IN THE CAGE

79. REVERT

...ACE pov's...

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Fawnia disappeared and I fell silent here, frozen here. In our room that still scented like it, it still left its mark. My eyes scanned the entire room that was still in the state we left it in this morning. The untidy sheets, the wet towels on the couch, the dirty clothes in the basket, the hair loss on the pillows - all the same, except for the fact that Fawn is now gone.

He left me. Really get away from me.

Meow~

Butter-a gray cat meowed from his bed. He raised his head, looking at me.

"Your mother is gone" I muttered before waltzing and dropping my back on the bed. My eyes closed. "You better go too."

In my bed that still held the strong fragrance of Fawn, I again felt an excruciating pain creeping in my heart. It feels like a heartbreaking void. I frowned, trying to gather my sanity, trying to hold on so as not to lose to the immortality that began to envelop my mind.

I opened my eyes wide. Look up at the ceiling of the room.

"Haaaaa-" my breath took off violently. I rose from my bedside position, hands holding the heart. I wanted to ease the pain lodged in my chest, but the more I gripped and pressed my hand there, I felt even more overwhelmingly tight. My breath was wheezing, up and down in a mess with distress.

I didn't know I could feel this kind of pain. It was pain that made me think that it was better for me to die. The Fawnia who left my life not only took herself away, she escaped with half my soul stuck to her. He brought my heart, my sanity.

I want him back, I want to see him back. 

It had only been 50 minutes since he left and my head was already dizzy. I want to die, but I don't want to give up so soon. I don't want to leave Fawn because for God's sake, I'm just going to be a ghost that's running after Fawn's shadow. I will not die in peace. Not before I get the girl back.

Even if he hates me, I don't want to lose Fawn from my life.

"Boss Ace," from the outside, I heard Carcel's voice greeting.

"Yes" I responded with a heavy voice.

"Vera's with Fawn now. Also, they're heading to the hospital where miss is. Lilian. Rio's watching them."

"Hn, fine." I responded to Carcel with no interest at all.

What is Fawn feeling now? Is he so happy to be out of my sight now? Is he glad I've disappeared from before him, stopped being the demon that trapped him? He must have been breathing so easily. I was a curse in his life. I'm the wrong one here. I shouldn't have hurt her so pure, so kind.

As I was pensively alone in this room, I thought back to the day we first met. How do I create trauma on that innocent face. It made her tremble in fear in front of me. I remembered how I had spoken harsh words to him without any consideration to his frail heart. Even if I were in Fawn's position, I would definitely hate myself.

I want him to hate me - at least first. But, now I understand karma has bit me back. Gave me pain more painful than death. A loss.

Fawnia, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have crushed you when you were in my grasp. Ii'm sorry.

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...NORMAL pov...

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Vera leans in front of the door of a patient's room who is Fawn's mother. Lilian Alder's name is at the foot of her bed. While Vera was leaning there, her eyes were glaring at Fawnia who was now hugging her mother with a yet-to-be-relieved sob.

Vera did not know how to relieve someone's crying, did not know how to comfort anyway. At the end, Vera was just there, looking at Fawn with the arrival of a friend who was ready to say goodbye.

Yes, sooner or later, Vera will be gone too. He should not be seen with Fawn is Rio speech in his ear. Vera agrees to her superior's orders, but that doesn't mean she can just walk away and leave Fawn without a word. Vera wanted-at least-a little while she could say goodbye to Fawn. A person he considers a friend.

"Vera," Rio's voice came back again greeting his ears. Vera sighed.

"Yes, Rio."

"Figures are heading your way, it's time you left."

"alright. I get it." Vera again threw her breath rough.

It's time for him to say goodbye. Although Fawn is still immersed in grief, Vera must interrupt her grief and perhaps-adding the wound to the girl over her disappearance.

"Fawn," Vera greeted Fawn who was hugging her mother's arm on the right side of the iron bed. Fawn raised her still wet face and glanced at Vera. His nose and cheeks are red.

"It's time for me to go" said Vera, her arm anchored on Fawn's shoulder. Giving his best friend a light mouthful that hints at farewell and goodbyes. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Fawn gulped her hard-earned saliva. Tears piled back up in his eyes, falling down on his face.

