Chapter 5

It seems liked an eternity I'd been waiting when he walked through the door. I'd been waiting really long but at least t had time to myself to think. in his hands were too nest little shaped white boxes and I instantly knew it was Chinese. Again. He sat them on the table, shuffled the papers in the briefcase, closed it and sat opposite to me on the floor. At that moment I wondered how good he was. One minute he was so precise and in control another minute he was all sloppy like a teen.

"Are you okay?" He asked calmly. Is that rhetorical?

"Absolutely not but I'll cope"

"Here," he handed me one of the boxes with a pair of chap sticks. I took them, my fingers slightly touching his hand. I looked up at him but he didn't seem to have noticed.

"I'm sorry you had to find out all those things this way but I had no choice. When I found them out myself and saw that they had no intention at all to tell you, I had to so something."

"And you didn't think to just come to me and tell me?"

"Would you have believed me if I had?" I thought it through for a bit. Of course I wouldn't believe a random stranger if he just came up to me and told me such huge family secrets and I'd believe. Even if it wasn't a complete stranger and it was my own mother, I'd call her bluff.

"No."

"Exactly."

When he didn't say anything more after that I took liberty of changing the subject. If he was so close to my parents that means I must have met him one way or the other already. And getting to know him would certainly bring me closer to finding out who he is.

"Why the mask?" I asked and for the first time since I've been here I saw that he was caught off guard.

"Its a long story"

"I've got loads of time," another pause...

"I just don't want you to see my face"

"But if I don't know you why would it matter?"

"I'm ugly"

I couldn't help the laugh as it tore from my throat. "You are not ugly"

"And how would you know?" His eyes seems to widen with amusement.

"Well, uhm, from the looks of your biceps, your gorgeous hair and flawless skin, I'd say there's a 100% chance you're not ugly." He paused again. I flushed. What a description. Jeez Kay.

"I just don't think its a good idea to show my face. Simple as that. Full stop," which means I shouldn't prolong it any further. And I decided not to.

"OK...but why do you wear only black and white?"

"They're my signature colors"

"They're not colors-"

"Shades," he corrected with a chuckle. I smiled.

I wanted to ask him loads more but suddenly he got up and headed for the door. I didn't want to seem clingy, as funny as that seemed, but I couldn't help it.

"Please don't leave," I tried not to sound like a hungry puppy.

"You're lonely," it was no more than a whisper and it was more of a statement than a question.

"Very," he paused for the third time. He then headed over to the T.V stand, opened one of the little glass cupboards to its side and took out a couple of DVDs.

"Action, Horror, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance?"

"Fantasy, Romance"

"Eat Pray Love, Beautiful Creatures, Valentine's Day?"

"Mmm neither. Do you have twilight?"

"Ugh you chicks and that horrible movie"

"Its not horrible"nope,the fact that he had a huge stash of Hollywood Blockbusters here for his abducted didn't seem strange at all. Neither did the fact that he just said 'chicks'.

"Well to me it is"

"Do you have it or not?"

"Yes unfortunately I do."

He took the disk out its case and put it in the DVD player. I snuggled down into the couch and smiled as the Summit logo came onto the screen. He didn't want to stay. My smile dropped.

"I'll be back in a few with some popcorn for you"

"Why don't you just keep everything here?" What a stupid question.

"I uh, never really thought of that," he chuckled and my heart softened. "There's some juice in the cupboard and ice in the refrigerator. Help yourself"

"Wow really?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yeah. Really"

"OK" he shook his head and so did i, refocusing my attention in the screen.

"One more thing," I turned back to him, "do you think I have gorgeous hair?" I widened my eyes and busted into laughter. He beamed.

"Yeah I do" he gave me another smirk and then he was out.

Somehow it was as if he was a whole new person. More vibrant and amusing and...young. and somehow, strangely somehow, I was starting to like him more.

The movie was just in about 20 minutes. But I was wondering what was taking him so long. I got up and decided to go help myself to a drink as he said. When I went into the kitchen I saw 3 sets of cupboards; one above the sink, one below it and on next to the refrigerator. The latter must be it. I took a glass from on the counter, tot some ice from the freezer and went to the cupboard. I opened it to cone across various food items. Like flour, sweetened condensed milk, honey, jelly, etc. No juice. Hmm. I thought next to the one below the the sink. And there they were a whole set of filled bottles under there, all tall slim clear bottles. No labels just colorful liquid inside. There was blue, light green, pink and one looking like a really pale brown. Maybe its ginger beer. I'll try that one. I took it up and poured some into the glass and being so thirsty as I was, with a stir I almost gulped down the entire glass. Suddenly i froze. Oh no. What's that taste?I smelled it...

