Chapter 7 "Don't Say I Didn't Try

• I awoke feeling my head heavy, an uncontrollable migraine, and the looming darkness of this room.
• I clutched my head and remembered the last thing that had happened. Then the body itself tried to survive.
• I stood up as best I could, feeling the absence of my shoes and the cold floor beneath my feet.
• I also noticed a large window at the side of the bed, so I walked over to open it wide.
• Behind me was a huge garden, trees in the distance and an uncontrollable amount of grass in the distance.
• Where the hell am I?
• And then, once again, for the sake of survival, I tried to open the big window. Instead, a voice behind me surprised me.
• "I wouldn't do that if I were you," his voice said in the darkness.
• I spun around in fear. "Don't hurt me, please let me go!" I begged without further ado.
• Just like that, the lights went on in this place. Leaving me to watch Darren in the corner of what seemed to be a nice room.
• He was sitting in a small chair, his hands folded on his legs, his eyes fixed on me and an unlit cigarette between his lips.
• "Don't be afraid, I'm trying to take care of you," he whispered very quickly. "Look at you, I didn't hurt you," he confessed.
• "You drugged me! You kidnapped me! Look what you did to me!" I cried through tears again.
• "Shh, shh," he whispered as he stood up. "Calm down Leia. I brought you here to finish what we started. I wasn't going to leave it half done. You came for answers and you'll get them," he explained. "But first I need you to calm down, drink some water, take a deep breath and make yourself comfortable. You can take a shower, Pipe went to get you some comfortable clothes," he whispered as he walked towards me.
• "Don't come near me! Don't touch me!" I shouted and took a step backwards and ended up with my little body on the glass.
• "Leia, if my intentions were to hurt you, I would have left you where you were and I'd be watching the media right now with a glass of whiskey watching your body bleed out," he explained. "But instead, I brought you here, made you comfortable, and tried to make you feel at home," he stammered very quickly. "Believe me, the last thing I want to do is hurt you," he finished.
• "You're lying! I believed in you! I was the only one who took you at your word, believing we'd have
• a quiet meeting! I didn't betray you! I just wanted to hear your side, your truth!" I claimed in frustration.
• He finally nodded, picked up the cigarette, lit it, inhaled and let go.
• "I know, Leia. I know it wasn't you who tried to betray me," he confirmed. "But you're wrong, I didn't lie, that wasn't part of the plan, I just had to make a very quick decision to put your well-being above all else," he explained carelessly.
• "Sir," Pipe said as he came through the door. He was carrying a paper bag and a bottle of water, which he moved very quickly until he sat down on the bed. "Here are the things you asked for. All in order," he said.
• Darren nodded and took another drag of his cigarette. "Here," he said, taking another cigarette from his pocket with a lighter until he tossed it into his hands. "Take it easy, we'll be fine," he urged.
• Pipe just sighed, even though his look said otherwise. He took the cigarette, lit it and looked at me carelessly.
• "She won't turn us in, Pipe," Darren confirmed, looking at me and turning his gaze back to him.
• "How do you know every person in the entire country wants to go after you, after your head?" he accused more calmly.
• "I know because Leia is different and because I have a slight feeling," he whispered casually.
• Pipe laughed cheekily. "Different? A feeling?" he asked. "I think you've lost your mind or grown old, sir," he complained.
• "A little of both, Pipe," he said, stubbing out his cigarette. "What do you know about the shooting? How many casualties?" he asked.
• "Three dead, sir," he reported. "And we already know who was behind it. That only confirms my theory," he stammered, putting out his cigarette.
• "Tell me. I hope they're already after them," Darren asked.
• "Old Hector, Leia's boss," he blurted out.
• Just like that, Darren's gaze changed very quickly, looking blankly at Pipe, waiting for a little more information.
• "No way, I wouldn't put myself in danger, he's lying!" I shouted in fear.
• "Since you called and asked for the interview with Leia, Hector took it upon himself to talk to the police. They waited at his house and followed us from there. That's how they knew our position. An informant told them everything," he explained very quickly.
• I denied it, "Hector wouldn't do that. He... He wouldn't put me in danger. It was too dangerous," I stammered in confusion.
• Darren sighed and clenched his jaw. "Damn," he blurted out. "I guess the old man cared less for you than you thought," he whispered, looking sideways at me. "You know what to do, Pipe. No leads. Nobody messes with Darren."
• "No!" I yelled, reflexively running towards him myself. "Don't kill him! Don't hurt him!" I demanded, grabbing his hands.
• He watched me motionlessly, watching his hands as he felt mine touch him.
• "You want to save someone who put you in danger?" he asked. "I think you're on the wrong side." He lamented.
• "Too many people have died, Darren. I won't hold you responsible, just don't hurt him. Don't hurt anyone else," I pleaded.
• Darren sighed carelessly, finally closed his eyes and nodded. "Pipe, stop the operation," he blurted out. "For now," he warned, looking at me blankly. "Now I'll give you time to take a shower, get comfortable and I'll be back for the interview," he advised.
• Just like that, without looking back, Darren walked out, leaving me with Pipe in complete silence.
• "Don't say I didn't try," he whispered as he left.
• "What, I beg your pardon?" I asked.
• "Don't say I didn't try to save you and keep you out of all this, Leia," he whispered. "You should never have come all this way. You should never have gotten in that ship," he wailed.
• "Why, what's going to happen to me, Pipe? Help me!" I demanded, running up to grab his hand.
• "Let me go," he said, stepping aside. "I can't help you anymore. It's too late now."