“Dad!? Marco?!”
We both looked at each other as if we were asking each other if the other heard what one had just heard.
“She must have realized it wasn’t her bed,” Theodor said soon after we heard a feminine voice calling our names one after the other.
“She sounds like someone I have known or someone so close to me as a family or something with the way she would yell out my name,” I thought.
“And I can’t disagree with you on that. I am beginning to feel jealous, young man!”
“Huh?!” I was stunned. I did not know those words slipped off my lips and made the father hear of them. “I’m… Uhm… My apologies, sir…” I stammered in response.
“What are you guys doing here?” the lady asked while rubbing her eyes off, one after the other.
“Skye, honey, you should have taken more sleep. You look like a zombie, don’t you agree, Marco?” Theodor spoke with a hint of teasing to his daughter.
“Dad, please…? I told you, it’s not like that. Stop it. You’re making me feel embarrassed in front of our patient here,” Skye replied to her dad’s words in a complaining way. Then she sat along with us at the table.
“I know. I know. It’s just that I don’t get a lot of chances to tease you, so bear with it,” the father laughed aloud.
“Come on!” The daughter whined. “Marco, don’t believe this silly old man here, okay? As you have heard, he is having fun teasing me. That’s all,” she sighed. Before I could even say anything in return, she stood from her seat and bid us good night.
“Since I can see you are doing better, I will see you in the morning. I feel like I am floating. I think I really have to sleep,” she said with her back on us and walked to the stairs.
“Honey, I am leaving early in the morning tomorrow for an out-of-town meeting with my clients,” Theodor announced.
“Just wake me up before you go, dad,” she simply replied.
“Okay, have a good rest, then!”
“Good night, dad! And you, too, Marco!”
“Good night!” I answered back, with my eyes on the dad right in front of me. I was not sure how to react to the way they were so carefree in front of a stranger like me. But the father seemed even more amused at how the situation was unfolding before his eyes.
I have seen movies where dad and daughter would be this sweet and close to throwing in and out jokes at each other, but I have never seen anyone in person act this way, until now.
“Sir, is there I way I can make a call and check back home?” I asked Theodor cautiously.
“Do you think it is a wise idea to do so? Do you know who to trust and avoid trusting at the moment? You have to consider a lot of things before you make your next step after cheating death,” Theodor wisely advised.
I nodded.
“I think you are right,” I replied with a sigh. “I don’t know who to trust and avoid at the moment. I’d better heal completely first before facing whoever is desperately wanting me dead.”
“And I suggest, you take this time to recall everything that happened that day. There will be a clue for you to trace back and you will find out who to collect from,” Theodor spoke as if he knew what was going on with me. I blankly looked up at him and his eyes met mine.
“I just guessed. Based on what I saw on your belongings, I don’t think you are among the common people in society. But whatever it is you are into, I am not here to judge you. I believe it is fancy having someone like you as our acquaintance,” he must have seen the queries on my face so Theodor volunteered to explain.
I mindlessly nodded. His words made sense. I was still a bit confused, but the suggestion about giving everything a deep thought and recalling everything that happened to me, I might get to track and find out who is the enemy among my men.
“As you have heard, I am leaving first thing in the morning, I will be back late tomorrow night or maybe the day after. Skye might have other things to do, but she will be here to assist you with your meals. I still have a few documents to check, so I will head back to my room. You can walk around to stretch your limbs but don’t overdo anything, that’s your doctor’s order. Are we clear, Marco?” the man asked authoritatively.
“Yes, doc!” I replied snappily. I was about to stand up when I saw the man was about to leave the kitchen area, but the pain of my wound reminded me to move slowly.
“Don’t move abruptly. It will be like poking at the same bruised spot again and again. We can’t expect recovery to take its place that way,” Theodor said. “But it doesn’t mean you are not to wash the kitchen utensils you’ve used. You can include my cup as well,” he smirked and left.
I shook my head. It was not challenging to do the dishes. It was awkwardly refreshing that these hosts are too kind for my liking. I mean for a ruthless man like me, I don’t belong here with them.
They seem to act and behave like I am someone they have known all their lives.