"Don't cry, you idiot. You're free now." Vera forced her joke. "I'm always there for you, you know. You can call me anytime you need a drinking buddy."

"You didn't do anything wrong. You deserve this freedom."

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Fawn expressed fear that had lodged in his chest ever since he left the main mansion of the Hunter family. Ever since he turned his face away from Ace, Fawn felt a cold hand clutching tightly to his heart. It created a pain that made her breath suffocate.

"He'll be fine, trust me." Vera loosened her hold on Fawn. "You don't have to worry about it, worry about yourself now. You're free now, but that doesn't mean you'll be safe. Mr. Jem-"

"I know," Fawn cut off Vera and nodded her head. "I know."

"Until we meet again as fellow bodyguards, okay." Vera chuckled softly. He punched Fawn in the arm before turning over. "Hopefully we don't meet on the battlefield, Fawn."

Fawn-in response to Vera's remarks, nodding with pain that crept back in the chest. "I have the same hope."

Because now he will be on the opposite side to Ace. It will be the shield of the Rashid family, the family in the eyes of Ace Hunter - the family he should rub against. If Ace destroys the Anggara family, it means he will be dragged down as well.

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Indira Rashid almost jumped out of her chair when she heard from Anggara about the existence of Fawnia. Cream in her bread fell into the white dress she was wearing because she gripped the bread too fast. Indira's eyes with a happy-directed glint to Joseph who was standing beside her.

"Feature, are you serious?"

"i'm serious. I'll take him to see you today." Anggara responded to Indira with a smile engraved thinly on her lips. He could imagine that now his sister was partying and dancing happily to the news that he had just delivered. Indira loved Fawn very much and it was a reason when she became very happy. Fawn is like a brother to Indira.

After exchanging words with Indira on the phone, Anggara decided on her call and turned to look at Fawn who was now sitting on the bench in her mother's room. The corridor of the hospital was quite silent, there was only Anggara with the two bodyguards he had brought with him.

"So, what really happened? How did you survive?" Anggara approached Fawn and handed her a bottle of mineral water. The girl-very different from her memory, became healthier than her old self.

Fawn in Anggara-memory has a posture like Indira, quite thin and small. But Fawn is now, she looks pretty full and nicer like this.

"I'm-I'm running away." Fawn responded with a smile.

"You disappeared for 3 more months, how could you escape - no, how could you still survive for 3 months? Tell me, who's taking you?"

"Huh?" Fawn has trouble opening her mouth when Anggara's slurs leave her confused. Debt and fear combine. If he was honest, he would put Anggara and Ace's relationship in danger. Family infighting can occur if Anggara finds out that the Hunter family is trying to hurt his people. It is a promise that cannot be broken at all.

"Fawn?"

"I-I.., I ran away in the beginning."

"Yes?"

"I ran away from there, but.sorry I'm Angga's boss, I.., I met my old friend and went on vacation."

That's a very unreasonable lie. Not convincing.

"You-you sure?" Anggara doesn't trust Fawn just like that. The woman was acting strangely than usual. He looked down with his eyes agitated. It was as if he was being hunted by a ghost.

"Love, I'm here. Boss Anggara doesn't have to worry about me anymore. I-I, I'm going back to work as usual."

"You can take time off if you don't feel good enough. You're very pale, you know."

"..."

"Also, do you remember who kidnapped you?"

Fawn raised her head, eyes fixed on Anggara waiting for his answer. He can tell the answer, be honest and make Ace destroyed.

But...

"I don't recognize anyone."

Fawn chose to lie. He shook his head, his eyes glazed back.

"I don't remember the situation clearly." Fawn did not want to remember it, but the face of Arcelio Hunter lodged in his mind like a torturous visual. It shuddered momentarily by the sudden movement of people. Fawn felt her trauma creeping out on her skin, setting off an alarm in her senses. He became very alert.

Anggara noticed Fawn, knowing that something was wrong with the woman. But, given Fawn's sacrifice so far-The Commander didn't want to put pressure on her, not when the woman was like a soldier who had just returned from the war. Fear and horror were imprinted in his eyes, like he had seen death repeatedly.

"Pacify yourself and rest." Anggara said. Concern was heard in his voice.

Fawn nodded.

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