n

n

n

"Milady, please be careful with your words. You are young and you will live for a long time,

" Gordon reacted after a pause. Only after she mentioned her death did he speak. His voice was not admonishing but low and gentle.

n

"What else am I going to say, Gordon? I am trusting you, my husband trusts you and had let you do whatever… Now he's arrested and there is…

" Jerlina didn't realize that she is this stressed about everything happening around her. She was putting on a brave face. She did have hope that everything will end up fine. But she obviously is not that optimistic.

nJerlina let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead. Now is not the time to worry about herself.

"Never mind that! You know where Scarlett is and you are going to bring her back home immediately. And what have you done with Cia? Why are you even…

" she took in a deep breath as she heard no sound from the other end other than what seemed to be a deep sigh.

nShe does not know Gordon for a long time. What she knows is that he is devoted to her great-grandfather and is extremely respectful towards her. Other than that, he is not a good person. For him, the end justifies the means. And the ends he has in mind, are not very good always for others since it only involved good for his grandsire.

nBut she knew he wouldn't have planned harm to Scarlett. He knows Scarlett is her friend, and she didn't believe, evil as Gordon is, would hurt a baby who is her godchild. She regretted going off on Gordon not being able to handle her stress. Or it could be her pregnancy mood swings, she didn't know.

nBut whatever it is, she is in the wrong. She should be asking for help as he has the resources to help her and not blame Gordon.

n

"Never mind me…

" she spoke softly.

"Just bring them home, Gordon. I am sure they are safe. I am sorry for losing my composure. I just want my pregnant friend and my godchild safe.

"

n

"I'll be in contact with Robert Milroy, Milady. You stay home and wait for your husband's return,

" Gordon's voice sounded a little more uplifted than the low voice from before.

n

"Yes, thank you, Gordon,

" she said rubbing her forehead.

n

"Stay home, Milady. I was asked to watch you, but for you, I will intervene in finding your friend,

" Gordon said.

nJerlina agreed although she didn't understand what he meant by

"intervene

". She figured that Gordon might be surveilling Scarlett and it won't be hard for him to find her.

nShe checked the internet to know more about Jeremy's arrest, but there was no new information. But in social media, the support for Jeremy has been rising while some accused of bot farming. She turned to news channels and behind the reporters, she could see many of the familiar people from Peyton and they were all there supporting Jeremy, shouting chants.

nIt will be fine…

nShe walked downstairs not wanting to be alone. Magdalene was in the living room watching the news. She went and sat beside her.

n

"It will be fine, Jerlina,

" she held her hand.

n

"I know, mom,

" she smiled not minding the coldness from her hand. Jerlina placed her other hand over her hand and she could feel both of their hands getting warm.

nWe can get through this!

n-----

nScarlett went in and out of consciousness and she saw him wearing a disposable protective suit and covered his face with a disposable mask. He then proceeded to line the wall around with plastic sheets and spread a tarp on the floor. He was doing it so casually with no hurry and Scarlett couldn't even move as she watched this guy preparing the place to hurt her. He then kneeled on the blue tarp and opened a white toolbox.

nShe thought that toolbox looked familiar but before she could realize wehre she has seen it, she saw him opening the box.

nA chill passed through her bones seeing the various sizes of knives, chisels, hammers, and weird-looking hooks.

n

"I know you have recognized me, my little doe…

" the guy cocked his head and looked at Scarlett.

" How can you not? Didn't you use to feel attracted towards me?

"

nHe stood up and walked closer to her. He leaned closer to her face and Scarlett turned her face away.

n

"Ah, so you've gained your strength,

" he walked towards the table and took the already used syringe.

"It's for your sake, little doe,

" he spoke so calmly.

"It's going to hurt so much, you'd be pleased I am giving you this… I am gracious, you know…

"

nScarlett saw him loading the drug once more and she knew it won't be good. She observed him and she saw his hands shaking. She wondered if this was the first time he is doing by how composed he was, but now she could see the hesitation in his hands. She decided to use this chance.

n

"What are you going to do to me?

