Chapter 7.

When I turned to face him, I noticed that he was wearing an angry expression. "Mary, you're completely safe here, so don't worry about that. If you try to flee, you'll simply endanger yourself ", he shouted furiously.

I snapped, "There's someone out there killing everyone I come near to. You're the one who needs protection from me."

"So why am I not dead by now? he asked, rolling his eyes. Look Mary, your life is in serious danger and I pledged to your father that I would protect you with my life ".

I was astonished when he said he knew my Dad. "How did you know my Father?" I asked. "I knew your entire family Princess, you see I was once a patient at your Dad's hospital, I was almost dying and I had no money to pay for the surgery but your Dad offered me a free treatment. ,he paused for a while before continuing, "I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I was worried when he informed me that there were people out to get you, and that's why I brought you here, to keep you safe," she said.

I questioned, "I don't understand what you mean, who wants to hurt me?

He responded, "Your father didn't mention anything but I guess it's somebody very dangerous and powerful." I immediately felt scared as I gave it some serious thought. Why would someone attempt to murder me?. He sensed my anxiety and drew me into a warm, tight hug, which immediately made me feel better.

He said softly, "I'm right here princess, I won't let any harm happen to you.

He held a beer in one hand and raised a knight from his chess board with the other. He set the Knight down and lost himself in thought as he stared into empty space, this time, it wasn't his target that got murdered but the two men he dispatched to find her and tomake matters worse Mary, the alleged killer, was still untraceable. Devasted, he got up from his chair and began pacing back and forth as his mind suddenly wandered to his past.

Dike's parents, especially his father, hated him as a child. He recalled pushing his younger brother down the stairs when he was seven and watching him die horrified. He had the rage of a demon. Every night, his father would beat him and confine him to a small room where he only received one meal each day. His father would scream, "You will never amount to anything!" He left his house one day when he was twenty and was furious when his mother told him that his father had passed away when he returned ten years later after meeting a strong soccererer he had journeyed far and wide to meet. He had been determined to disprove his father, which made him lust for wealth and power

He told his mother one last time before killing her, "I intended to kill him personally before finally killing you too."

A knock on the door distracted him from his thoughts, and he sat back in his chair to open the door for the visitor.

Mary observed as she entered his office carrying a file, "Sweety, you look troubled." She brought out the contents of the file, which was a map.

She stated in a dejected tone, "We've looked everywhere on this map, but we can't find her. " She then observed as his expression became angry, "We will surely find her Dike," she said in an effort to calm him down.

He yelled, "Why is it taking so long!". without uttering a word, she walked over to him while he was seated and pulled him close to her looking into his eyes. She kissed him and murmured softly, "We are in this together and I promise you this, we will find her.

He kissed her deeply , running his hands through her body, a soft moan escaped from her lips as his hands went beneath her skirt, she whimpered again when his fingers penetrated her middle, he continued to kiss her passionately before pulling away. "Let's finish this at my place after work", he suggested fearing that one of his staff might run into them.

Henry left the house to "grab a few items," as he said, and I didn't see him again for the rest of the day. I waited in the room, feeling abandoned, bored, and enraged that he had abandoned me by myself in a windowless, quiet home.

Why has he not arrived yet, I asked myself.

I buried my face in my palms and asked, "Why do I even care?" realizing that I had missed him.

Henry still hadn't arrived, and it had already been dark.

Was he in trouble?

Did he get killed too?

Fear gripped me as those thoughts ran through my mind.

I decided to take a shower and change into some nighties, I was hungry and there was no food in the kitchen, I had already eaten the last piece of cake.

I entered the bathroom while undressed and shut the door behind me. I washed my body while standing beneath the shower, which felt warm and soothing. The lights suddenly went out, leaving me in total darkness. My breathing got louder and heavier as the room got colder, and it seemed incredibly strange because the light never goes out here. I was aware of someone's presence right away. I stammered as I questioned "Who are you" and "What do you want from me" out of dread. Then she appeared again, the lovely sad woman in white. Suddenly, her expression changed from one of joy to one of rage, and I screamed in terror as her hand touched my neck, hitting my head against the door, I felt blood oozing out of my nose before passing out.