Chapter 32- Abducted

Lanie's POV:

I was dozing off all day after Page and I met this morning. And if it weren't for the mock exam I would have preferred to just sleep in the dorm the whole day. I prefered to be lock up there. I did not even know if I did well on my exams.

I flinched when I overheard the closing message of one of the Faculty members announcing that the mock exam was over.

The faculty member said more and greeted all the students but I did not listen to them anymore. My attention remained outside the glass window. My eyes stared at the few sparrows on the branches of the tree near our window.

I sighed as I realized the difference of my situation and the birds. They are all free and cheerful. But me, I felt I have no right to be happy. I don't even show it but I am also afraid of what is happening to me. I was free but I was trapped in fear, afraid of what might happen in the next hours or days.

"Lanie!"

I lazily looked at Rona who was gasping. She was followed by Jasleene and Lovely. 

"Your rumored boyfriend..." Rona started but my forehead just frowned. Rumored boyfriend? Did I have it before? Who? And why do I not know?

"Hello! Your rumored boyfriend, Yshmael Aronzaga!" Jasleene exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes. He has been taking good care of me since this morning so everyone are gossiping and talking about us.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked and simply searched for the man inside the room. 

But I did not see him here. Well, he finished the exam a while ago so I'm sure he's in the faculty for that.

"He is detained." Lovely answered. 

"What. Detained?" She immediately caught my attention. "Yshmael Marco's detained? Why?" 

Yshmael? The high and mighty heir of Aronzaga, were detained? Really? Unbelievable!

"We don't know the details yet. All we know was that Gregor and Yshmael fought over something. Then according to what I heard. Yshmael probably broke Gregor's jaw so the Faculty decided to detain him," Rona explained.

I frowned. Why would Yshmael do that? He's very reserved, and I've seen a few times how much he has a control over how he feels.

"Is he still in the faculty?" I asked. Even though I know he may not be there. Saint Augustine is no different from other schools. They have their own room to detain a student while reflecting. 

"We do not know." Jasleene said, scratching her head. "All I know was that Gregor exxagerated with what happened. So instead of going to the clinic he went straight to the hospital. He just had a bruise but he's acting like he's dying. What a jerk."

I raised my eyebrow. Why would the hell Gregor react that way? And what did he do to make Yshmael lose his temper?

"It doesn't make sense." I said shaking my head and stood up. 

I didn't even look at Rona's calls, my steps were quick as I left the room. I headed straight for the hallway until I got out there and headed for the main gate.

I was waiting for a ride to the hospital when a black car stopped in front of me. The car window's opened. 

My forehead furrowed even more when I saw Gregor in the driver's seat. Like what I heard, he really had a bruise on his right jaw, he also had a scratch on his cheek and a cut on his chin but I did not expect a shot as well on his right eye. Maybe later it will became a black eye.

What happened and why does Yshmael seem to break Gregor's face? 

"You want to come along? I'm going to the hospital, how about you?" Gregor asked, he also cursed in a low tone for not being able to speak properly. 

"Hmm..." I tried to keep my eyes off his wounds. "I heard what happened, I would like to visit you because I heard you are already in the hospital."

He shook his head. "I forgot something so I came back. Well, if that's what you mean, care to come with me?" 

We're not friends so I'm not really comfortable with him. Aside from Gregor and I being in the department, I don't remember any interaction with him.

I just thought of going to him and asking what happened but now that he was in front of me I feel like I just want to go back and just ask Yshmael about it. 

"I thought you wanted to see me because you are more responsible and you know what your boyfriend did to me." He said, with a disappointment in his voice.

"He's not my boyfriend." I said and quickly got in his car. 

I saw him smiled, it just disappeared immediately when I turned to him. 

"What happened there?" I pointed his face. I even frowned when I saw it up close. The lower part of his face was swollen and almost purple.

"Yshmael is one evil guy. He approached me and then, here. If no one stop him, maybe I suffered more than this. That person is very violent." 

I shook my head in disbelief. I know Yshmael, and I'm sure he's not the type to beat someone up for no reason. He's snob, yes, but he's also rational. He won't act without thinking first. He's not that impulsive.

I stared at Gregor. He may have done something that made Yshmael beat him. Or he said something that pushed Yshmael to edge.

"He won't do such thing." I said.

Gregor chuckled. "He's an Aronzaga, Maelanie. He doesn't look like that but he knows exactly where and how to use the power of his name."

I just kept quiet. I still do not believe him. Yes, I doubt Yshmael, but I still have a bit of my trust in him. 

My forehead furrowed when I realized that we were on the road with a forest on the left and a large paddy field on the right. 

"Where are we?" I asked. All I know is that the hospital is nearby and if my basis is our location, this is not the way to go there.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you that I have something to buy in the town proper..." He could not continue what he was going to say when we both looked ahead. 

It was still afternoon but that was enough to hide this place in the setting sun. Apart from the paddy fields and trees around us.

We looked at a vehicle that seemed to be waiting for something.

My chest throbbed faster. Although I did not want to, but I have a hunch that they are waiting for us, or for me. 

Gregor's eyes were also fixed on the armed men who are now literally blocking our way.

Gregor speed up the car. It was fast and even though I was wearing a seatbelt I closed my eyes when I felt the car's speed.

One of the men, a beard man pointed a gun at us. My eyes widened because they did not even care that we could run over them! He smirked as he played with his gun.

He fired a shot. 

Gregor lost control of the steering wheel and before we could run into one of them, the car collided with a large tree, near the car of the armed men.

I do not know which one I will prioritize. I feel dizzy at the impact of the car crash. I also want to run away from the men approaching us. 

A man opened the door on my side and hurriedly pulled me out of there. They did the same to Gregor but later on they released him.

"Maelanie, are you okay?" Gregor asked, but I was even more scared by the smile on his face. 

"Let me go!" I was still dizzy but I managed to struggle when I was forced to drag into the car of the armed men. 

The men just laughed at my behavior. And I want to get angry when they laugh and Gregor's laughter mixed with them.

I looked at him sharply. I no longer have to guess what is happening. He's with them. I'm sure of that.

He smiled as he approached me. "Well, well, well, it looks like I don't have to explain to you what's going on here. It's good that you're smart. Unfortunately, you can't use that smart head of yours anymore."

"What do you need from me?" Though scared I was able to ask that question without stuttering.

He shrugged his shoulder. "Did you know that I had a hard time just to get Yshmael mad?" He said and touched his swollen face. "I did everything just to test that Aronzaga's patience but he didn't even budge to look at me. I don't have a choice but told him that I was the reason why you almost fell down the stairs."

My eyes widened at what he said. That's why, that's why I feel like I don't like him. Because my body felt the fear I feel when he threw me on the stairs. 

"You are shameless! You did that to Page!"

He smiled more when he saw my anger. "It's a mission, Maelanie, nothing personal. And it's also my mission why I got beaten by Yshmael. I just didn't expect him to do that much. He almost choked me to death. Fortunately, there were bystanders who stopped him. Giving me time, to get you here. Thank you by the way, you made my mission easier. I never thought you'll look for me." 

I swallowed as he approached me. He caressed my cheeks devilshly. "How would he feel when he found out you were the one I reciprocated? For sure he'll kill me, but I'll kill him first."

I tried to avoid him but his fist landed on my stomach. It's not that very strong but enough to darken my vision. 

"Sleep well, Maelanie. Have a long and deep sleep." Gregor's sarcastic voice was the last I heard before darkness swallowed me up.

❤