"

nAlthough she didn't try to appear scared, her voice came out as a whimper. She wanted to ask about Cia, but this guy is under the delusion that she's attracted to him and she decided to plan her next steps based on that.

n

"Nothing much… Just dismembering and laying the parts of your body all over the woods behind Peyton…

" he paused and looked at Scarlett.

nScarlett started shivering and her voice didn't come out. She is wrong with all her thinkings. This is a psychopath in front of her. how many of them are out there? Truly?

n

"I am thinking whether I should kill you before that or just see how long it takes for you to die after I cut out your breasts. God! I love them!

" he pressed his face on her chest and sniffed.

"You smell sooo good!

"

n

"Haa…

" Scarlett shivered and let out a whimper. She was terrified would be an understatement.

n

"Are you excited like me too, little doe?

" he started to rub his masked face all over her chest.

n

"Why- why sh-ould you k-kill me?

" amidst the chatter of her teeth she asked.

n

"Oh, you're scared?

" he stood straight and grabbed her chin. His eyes looked grey and void.

"Not so brave now without that meathead near, are you?

" he gritted his teeth and let go of her cheek.

n

"Say my name,

" he said and leaned closer to her face but as if he realized something.

"I can't… I can't…

" he mumbled and he punched the pillar behind her.

n

"Oh **!

" he shook his hand. Scarlett saw the needle of the syringe he was about to drug her, sticking on his palm.

"oh, **!

" he pulled it out and after panicking for a while threw it carefully inside a garbage bag he brought.

n

"I lost one bag. Guess I will have to keep all your limbs in one bag,

" he chuckled.

n

"They will find you,

" she uttered in disgust. Her heart was still beating erratically and she still was terrified for her life, but she wanted to say that to his face.

n

"Find me?

" he chuckled pressing a cotton ball to his injured palm.

"They will find the one who did that to you and it won't be me…

"

nThe toolbox… It's Jerry's! He is planning on framing Jerry for my murder?

nScarlett felt her stomach churning up.

n

"He is with the cops! How could you frame Jerry? They will find out the time of death-

"

n

"Ah, he'll be out today, won't he? Isn't that why all his lawyers are confident?

" he snorted.

"And look at this…

" he showed her a vial of blood and a ziplock bag with brown hair.

n

"And there are a lot of ways to mess up the time of death. You don't have to feel worried. All you have to do is beg me to make your death less painful…

" he stared at her.

n

"Bleh!

" Scarlett couldn't hold it in and threw up.

n

"Are you feeling sick? Should I carve out your uterus first? I am no doctor but without your baby inside you, you won't feel morning sickness. What do you say? Aren't I very caring? You should have married me, little doe…

" he stood up and walked towards her with a carving knife.

n

"No! Don't!

" Scarlett screamed as loud as she could.

n

"Don't worry, I am trying to help…

"

nHis malicious chuckle echoed in the empty warehouse where the shouts of a distressed woman weren't let out.

n

"No, please…

" Scarlett screamed as she felt the sharp tip of the knife over her belly.

n*Bang*

nA loud noise came from the direction where bright light spilled from the outside. Scarlett felt the knife leaving her belly and she turned to her right where the door banged open. She saw a dark silhouette walking towards her.

nA woman?

n

"Knife!

" Scarlett screamed. Although she wasn't sure that the approaching woman is on her side, she hoped she is. Because she has no other hope to escape this place now.

n

"Annoying!

"

nThe woman said in a thick accent seeing the guy approaching with a knife. She jumped up and raised her right leg high up. Scarlett saw the woman's ponytail fluttering in the air. As her right leg whooshed, the glossy black leather shined so brightly and her foot that was wearing an ankle boot hit the guy squarely on his cheek.

nHe fell on the floor like a log of wood.

n