Chapter 3: A LONG NIGHT (3)

Everything suddenly got out of hand.

A loud explosive sound, which was able to penetrate Hailee's palms that were clenched tightly to protect her sensitive ears was the end result of her impulsive experiment. The tremors after the explosion, rendered Hailee's legs unable to support her body, as a result she fell to her knees with her body against the wall.

Luckily the white curtain covering her figure was able to hide Hailee from the three men who rushed into the room.

The entire room was engulfed with the ever rising plumes of thick smoke. And, with the deafening sound of the fire alarm, their focus could be confirmed only on Roland Dimatrio, their boss.

They might even forget that there must be one additional person in the room and couldn't care less if she was injured or even died, when they were greeted with a stiffening sight like what Roland Dimatrio is experiencing right now.

"Mr. Roland !!! " Alex exclaimed, thrusting into the room followed by the other two.

The commotion in this room got tangled with the crowd's nuisance that was starting to form outside. The whole corridor was filled with shocked gasps and enquiries of people asking one another what exactly was going on.

"Mr. Roland! " Alex shouted again, calling the name of the old man. "Oh, shit!"

Hearing Alex's loud cursing voice, indicated that the bodyguard has found Roland Dimatrio's body, and it also meant that it was a sign for Hailee to run away.

Still in shock at the explosion she had created, Hailee opened her eyes widely. Those beautiful brown eyes were filled with determination as she used the wall behind her to help herself up.

The first thing she noticed was; the hotel room door was wide open, as if calling her to come closer. Of course, that was what Hailee did.

Before the hotel clerk or security could see this incident, Hailee immediately ran through the door, broke through the crowd of people who were huddling in the corridor and immediately fled using the emergency stairs, where there were already several people using them to save their own lives, thinking whether the sound of the explosion was a bomb.

Hailee had heard several people there muttering that particular idea while running down the fire escape stairs.

Luckily, the room Roland had rented was located on the third floor, so Hailee didn't have to go down many steps and could reach the lobby immediately.

With the clothes she was wearing, of course Hailee got a lot of attention from the eyes who looked at her questioningly and in confusion.

How could a woman only wear a jacket that is too big to cover her whole body. They could clearly notice; under that large jacket, was a smooth body that she should have kept from all the male's predatory gaze was now naked.

They didn't know that what Hailee was facing right now, was far more terrifying than just exposing her flawless skin, therefore, even their penetrating gazes couldn't bother the cute girl to care any less.

She kept running until she crossed the hotel lobby and out of the building, hailed a taxi and went straight in with a gasp.

"Where?" the taxi driver can only gawk at Hailee's disheveled appearance and pale face.

"District 18,"Hailee said hastily.

City T is a city that includes districts 1 to 12 districts, where district 18 is part of City R.

"District 18?" the taxi driver didn't immediately start the car, but instead looked at Hailee in disbelief, the problem was mainly the distance between District 4 and District 18; is quite far, in normal time, the journey could easily take up to five hours . And, with Hailee's appearance like this, the driver was not sure the passenger could afford the required meter.

On the other hand, Hailee understood the look in the driver's eyes, then irritably reached into her jacket pocket and threw a lump of money into the front seat. "Keep the change!" Hailee said harshly and loudly.

After what Hailee had been through all day, it was certain that she wasn't in the mood to pay attention to what she said or maintain her attitude.

"Start now or I'll find another taxi!" Hailee couldn't bother to admire at her single action which made the bald-headed taxi driver dumbfounded by the amount of money she had thrown. She was in a hurry to leave this dreaded place.

In just one glance, he knew that the value of the money exceeded the tariff to be paid later.

As for where this girl got the money, it was none of his business. There were still his wife and children who were waiting at home, that he has to support, which is the main problem in his life.

"All right, all right," the driver hurriedly brushed off Hailee's cold hand and immediately stepped on the accelerator.

Meanwhile, even though Hailee had given the large sum of money she got from Roland's purse and jacket, she still had an expensive watch and two rings that she can sell.

In the meantime, she had to meet her best friend.

For now, he was the only one Hailee trusted.

Cars were driving through the night, passing through busy streets and avoiding traffic jams by taking alternative routes.

"Looks like there was a commotion at the hotel earlier, do you know what is wrong?" the driver tried to be friendly and have a chat so that the atmosphere in the car wouldn't feel so deserted.

But, after there was no answer from the girl behind him, the driver glanced at Hailee through the rearview mirror and found the girl was staring out the window with a dreary gaze, seemingly in a serious thought process.

Understanding the gesture, the journey for the next five hours continued in silence.

***

After five hours of a smooth journey, Hailee asked the driver to drop her off at an intersection, near a shopping center lined with small shops on either side of the trail.

The name of this place was Long Isle, one of the places Hailee knew very well.

It was already late at night, but there were still lots of shops open and a few teenagers were roaming here and there, who had gathered to just brag.

"Miss, are you sure, you want me to drop you here?" the driver asked hesitantly, with the clothes Hailee was wearing now, of course it would lure the bad guys there to pester her.

That was true.

Hailee thought for a moment while staring at the clothes she was wearing, or rather just a jacket attached to her body.

After thinking for a moment, she decided; "The remaining money I give is quite a lot, please buy me a set of clothes with pants, it doesn't need to be expensive, as long as I can just wear it."

The driver looked doubtful.

"Just turn off the car and bring the keys, I'll be waiting here." Hailee can read what could possibly discourage him.

After a moment's consideration, the driver nodded in agreement. "OK." After that, he turned off the engine and stepped outside, leaving Hailee locked inside.

Meanwhile, Hailee doesn't really care about it, her mind is busy thinking about something else.