The familial connection and bond were warming. Or maybe, after escaping death, I am the one changing and behaving differently than how I would usually do?
Left alone at the dining table, I stared at the wall in my eyesight.
“This is a kind of family lifestyle I would have wished to have for myself if I can dare. But I know it is not different than hoping to have a dragon as my pet. In short, it is impossible!”
I sighed and decided to clean the kitchen. I had to make my moves as soundless as possible so I do not disturb anyone in the house. I moved slowly and easily. Then I started walking in the window’s direction. It was dark but not so dark for me not to see anything outside the window. I do not see the moon from my position, but from the look of the view outside, the light was from the sky illuminating the ground. There were mountains surrounding the area and trees were everywhere. I could not see the road from the window, so I assumed I was facing the backyard. I tried to check the neighborhood.
Nothing.
There was no visible house nearby. No sounds of engines could be heard to say I was in the urban area. As I try to catch any sound in the surrounding, I realized there were frogs and crickets making night noises. I wonder how long it took for Skye to drive from my building to this place.
I resigned for the night at headed back to the room I was supposed to have my rest and recover. I couldn’t sleep at first, but the effect of the tablet meds Theodor gave me to take thirty minutes after my meal earlier, won over me. An hour after midnight, I dozed off to the natural sound of lullaby given by the nature surrounding me.
“Marco, I am leaving.”
I heard a voice in my sleep.
“Marco!”
The voice sounded a little louder and closer than earlier.
“Huh? Yes,” I woke up to a light tapping on my right arm. The room was dimly lit so I was able to open my eyes in response since my body could not move as fast as I used to. “Sir? How about Skye?”
“Just call me Ted. I have been meaning to correct you that earlier. Stop calling me sir, are we good?”
“Yes, Ted!” I groaned as I turned to my side and from there I slowly sat up on the bed to speak to him. “What time is it? I feel like I just closed my eyes a minute ago, but now you are leaving. May I know where you are going and when you are coming back?”
“Why do you sound like my daughter, Skye?” Ted asked with an amused smile. “By the way, she is still asleep. She wouldn’t wake up even when I knocked on her door, so I let her be,” he continued and turned to face me with bulging eyes.
“I just want to know so I know what to tell your daughter if she asks later,” I answered seriously.
“It might take a day or two, but I cannot be sure. So, I will get back when all things are settled out there. Take care of my house, for now, Marco. I am counting on you.”
“How can you entrust your house and daughter to a stranger like me?” I asked in disbelief.
“You’re an injured man. My daughter can subdue you easily if you two get into a physical fight, and if you are trying to say you might take advantage of my daughter, I am telling you, with that injury you have, I doubt you have the ability to enjoy the moment,” Ted chuckled mischievously as he turned his back on me to walk out of the room. I was stunned at the father’s response. “Not that I am going to take advantage of your daughter, but I hope you don’t do this just to anyone,” I sincerely stated, trying to walk behind Ted. The father stopped in his tracks and turned around to face me. There were only halogen bulbs on so it wasn’t too bright, but I saw a bemusing smile sporting his mien. I waited to hear what he was going to say.“I haven’t done such things to my daughter. I haven’t had the chance to tease her about a man I think she is interested in, although she keeps saying I am mistaken. And I haven’t entrusted her to anyone before. But I know you respect her as you do to me
“I am not here to judge you. I see you as a light of hope beaming for me that whatever trauma I had in my childhood, I will get through all of them just like I am not afraid to see you bleeding. It makes me hold my grip on sanity knowing someone needs me or my help so I have to stay conscious and not faint despite the color of red seeping out of your wound. Whatever you do or whatever kind of person you are, I am not concerned at the moment. The victory over this fear that had been in my life ever since I could remember is the only thing that matters to me right now. So forgive me if I am behaving weirdly in your eyes. I know this too shall pass, but as of now, I wanna enjoy it.” I did not know why Skye was being so laid-back in front of me. But I could also feel the pure honesty of her words. Before I could even respond, she was talking again. “You might feel as if I am treating you like a newly found pet. I want to take care of you. I want you to get better as soon as possible. L
