Chapter 3 2

Chapter 2 - Plan

"What the fuck? Are you really a fucking doctor or psychologist? Do your fucking job! Stop asking useless questions!" I woke up to the baritone voice of a man demanding incessantly. Look at this guy. Even doctors aren't spared?

He's facing away from me and towards the doctor. Wait, what's going on? Why is there a doctor? Oh, maybe he's getting his hand checked by the doctor. Who punches a wall without reason, anyway?

And a psychologist?

Maybe they asked him if he's going crazy for punching the wall earlier without reason. He's just hurting himself. That's not normal.

I saw the doctor glance at me, prompting Caspian to quickly look away too. Is he feeling guilty? I was about to sit up when I suddenly felt the pain in my back. I winced.

"Manang Rana, you take care of her," I heard Caspian order the old maid, and Manang Rana immediately nodded. Caspian glanced at me once more before finally leaving the room.

I don't know which room I'm in now. This house is so big, after all. Where could he be going?

I glanced at the wall clock, and it's almost eleven. Did he really have to disturb the doctor? Maybe it's a family doctor. The doctor finished checking on me, and Manang Rana left to rest.

I was about to lie back down when I stopped midway upon hearing a car outside. This could only mean one thing. Someone's arriving or leaving.

Even though my back hurts, I still stood up to peek outside downstairs. I slid the curtain aside as I looked out.

That's Caspian's car. Rolando is driving it. Is he leaving? Where could he be going? It's late.

I decided to go out to ask Rolando. He's just preparing Caspian's car for him to leave immediately when he goes out.

When I got out of the room and descended the grand staircase, I was about to ask, but I chose to hide in a corner because it seems like Rolando and Fernando are discussing something important. They look so serious.

"He's supposedly going to Empire House."

"Why?"

"Paddle." What are they talking about? I don't understand.

I heard footsteps coming down the grand staircase, so I quickly bent down and quietly slipped into the backseat of the car. I saw a black fabric, so I ducked and hid underneath it.

What am I doing? I'm putting myself in danger again. Well, I just don't want to be left alone in that house without him. Since he bought me, I should be where he is.

I heard the driver's seat open, and I almost stopped breathing when the car started moving.

We're leaving. I almost winced in pain when it suddenly stopped. I heard the window roll down.

"Fernando, check on Khione every half an hour," I heard him order before continuing to drive the car.

Uh-oh. Trouble.

Does this mean they'll know I'm not there after half an hour? Then I know what will happen next. They'll call Caspian and say I'm missing.

Caspian will get angry, Add to that, I'm with him. Double kill.

My ears pricked up when I heard that noise. Someone's calling, and it's my ringtone, Uh-oh, in trouble.

"Report."

Then I remembered I don't have my cellphone, It's Caspian's. Shit, I got nervous there. My heart almost jumped out of my chest from anxiety.

Why? Because our ringtones are the same. I quickly realized his cellphone is an iPhone, I'm really thankful he put it on loudspeaker.

"Everything's ready, Sir," the voice on the other end said.

"Tell them... fuck themselves," Caspian angrily ordered.

"Yes, Sir. Anything else, Sir?" Fear was evident in the man's voice on the other end.

"Yes, also tell them to leave the country! I might as well kill them, fucking assholes." I can't explain how angry his voice was. What more if I see his face? Who is he referring to?

"Anyway, I want you to make a reservation in a resort. Any island," he added. So many orders. What does it feel like to be ordered around by a Caspian Lordcan? Must be fun.

He's going to a resort? Who's he going with? Maybe one of his girls, This position is getting uncomfortable. He finished one call from that guy. Another call came in.

"What's up, fucker?" Caspian greeted the caller, What's with Caspian? Uncensored.

"Just chillin', bastard."

"You know the feeling of seeing you again in extreme pain, dimwit?"

"I would like to see a live torture, butthead." I counted three different baritone voices. The first one even had a slang. You guys are so funny, is that you?

"Tss, there will come a day when I'll torture you guys too. Non-stop!" Caspian always sounds angry when he speaks. What more if you see his face?

"Translate it please," the slang-speaking one teased.

"I don't understand, boy."

"Just the non-stop word, what are you talking about?" Huh? They don't understand Filipino?

"Don't fool me. Fuck, you just go on vacation to another country and you suddenly don't understand Filipino anymore? Should I smack you in the face with Jose Rizal's book?" Caspian seems so close and comfortable talking to them.

Who are they?

"You should've come with us, idiot."

"There are so many chicks there."

"Dude, die of envy, please." Huh? Wait, does that mean Caspian can't go abroad? With all his wealth?

