Chapter Two
"What have you gotten yourself into, Etel?" She could hear both scolding and concern tone in her auntie's voice.
She winced when she didn't stop bombarding her with questions— instead, the scolding got louder and louder; bombing the whole living room.
Her auntie stopped to take a deep breath before sitting on the chair across her. Etel then tears her gaze away from her as she still feels guilty about what has happened.
She had been avoiding her Auntie Ace ever since that "grocery day" she would always sneak around just for her not to see her because she was too ashamed of what kind of burden she brought in this welcoming family.
Her Auntie Ace has never been on good terms with her dad, truth is, her dad and Ace had some bad blood going on. Etel's dad died despising her auntie and up until now, she never knew the reason why.
But despite the family feud, her auntie let her inside their household like a family on good terms. She never mistreated her nor gave her a hard life. Instead, she fed her, clothed her, and sheltered her— and Etel is grateful for that but there are times that she felt like a burden that she's too embarrassed to ask her auntie a favor. Etel thought that she had done enough for her.
That's why after that incident she tried everything she could do just to not let her auntie see her; sneaking out, waking up early, leaving the house early, etc. She'd been avoiding her for days now.
But of course, earlier, she was about to sneak out when she found out that her auntie was already waiting for her at the front door; must've known that she had been sneaking around. So, her auntie invited her to a heart-to-heart talk that ended up being a scolding session— which she deserves by the way— and now, here they are.
"Look, I want you to be truthful with me. What did you do and you’re put in this situation right now?”
Her lips quivered; unable to pronounce a word.
“Etel…”
She looked away. Etel doesn’t have the heart to face her auntie.
“Etel…”
How can she answer her when she, herself, doesn’t know the reason why?
“Etel,” Auntie Ace, once again, called her. But when she noticed that she won’t budge, she cupped her face and forcibly made Etel look at her. “Etel, I need to know what’s going on with your life right now, I am your guardian and I am responsible for you.”
“Auntie, I’m already twenty-two, meaning, I’m on my legal age and no longer need a guardian.”
“Even so!”
She stiffened as she heard how her auntie Ace’s voice raised a bit. She must have to lose her patience now.
Etel sighed in defeat and sat beside the auntie. “To be honest, I don’t know the reason why auntie.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am also clueless. Detective Judas said that t-they are investigating it and then when they interviewed me—“
The doorbell cut her off. They exchange glances before cautiously walking towards the house’s main door. She heaved a deep breath before reaching the doorknob. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth as she saw who’s outside their house.
“DO YOU have information for us, Detective Judas?” Etel asked as she watches Detective Judas took a sip from his tea made by her auntie; he was sitting comfortably on their couch.
And oh, he looks so formal and gorgeous at the same time.
Etel can’t stop staring at him as he lifts up the teacup that flexes his firm biceps through the fabric of his black double-breasted trench coat that suits him well. Underneath the trench coat, a white button-down shirt will welcome your sight that fits perfectly on his firm body. Her breathing hitch when their eyes met and the Detective gave her a playfully squint with his eyes.
Etel harshly looked away; feeling embarrassed. And, for the love of God, her cheeks are reddening out of embarrassment. Detective Judas might have caught her eyeing him and now it’s making her feel awkward because he was now staring at her while talking to Etel’s auntie.
Etel wandered her eyes around their living room; trying to avoid Detective Judas’ gaze but unfortunately, her eyes landed on his.
A sweet smile formed on Etel’s lips while looking at him. How hard she’s trying to remove the awkward atmosphere of the room. Detective Judas smiled back using his “angel” smile before looking back at her auntie.
She gulped and blew a breath in ease when the Detective withdraws his eyes away from her. Etel’s heart was pounding erratically earlier with all that staring and she doesn’t know why.
“Do you agree, Madam Etel?”
Etel was dumbfounded and exchange looks with the two. Auntie Ace was expecting her to agree. She didn’t know what to do but just nodded.
“It’s settled then,” the Detective said in contentment before standing up from his seat and took her Auntie Ace’s hand for a shake.
“Wait, what is settled?” Etel.
“For two weeks, you cannot leave your room. And we will make sure you won’t because we will send two people to patrol around your house.”
“What? That’s horrible!”
“But you agreed.”
“No, I didn’t.” Etel stomped her feet.
On the other hand, Detective Judas just shrugged and gave them a slight nod before excusing himself.
No, no, no, only if Etel was in her senses, she wouldn’t agree to that stupid agreement. She ran behind the Detective who was now in front of their door.
“Etel!” Auntie Ace.
She disregarded her auntie’s calling and continued running only to hit the Detective’s hardback. Etel almost got out of balance if it weren’t for the Detective’s fast reflexes.
