Chapter 20

Anne-Sophie was in rather bad shape when she arrived on the island during the storm. Being thrown into every corner, she could not swim as she should and, with rough seas, she was pulled to the bottom, unable to come up until she lost consciousness underwater. After the passage of Daphne who could only see her death, the young lady came to herself before taking a deep breath and regurgitating the water she swallowed. Barely opening her eyes to try to find out where she is, Anne-Sophie, dead tired, tries to open her eyes when she sees a silhouette approaching before she loses consciousness. Two days later, the young lady opens her eyes once again. Drip in hand, she assumes she is in a hospital room before realizing that is not possible. Suddenly, she stands up with the idea of ​​drawing the curtains to see more clearly when, to her surprise, she discovers that she has a foot attached to the bed. Immediately trying to free herself, she hears the door open before seeing a figure enter the room and dazzle her once the light is on. Anne-Sophie finds out it's an old man once her eyes get used to it.

- Hello young lady... How are you?

- Why am I tied up? Where am I?

- You're better, I see!

- Who are you?

- Are you hungry?

- But answer whore! Why did you tie me up?

- You were much nicer to watch when you were in a coma.

- Release me right away...

- Since you take it that way, I'll come back later.

Not waiting for an answer from the young lady, the old man turns around and leaves, the tray in his hand.

- Wait!

Anne-Sophie does not believe what is happening to her at the moment. Once she finds herself alone, she once again tries to free herself when the door opens again.

- There's no point in trying to free yourself. You won't.

- Why did you kidnap me? Where am I?

- You are at my house. Are you sure you don't want to eat?

- You still haven't answered me.

- What is your name?

- "Damn! This old fart is boring! Why doesn't he answer me? What does he want from me? Maybe if I answer her, I will have answers to my questions..." My name is Anne-Sophie.

- That's good! Eventually you end up being cooperative. It was time. You are not hungry? Well, it's possible, I've put you on a serum.

- What am I doing here?

- I saved you young lady. You were dying when I found you...

- You're serious Anne-Sophie can't believe her ears.

- I'm a doctor. When I found you, your pulse was very weak and you were unconscious. I had to transport you here before giving you the necessary treatment.

Anne-Sophie suddenly calms down.

- Ah, thank you... But why are you tying me up?

- Do you know where you are?

- Well, you stupid bastard, it's high time you released me.

- Wow! What vulgarity!

- Let the fuck go!

Anne-Sophie freaks out and rips out the infusions. Blood starts squirting everywhere. Seeing how excited the young lady is, he gives her a dose of tranquilizer and Anne-Sophie immediately falls asleep. Once she falls asleep, the old man cleans up the blood that has jumped all over the place before leaving the room once more. An hour later, Anne-Sophie opens her eyes once more and discovers that she is still in the room. She doesn't like what's going on now, but she doesn't know what to do to get out of it. Moments later, she sees the old man reappear in the room.

- "How can he know that I woke up? It is not possible! He must necessarily have a way for him to know exactly what I'm doing…"

- Are you feeling better?

- How do you know I woke up?

As she talks to him, her eyes wander around.

- Ah, you understood the trick! Yes, there is indeed a camera. She is right above you.

- What do you expect from me, by the way?

- Good question my child. What can I expect from you? Truth be told, not much.

- Why am I tied up then?

- Do you have any other questions?

- You have no answers?

- Where are you from?

- What do you mean, where am I from? Where am I?

- You are in Greenland girl!

- In Greenland? How is it possible? Ah… The storm.

- Did you come here because of a storm?

- Yes. I was with a group of friends. We collided with corals and our boat took on water.

- I only found you on the beach… I see that my presence bothers you a little. Just know that I mean you no harm.

- Why sequester me then? You want to sleep with me?

- I hadn't thought of that, to be honest.

- It is out of the question!

- Just kidding. You could be my daughter.

Anne-Sophie feels relieved.

- "He doesn't seem mean, but why is he kidnapping me? I don't understand it anymore…" It's true that I could be your daughter. What is your name?

- My name is Harry… You're Anne-Sophie, right?

- That's it. Tell me a little about you.

- What do you want to know about me?

- Well, whatever you want to tell me about yourself.

- I've been living here alone for nearly ten years. I lost my wife and my daughter in a car accident. Afterwards, it was decided that I was no longer able to work and they kicked me out of the hospital. I'm a surgeon by profession and since then I've helped people who didn't have the money to see a doctor. Being a long-time friend, the pharmacist agreed to give the drugs I prescribed to my patients. And then, it's all over when we evacuated the island…

- If the island was evacuated, what are you still doing there?

