Lover Forced The Ruler

Chapters 11. Message from Aunt Annie

Lisle has only been coming to this town for over a month, Black Mountain. A place with a view of the dark mountains in the south and the beach in the north.  He used to live in Glassville, a small town three hundred miles from where he is now.  There she lives with her aunt who took care of Lisle since both her parents died in a car accident.

But her aunt only used Lisle. After High School, the girl was not allowed to go to college and just waited for her aunt's grocery store without getting paid. And it's been going on for two years. While his male cousin, Bert, just had fun and spent his mother's money. He's a lazy young man of twenty-five. His uncle Bert's father has been gone for a long time.

Her aunt Annie, who was addicted to gambling lately suffered many defeats and owed a large amount to a loan shark, Mr. Aaron. In a conversation he managed to steal heard, Aaron asked Lisle as collateral for his aunt's debts. If Annie can't afford the debts, Lisle will be handed over to the owner of the coffee plantation.

The last day Lisle was in Glassville, her aunt ran out of money. Sales result earlier today ‘mugged’ Bert. Tomorrow is the deadline for payment. Her aunt had gone to Dwayne's cafe after dinner carrying the money she had left to try her luck, again. Bert doesn't know where. Lisle didn't expect to get a better chance. He only carried a backpack on his back and a small sling bag as he boarded a night bus bound for Black Mountain. He will go anyway. A university accepted her in the scholarship program that Lisle joined. There's no reason to stay in Glassville.

It's just that Black Mountain isn't as friendly as the other cities. Lisle was lucky enough to get a job at the Cloud cafe. Small salary. Lisle had to be very economical in order to survive. Sometimes he only walked a few kilometers to get to his campus and a few more kilometers to his workplace.

Lisle dropped herself on a low bed in her small apartment. All day long his mind was so fucked. Celine went to college early this morning. Lisle purposely avoided meeting the girl and simply darkened herself behind the covers. He didn't want his best friend to see his crooked eyes. Again with the reason not feeling well, Lisle did not go to college. It seems that lately he often woke up in the morning with a headache and an uncomfortable body. Ever since she met the man, every time they met even by just hearing his voice, Lisle became sick.

The phone number has been replaced. There's only two numbers saved, Celine and Daisy. Daisy looked suspiciously at the cafe as she told her new number. The girl accused him of quarreling with a lover. And then he asked me about Kennard. Although Lisle repeatedly claimed not to know, Daisy still does not believe. She told me how Lisle was a girl who didn't know how to be lucky and wasn't good at seizing opportunities. Kennard is very handsome, rich and also looks good to Daisy.

Is he the man that Mr Kent calls? Lisle remembered Daisy's suspicions and repeatedly muttered them out of curiosity.

With a restless feeling Lisle flipped around in bed. His phone is just an ordinary phone, it does not have the ability to access the internet. Maybe later he can borrow Celine's phone. If Kennard is really like Daisy, his name and everything about him can be found on the internet.

Tok-tok-gok! The door in front is knocked

Lisle flinched from her daydream, suddenly waking up and listening intently.

Tok-t—tok! Again, knock on the door.

It can't be Celine. The girl has her own key. He's not knocking.

Lisle looked at the clock on her phone. Eleven o'clock past. Who's been meeting this late?

Without making a sound Lisle stepped near the door. Trying to peek out of the keyhole.

There seem to be two men behind the door out there. Not very clear. But it must not be something good.

Lisle's heart was pounding uncomfortably.

“Nona Lisle, open the door!” Someone's urgent voice. A very bad voice.

Lisle's heart is now beating faster.

Wh who? Who're they? Are those aunt's men?

Lisle trembled while smothering her own mouth so as not to cause any unintentional sounds. He moved towards the window. Waving a little of his curtain, peering outside.

The room is on the third floor. This apartment is the cheapest but also the worst. The inhabitants are not many. Of the twenty doors on this floor, only five were filled. And it's far away from what it occupies. More people on the first floor. Because the place is more comfortable and also easier to reach. But the price there is a little more expensive. The third floor is quite terrible condition, hence it is priced cheaper.