Just a maid and two bodyguards. Don't be surprised, self. Is he trying to save money? Then why did he buy me? Silence. A few seconds passed before I heard the noise indicating he ended the call.

The car stopped, and Caspian got out immediately. His car's tinted so I can't see if he's already outside. I peeked to see what's outside.

It's a large black warehouse-like building. It's huge. There are large trees around it. No guards outside. Is this the Empire House he's talking about? He went in. I followed.

As I entered the warehouse-like building, I secretly followed him. There's no one guarding the entire place. What kind of place is this? There's hardly any furniture. He turned, so I turned too. At the far end, he entered a large door.

I stayed by the door and hid in the darkness. It's really dark here, although some lights are on but some are broken. The ones inside are quite bright, so I can see them clearly.

Three handsome men dragged a black sofa from the side and placed it in the middle. Then all three flopped down on it. Maybe they're the ones Caspian was talking to on the phone? I shifted my gaze to Caspian, who was now facing a man holding a paddle.

He took off his top while the three started eating popcorn. Wait, where did that popcorn come from? It wasn't there earlier. They're even laughing. Caspian walked towards a small stage with the man holding the paddle following him.

When Caspian stopped in the middle, I was surprised to see him struck by the paddle wielded by the man.

Wait, what's happening? This is so confusing. It's like being in a maze where you suddenly find yourself back where you started. A puzzle without the pieces.

Caspian had already received six blows from the paddle, but the man didn't stop and struck him again. At first, it seemed like Caspian didn't feel the pain, just a pinch? That was the expression on Caspian's face. He also seemed expressionless.

Isn't he feeling any pain? What kind of body does he have? Wait, I scanned his body from the stomach up to the neck. I can only say one thing.

If a cake has an overloaded amount of chocolate, he has an overloaded amount of muscles in his body. I have nothing more to say, that's it. On the eighth paddle, I saw how he tightly shut his eyes as if enduring the pain.

"Remembrance, guys!"

"Take a picture."

"Idiot, it's 'take a photo' because that's what it means!" His friends, pretending to be seated on the sofa, seemed to be enjoying seeing their friend in pain. Why are they happy to see their friend getting hurt? Are they really friends?

I looked back at Caspian. Poor guy. He's drenched in sweat, Should I stop them? Fine, maybe Caspian will faint. I was about to step in but quickly stopped myself when I remembered.

Never mind. It suits him. He's so mean, I hid again near the door and continued watching what was happening.

On the tenth paddle, the man finally stopped. He moved away slightly from Caspian, who was panting heavily and sweating profusely.

Didn't he lose consciousness? Too bad. I just wanted to see which of the three would carry him if he fainted.

"Oh, look who's here. The one and only Lordcan," I heard a slow clap from a slightly darker part of the room.

A stunning woman emerged. She was wearing a very daring outfit. She looked like a supermodel in my opinion. With her long and smooth legs, she had three earrings sparkling on one ear. She had a badass vibe. I think she's in her early twenties or about the same age as Caspian.

"Kate," Caspian said expressionlessly. His face seemed to say; I don't care about you, go fuck yourself.

"Well? Have you broken any rules again? I'm curious, what is it?" she blew a bubble gum and it popped. She chewed the gum again. She looked cool.

"None of your fucking business," the guy who paddled Caspian handed him a towel. He violently took it and wiped his face. He really likes violent things, huh?

"You created this organization, Caspian. What did you do? You keep breaking your own laws," Kate accused meaningfully.

Organization? He has his own organization? Organization of what? Businessmen? No, why are there things like this? They get punished when they break the law.

"I am loyal to my own rules. I punish myself truthfully. You have no right to say anything. I have the position, Kate, while you have none," now I heard Caspian starting to get annoyed with Kate.

He's so harsh in his actions, even in his words, he doesn't let go of his violent nature?

"I get it, Caspie. Why so serious? I'm just saying this as your friend..." she crossed her arms and looked intently at Caspian. "... Friends with benefits," Kate winked at him. I gasped when I heard that.

I don't know why, but I felt annoyed at Kate, Caspie? Yuck, that's an ugly nickname.

"Oh."

"OMG." I heard the two guys mumble. But one voice echoed around as the last guy who reacted shouted.

"I wish all!" Then the three burst into laughter. I saw Caspian hit the guy who paddled him with the towel. The guy quickly caught it to prevent it from falling.

"Mad?" He threw a nasty look at the three pseudo-men sitting on the sofa. Two went silent, but one kept laughing, oblivious to Caspian's deadly glare. He only stopped laughing when nudged by his neighbor.

