The Rhyme of the Depositary

THREE NINE

A woman was sitting leaning against a carved wooden chair in the simple backyard of the house. His eyes closed, enjoying a delicious piece of apple pie. The afternoon air penetrated his skin pores, bringing about a sensation of its own.

The woman's dress was waving in the wind. Her gentle face looked peaceful without any burden. Beside him, another woman was observing him with intense attention. His blue eyes grew in a very beautiful way.

"So Axel is now spending his time with Anson?" Rachel stared in disbelief at her theme.

The woman next to him opened her eyes in an instant and turned her head as fast as lightning.

"When are you suddenly here? Shouldn't it still be in the kitchen?" Alice turned away in disbelief.

"You're the one who's too immersed in delusions, Alice. I've been here ten minutes."

Alice smiled wryly, leaning back comfortably on the wooden chair.

"sorry. My mind is a little wobbly. Yeah, Axel's with Anson for the next three days. We've agreed every month Axel will spend time with his father. I think it's a fair enough arrangement. He's his biological father, after all."

A month ago, they had taken this deal. Alice felt, this was the best path among them.

"Good, Alice. I was worried that your hatred would defeat your common sense. After all, a child shouldn't have to bear the mistakes of a parent."

The wind is getting stronger this afternoon. Alice's strands of hair fluttered in the wind, creating an exquisite lookout.

"I'm quite logical, Rachel. No matter how much I hate him, I can't sacrifice Axel. The boy needs a father's presence."

In this case, Alice felt able to make peace with herself. This decision he thought carefully.

"You sure you hate Anson?" Rachel asked skeptically. His face showed awkwardness.

"What more feelings can I have for the man who could kill my own husband in front of me?" Alice gripped the edge of the chair firmly. The ends of his nails scratched the palm of his hands forming deep lines.

"That's it."

That was the answer Rachel gave. He nodded slowly, his gaze meaningfully.

"Rachel" Alice turned to her theme again.

Rachel took another chair made of plastic, pushed it slowly to create a crutch sound, and sat right in front of Alice.

"What's Alice?"

"Aren't you in a relationship with a man named Harry? You've even been engaged to her for four years. But I've never met him in person. When are you gonna introduce me to her?"

Alice's forehead creased uneasily. As long as she was friends with her theme, she had never been met directly with the man who was recognized as Rachel's fiance. Even his fiancee's party was held secretly. Alice is not allowed to come.

"My relationship with Harry is a little complicated, Alice."

Rachel bowed listlessly. It's hard to tell the whole story of how their relationship went. Alice is indeed her closest friend, but somehow, Rachel has a hard time explaining many complicated things about herself. Perhaps, he was a true introvert.

"Alright I won't force you to tell a story. Looks like you're too closed to me, Rachel. You and your fucking introvet." Alice swore.

"Sorry." Rachel raises both her shoulders guiltlessly.

"Recall's Related. You are twenty-nine. It's good you're planning a wedding. Your age will age. You must have a firm footing."

Rachel's eyes were breaking into the sound of Alice's advice. Since when did this guy become such a bitch? She started playing a chatty mother.

"You don't have to worry about my life, Alice. I'm fine." Next to Rachel's hand waved, putting aside this topic. This afternoon was too beautiful to think about the problems plaguing her. Let it all get stuck for now.

"Rachel, it's gonna be late in the afternoon. I need to get home soon. I need to go to bed early tonight, considering this week has been very busy for me."

Alice jerked her head right and left, making a soft crackling sound, trying to relax her neck joints.

"alright. Careful, Alice."

They stood up, giving each other a kiss of farewell. Alice waved several times before walking to her car and drove slowly down the familiar road.

Since Kendrick's departure, Alice decided to occupy her mansion. Not because the mansion is luxurious or glamorous, although in fact it is so. But the main underlying factor is that the mansion holds a lot of their warmth and fond memories. It was hard for Alice to leave the place. His soul was naturally bound.

Alice turned the on button on the car tape, pressed the other button several times and chose a romantic song from the nineties to accompany her journey this time.

The distance between Rachel's house and the mansion she occupied was not too far away. Only about twenty-five minutes if the road is smooth. Alice leaned her body slowly in the car seat, enjoying the solitude.

Alice had just entered another alternate path when she suddenly felt an oddity. For some reason, he felt observed by someone. Something feels very uncomfortable.

