Carlotta hands me my backpack. “Here are some clothes and other things you might need.” She says.
I take it from her and look in the bag. Alice in Wonderland is in it. I choke back the tears again. Ben was reading that book.
“How was the house?” I ask. “Good, though the garden is a mess, but once it rains, all will wash away.” She says. I don’t dare to ask about Ventura. But she already tells me. “I buried Ventura under the big Juniper tree, close to the water. It was his favorite spot.”
A tear rolls down my cheek. “That’s my favorite spot too.” I say.
“Ventura is in a better place now.” She says. I nod slowly. “I guess so.”
“Did you speak to the police yet?” Carlotta asks and I shake my head. “They said they would stop by today, to ask your side of the story. They already spoke to the people who found you. They are on the hunt to find that bastard who did this.” Carlotta says.
A shadow moves across my face. That bastard, nearly ruined my life. He needs to get caught.
“I hope they find him soon and hang him up in the tallest tree.” I say angrily.
Carlotta and I chat for a while and she promises to come back soon. She gives me her phone number so I can call her whenever I need her.
I lie back on the bed. Staring at the ceiling and thinking of a way to find Rick.
Bait. I need to be bait.
I am sure he will come after me again, when he finds out that I am still alive and kicking.
I need to think that through.
A soft knock on the door wakes me up from my thoughts. It’s one of the policemen that refused to help me earlier.
“Señorita. Buenos Dias, can I ask you some questions?” he asks.
“If I say no, will you leave then?” I ask. “You refused to help me before, this all happened unnecessarily.” I say angrily and the police man bows his head.
“I know that Señorita, and I am very sorry for that. It is just that the law does not allow us to take people into custody, with no proof.”
I shrug. “Well do you have enough proof now?” I ask.
“After your side of the story, we will. There are more witnesses who saw your attacker. So we have a good chance to get him.” He assures me.
I tell the officer my story, about Rick and how he snapped when I left him. The angry phone call, the shattered window and the dead cat.
The officer takes notes of everything.
“Can I ask something now?” I ask. “Sure.” The officer replies. “I am not sure if I can answer it, but try it.”
“Who were those people that saved us?” I ask.
“Those people were looking for a place to stay for a night. The moment they drove up to the house, they saw a dog attacking a guy. The guy stabbed the dog in the neck and when they looked closer. They saw you there on the ground, covered with blood. The people stopped the car and jumped out. That’s when the attacker stabbed your boyfriend in the chest and ran off.”
“I hope he is okay now señorita.” the officer taps my hand and I try to smile. “For now, he is.” I say.
The policeman thanks me for my time and assures me they will do everything to find Rick.
I sleep for a while and I am startled when the nurse wakes me up. “Señorita, I wanted to take you to see your man for a while.” She says and I smile at her. “That would be nice, thank you.”
I step out of bed and follow the nurse back to the room where my love is fighting for his life.
The room is less scary than this morning. I grab a chair and sit down next to the bed. I grab Bens hand. I place a kiss on it. I can’t stop looking at him. He looks so peaceful and yet so fragile. Pale and thin. The tube in his throat does not make it any better.
I stand up and climb carefully on the bed next to him. I curl up with my head on his chest.
“Ben, wake up, I need you.” I whisper in his ear.
No such luck.
The next few days go by in a blur. I visit Ben a few times a day, but he is still unconscious.
Today is my last day in the hospital but I really don’t want to go. I don’t dare to sleep alone in the big house. Not without Ben and with Rick still on the run.
Carlotta offers to let me stay at her place for a while and I gladly accept it. I am not alone and it’s close to the hospital.
My bag is packed but I don’t think I will ever be ready to leave the hospital with Ben still there.
But I have no choice.
I keep looking around when I am walking on the street. I expect Rick to show up any moment. But we make it to Carlotta’s house without any problems.
Carlotta has a nice house in the middle of the center of Seville within walking distance of the hospital and I drop my bag in the living room. “Thank you so much for letting me stay here Carlotta.” I say.
“Not a problem.” She shrugs.
Erica is on her way back to Seville too, her mum is doing well enough. So Erica can take care of her Bed and Breakfast again.
I haven’t had the heart to tell her about Ventura and I don’t know if Carlotta did.
I visit three times a day, but the only thing that changed so far, is that he pinched my hand. But I am not sure if it was real or that I wanted it to feel.
The police are still looking for Rick and I told them my idea of being bait, so he would come and get me. But the police refused.
I hardly go out anymore. The only reason to get out of the house, is Ben. I can’t go a day without seeing Ben.
But forcing myself to go outside gets harder and harder. I practically run the distance from Carlotta’s house to the hospital. Continuously looking around, expecting Rick to show up on every corner.
I don’t want to live in fear.
I need to do something about it.
There is a store close to the hospital that sells weapons. I am not sure if It’s legal, but at least it will make me feel better if I have something to defend myself with. In case of emergency.
I count my money and head to the shop. I buy a little .22 magnum revolver. I have no idea if I can use it, but I figure I will if I need to.
I just hope I never need it.
My phone is ringing and I see the name of the hospital appear in my screen. My heart is pounding as I answer the phone.
“Señorita, you might want to come over, quickly.” The nurse on the other side says.
My heart is pounding even faster. “Everything okay?” I ask. “Yes, just get here as soon as you can.”
I hang up the phone, grab my backpack and run back to the hospital.
I nearly slip in the corridor when I take a turn too quick and I need to grab a hold on the couch in the hallway. I press my hand against my waist. It’s hurting. I ran too hard.
The door is the last obstacle on my way to Ben. I smack it open and look inside. Right into the green eyes I hoped to see again soon.
He’s awake.
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