Hide and Seek : Redemption 1

'Upon recommendation from the Lee family, I strongly believe you will do a fine job here. However, what makes you think you're more qualified for this job, Mr John?' Gill Ratcliff eyed the young man seated infront of him. He had a baby doll face. His hair was white. An odd colour for a man born in 1997. He had sharp looks. His skin, all roses and milk. Come from money, didn't you? thought Ratcliff.

'Chivalry is not dead.' John replied. There was a hint in pride in his voice.

Ratcliff chortled with delight. 'Ha-ha. Your mother did say you were a funny one.'

John placed his perfectly maniured hands on the desk. 'I'm a doctor and treating people is what I was taught in schools for years. You think I'm happy working in a school? I deserve better.'

Ratcliff frowned. This arrogant little shit. 'I am your boss. I am the authority who holds your paycheck.'

John pushed back his seat. 'Keep it. Your money means nothing to me anyway. If you're speaking of paycheck, I'll pay you more than you're worth.'

That asshole. Ratcliff banged his fist against his ebony desk. The Lee's just abandoned their problem child on his lap. If anything goes wrong, it would be his job on the line.

'That kid better watch his mouth.' He pushed a button underneath his desk and swivelled his chair around to face the assembly of his one-too-many computers. 'Maybe if he gets a glimpse of Hide and Seek, he'll be tamed. That bloody bastard won't know what hit him.'

******

John walks casually into the school clinic. As usual, he is greeted by the nurses and doctors working there. And they all admired his looks. But he was not here to hear anyone sing his praises. He was here for Amy.

'I haven't seen you here before. You new?' Amy asked.

'Yeah.' John folded his arm over his chest. 'I'm looking for Amy. I'm told she's the boss around here.'

'You're looking at her.' Amy said dryly.

John quirked an eyebrow. 'You? You're too young to man this place. I expected someone older.'

'Excuse me?' Amy could only scoff in surprise at the stranger.

The proud jerk put out his right hand for a handshake which was ignored. 'The name's John Lee, your replacement.'

'What?!' The unexpected news caught Amy off guard.

John leaned over, whispering behind her ears. 'You should've expected this. Apparently, nobody in this school liked you.'

'Ratcliff can't do this to me. The school director can't do this.' Amy felt betrayed. She had committed her life to this school for 7 years. Now, they pay her hardwork by leaving her to bite the dust? How cruel!

John takes the file clutched in her hands. 'If you don't mind, I'd like to go see some patients of mine.'

Amy was frozen on the spot. Her eyes were teary as she watched the young man walk into the examination room.

'It can't be. I must go see Ratcliff. He has alot of explaining to do.' She turned on her heel.

Meanwhile, in the examination room, Derek takes the file in his hand. Occasionally, he would look from the paper to the boy with a broken right arm seated before him. He wasn't sure of the name he saw but it could be a typo from Amy. 'Doctor with stupid handwriting.' He hissed.

He brushed his fingers over his hair and asked. 'So your last name is Zoo.'

The boy nods.

'And your name is…….

'Dirk.' Zoo replied shortly.

'Dirt?' John made a face.

Frustratingly, the kid heaves a sigh and corrects the man. 'My man is Dirk Zoo.'

John broke into a fit of mocking laughter. 'Dirt Zoo? What kind of stupid ass name is that? Your mom do drugs when she carried you? Or is it common for Americans to bear stupid names?'

Dirk leapt from the bed. 'Whatcha say about my mom?'

'Sit your ass down, kid. Don't make me break your other hand.' John said. His face was murderous now.

Frozen in fear, Dirk sat back down.

'Now, let's check out that injury, shall we?' John left his seat.

*****

Most people when confronted with a horse would pat it but in Charlotte's case, she would run far from it. The horse, in this context, is the metaphorical representation of a problem and by problem, I mean the Alan Queens. Lin especially.

'What is the meaning of this?' Lin whipped out her phone and waved it infront of Charlotte's face.

'What are you doing?' Charlotte slapped her hand away.

'Shut up, bitch.' Lin held up the phone. 'Do you recognize this person?'

Charlotte could feel misery bite at her heart. This was the photo of Levi kissing her in the library. But how did Lin have this? Did she follow them?

'How did you get that?' Charlotte asked.

'Doesn't matter where I got it from. What the hell, Charlotte? I knew you were after him. I saw the signs. I saw the way he looked at you and the way you looked at him. He didn't even…' Lin began, her eyes blurring with tears.

Charlotte could feel the emotion in her voice. A woman shouldn't be treated like that but partly, it wasn't her fault. Levi was the one chasing her around and kissing her. Even though she liked it.

'I'm sorry, Lin. I never meant for it to happen. It was a mistake. Although, I'm worried where you got that photo.' Charlotte tried her best to calm Lin down but the girl had no glimmer of warmth on her face. Just irritation.