I froze, huddling tighter in my hiding spot when I heard the heavy footsteps approaching.

"Lordcan, how's the girl?" asked a slightly older voice. I saw him move towards Caspian, flanked by two bodyguards. I remembered Rolando and Fernando. I'm dead.

"The girl?"

"The girl?"

"The girl?" The three guys on the sofa echoed the old man's last words.

"You have a girl?" only Kate sounded different. She asked? Isn't it obvious from Caspian's demeanor that he always has a girl? Who are they talking about?

"Tss, that girl," I saw Caspian roll his eyes. You know that male eye roll?

Hot.

It's hot in this hiding place, cramped too.

"Why? Are you regretting now? You bought her, she's the only heiress of the Red Market. You own her, that means you own the Red Market too. Your billions spent are not wasted. Now I know why you bought her, because all the Red Market profits will go to you. That's just brilliant," explained the old man.

What? Shit. Am I the one they're talking about? With all the women he has, I didn't assume it was about me.

I get it. What about Dad? I thought the purpose of selling me to him was for the Red Market? Why does he still seem at a loss?

So that's Caspian's plan all this time? He really has no mercy. He's so evil. I don't think Dad knows about this. The Red Market will only come to me when he's gone. It's like his legacy to me.

Is he also planning to kill my father? But I don't want to. I don't want to accept anything illegal from my father. So that's why he didn't hurt me completely? He needs me alive for the money.

Money. I wish I were just money. At least then I'd have some value.

I snapped back to reality when I heard a loud curse and Caspian punching the newly arrived old man. The old man staggered back, his lower lip split. Even his bodyguards seemed useless, not stopping Caspian. What's the point of them? Are they really bodyguards?

"Silence. Are you familiar with that word, Mr. Zimeon?" I could see the excessive anger in his eyes.

"Yes, Sir," the old man answered respectfully. Why is he being respectful to someone younger than him? This situation is so confusing.

"Then keep your filthy mouth shut or would you want me to give you money for condolence?" His veins looked like they were about to burst as he kept glaring at Mr. Zimeon.

"No, Sir."

"Good," Caspian said, satisfied with Mr. Zimeon's answer. The surroundings were eerily quiet. I was even scared to breathe, fearing they might hear even my breath.

A sound shattered the silence. It's an incoming call. I swallowed hard when I saw Caspian take out his cellphone from his pants pocket.

I'm definitely dead.

"Rolando," his voice was serious, his expression even more intense. As soon as I heard the name of the caller, I slowly backed away from behind the door and started walking out cautiously.

"Fuck?!" I winced as I heard his terrifying voice booming. Should I just go back to the car? Should I escape? But what if he hunts me down? I don't want to worsen his anger.

"Find it!" I finally made it out and quickly slipped into the backseat of the car, hiding under the black fabric. Wait, why did I get in here? Wasn't I supposed to escape?

I was about to leave when I quickly hid again upon seeing Caspian exit and realizing the car was already speeding away. My back hurts so much. We arrived quickly, and as the car stopped, I heard a violent opening and closing of the door.

I'm really dead. Should I just go out and go to the back of the house? Then dig my own grave? Maybe it's better to bury myself alive than face the intense wrath of a Caspian Lordcan.

That's what I did. I got out of the car and hid among the bushes. I went to the back of the house and smiled when I luckily saw an open door.

What do they think of me? Crazy? If I'm going to die now, I want the killer to dig. It's his problem and wherever he wants to bury me.

I entered and was greeted by the large kitchen of the house. My slippers were slightly muddy. Caspian will probably find out soon that I went out. I took off the slippers and threw them outside. I don't know where they went. What's important now is that I don't get caught by Caspian.

I saw a glass of warm milk on the kitchen island. I approached it and was about to drink when the kitchen door suddenly opened, coming from the dining room.

Caspian's angry face greeted me, seeming desperate to find what he's looking for. His expression changed when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply. I raised the glass of milk I was holding and smiled to appear innocent.

Who made the milk? Hopefully, it's not poisoned? I heard him sighed in relief.

"Go to your room," he ordered, still scrutinizing me with his terrifying eyes. "Now," he added when I didn't move from where I stood.

I pouted. I left the milk there and walked out of the kitchen. I passed by him and flipped my hair right beside him. He raised an eyebrow at what I did but deep inside, I felt extremely nervous and scared. See? I didn't get caught. Just trust.

I stopped walking when he suddenly spoke. I didn't face him and remained with my back to him.

"The floor is cold, where's your slippers?" How? I threw them away. What do I say? Did a thief rat take my slippers?

Aish.