“Are you okay, Madam Etel?”
Etel pushed Detective Judas hard. She did not fear to hide her annoyance as she gave him dagger looks.
“I disagree!”
“You can’t disagree, Madam Etel. It’s for your own good.”
“B-But you asked if I agree!”
“Yes, I did but that’s to test if you’re gonna be hard-headed.”
Etel’s jaw clenched. “I am not hard-headed! I need to go to work or else we won’t have anything to eat.”
“It’s okay, we will provide it.”
“What’s in your menu, then?”
The Detective rubbed his chin as if thinking. “Let’s see… seafood and red meats—“
“I’m allergic to them all!”
Well, of course, she lied; she loves to eat seafood and red meat for good's sake! She’s just being stubborn now.
He gave her a mischievous grin— her knees wobble at the sight of it— The Detective shook his head. “That’s awful, I heard that Tempura, fried chicken, cordon bleu, and many more were part of the menu.”
Etel’s mouth watered with the mention of those yummy dishes. She almost agreed and let the bait caught her!
Food is really a weakness of every person.
“You can’t bribe me. I won’t agree to that stupid arrangement.”
“There’s nothing you can do about it, Madam Etel. Please obey us as this is for your own good.”
“I like going out, I like socializing, and I love my work. Two weeks inside this house is hellish! Why not just let me go out and have people guard me, right?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m sorry, we can’t.”
“Why not?”
“We can’t provide you that, Madam Etel.”
Etel’s hand balled into a fist out of frustration. Looks like she can’t convince this Detective, there’s nothing else she can do but escape every time when she needs to. Right, that’s what she’s gonna do.
A frown on the Detective’s forehead was visible as she stopped convincing him and smiled in delight.
“Okay, fine.”
Etel reached for the doorknob and voluntarily opened the door for him, but her smile remained. “Goodbye, Detective…” She waved her hand at him who’s still frowning and doubting the sudden change of her behavior. She even smiled widely when he straddled his motorcycle and drove off.
THE four corners of the wall are the only thing Etel could talk to. Being celled in this lonely and quiet room is torture! She felt like she’s some sort of a psychotic patient trapped inside a mental institution.
But as time goes by, she wouldn’t just “feel like it” yet, be it.
The brute detective ordered the police who are patrolling outside their house to let her not touch her things, even her personal phone! Two days and she’s about to lose her mind; Etel can’t be sane without talking to someone.
Etel may be a practical person, however, she couldn’t bear being alone for a long time. And now, she’s conflicting with what she needs to do.
Would she risk her life for the sake of not being alone or not?
She blew a deep breath while crumpling her face with the use of her hands. Her eyes then wandered around the lonely room. Everything was moved out (including her bookshelf) aside from her wardrobe, vanity table, and her bed.
“We need to get rid of anything that could be a possible weapon.” She snorted as Etel remembered their reasoning.
What do they think of her; a suicidal person? Her life’s at stake, yes, but that doesn’t mean they have to shelter her like this! They want to keep her alive but as they try, they are just simply killing her inside.
One week ago, she was almost killed twice, and two days ago, she was caged inside her room.
How unfortunate of her.
Etel paced back and forth around the room as she’s unable to settle in one place. She couldn’t compose herself until she felt the urge to dress up.
She stepped out of the bathroom wearing her pastel pink layered chiffon crop top and white skinny jeans, Etel paired it with her pinkish-white wedge sandals.
Etel’s not sure why she dressed up but one thing was in her mind, she’s gonna escape this cage no matter what. Waves of nervousness coated her whole being looking around the whole room. After seconds of observing, she went through her wardrobe to look for something she hid when they were packing her things.
“Gotcha,” there was a hint of joy in her voice that she almost celebrate upon seeing the screwdriver.
She knew that they will move her things, that’s why earlier, she grab the chance she could get to sneak in the screwdriver inside her wardrobe. Etel knew that it could be useful for some time.
She walks toward her window that was shut close using their padlock. But luckily, she could loosen it by using the screwdriver.
As Etel successfully opened the window; her heart dances in celebration. The stool from her vanity table was the thing she used to support her weight and step outside from the window.
Her bag on the right shoulder, she steps on her stool and tried to escape from the window— only to get out of balance. Etel was about to scream when she covered her mouth with her hands and it turns into a squeak.
Etel doesn’t have a free hand anymore to support her balance. So, she just closed her eyes and accepted her crucial fate. But before she could even hit the ground, a strong set of arms caught her.
Eyes widened, heartbeat quickened, and breathing hitched.
“Lucifer…”