep blue that peeked out as if the sky had hidden in his gaze. I swallowed. "No, no, Made, you can't focus on that now. Kick him out! Or those people will come again," I said to myself, slapping my forehead.

But I didn't.

I couldn't.

I looked at him again, lying on the bed, breathing heavily as if he had already given up.

"I don't know… we found you and brought you here to heal you," I whispered carefully. "My daughter called you Alan."

He looked at me for a second, as if the whole world hung on that instant.

"Please… help me," he whispered with a broken voice.

And as if his body could no longer resist, he fainted. Just like that. Plop!

I sighed deeply. I crossed my arms. I looked at the ceiling.

"And yes, gentlemen… again. He fainted again."

Now I have a handsome man, half dead, lying in my bed. With wounds all over, without documents, without a name, without anything. Only that look… and that voice that asked me for help as if I could save him from hell.

"Mommy!" my daughter's little voice came from the hallway. "Is Mr. Alan okay?"

"Yes, my love… he's resting," I replied, trying to sound calm.

I don't know why, but I felt the need to protect him. As if something in him spoke to me without saying a single word. As if his presence meant more than it seemed.

And although everything inside me screamed at me to kick him out, not to get into more trouble, it was too late. He was here. In my house. In my bed.

And now it was my problem.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***