IN THE CAGE

134. DEJA VU'S

...NORMAL pov...

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Fawn discovered his consciousness as he vaguely sniffed the scent of macarons and the sweet cup of tea lying on his bedside table. For a moment, Fawn thought she was dreaming. Because it is impossible for him to wake up and be welcomed by the thing he likes the most. Not when before going to bed he was still.., no!

Fawn opened her eyes and woke up in shock. A strong pain attacked his neck. Reminds him of how he fell asleep and woke up in this strange room.

Evan, that bastard hit him!

Ringisan came out of Fawn's lips as she tried to tilt her head, staring at the unfamiliar room that was now encircling her. He then realized that the plate of macarons lying on the table and the cup of tea were real, not an illusion created by his hungry stomach.

It's freaky.

Was Evan Caspian the man who fed his captives with expensive snacks? Also, what is with this spacious and large room?

The ornaments attached to the wall of the room where it is now, if cashed, will be able to feed Fawn for a year. Wait..., isn't this one of the guest rooms in the Caspian family mansion? Rooms are usually empty and reserved for important guests only...

"Fawn?" A voice greeted. Fawn tiptoed from her position and instantly turned to the source of the voice with widened eyes alert.

"Miss Indi?" Fawn was surprised when she saw Indira appearing with Rishan beside her. Has Indira been released? Fawn asked that, forgetting that she was not in a situation to worry about others.

"Look at you already aware," Indira approached with graceful steps. He almost reached Fawn if Rishan's arm didn't limit him. Prohibiting him from going any closer to Fawn could now be categorized as a threat.

"Ah," Indira could not protest. So he stopped stepping and looked at Fawn. "Are you okay?" ask her to Fawn.

"I.., good."

There was a slowly growing doubt within Fawn. Doubts regarding what he must react, how should he respond to Indira? His vigilance and instinct to defend himself made it difficult for Fawn to see Indira as a friend.

"Fawn, I know the situation is a bit confusing for you right now. You must be scared too. Because of that, I came here to calm you down. The situation will be fine. You don't have to worry about anything." Indira spoke while linking her fingers. Although the words were soothing to Fawn, he himself wanted to believe that what he said was the truth.

"Evan and I, we're not all your enemies. Trust me, me and Anggara are just trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what exactly?" Fawn does not know what Indira says, but he knows enough that he does not need protection from others.

"As you know, Ace and Evan's relationship wasn't good enough. Plus, you're here, and you know Ace has an obsession with you. I personally believe, Ace is willing to do anything to get you back. Therefore, we just want to protect you." Indira spoke at length, but Fawn did not understand a single meaning spoken by Indira.

"Vera explained your relationship with Ace to Evan" Indira continued. "Regarding you who managed to escape and fool Ace."

Tricked? Did Vera make something up?

"That's so bad-, your relationship and what you've been through. It's all my fault. You shouldn't have protected me that day. No need to replace my position. That way you won't have to feel any torment Ace's given."

"..."

"You defended well. The fact that you still chose to side with us despite what kind of hell you've been through. I'm not gonna let Ace hurt you, Fawn. I'll keep you safe. I'll protect you from now on."

Fawn was still silent, silent. He felt Vera must have said something different about her relationship and Ace.

Because, if Vera says she is Ace's lover, saying that if she loves Ace as much as Ace loves her, then the treatment she will receive will not be what it is now. Fawn will probably be hung in the basement with her head dangling to the floor. He will be tortured for being considered a traitor.

"Is Vera okay?" Fawn tried to calm the nervousness that ran through her heart.

What's he supposed to do?

Fawn may get preferential treatment now that Indira feels guilty, but it won't last long. Not if Evan Caspian comes up with his crazy imagination to hurt Ace. Fawn can be used as a medium to hurt Ace, and Fawn doesn't want that.

"The men took care of him, but he's still not released. Evan doesn't feel it's safe."

The calmness in Indira's voice was another thing that confused Fawn. Her young lady was like losing her passion for life. He is not like Indira in his memory. A passionate and selfish Indira.

"What will happen to me now?" fawn asked, he occasionally glanced at Rishan.

"I've been living quite quietly, lately. I don't need any protection. Ace, too, I don't think he's going to come after me like you think. I'm a nobody, if he wants me, he's been getting me since I could escape from there."

"You don't know what kind of person Arcelio Hunter is," Rishan finally made a sound, and his words created a feeling of disgust blooming on Fawn's chest. He imagined how much fun it would be if he could hit the man once.

Who did he say didn't know Ace? Fawn is confident that he knows Ace better than anyone who breathes on this earth. Ace will not hurt him, Ace is already sorry, Ace shows clearly that he is very sorry...

Ace will not do anything capable of hurting him.

"I can protect myself." Fawn said once again.

"Say someone who has been Ace's prisoner for 3 months. Can't be trusted."

"Rishan, stop..." Indira tried to interrupt.

However, Fawn said harder. "I need to remind you, too, that I'm the only one who managed to escape Ace's captivity."

"Don't that make you suspicious, Fawn. He was able to hold you for 3 months, and somehow, you got away. Are you sure you got away with it easily because of your abilities or because of something else?"

Rishan seems to suspect Fawn, and that suspicion is not to blame. Fawn who was able to free from Ace when the man had a very tight defense and guard made Fawn's freedom suspicious. He could have been released to spy on Evan's side.

Indira breathed. "Rishan, enough. Fawn's been going through a tough time there, you don't help her at all."

"The question is, does he really need help? He covered up the news of him being a captive of the Hunter family all this time, and instead of stopping work, he still devoted himself back to the work that had dragged him to hell. Isn't that weird?"

"Do you think it's easy for a woman to be open in her trauma?" Indira this time raised the voice. "I hope you stop cornering Fawn."

"I understand your suspicions" Fawn, who had received unilateral accusations from Rishan, decided to open her voice. He does not want to lie, but he does not want to tell the truth. Not when the comfort he received now was the fruit of Vera's deception. He can't throw Vera's effort into the window and act like a self-destructive bastard. Also.., Fawn did not feel she could trust anyone now.

"In fact, the events that happened to me did make it very difficult for me to tell anything." Right, this is the truth. Fawn doesn't want people to know her connection to Ace. That information would only give others a chance to injure Ace. People like Evan are dangerous men.

"I know it was my work that brought me to that situation. But I will not stop. Not after what I experienced, not when I recalled the services of the Rashid family in overshadowing me and my mother. I'm here because of my loyalty, and that's it!"

Ending his argument, Fawn sat on the lip of the bed. His body again screamed in pain after a long time standing up and clashing with Rishan. It felt as if his energy had fallen to zero, and he had lost power in his legs.

This must be because he hasn't eaten anything since last night.

Ughhhh!

"Thank you for your loyalty to us, Fawn. I promise we'll keep protecting you and your mother."

Mammy? Ah...!

"My mom...?" Fawn swallowed a knife as she spoke, as she brought her mother up in front of Indira and Rishan. Once again, his mother, the most important figure he should have protected with life, was out there without protection. Vulnerable to threats.

"Don't worry about Lilian's aunt, Evan has already transferred her to a hospital with better facilities."

"Huh?"

"As I said, it's just to protect you. It wouldn't be nice if Ace had access to your mother."

But Evan is not a better option either.

Indira's words were supposed to make the listening Fawn relieved, but.

Surprisingly, Fawn even felt deja vu.

Ah, he came back again in those days, in those times when the digital clock that scanned his movements was still attached to his ankle. Become the iron bars that surround it.

Evan now held onto his weakness.

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