บท 3: Dangers Ahead
Xia watched as the strange man leave. Even though he showed her no interest, still she was so thankful for his presence. He somehow help her ease the raging emotions inside her by just listening to her problems.
She was beginning to feel better too. This must be the after effect of wine. Xia thought.
She crawled to the ground where she slumped a while ago. She wanted to straighten up but she was too dizzy and can't bring her self to straighten up so she continue crawling all the way into the cemented pavement.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!"
Xia heard an ear-shattering scream, the loudest one she ever heard in her life. It's a terrified scream as if the person had seen a ghost. Her ears hurt but gladly her eardrums we're intact and in good condition.
"Are you okay Miss?" Xia manage to ask the startled woman who she did not even noticed was in front of her already. The woman was accompanied by a man, but he's no longer with in Xia's sight after he run leaving his girlfriend behind. Xia slowly lifted her body up. She bent her knees to give her support so she could finally get up without falling down.
Xia straightened her body, her eyes continuously stared at the woman who looked at if she wanted to run. By the bright light coming from the moon, Xia could see the paleness of her face.
'Weird, it's as if she's facing a ghost.' Xia thought. Xia lifted her cold hands and gently laid her soft fingers into the woman's shoulders to wake her up from trance.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh," the woman respond with another scream. RIP eardrum.
The woman slowly walk backwards and suddenly run. Xia looked at the woman with concern after she stumbled and fall a couple of times.
What's the matter with her?
Xia was so sure that before twelve midnight strike, the couple will have a lengthy discussion to do because the boyfriend run like a coward leaving his girlfriend behind.
She was tired and sleepy. All she wanted was to rest. She was still waiting for the man to return. She was thirsty and badly needed water. What was taking him that long? Xia asked aloud pacing back and forth. She wasn't feeling drunk anymore. No headaches or lurching stomach. She's feeling better now and currently planning to leave the party early. Before she go home she will first wait for the man and thank him for his kindness.
five minutes...
ten minutes..
fifteen minutes...
twenty minutes...
Half an hour passed by so fast and he has not returned yet. Xia wondered what was taking him that long? She's no longer drunk and she can now feel how itchy her body feels after crawling into the grassy ground.
Maybe he'd changed his mind and decided to leave her at all? The logical side of Xia's brain says so but the hopeful part of her brain says that if he really want to leave her behind, he should have done it before she even opened her mouth and started rattling about her heartbreak. "Maybe I'll just search for him inside the Grand Hall," Xia said filled with determination.
After recalling her dirty and unkempt appearance Xia stopped her attempt to enter the grand hall of the hotel. There are so many guests inside. With her present condition she could not simply barge in and still.rain unnoticed. She's not that stupid enough to allow herself to be the center of attention and worst, be a laughingstock.
Xia manage to sneak inside the ladies room without being seen by anyone. It must be her luck! The Ladies room was empty. There's no one inside to see her hideous appearance.
"Oh my god!"
Xia almost screamed after seeing the woman in the mirror. Finally, she manage to calm down after realizing it was her only her. She looks so scary, no wonder that the couple was horrified after seeing her.
Xia wasn't aware that her extremely long black hair had loosen from it's braid making them partially cover her face, also, it looked untidy as if she hadn't brushed it for over a year. She nearly looked as scary as the famous vengeful ghost from a famous horror movie, The Ring.
Xia's lipstick was uneven as if she allowed a three year old girl to give her a makeover, it smudged all over her lips that it can be mistaken as blood. Her makeup wasn't presentable anymore she looked so haggard with her mascara smudged all over her eyes.
She quickly fixed herself and it was a miracle that she did the job in less than five minutes by starting to tie her hair in a ponytail and rinsing her face off with make up.
Xia will go home after she found that guy.
It occured to Xia that she haven't seen his face because he wore a mask. The thought hit her mind when she was already walking along the long hallway of Elite Hotel. Tsk! Tsk?
What now?"
Xia continue walking down the hallway planning to head straight home after she phone her friends. At least they are aware that she's going home. Explanation would follow afterwards.
It was finally Phoebe whom Xia decided to call to inform others about her 'early departure at the party.' She was thankful that it was answered after the third ring.
"Where are you?" Phoebe began, her tone worried, and probably frowning by now as she asked Xia.
"I'm going home Phoebe. Please inform the girls, too. I'm sorry I have to leave the party this early. I'm not feeling well." Xia reasoned hoping Phoebe will take her excuse.
"Oh Xia! I will drive you back to the apartment."
"No Phoebe. Please don't bother. I could simply hire a cab. Don't worry I'll be safe." Xia was very thankful that Phoebe accepted her excuse without further interrogation.
"Xia take care."
"I will. Just enjoy the party."
She hang up. Xia let go a deep sigh after the call. Just as when she was putting her phone back in her clutch bag she looked at the narrow hallway. Shocked, her phone fell into the smooth and shiny floor with a loud thud. Before she could even move and scream for help the figure was already beside her covering her nose with a handkerchief.
Xia's attempt to struggle was suspended when the nauseating scent of chemical permeated her nostril. Before she could even react further the spinning darkness swallowed her up pulling her into a silent slumber.
The last thing she remember was a sharp metal dug deep into her skin and her fragile body hit the floor hard.
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