Chapter 9 Alex Mist Horizon Casino / Silver Lake Forest Memorial Hospital Early That Evening 5-6 pm

When I got out of the casino, I started to walk to the sidewalk leading to the hospital. When I got a few feet away from the casino, a black honda started to get to follow me every time I stopped, the car stopped every time I moved the car moved. So what the hell is that car doing? Is it following me?

When a group of people walked by, I turned to see that the black car was gone. What the hell? Maybe I was just overthinking as I continued to walk to the first traffic light on the end of the road. Before I could get close to the traffic light, I could see that the black Honda following me a while ago was parked next to a parking meter with a tall guy leaning on the car.

When I got closer to the man, I could see that the man from the casino had asked for his ID. "Why are you following me!" I yelled as I got closer to the man, "did I do something to you!?"

"Hello, my name is Markus Couch," Markus smiled, still leaning on the car, "but some people can call me Mark."

"Nice to meet you," I said with a pissed-off tone, "but you did not answer my question."

"Yes and no," Markus laughed as he pushed himself off the car, "Yes, I'm following you because my employer told me to give you a ride to your destinations for the whole day. Also, no, you did not do anything to me."

"Why would the casino give me a driver," I said, not letting my tone change, "also, are you a security guard, not a driver?"

"You meet my employer's family member," Smiled Markus as he walked over to the back door of the car and opened it, "and also I'm am both mostly a driver though. Shall we go then?"

"I never met anyone," I murmured, trying to remember who his employer is and also finding a way to get away from him as while.

"You sat next to young master sir and talked for a while before he left," smiled Markus, still holding the door open, "and he told me to drive you because he said you were a good friend that needed a driver for the day."

"River? He sent you," I smiled a little as I looked at Markus, this time not sounding pissed off this time.

"Yes, sir," Markus laughed a little, still smiling as he looked at me, "so let's get going then."

I could see that no one was around, not even a car in sight as I looked around. "Okay," I said, shaking my head trying to stay calm as I walked to the car, "but if you try to kidnap me or try to kill me, I will call the cops on your ass."

"Understand, sir," murmured Markus as I got into the back seat of the car. When Markus hopped in the driver's seat and looked in the driver's mirror, he said, "So where to first, sir."

"To the hospital, please," I smiled as I looked out the window of the car as Markus started to drive down the road in the same direction I was walking towards.

When an hour passed of silence, I looked into the mirror, looking at Markus through the reflection, and could see that he looked like he was in his late thirties and not so scary the first time I met him. He seems more relaxed when driving than when he is a security guard.

"So how long have you known River," I said, trying to end the silence in the car and also because I'm getting bored just looking out the window.

"I have known the young master since he was a baby," smiled Markus as he looked at the road, not looking through the mirror.

"So how old is River then?" I smiled a little continued to look at Markus through the mirror, hoping that he would look at me.

"Young master will be turning twenty-seven this year," laughed Markus with a smile, "he is still a little boy in my eyes, though."

So he is two years older than me. "So, um…," I murmured, still looking out the window, "why do people call him mean names."

"When the young master was growing up, he would not talk to anyone except his parents and me. This all happened when he got into high school and would just give this evil look to everyone," Markus said as he turned left on the road, "you are the first I had seen the young master smile when he talked to someone in a long time."

"I don't believe that," I laughed with a smile, "he problem smiles and laughs with his girlfriend or lover."

"Young master does not have either, sir," Markus said, sounding serious, "you are the first I've seen him happy in a long time."

"Are you saying he does not have lovers or friends," I laughed, sounding like I didn't believe him as I looked out the window again, "everyone has at least a friend?"

"He has one friend," Markus laughed, "and they were like Bonnie and Clyde.

"What did they kill someone," I said with your fucking bullshiting right in my tone when I looked at Markus.

"No, sir," laughed Markus with a smile, "it's more like they just got in trouble a lot, always tied to the hip."

"Are they still like that," I said, curious about this friend of his?

"Yes, they are," Markus said as he turned right this time, "They tell each other everything.

"So it sounds like his friend is a fun guy," I laughed, looking at Markus again and then out the window.

"He is a she," smiled Markus with a laugh, "and yes, she knows how to make him smile and laugh, but she has been overseas for years now."

"That as to be hard for River," I said with sadness in my tone, "I don't have friends."

"Sometimes it is," said Markus with a weak smile, "but they talk on the phone every time they have the chance."

"It's only binned my sister and my mom," I said with a weak laugh remembering how life was, "my dad passed away when my sister was six, and I was nine, so it's just bin use three."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Markus murmured as he started to slow down.

"It happened a long time ago. My dad passed away from a car accident. He was driving home on thanksgiving when a drunk driver crashed into him. The drunk driver lived, but my dad did not. It's mostly hard for my mom because the man that was driving got away with it because he had money and was some rich guy," I smiled, trying to hide that I was crying. "I don't know why I'm telling you all that."

"It's all good, sir," laughed Markus with a smile as I started to wipe the tears away, "also, we are at the hospital, sir."

"Oh, thank you, Markus. I did not know we stopped moving," I continued smiling as Markus got out of the car and opened the back door.

"I will be here waiting for you, sir," Markus smiled as he continued to hold the door open, "so take your time."

"Oh, okay," I murmured as I got out of the car so Markus could close the door.

"Alex, is that you," a woman's voice said coming from in front of me.

"Oh, hello, mom," I smiled as I looked at my mother walking to me.