Don't Answer The Door - Ch. 23

1

"Alex, answer me. What does it say?" Eva asked, becoming impatient.2

Alex did not answer her. The note fluttered out of Alex's hand and drifted slowly to the ground. Alex continued to just stand there, speechless. Eva began to notice that Alex's lips were quivering.3

Eva knelt down and picked up the letter. She held it close, struggling to read it.4

"Oh.. Alex..."5

Eva did not know what to say, she didn't know who she was looking at.6

"Who is that?" Eva asked.7

"That's my father." Alex said, through tears. 8

"Why would he do this?!" Eva asked, hatred growing towards Cage.9

Eva looked at the note. There was a little picture taped onto it. Four letters were written right beneath it. 'Ha Ha'. That made no sense to Eva. She looked at the other side of the paper, and she screamed as she realized what she was looking at.10

"Oh my God. Did you see the back of this?!" Eva asked, fear taking over the hate and rage.11

Alex took the piece of paper from Eva and turned it over, looking at the drawing on the back. There was a large cage drawn, and inside it was a girl. There was blood drawn, coming out of her neck. Alex crumpled the paper as he realized that it was Eva in the cage.12

"This isn't going to happen to you, Eva. I won't let it happen to you."13

Eva picked up the piece of paper and took out Alex's father's picture. She held it right in front of his face.14

"Alex! He's going to kill me, just like he did to your father! He's going to do this to me!" She screamed, pointing at the picture.15

Alex looked away from the picture. He couldn't stand the image in the picture, the image of his father's body brutally murdered. He took the picture and ripped it into shreds, tossing it to the ground. At that moment, a gust of wind blew, picking up the pieces of paper and taking them far away.16

Eva wrapped her arms around Alex and held him tightly in a warm embrace. 17

"I think we need to start walking again. We really need to get out of here." Eva said to Alex.18

Alex and Eva began walking quickly. There were times when they sprinted, and times when they jogged. They were getting tired, but they didn't seem to care. All they were thinking about was their safety, and how they had to get away from Cage as soon as possible.19

Alex and Eva finally reached a gas station. Eva smiled because she thought they would never make it. They were walking past a window, and Eva saw her reflection. 20

"Wow.. I look so horrible!" She exclaimed, looking at the dirt and the blood on her. 21

"What is everyone going to say?" She asked, feeling worried that people will get suspicious.22

"Don't worry about them." Alex said, as he opened the door to the gas station for Eva.23

They walked to the man sitting behind the bullet-proof window. 24

"Hello. May she use your bathroom?" Alex asked, trying to make his voice solid.25

The man that was behind the counter stared at Eva. Alex looked at his name tag which said "Jon".26

"So, Jon. Is it alright?" Alex asked, trying to add pressure to Jon. 27

Jon didn't say a word, but he nodded, keeping his eyes on Eva. He noticed the blood at her feet, splattered all over her white tennis shoes. Alex watched her walk away, and she left bloody footprints. 28

Alex was wondering why there would still be blood dripping from her tennis shoes when they walked a long distance. Then he realized that the head had laid right on her feet, so maybe the blood went into her tennis shoes and stayed there.29

He sighed, feeling awful for Eva. He had put her through so much, and he felt so guilty for everything. If she never went out with him, she probably would have never gotten into this mess with him. Alex turned his head quickly and looked at Jon.30

Jon had let out a loud cough, that sounded fake. Alex stared at Jon, and Jon looked down, pretending to read his magazine.31

"So, are you Hindu or something?" Alex asked, holding in a laugh.32

He was trying to amuse himself in any way. Alex waited twenty minutes and then Eva came out. She had washed away the blood and dirt off her face and hands. Eva and Alex were ready to get out of the gas station when they heard a females voice from behind them.33

"Dad, could I..." The girl stopped when she saw the strangers to her, Alex and Eva.34

Alex looked at Jon and watched him as he whispered something into his daughters ear. Alex felt confused, and began to get worried. He took Eva's hand and began to walk out of the door.35

"Wait!" Jon said. 36

Alex contemplated running, but decided not to because he saw the daughter again. In her hands were a pair of jeans and a black shirt. Jon took the clothing from his daughters hands and held them out to Eva.37

"Here ya go. It be a chilly night tonight, it would be rude to let a young lady such as yourself get a cold in a clothing like that." Said Jon. 38

Alex realized that Jon had an accent, and it didn't sound Hindu.39

The girl came around the counter and gave Eva the clothes. Eva smiled and said thank you. She ran to the bathroom to change. Alex stood there in awe. He felt really awful for trying to make fun of the guy. 40

"This es my daughter, Nina." Jon said to Alex.41

Nina outstretched her arm and held out her hand. Alex shook her hand and smiled. 42

"Thank you sir. I'm sorry for being a jackass earlier." Alex said, looking down and kicking his feet.43

"I'm Arabic." Jon said, after a long pause. 44

"Huh?" Alex said, not knowing what Jon was talking about.45

"You asked if I was Hindu. No. I am Arabic." Jon said, smiling and coming around the counter.46

To Alex's surprise, Jon was in a wheelchair. Jon shook Alex's hand and they began talking. There were times where Alex did not know what Jon was saying, so his daughter would explain it to him. Nina's English was much better than her fathers.47

Eva came out from the bathroom, and to Alex she looked beautiful. Wrapping his arms around her, Alex gave her a kiss on the lips. He remembered they were in public, so he quickly caught himself.48

"So. I guess we'll be on our way. Thank you once again for the clothes, and for letting Eva use your bathroom."49

Nina and Jon said goodbye to Eva and Alex, and then they were on their way. Alex sighed as he looked around, holding Eva's hand. He didn't know where to go. 50

"Your house is still so far away Eva." Alex said.51

As if Nina had heard him say that from inside, she ran out of the door. 52

"Hey! Eva! Alex!" She ran towards them, calling their attention.53

Alex and Eva turned around and looked at Nina. Eva smiled at Nina as she came closer.54

"Where are you guys heading to? It's pretty dark out, and it's late. It's probably not safe for you guys to walk at this time of night. This isn't a safe area." Nina said to them, genuine worry in her eyes.55

"My father said you guys could sleep in the back rooms of the gas station. We're working an all night shift tonight, and we'd be more than happy to give you a ride to where ever tomorrow morning if you like." Nina said, between breaths.56

Alex looked at Nina's figure. He noticed that she was beautiful. Her long auburn hair fell loose down to just below the middle of her back and her eyes were big and brown, with thick eyelashes. She had a different beauty to her, Alex realized.57

He smiled and wrapped his arm around Eva's waist as they talked to Nina. Alex was glad he was with Eva, and to him, she was the most beautiful girl he could ever be with.58

"Oh, We don't want to be a bother!" Eva exclaimed, waving her hand.59

Alex smiled wider as he realized how sweet Eva was. She was caring, and wonderful, but he had to disagree with her.60

"Oh, never mind Eva, we would love to stay with you guys tonight." Alex said.61

Eva looked up at Alex and laughed. 62

"Eva, you're so nice. Stop it." Alex said, laughing.63

Eva and Nina joined in on the laughter and Nina led them back into the gas station. Jon smiled and said hello again. Nina led them to the back, and she held the door open for them to let them in.64

Eva and Alex walked into the back room and gaped open. 65

"Oh My..." Eva said, putting her hand on her mouth. 66