Kerosene Oil! And as soon as the realization hit an excruciating pain hit my stomach and I crouched over. Then my throat started to burn, the thudding last the side increasing. And in a third wave my air way was blocked, and I was gasping for breath. I seriously could not breathe right and in response to no oxygen reaching my lungs my knees gave way and I was falling to the floor. It was the worst thing I'd ever felt, I was pretty sure this was what death felt like...My chest tightened uncomfortably and the pain seemed to spread, goosebumps covering my skin. I prayed it would just stop, or just be over soon, or someone, anyone, could come save me before its too late. And then the worst thing I feared could possibly happen happened. I felt myself falling unconscious. I closed my eyes tight shut and just allowed it to take me. Its all I could do. Darkness, clustered, unending darkness...

***

I awoke slowly. Mouth bitter, something soft beneath me, something painful in my hand. I looked up and my eyes fluttered to adjust to the bright light in my face. Except it wasn't just in my face, it was all around me. Daylight. Lots of it. I looked around and realized I was in a hospital. The air smelling of air condition and plastic. The sounds of beeping of the machines I'm attached to. A big wide open window. Outside there was trees, the sky, cars and people. It looked so unfamiliar and yet it felt like home. And right before that window was someone looking on. A man...in a white mask.

"I thought you'd never wake," he said with the usual calm. I wanted to move, to get up, walk over to him and slap him right across the face for what he did. Not that it would have much effect. But I couldn't; my feet were sore and cramped. Denying me all motion.

"You told me you'd never hurt me," I whispered.

"I wouldn't and I didn't. That was your mistake-"

"My mistake?! You're the one that told me to go get a drink"

"And you went into the wrong cupboard. Juices have labels you know, and non-acidic smells"

"I didn't smell it before I drink it. And you're full of surprises so I thought it was normal for them to not have labels" I realized how stupid it sounded the moment it was out. He remained silent for a bit. I spoke again. "What exactly did I drink? I mean it did smell like kerosene oil but can kerosene oil burn my throat so much, what-?"

"It was kerosene oil. The unconcentrated one. The burning feeling you had was from the active ingredient that helps the fire to burn brighter and longer"

"But you don't have a fireplace so what-?"

"I do actually. Its built in. But its also remote controlled. Its behind the television set. I decided I didn't need it since it was summer"

He seemed so calm and collected. As if the fact that I almost died didn't bother him at all. I got rid of that thought as another came up. A question really.

"What were those other liquids?"

"Detergents and bleaches. The maid uses them to clean the place." Themaid? Wtf. OK this is all just getting to me right now.

"I want to go home," I said imitating his calmness. He paused again, his response a bit shocking.

"Are you sure? After all you read?"

"I need to find out more for myself and to confirm the information you give me"

"You don't trust me?" Well technically speaking...

"I do, I do. Its just..." I allowed my voice to trail off. I saw him swallow.

"All too much," it wasn't a question. I nodded. "Its OK I understand. I'll send you home. Since that's what you wish"

I was taken aback. No lecture, no warning, nothing. A few days ago he wouldn't dare let me out that house and now he was oh so willing. I guess since his soul goal, which was to get me to read all the files and see what was happening around me, was achieved he didn't need to keep me anymore. I found it strange that I wanted him to beg me to stay.

"So that's it, you're just gonna let me go?" I couldn't see the confusion on his face but I sure heard it in his voice.

"It is what you want isn't it?"

"Yes but...I thought you'd give me a pep talk or a warning or..."

"You've read the files. You have all the warnings there"

"OK what's the catch? You cant seriously just let me off that easily," I was pushing but I couldn't help it.

"Like I said before. I trust you and I trust trust you'll use this opportunity wisely."

He headed for the door. The feeling of watching him go a familiar and still saddening one. I wonder what he'd do while I was away. Or what I'd do when I see everyone again. He stopped at the door but didn't turn to me.

"Get some sleep. You need it. I'll send a drive to take you home when you're released." Something's up. I just know it. Its too good to be true.

"What's the catch," I asked again. This time slowly and carefully.

"I'll be back for you in 3 days time," I knew it. And not waiting for another question, or comment...or even a goodbye. He was through the door. I wondered how he got pass everyone in the mask. Or maybe he took it off then he was in the hospital put it back on when he got in the room and took it off again when he left the room. More or likely. But my mind wasn't focused on that. Surprisingly neither was it on reuniting with my family and friends or Blaine.

It was focused on seeing him again. Being with him again. But first I had to use this opportunity wisely. And confirm the truth about those around me.