Lin stepped forward and nudged Charlotte on her side. 'Fuck you. Stay the hell away from my Levi.'

'Don't push me.' Charlotte warned. Her warning was low and calm.

'Damn you.' Lin grabbed her left arm from behind and tossed her to the floor.

Both girls wrestled on the floor. Charlotte was pissed but she couldn't fight. Wouldn't. However, her eyes were fired. She was pissed. She wanted to hurt Lin as much as the girl was hurting her. The necklace on Lin wore broke and struck Charlotte on the cheek. Feeling blood trickle down here cheek, Charlotte gave up and let Lin pin her.

'It's my fault Levi kissed me. I'm sure that's what you want to hear.' Charlotte close her eyes.

Lin landed the first slap. 'Of course it's your fault, bitch. I trusted you like a friend. Your mom is a close friend of mine.'

She landed the second one and Charlotte winced in pain. Tears sparkled in her angry eyes. Then she stopped.

'A few years ago, I was attacked on the runaway in Paris.'

Charlotte opened her eyes, feeling the ripple of hurt on Lin's face. Guilt gnawed away at her heart.

Tears were rising in Lin's voice when she grabbed Charlotte's hair. 'Since then, my life changed. Other people shopped for my food, checked my mails for explosives. I never went out without security tagging along. My life sucked. Not until I met Levi. He made me so happy I forgot about the past. Now, you want to take him from me? How cruel can you be?'

'I'm sorry.' Charlotte sobbed.

The honesty in her voice nauseated Lin that she tugged tightly at Charlotte's hair. 'Stop apologizing to me.'

'Stop. You're hurting me.' Charlotte's sobs were louder.

Suddenly, the corridor erupted with a loud bang. They heard footsteps coming down the hall. Someone was coming their way.

Charlotte gasped out but no sound came junior. There was Lenin. His face was beet red. His hair was tousled, his tie askew. His shirt was revealed several buttons down to reveal his chiseled chest. It was supposed to be a pretty picture save for the red stain on his face. Was it blood?

'Thanks for holding her for me, Lin. I bet you got the revenge you wanted.' said Lenin, his voice a bit husky.

Charlotte's eyes widened. 'What?' She turns to Lin. 'What is he talking about?'

'Lemme explain, darling.' Lenin slid off his shirt and dragged it over Lin's back. The approaching steps got louder and Charlotte was terrified. Still sitting on the floor, she moved backwards.

Lenin went on away. 'You see, Lin and I made a deal. I offer her protection and in exchange, she do something for me. I was a bit generous by giving her the photos. She can do whatever she wants with them. I don't care. But you. I'll have you.'

Charlotte screamed.

******

(Levi's POV)

I couldn't find Charlotte. Fuck. I should've followed her.

Blaring noises echo from the lunch room. Recognising that sound, I rush to the source of the echo and I found it. As soon as I got in. The automatic doors were shut on their own.

'Fuck. It's already started? I thought it wasn't till 4pm.'

Color drained from his face when he heard Lenin's voice from the speaker.

'Ladies and gentlemen, the shitshow is about to begin and you know what I mean. It's Hide and Seek!!'

'No.' Murmurs fill the room. Majority of the students were appalled by the news.

Lenin's laugh echoed. 'Well, today's edition is special. I call it Hide and Seek Redemption. That's right. It's going to be fun. You don't have to bully anyone and take their cards. All you have to do is kill Levi Wright and I'll let you go.'

'What?!' The crowd went wild.

I yelled at the asshole. 'You're insane if you think you can commit murder here.'

Another added. 'Yeah. Sick bastard.'

Lenin chuckled. 'Since you pussies can't handle that, I'll lessen the gore for ya. Bring Levi to me and I'll give whoever took him a million dollars. Sounds like a great plan, doesn't it?'

The clamour grew quiet and they all turned to me. His decision left them.baying for blood. My blood.

'Shit.' I cursed. 'I'm screwed.'

'One more thing.' Lenin added in a calm down. The next thing that poured out through the speakers was a feminine scream. I knew who it belonged to.

'I'm gonna kill you, bastard!' How dare he hurt Charlotte?! Dammit! It was my fault for losing her. I can't lose her again like last time.

'Shut her up.' Lenin says.

There's a loud smack followed by a heavy thud. His boys had hit her. Lenin is going to die.

'Capture Levi, everyone.' Lenin's voice trailed off. 'Better hide, Levi or you'll never see Charlotte again.'

'$1 million dollars is a heavy though. Don't you agree, Lee?' A monotone voice spoke from the crowd.

I didn't care who it belonged to. I was revved up. Anger raged up to smother the mirth on my face.

'An eye for an eye and the world went blind.' The speaker finally surfaced and I'm forced to retreat two steps backwards.

'Dominic.' My voice came as a whisper.

'Hello, again.' Dominic smiled.

I was not accustomed to fear, but now, I felt it.