- I am seventy years old. I have everything here. My wife and my daughter. My memories. Leave everything behind to start over? It is not possible.

- I understand you. How old was your daughter when she died?

- Twenty-four…

- Wow… she was very young!

While lost in thought, Anne-Sophie notices Harry getting up before heading to a chest of drawers. Opening a drawer, he pulls out a key before approaching the young lady again.

- Currently, you are in my daughter's room. Harry releases Anne-Sophie. When I found you, I thought I would do anything to save you, which I couldn't do with my daughter.

- Kidnapping me is not the right thing to do. You're not mean but that's the impression you gave me. If you want some company, I'll have no problem keeping you company.

- Is it true?

- I'm still here when you freed me, right? asks Anne-Sophie with a smile. How did they die?

- They were hit by a truck transporting animals to the zoo. The bastard wasn't looking his way. They crossed and…

- It's sad… Now that I know you better, I'm starting to feel a bit peckish.

- Your food is in the kitchen. Come with me.

Rising, the lady follows Harry into the kitchen and, once she takes a seat at the table, the old man serves her her food. Anne-Sophie, hungry, immediately begins to eat. However, moments later, her thoughts return to Amber and she stops eating.

- What's wrong? he notices immediately.

- I'm thinking of my friends, well, one in particular.

- The way you say it, she's more than a friend actually, isn't she?

- She's a friend, but she doesn't know that I'm a lesbian and that I have feelings for her.

- My daughter was a lesbian too…

- How did you take it?

- Well, I can't say I was proud of it, but I never discouraged her either. She took her girlfriend home from time to time.

- She had a lot of luck… Anne-Sophie's eyes fill with tears.

- It was not the case for you?

- No. I find myself without a family. My parents literally threw me on the street. Currently, I live with a cousin, but she is pressuring me to find a home; it doesn't please her to see me at her house. Otherwise, sometimes I'm with friends.

- It's nonsense this history of homosexuality. Do your friends know about your attraction to women?

- Almost all of them…

- Let me guess. Only the one you're interested in doesn't know, right?

Anne-Sophie nods her head.

- We met at the Miss Heartland Pageant. As soon as I saw her, I fell in love with her. The current passed quickly and we became inseparable. Afterwards, we became close with another girl from the pageant. Eventually, we became a nice little team of three.

- And the one who joined you knows about you I presume.

- Indeed, I can understand that.

- I miss her so much!

Anne-Sophie's eyes fill once more with tears before running down her cheeks.

- I don't know if she's fine, if she's still alive. The idea of ​​having to live without her terrifies me.

- We mustn't think of the worst…

- I never came to Greenland. How many days can I take to cover the whole island?

- It can be done in one day. The island is very small. However, I would not advise you to do it right away.

- Why not? Am I still locked up?

This question goes badly with Harry.

- No, it's because you've just come out of a coma and a walk like this would drain you of all your energy. And then there are wild animals that roam. Before leaving the island, they freed all the animals from the zoo. If you want to go, it's your choice. I won't hold you back.

- I'm sorry for that comment. I should never have said such a thing to you.

- It's mostly me who shouldn't have kidnapped you at the base. Here is what I propose to you: I go around the island to try to find your friend. If I find her, I'm bringing her here. How are you?

- That's fine with me… What is the probability that they all ended up here?

- I cannot answer you. I will set off. As for you, don't go out. I should be back in the afternoon. In this drawer you will find a box containing white pills. You take two after your meal. Okay?

- All right… Thank you Harry.

Anne-Sophie didn't expect so much generosity from Harry, whom she thought was malicious at first. Watching him walk away, she realizes how easy it is to pass judgment on a person without knowing their background. Meanwhile, in the middle of the forest, the old man does not realize that he is being chased by a lion. Walking carelessly, as fatigue begins to set in after thirty minutes, Harry is startled by the lion standing in front of him staring him straight in the eye. Frightened, he jumps before feeling a strong pain in the chest. Trying to take a few steps back, he suddenly falls, carried away by a heart attack. Having the feast, he was waiting for, the feline goes to the table and, after gorging himself, he returns to stand near the house waiting for his new prey which he also considers very appetizing while Anne-Sophie is far from suspecting what is going on a few meters from her.