Chapter 6 - Grace
Stretching out, I was astounded that I had managed to sleep. It was very late when we got here, and Makari ushered me in. I remembered him sitting down in the chair by the door when I woke halfway to turn. I was sure he had spent most of the night in that chair. Every time I woke, he was still there. Glancing at the chair by the door, I noticed it was empty now.
Laying back, I stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out what was happening. It seemed my whole life had turned upside down since I met him. I went from being a good, hardworking college student excelling in marketing to a scared little girl.
Hiding, being shot at, witnessing a murder, what the hell? Chaos was my new everything. Wiping the tears away, I sat up. The house sounded quiet. Getting up, I moved to the door. Listening against it, I could hear a scuffling. But it sounded far away.
Even though Makari saved me last night, I didn’t feel safe. Something was off. All his magnificent calmness and attractive force felt different now. I watched him shoot two men. Swallowing the lump rising in my throat, I shook my head. Yes, he saved my life, but that didn’t mean I could trust him.
Opening the door an inch, I peeked through the sliver. I didn’t see any movement. Opening it further, I stuck my head out. Yes, the coast was clear. I had to get out, I thought, sneaking down the short hallway.
I glanced back as I went. I didn’t see much when he brought me in, as it was all dark. But there were only three other doors and what looked like an archway ahead of me. I knew we didn’t come through another door, so the archway had to be the way out.
Moving down the hallway, I noticed the doors were closed. I just kept going past them as I didn’t want to draw any attention and didn’t dare peek inside. As I got to the archway, I slowly looked around the corner. Yes, I screamed in my mind. I was right. There lay the entrance hall and door to the outside world.
It was within reach. Swallowing hard, I scanned the large open area. To the other side was another archway and a passage. Somewhere within that passage, I could hear voices. Feeling sure that it was Makari, I started moving towards the door.
I knew there was a limited timeframe for me to get out before anyone would notice or come looking. As I touched the knob, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t even heard any footsteps. Frozen in place, my body turned cold and went numb. My vision seemed to blur as well.
“Good morning,” Makari said behind me in a cheerful tone.
Turning slowly, my gaze landed on his feet. There he was, standing behind me. Makari softly lifted my head with two fingers placed under my chin as he spoke. “You do know it’s not safe out there for you at the moment?”
Shaking my head, I replied insistently. “No, I need to leave.” Looking into his deep eyes, I continued in a softer tone. “Please, I have to go. I can’t stay here.”
He lowered his head and took a deep breath before replying. “Ok.”
Shocked, I stepped back. I felt the coldness of the wooden door against me and shivered lightly. “What?” I breathed out in disbelief. I felt sure this was a trick and didn’t trust him.
Smiling, he winked at me. “Yes,” he said. “You can go, however….”
“I knew it,” I interrupted. “Why is there always a but, or however, with you men?”
“Slow down, Grace,” he replied, holding up his hands. “Let me finish.”
Folding my hands across my chest, I smirked as I waited for him to continue.
“I was going to say that I’ll drive you home. I just want to ensure you are safe. Will that be okay?” he asked.
I wondered what he was up to as I felt sure he had an agenda. “Okay,” I said, accepting halfheartedly. Stepping away from the door, I turned and waved my hand at it.
Makari walked past me and opened the door. Walking out ahead, I could feel his gaze on my back. My stomach turned as I headed to his truck. I couldn’t shake the uneasiness I felt crawling up inside me. I was glad he was letting me go, but felt sure he had something else planned.
He opened the truck door and assisted me in. I watched as he moved around the front of the truck to the driver’s side. He was a well-formed man and had a gentle side. Yet now wasn’t the time to get involved with someone. There was too much going on.
“Thank you,” I said as he started the truck.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied, grinning. “Wait until we get there. I have something I would like to show you.”
I stared out the window as we drove back to campus. Makari kept glancing at me as we went, but didn’t say a word. He was up to something; I just didn’t know what yet. He stopped the truck about half a block from the university campus.
“Thank you,” I said, pulling the door lever. It was locked and wouldn’t open. “Unlock the door,” I huffed. Fear instantly stepped in as I felt trapped. Shifting up against the door, I wanted to scream. I knew he was a good guy, but this wasn’t right.
Turning to face me, he placed a hand on my knee. “Grace,” he said softly. “Please sit for a moment and observe the campus. Take a good look before you decide to get out.”
Looking around, I didn’t see anything out of place. I didn’t know what he wanted me to see. “There,” I said angrily. “I looked, and all is fine. Now open the door.” I felt my throat closing as I tried to swallow the spit accumulating in my mouth.
“No, study the people, the cars, and the building slowly. Take in what you are seeing,” he urged.
Taking a second look, I tried to keep an open mind. After a while, I noticed a man leaning against the side of the building. He was wearing a dark brown jacket. The jacket was a size or two too big, and I had never seen him before.