Skye'S POV“Hey!” Marco yelped chuckling. I could only hear his voice as my eyes were tightly shut in disrelish of the liquid as it reached my tastebuds and my brain declared it was a feeling of burning in my mouth and throat.“Agggghhh! What an agony,” I groaned and grimaced at the alcohol flavor. “Why did you do that? I did not even get the chance to enjoy the aroma of it,” Marco whined as if he was helpless.“I told you, you’re not allowed to drink. Not even a drop. Remember?” I squinted my eyes as I reprimand him. “I wasn’t going to!” Marco retorted defensively. He looked so cute as he pouted that I could not help smiling again. “I need that drink now, more than ever!” “Fine! Fine!” I exclaimed defeatedly. I poured another shot and handed it to him. “Here is another glass! Now don’t dare try having even a tiny sip of it! Ugh! I don’t even understand what taste this has,” I pulled a face as the aftertaste of the forty percent alcoholic drink’s flavor lingered in my mouth. Marco
“Are you trying to say I am a homosexual?” Marco asked with immense disbelief sporting his mien, but his tone remained gentle. “Or maybe a bi-sexual?” I asked again aiming to clarify.“Nope and no!?” This time he responded with his voice raised. “I can prove it to you but not for now. I am more worried that with you around I might suffer from too slow progress in recovery as you seem to enjoy making me yell every now and then. Whenever it happens, I feel my wound stretched and freshen up again,” Marco complained. “I’m sorry,” I apologized again. “We can talk about something else, you know?” I heard Marco inhale deeply. I think he is frustrated that he could not get rid of me, but I did not want to go up to bed just yet. And to be honest, aside from my dad Ted, Marco has been the only one I am very comfortable being with me around. He won’t be here for a lifetime, so I am going to avail myself of his presence while I can. “What do you wanna talk about?” Marco asked casually. His
I didn’t understand why my dad was so amused watching us. Or maybe me. If he was upset that I drank without him when he had offered me a lot of times to join him as he watched his favorite baseball team play the game every league, why would he look amused? I can even see him holding his laughter. He did not even fail to let his reactions hidden at times. But I had no time to interrogate him for the answers right now.“Bye, for now, dad, we are going to talk when I get back, okay?” I groaned as I walked away after giving him a kiss on his right cheek.“I will be waiting,” dad replied with a breathy laugh. Then he turned to Marco. “Drive safely, young man. I don’t want to see anyone bleeding when you return,” dad added.“Yes, sir!” Marco res
“Do you mind if we tell your dad we will be home late tonight?” Marco asked all of a sudden.“What? Where are we going? It’s just mid-morning,” I answered wondering.“I don’t want to lead whoever is after me to where you live and your dad,” Marco answered as he drove with speed. I could swear he was way past the limit, but I could not tell him to drive slow or abode with the law. If I remember the people after Marco correctly, they had deadly weapons. I don’t want to take any chances of being shot by a gun.“We will lose them first and change vehicles then when it is safe, I will send you home,” Marco said. “I can no longer be seen near you or around you. As much as possible, I cannot drag you and Ted into the mess I am because
Marco’s POVI did not want Skye to see the brutal death of her dad, but I guess I was too late. She saw what she wasn’t supposed to see and she lost it. She fainted in my arms.“Think! Think!” I knocked my head for what is best done in my situation.My car was parked at a distance and carrying an unconscious full grown woman with her whole weight in my arms might get us both dead before we reached the vehicle to leave this place alive.“I will be right back, Skye. Stay here for a while,” I whispered to Skye despite knowing she wouldn’t have heard whatever I had just said. I will use the element of surprise to avenge Ted’s unnecessary death at the hands of whoever was after me.
Days passed.I personally attended to everything regarding Ted’s cremation. I called for professional cleaners and ordered them to put everything in the same way they were before the incident happened in the Christoffs household. I wanted to present the same house to Skye when she gets better with Ted’s ashes in an Urn placed in the center of the living room with Ted’s smiling picture right next to it.I returned to my rest where Skye was staying at the moment but she was still in her coma state.I felt so sorry that she did not get to mourn her dad like normal people do because the shock overwhelmed her and now she is mentally refusing to wake up.As per Naomi’s professional suggestion, I have sought various medical assist