JONAH POV
~Manchester, United Kingdom~
"Your wife didn't survive," the doctor said, speaking quietly to my father, but I heard it anyway. "But your son survived," the doctor spoke, trying to ease the tension. Clang! Clang! The noise came from the steel trays my dad had pushed to the floor in a fit of rage. I remembered crying on the little white floor. She was chasing my little brother, who had run out of the house because his video game was seized. I looked at the doctor from where I sat; my limbs trembled. My father was grieving and at a loss for words. I stared at the doctor like he had answers.
My little hands trembled as the white bulb flickered. Then I saw him Mr. Bennet, a tall, slender man. He had white hair, which made it feel like he had seen centuries. Then beside him was her—Lyim. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" a man shouted, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was the memories I had buried a long time ago so why now? I groaned, feeling the slap still fresh on my face. I had only apologized to her, despite her slapping me. Maybe I took it too far, but what gives her the right to question my decisions? I groaned again, ruffling the back of my hair.
Now I had to correct my mistakes at least find her before she got into trouble. I was on the cold streets of Manchester, looking for Lyim. The night lights flickered as I walked down the alleyway. The cold breeze filled the air. Luckily, I wore my favorite green hoodie. Manchester was a very big place, and I wondered where she could have run to. The last time she was in England, she was barely ten. Despite the cold breeze sweeping across my face, there were sweat visible on my skin. I had been searching for thirty minutes now. I tried calling her number, but it kept saying unreachable. I looked around the empty street I had wandered into where could she have gone in such little time?
I slapped my face and sat on a wooden bench to think. It was getting very late as every minute flew by. I stood up again and started asking questions, describing her the best way I could. There were a few snubs and wrong directions. My legs trembled; I had been running toward different locations, all to no avail. I stopped several times, panting. I had forgotten my wallet at the restaurant, meaning I had no means to even book a ride. It would only take a miracle for me to see her, I said to myself, panting as I stood up straight again, ready to start searching.
Then my phone rang. I quickly reached into my pocket, sweat pouring down my face. The phone slipped from my sweaty hands, but I managed to pick up the call. "Hello! Hello!" A female voice rang out. "J... Jonah, it's me," Lyim said, her voice low and desperate. After taking a few seconds to get myself together, I responded, "Where are you?" "I don't know," she said, her voice shaky with sobs. "Could you describe a little bit of where you are?" I asked, my voice sounding more commanding than I intended."I don't know," She said desperately, trying to remember something, "Yes, The fox—" "There you are," another voice came into the call. "Lyim! Are you there?!" I shouted. "Leave me alone!" "We just want to play."
It was evident she was in trouble. Suddenly the call stopped.
"Lyim! Lyim!" I shouted, my voice ragged with fear. She had only been here for a few hours. What could she have met by Then it hit me. The Foxxy Corner. It was the rival shop of the Grizzly Corner, managed by his former wife. Thank God I said to myself, she didn't go too far, she was only few steps away from the grizzy corner
I dashed past the broken pavements like some sort of criminal. There were a few stares, but that didn't concern me. The flickering streetlights made it hard to see, and after crashing into several objects, I was bleeding from different parts of my hand, but that didn't stop me. My breath came out in ragged gasps until I suddenly found myself staring at the sky. I had tripped over something in my desperate pursuit. I hit the ground hard, my body ached. I lay there helpless, her name the only thing I could mutter. I tried to get up, but my body failed me. The world tilted, my vision dimmed, I could only think of Lyim running then everything went dark.
LYIM POV
"Why did I run from the restaurant," I said to myself as I ran passed a rundown house. Tears blurred my vision, I couldn't afford to stop. I was being chased by three men, I couldn't make much of their faces but I was sure they were all over thirty, men who were old enough to be my father. But it wasn't the time to judge, as I crashed into some benches but that didn't stop me from running forward. Did Jonah get my message I wondered as the voices of my pursuers were becoming louder.
I wasn't sure we're I was running to, it was dark and quiet. "Why are there no people in the street!" I cried out. My eyes desperately scanning for someone or something. Blood spilled from leg. Just when I thought I had reached the end of this place, I could make out a large building up ahead. It was risky, but if there was a place I could hide there, till the next morning or if there were people I could be safe
"Heyyyy!" "Stop running!" The men shouted their voice filled with lust and irritation. Running like my life depended on it I fell at the front of a large gate. I tried opening the gate quietly but it was fruitless as it made a large noise. "Shit!" I groaned Either way, I might be safe here. The house was tall and made of bricks. It looked like a house made in the 80s or atleast it designs were that of the 80s. There was a light shining inside which wasn't too visible , except you entered the building. The door gave a loud creaky noise as I opened it, my heart skipped a beat. It was now it had come to my mind that what if the people here were even worse. What is going to happen to me, the tears I had tried suppressing flowed even more. I ran further into the house taking my chances.
There were several doors inside, it looked like a family house, and it seemed like they are people here. I crashed into a room but there was no one there. Searching several doors with no one inside, I started imaging the worst. Quietly walking to the huge parlor, I couldn't hear it before but it seems someone was watching a show. I entered the parlor but saw no one, then I felt sharp pain at my back, a knife.