The streets outside are empty. Lisle didn't need to imagine how those people could get here. The guard at the lower door may have fallen asleep in his cheap leather seat. He never noticed anyone passing in front of him even though he was awake. His hands always seemed busy with his smartphone

What am I supposed to do?

The people outside certainly had no good intentions.

Lisle remembered her phone. He went back to his bed looking for that thing. His hand typed out sending a message tremblingly.

Celine, where are you?

There are people knocking on the front door. I fear.

“Nona Lisle, quickly open the door. We brought a message from your aunt!”

Lisle was jolted again by that voice.

Aunt Annie. They're the ones Aunt Annie sent!

Or Mr Aaron?

He almost forgot to breathe because it was so tense. His eyes stared at the phone screen barely blinking, waiting for an answer.

The tring! A message came in.

I'm on the road again.

Yeah, God. Who're they? Did you call the guards?

Holy hooch! Lisle felt silly to herself. I don't know why he forgot. He looked for it in the contact number of the guard. Lisle suddenly became limp. He hasn't kept his number yet.

Number missing. Celine, I don't have the number.

Tok – tok-t!

“We know you're inside, Miss. Open the door fast or we will enter by force!” The voice outside grew impatient.

There's no reply Celine.

Where's the girl?

Lisle typed again.

Celine!

Celine!

There was a noise outside the door. Lisle listen. The sound of the blow and the scream of pain.

Bak—buk-bak-buk!

“Aaa!”

“Stop!”

“Ampun!”

“No!”

“Argh!”

Lisle covered her ears with both hands. Sweat flooded his trembling body. He doesn't want to hear anything anymore. But even so, despite the closing of the ears still heard faint sounds. A few minutes later, the sounds stopped. Then the footsteps got further and further away. Then deserted.

Lisle lowered the hand that cupped her two ears. But he did not hear any more voices besides his irregular breathing. He could even hear his own heartbeat.

Where'd they? Those guys. Looks like there's been a fight. But who has driven? Maybe the guard? But could that skinny fellow defeat some of the people who had just arrived? There are at least two people....

The tring!

Lisle opened her phone. Message from Celine.

I've contacted penjagq. He said there was nothing on the third floor. He checked it out. You all right? My bus is coming soon.

No way! Lisle nodded in disbelief. But he typed too.

I'm doing fine. Those people are gone. But I heard the sound of a fight earlier. How could the guards not hear. Don't tell me I heard a ghost.

The girl had just come outside her room when the front door was opened from outside. Celine came in and hurriedly locked the door.

“Lisle, you okay ‘kan?” After throwing her bag onto the only sofa Celine hugged Lisle who was welcoming her.

Lisle shook her head slowly. “I'm fine. It was just that I was scared. They kept knocking on the door while threatening to force their way in. Looks like they're Aunt Annie's man. I... I'm so worried that they will come again later.”

“I will tell the guard to keep a better eye on the people who come,” Celine said. “Sial once this place there is no surveillance camera. Otherwise, it could be evidence of an incident tonight.”

Lisle let go of Celine's embrace and sat down limply on the sofa.

“They already know where I am. Would it be better to just move?”

“0 You move, I'll come. But where can we get a place this cheap? Now it is difficult to find a place to stay at a cheap price.”

Both silent. They both remember that to pay the monthly rent of the place they live now they are overwhelmed. Especially if you have to look for something more expensive.

***

Kennard's phone rang just as the man turned off his computer screen.

“It's done, Mr.” A voice sounded at the end of the connection

Kennard closed the connection. His face seemed to think of something. The girl was somehow always surrounded by trouble. It was as if he was a magnet attracting demons to approach. He offered protection, but it seemed like the girl still needed to be convinced.

The phone is taken and pressed a number.

“Steve, you investigate a man named Aaron,” command Kennard.