With this in mind, I really studied the other people. I searched for the anomalies and found them. On the street corner was a dark van, and a man stood against it. He kept looking at the university.
There was another one that I noticed had passed by for the third time. He nodded at the man by the van and then came back up the street. When he moved past the place where the other one was, he nodded again.
Sitting back, frustrated, I looked at Makari. “Okay,” I huffed. “I see them. Take me to the coffee shop two blocks down. I’m sure if I wait another hour or so, they will leave.”
Makari nodded and started his truck. He turned around and headed for the coffee shop. He once again parked half a block away. “Look here as well,” he said as he killed the engine. “Don’t just jump out.”
Again, I studied the people and the cars. Realizing he was right again, I swallowed hard as a lump pushed up in my throat. “Okay,” I admitted, feeling defeated. “I see them.”
Makari nodded but kept quiet. “Take me to my friend’s place then. Surely, they won’t know about her as I haven’t been there many times. I can ask her if I could spend the night.”
He shrugged, looking at me with raised brows.
“Oh, yes,” I said. “Two blocks down and then left. She stays at the second house from the corner.”
Makari started the truck again and followed the directions I gave. He stopped across the street. “Thank you,” I said, reaching for the door handle. “I’m sure I can take it from here.”
Before I could open the door, he had shifted across the seat and held it closed. I had had enough of him and couldn’t stop the words from pouring out as I pushed the door while he was pulling on it. “Let go, this is ridiculous, let me go.”
“No, wait,” he huffed, glancing at me. “Please look around first. You’re not safe here, Grace. You’re not safe anywhere!”
Letting go, I sat back and looked around. On the corner was another dark van with a man leaning on the side. As we sat there, I noticed another two men moving up and down the street. Every time they passed each other, they nodded.
Then, I saw two other men coming down the street. One was carrying a tray of coffee, and the other a brown paper bag. They stopped at the first man and handed him a coffee and a snack or food. Moving down, they also gave the second man coffee and food before joining the man in the van.
They opened the side door and got into the van. Before it closed, I saw the long table with large monitors and what looked like earphones lying before them. I jumped, placing my hands over my mouth to prevent the scream from coming out as Makari spoke in my ear. “That’s a surveillance van. They’re keeping an eye on all the places you’ve ever been. Do you believe me now?”
Feeling crushed, I sat back, breathing heavily as he moved over to his side. The first tears pushed through my closed eyelids and rolled down my cheek. Glancing at him, I cleared my throat before speaking, but I could still hear the quivering. “Are you going to kill me as well?”
It looked like I had shot him as he instantly sat back. His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open.
“What?” he uttered. “No, no, no, Grace.” Makari took hold of my shoulder. Shaking me lightly, he continued to speak. “I am the one who is going to protect you; I promise you that.”
A strange sense of relief washed over me. I didn’t know this man from a bar of soap, yet, for some odd reason, I suddenly felt safe around him. Taking a deep breath, I shook my head as I replied. “Okay, thank you.” I could hear the hesitation coming through in my tone, but couldn’t hide it.
Makari took my hand. He squeezed lightly as he spoke. “Grace, believe me when I say, you are safer with me than out there on your own.”
Nodding slowly, I swallowed the mountain growing inside my throat. “Okay,” I whispered, barely able to get a word out.
“Right,” he huffed. “Let me take you to my place. You will be safe there.” I noticed a flickering in his eyes as he spoke.
“Would it be possible to collect some of my things, please?” I begged.
“I can send some men tomorrow,” he stated plainly.
“There are things I would rather collect myself. Plus, I need clothes and other stuff as well,” I added softly. “Please, don’t make me beg.”
“Sure,” he replied, turning the truck around again, heading to my dorms.
He killed the lights even before he pulled into the driveway. “We must be quick,” he said, jumping out. Makari opened the door for me and followed me inside. We went up the stairs to the second floor. I was grateful that I had no roommate. After entering my room, he closed the door and stood waiting. Moving as quickly as possible, I grabbed the bare necessities and some clothing.
Stuffing them into a bag next to the closet, I glanced around. I couldn’t think of anything else I might need. Makari stood by the door. “Are you done?” he enquired as I neared him.
“I think so,” I replied hesitantly.
Moving back out to the truck, Makari kept glancing around as if searching for someone. But I knew he did it to keep us safe. He placed my bags in the back, assisted me, and closed my door.
He was telling the truth; I could see it in his eyes, and his voice was sincere. I didn’t know why he would care about me or my safety, but I was grateful that he did. As he pulled away, I glanced back, still a bit in shock. How could something I witnessed, like the shooting, be so important to so many different people?
My life had crumbled and smashed to pieces by seeing what I did. Everything was a mess now, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. How was I going to fix it? Would I ever be able to return to a normal life?