Chapter 20: chapter 20

"I can't say, Elora" Jeremy replies, taking away the amount of energy I have left. I stroll to his side and sit on the couch. He shifts in his place and looks at me. Eyes filled with worry. Seeing how he acts so carefree and comfortable with me, I must have spent a whole lot of time with him too."Are you ok?" He asks and the frustration I've been trying to hold back comes out pouring like a tide. A hoarse sob leaves my mouth and I cover my face with my hands. Jeremy stays silent. He doesn't say anything further and waits for me to calm down but I just can't seem to hold back. The frustration, the confusion and this strange feeling in my stomach are eating me from the inside."It's so hard..." I cry out."I know," Jeremy says softly beside me. "It's ok... You can cry all you want. I'm here!" It takes nearly twenty minutes for me to stop crying and calm down, Jeremy still sits beside me patiently and once my sobs are reduced to small hiccups. He passed me a water bottle."Good?" He asks.I nod, drinking the water."What happened?" I pause for a moment, thinking about whether to open up to Jeremy or not but then I shrug away the thoughts immediately. I need to take things out of my chest. "Would you answer my questions?" I ask, placing the bottle on the table.Jeremy shifts in his seat again and leans his back against the sofa cushion."If I can..." He replies."Have I..." I take a deep breath before speaking again, "Have I been in love with Rodas?" "Only you can answer that Elora," "Did I spend time with him?" "You did... With all of us-""But-" my voice trembles. "But... How is this possible? Rodas...He- He killed my parents and-""WAIT!" Jeremy spring to his feet and interrupts me. "Wait - excuse me. What did you say?"  I wonder if he doesn't know. He sounds so shocked as if Rodas hasn't killed anyone before."Rodas killed my parents..."He sighs heavily, covering his face and sink onto the couch again."I knew it!" He mumbles to himself and then he looks at me. "Did Rei tell you that?" I shake my head. "I remembered." He frowns. "You remembered?" I nod, confused at his confusion.Jeremy moves close to me and takes my hand. "Listen, Elora... You've got something very wrong. You need a very clear conversation with Rodas or maybe try to remember... Think hard. Maybe you'll remember."  He urges.I pull my hands to myself."Why can't you tell me yourself?""Because... I don't know the whole thing but one thing I know is that you've got it wrong." Is he saying Rodas didn't kill my parents? And why should I believe him? He is one of Rodas's men after all. "When will he be back?"Jeremy shrugs again."I said I can't say. It may take him days, weeks or even a month" I wonder how many people he has gone to kill this time."Do you know where Liam is?" "He-""Jeremy!!" A man interrupts him from the front door and Jeremy gives me an assured smile before darting toward the man. He was gonna say something about Liam. Guess I'll have to wait for him to come back. The conversation with him feels unreal. Ugh. My head hurts.I gulp down the remaining water from the bottle and head to my room. My eyes linger on the closed door at the end of the hallway longer than intended and the longer the time I stay looking toward it the more it feels inviting. I seem to hear voices coming from it. Has Rodas come back?I sprint toward it and stay close to the door. "Don't be stubborn, come back here!" I flinch hearing the rage-filled voice of Rodas. "I'm sorry!" Comes his soft voice almost immediately. My heart aches for some reason. I pull in my upper lips and put my palms over the wooden door."But I want you to stay here and not go anywhere. It's dangerous out there... At least don't make me mad this time..""Come here, Elora!" I gasp and step backwards. How did he know I'm here? But then he speaks again, "Fine!"Then the door opens, and Rodas walks out with a furious face but he doesn't look at me."Rodas!" I call but he keeps walking as if he doesn't hear me. "Ro-""You don't get to do that!!"I freeze. So did Rodas. "You don't get to do whatever you want with me!!" Walking out of the room, with tears soaking face is not anyone but me. What is this? Am I seeing things now?"C'mon Elora... I'm not doing whatever I want with you and you know that. I'll be back in a few days. Just stay here. Jeremy will be with you!" Rodas turns back and says in a frustrated voice. "You're always like this... Am I not even allowed to be worried about you?" I watch Rodas taking huge steps toward me but a sudden shrill sound hits my ear and makes me close my eyes. The wound on my forehead is burning. I slide down on the floor and wait for the pain to go away. "Mam... Are you ok?" I raise my head and see a man bending over to me with a concerned face. I look around. The hallway is empty other than him and me. I rise to my feet and open Rodas's bedroom door. There is no one."Mam?"I wipe the sweat off my face and nod multiple times."Did Rodas come back?" I ask him.He shakes his head. Of course. He hasn't."If you need anything-" "Y-Yeah... Come with me for a minute!" I tell him and walk into my room. I feel crazy. Feverish.Am I finally losing it? Seeing things in broad daylight.The man stands at the door with his hands behind his back. He doesn't take another step inside. "Come inside!" I say but he hesitates and does not move."I need help to move this bed..." "Oh! Certainly,"The bed is too heavy. So, it takes us at least five minutes to move the bed to the other side of the room. "Thank you..."He smiles. "If you need help with something please tell me... I'll be right outside your room.""What's your name?" "Pavel,""Thank you, Pavel but you don't have to stay outside-""No... Mam, it's ok. I can't let down the Boss!" He says.Rodas again?I give him a small smile and watch him walk out of the room. I sigh and turn to look at the wall but as soon as I do, my hands instinctively reach up to cover my mouth as my eyes widen in sheer disbelief. A chill ran down my spine and my body tremble involuntarily. It's another framed picture but it's different from all other portraits I've seen till now. A wave of emotions surges within me, a chaotic mixture of confusion disbelief and fear. My stomach churned and I feel like throwing up.It's a portrait of me. Wearing a shirt and shorts, standing beside a fountain. Smiling. Hands over which appears to be a baby bump.--------Please leave feedback. Otherwise, I won't know if you're enjoying it or not. Your feedback is my motivation, it helps me in making the story better.❤