Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26 LUKE My hands are trembling. I look at the apartment owner before going back inside her room. " Are you sure that she did not tell you where she went?" Mrs. Bell shook her head and sigh. "I swear, I didn't. I was talking to the police on the phone and she was just there." Mrs. Bell put her hand on her forehead and sigh once again. I pat her back before I sat by the window. Maple is surprise to see so many people in here so I took her in my arms. "Mrs. Bell, can you keep Maple for a few days while we search for her?" Mrs. Bell nodded, taking the cat from my arms, "Alright, I will. This little cat has always been under my care when she has to work at the hospital, right Maple?" "Meow, " Maple licks Mrs. Bell's cheeks and she smiled down at the cat. I nodded at her before I head out and speak with the police and the royal guards. "Your majesty, " Edam bowed. I dismiss them with my hand, before focusing at the chief of the police department. "Sir, it seems that she was taken by this man, I advise you to try contacting her." "I have done that but it seems that her phone is off." I took my phone out and showed them the GPS locator. "I couldn't even confirm her location because—" I stared at the phone as it indicated a new location. Edam joins me at looking at the phone before updating the police. "They are heading up the mountain. We should ride there." I followed them down, my eyes still focus on the phone. I seat next to Edam as Jace drives the car. " I can't believe how careless one can be." Jace muttered but I just glared at him, "I apologize your majesty." He bowed before focusing back on the road. "Try calling her." Edam piped in as we reach the highway. I was shocked when she answered the first ring. I put it in speaker phone, staring at Edam. "Neola?" "Oh, Luke..." "Where are you?" There was some pause and some rustling. "I'm heading to the airport with Lyle right now." "What? Why?" "I will head back to Switzerland. I decided that I should go back to Lyle for I know that he loves me, he will never betray me like you did..." She sobbed. "He will never make me feel alone, " My hand tighten at the phone. A lone tear fell on my cheeks as I listen to her. Edam shakes his head at me before leaning close on the phone. He signalled for Jace to take the left turn and quickly speed up. "Don't even try to look for me, Luke. I am already happy with Lyle. He will take care of me as he always does in the past, " She sniffed. We can hear some rustling and a whimper. Jace was already heading up the mountain. The GPS locator indicates two kilometres of distance from us. My hands are almost white for gripping the phone so tight. It is partly my fault which is why she is doing this but I think, this Lyle guy is making her say this. I decided to play with them, dawning on my resolve. "Really? You don't need me?" The police mobile escorts us with no sound so we won't alert the public. I listen some more, thinking that the call was ended since she wasn't answering. "Really, Neo? You are just going to leave like that because you don't love me?" She sobs. It hurts my heart that I have to ask her questions like this when she was probably in danger but I have to. I need to know. "Do you really love him?" "Yes." Her answer is short but it hurts me. I can hear the helicopter sound as we near the top. The phone indicates that we are about two hundred metres near them. Edam signalled that we should get off so as to not alert them. My hands are sweaty as I look at our back up. This will be enough. Not waiting for another second more, I quickly rush to the location of the phone. "Where are you Neola? Where are you?" I know that she can hear it too, the helicopter blades in the background. It is so near, I can see the lights from down here. I wait for her reply but she did not answer anymore. "Neo?" the phone call was cut. I ran towards the helicopter and was surprise to see it almost up in the air. "Neola!" I jump, risking it. I was surprise when I was lifted up in the air. Edam screams as he jumps, failing to grab the other railing, "Your majesty." "Your majesty!" The forest is dark. I pull myself up and was surprise when I felt the gun on my forehead, "Hello there lover boy..." The guy looks like...me. Almost but not quite like me. He has a mane like hair framing his gaunt face as he gave me a sinister smile. "Glad to have you join my party, " he pulls me inside the helicopter and glares me. He looks at Neola before laughing. "So, you are finally together. Isn't that lovely?" "Lu—ke" He laughs once again before he glares at me. He pointed the gun at my face and I wrestled with him. I punch him, twice and he just laughs like a true lunatic. "Oh come on!" I punch him once more before he spit blood on the floor and laugh, tackling me. We continue to fight, the pilot looking at us, worried because of the too much movement. Neola's eyes are still covered but I think she knows that I am here. The pilot's eyes caught mine as I look at him. This distracted me, making Lyle fire the gun at me. He miss me but it results to the helicopter wildly shaking. "Yes, " He laughs once again before he says, "You will all die here!" I can feel my phobia clawing at me, eating me out. I watch as Lyle pointed the gun at me and shoot. He did not miss. This time he have wound me but it was only my shoulder. I bit back a scream as I watch Lyle jump out of the helicopter. I took Neola and remove her blindfold, "Luke!" I hug her tight and was surprise when the pilot says, "Hey! Take this and go. " He push the parachute at us. I strap the parachute on me, wincing before strapping Neola on the other. We step out to the night, I hold her hand, "Luke, I am afraid of heights..." I close my eyes and take her hand, "Don't, worry. I am afraid too." And we jump from the helicopter into the night. * The loud explosion deafen my ears. I look up to see the remains of the helicopter falling down on the forest. I couldn't see where Lyle had landed. Even without a parachute, there is a great chance that he landed on a soft pile of snow somewhere near. He might still be alive if he survive this cold weather. The parachute landed us on top of a tree. I grunted as the branches hit my wound. It is burning. I free myself from the strap and hold unto the branch as I tried to untie Neola. She came off free and I catch her, making me wince. I clench my jaw and tried to support the both of us as we lean on the trunk. I look down to see Neola crying. "Shh, we are alright. We are fine, " She pulled me down to her arms and I chuckled at her silly ways. We stayed like that for a while. I sat her down beside me and tried to comfort her. Every time she tighten her hug, I have to hold my breath and pray that my wound wouldn't bleed that much. It is so dark, the clouds above covered the moon. The breeze made me shiver and so did Neola. "Let's go find some shelter, " I help her on the way down the tree, making sure that she won't slip. When we reach the last branch, I ask for her to jump with me. She tighten her hold on my hand and we jump. The snow quickly soak us as we sank. I help Neola up and we started to walk. She lean towards me, her hand on my arm. I pull her close as we both shivered. The wind picked up and I look at the sky, praying. I hope we can find shelter soon before the storm comes. 계속 Hey guys :) so sorry for the late upload :/ how are you?