CHAPTER 13: TRAILED

[IXORA'S ROOM]

Ixora had already changed into her nightie and was lying on her bed before Georgia walked in. Georgia, for a moment, was shocked...she knew her daughter could be stubborn and would never agree to what she didn't want, but what surprised her was that she actually changed her clothes...the guests were still there and were waiting for her.

"Ixora, why would you behave like that? You just gave them a bad impression of us," she said.

Ixora didn't reply.

"Ixora," she called again, but got the same treatment.

"Ixora!"

"What!"

"Did we teach you how to disrespect our guests like that?"

Ixora sat up. "I agree, you didn't teach me that...but you taught me how to stand up for myself, mum. I told you and Dad that I wouldn't marry anybody. I asked you to give me money for Hazel's mother's surgery, and you brought up the marriage again, which I chose the option of doing something I shouldn't have done. So, mum, you and dad have no right to bring up this nasty proposal in front of me," Ixora said.

"You are going to get married to him. That final decision is ours to make," Georgia said, and started walking out of the room when Ixora's voice stopped her.

"I might have lived with both my parents' mum, but you raised me, and I know you are very much aware of what you raised," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Georgia glanced at her daughter before storming out of the room.

Ixora exhaled and lay back on the bed. 

Her phone rang, she saw the caller's ID, and a smile crept up her lips when she saw the person.

Blake.

****

[CANADA, HOTEL]

The smile on Blake's lips could make you think he had won the lottery, but no...he had just finished talking to Ixora.

He and Ixora are friends. They only met once when she came to Canada, and since then they have been talking to each other on the phone. 

He kept his phone on the piano stand, adjusted his fingers on the keys and started pressing slow beats while smiling at himself.  

His eyes shut tightly as he began letting the rhythm take over him. He started singing.

~~I was thinkin' about that night sittin' under the moonlit dark...when we talked, and we laughed, and you're dancin' with a smile.

"Yunno, I would have given you a thumbs up if the song weren't dedicated to that girl," Audrey said, coming in as she dropped the things she bought on the table.

Blake sighed before opening his eyes.

"You don't always have to say that," Blake said.

Audrey and Blake are siblings...fraternal twins.

Audrey scoffed. "I'm sure the reason you insisted on having the concert in New York is because of her."

Blake smiled. "Sure, we have a thing that connects us," he muttered, bringing out a girl's hairpin from his pocket.

"My lucky charm."

"I can bet on it that she doesn't have the one you gave her."

"She wouldn't lose it that easily, and if she does lose it, there has to be a reason," Blake replied.

Audrey rolled her eyes, knowing it was pointless arguing with him.

"Here are the snacks you wanted," she said.

"Hmm. I thought you and Skye went together. Where is he?" Blake asked.

"Oh, he got an urgent call from his manager on our way here, so he had to leave. You know how the old man can be," Audrey said, getting on her feet.

"And where are you going? You have to follow me to our fan sign."

"I would rather tour around this city on foot than follow you to meet some group of crazy girls. Nah, I will pass," she clicked her tongue and walked out of the room.

Blake shook his head before going back to what he was doing.

****

[NEW YORK, BLACKTHORN AUTOMOBILE, 7:30 PM]

Ixora exhaled for the umpteenth time. She was determined to apologize to her boss today. She tried talking to him in his office...as always, he cut her off, but today she was determined and nothing was going to stop her.

It had passed work hours, and all her colleagues had gone home while she stayed behind. It seemed like he was working overtime today because he, too, hadn't gone home.

She thought of the craziest way to apologize to him: trailing after him. She would follow him home without him knowing, especially since he tended to be bossy at the office. 

She peeked at his office and saw him closing his MacBook. She smiled, aware that he was finally done. She immediately stood and hid just before he could come out.

The door to his office automatically opened, and he walked out. The usual expression was on his face. His sleek shoe slapped on the marbled floor as she watched him leave the company. 

She came out of her hiding, rushing after him. Thinking he was gone, she sprinted faster only to see him holding his car door handle. Her heart flew out of her chest as she hid behind the pillar when she saw him looking back.

"Did he know that I was following him?" she thought, closing her eyes as her heart palpitated madly.

She opened them when she heard the car driving off. 

She came out and, thankfully, the taxi she had booked online was already waiting. She told her driver to go home only because of this.

"Follow that car," she instructed, wearing her seat belt.

"Okay, miss." he did as instructed.

As they drove, Ixora couldn't help but notice they were going into the district part of New York.

"Miss, are you sure you know where you are going?" the driver asked, his eyes fixed on Drexton's car.

Ixora looked ahead and saw Drexton's car still in front.

"Yes," she nodded, unsure of her answer.

"Does he live around this place?"

The deeper they went into the streets, goosebumps ran over Ixora's body. The street was quiet and very lonely. 

"Pull over!" she said when she saw Drexton coming out of his car and walking into a building.

She hurriedly paid off the man as she looked at the building in the silent night. The air grew heavier as she made her way to the house. 

"There is no way the richest billionaire in the entire city of New York would live here," she thought and exhaled softly before pushing the door open.

The first thing that caught her eye was the red light in the house. Next was the smell of marijuana that clouded the house. She had to cough since she wasn't used to inhaling such. She looked around the building and saw the ominous writing on the walls: skulls, snakes, grotesque, weird writings and a young boy soaked in blood.

"Welcome home, pet," a voice drew her back to reality, and she looked at her front to see pairs of eyes piercing deep into her systems, smoke going in a zigzag manner from the pipe in-between their lips.

The house was cold, and all the hairs on the nape of her neck had stood. She tried stepping back but fell on her butt without being pushed.

Their eyes bored into her skin, she began shifting on her butt despite them not standing up.

"Who are you three? Where am I...? " She stuttered as she tried to stand, but it felt as if she was pinned to the ground.

Maddox checked his watch.

"It's time, let's go," he said, and the three of them stood.

"Stay away from me...don't come close... I'm warning you," she said, trying to mask her fear.

They said nothing to her as the first one walked past her, the second followed suit, and as the third one watched out, her eyes widened as she felt a heavy lump forming in her throat.

He walked out, and she immediately found her voice.

"Drexton," she whispered, standing up and rushing out, but found the place empty, just the silent whispers of the crickets.

She thought of going back home, but canceled the thought when she remembered the stress it took her to get to the place.

Her feet felt heavy as she turned and walked into the house, determined to talk to Drexton tonight.

--

[10 pm, HELL DEVIL'S HIDEOUT]

As expected, Ixora was still waiting for them. Call her stupid...crazy, whatever you dim fit, but when she sets her mind to something, she makes sure she accomplishes it.

She had no idea what the time was, but with how heavy the night felt, she knew it was late. She had her phone switched off so that nobody would call her.

She was sure her mother must have lashed out at her driver...she knew her mother well...at times, she did care.

She held her hands together, feeling swallowed in this weird house. It's weird how she hasn't looked around the house...that's because she would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't scared.

She released her hands, and the reality of him not coming back began dawning on her. She wiped the tiny bead of sweat forming on her forehead as she decided to leave.

Just before she could take a step, the door creaked open, and they stepped one after the other.

Her breath caught as the first person stepped in, hitting a baton on his palm.

The second person walked in holding a gun, and the third walked in with a knife.

The metallic smell of blood hit her nose, and her eyes wouldn't stop bulging as she saw their gazes on her.

Her eyes caught hold of their dress: black boots, leather pants and jackets, and their shaped nose masks. All of them looked so familiar, and her brain began processing them. The answers became crystal clear and she...she...

"Y...You three are T...the Hell devil's."