Alice tries to observe the rearview mirror and finds a black SUV behind her. There was no peculiarity there, but for some reason, he felt the car had another purpose. Slowly, Alice tried to look at the black SUV number plate, repeated it several times and entered into her memory.

Alice's instincts ordered her to stop. He wanted to see the reaction of the driver behind him. If the car stops too, Alice needs to increase her alertness.

The car slowly lowered its speed. Alice was already very sure the car would stop as well. If so, he must have been followed. I don't know for what reason.

Alice's guess was wrong. The car drove back, passed through it.

He wasn't followed. He wasn't stalked. He just felt too paranoid.

Alice sighed in relief. The grip of his fingers began to stretch back. Her lips slightly curved to one side forming a smile.

Since Kendrick's death, Alice feels her vigilance against danger has increased sharply, until entering the paranoid stage. This time, his instincts were overrated. He even thought he had somehow been followed all of a sudden. Though it's impossible. Alice never made any trouble or intentionally caused a fuss with others. All of his business colleagues were disinclined and respectful. It's impossible for that to happen.

Alice rubbed her forehead, feeling tired of herself. Looks like he's starting to need a new psychologist to deal with his mentality.

...

Three days later,

Alice came home a little late today. The company's quarterly evaluation meetings make him spend a lot of time with his employees. After being held for hours, then Alice managed to go home with a very tiring condition.

Two of his works who hold positions as head of the marketting and finance division argue strongly against each other. Both are smart and ambitious. Alice's mentality is like being tested in the face of their child-like quarrel. Really troublesome.

Alice never expected to get a very stubborn employee like them. They are two people who have good performances but are often at odds in every way. Mutually refute ideas and look for their respective weak points. Everyone who saw their quarrel could only hold their breath and shake their heads. Sometimes being too smart can be scary.

On the way home, Alice took the time to buy some of Axel's favorite foods. Tonight the boy should have gone home. Three days of his time with Anson are over.

Alice hummed lightly, down the long stretch of road. The night view of this city never really dies. Lights twinkled along the way with many large billboards offering everything in the city.

Alice's anxiety came suddenly. For some reason, a familiar feeling like being followed by someone attacked him blindly. He felt that he had somehow become someone's target. Alice caught her breathing heavy. He had to control his chaotic emotions as soon as possible.

It'swrong. She was like a woman suffering from a certain kind of phobia. His emotions must have been unstable since Kendrick. Whatever was around Alice seemed to be able to pounce on her at any time.

As his power grew, a call from a foreign number rang loudly. Alice flinched from her seat like a madman. His fear completely eroded his common sense.

Foreign number. Wh who? Alice's forehead was wrinkled in confusion.

"Hello."

"Alice, where are you?" A very familiar voice greeted his listening senses. Alice's wrinkles are growing. The astonishment suddenly flared.

"On the way home. What's up Anson? Is everything okay? Axel's doing it again?"

Moreover, what makes Anson contact him if it's not about Axel. There must have been something the little boy did that prompted Anson to communicate with him.

"Send me your location now. Don't go back to the mansion, you hear? Find a safe place and I'll pick you up. If you feel followed by someone, you should avoid them at all costs. I'll catch up with you soon." Connection interrupted.

Alice blinked a few times. The information Anson gave him couldn't be digested in an instant. Don't go back to the mansion? Find somewhere safe? Followed someone?

A new consciousness slapped Alice. He began to observe the road behind him through the rearview mirror of the car. A black SUV was right behind him. Their distance is very close. The car has the same license plate as the car that was behind it a few days ago.

Is all this a coincidence? at that time Alice also felt a familiar feeling like being followed by someone. It's just that, since a few days ago the SUV behind her did not come to a stop when she stopped, Alice could breathe a sigh of relief back then.

But the SUV came back again, as if it had a certain intention. Alice slammed the steering wheel to the left, looking for another unusual path. He looked back at the car. His eyes grew bigger and more aware that the black SUV was still following him.

God, is this a coincidence?

Alice sped up the speed of her car, turning sharply on the next fork. He even deliberately broke through the red light. Alice needs to confirm her fear.

Justright. This time the SUV was still following suit. He's right in the back. The driver of the car also ran a red light. Oh, my God, none of this is true.

With trembling hands, Alice sends her latest location to Anson via an app. He hoped that whatever happened to him now was just a random coincidence. He has experienced too many tragedies, not repeated.

Alice was driving at an above average speed. He turned sharply at every turn, trying to avoid chasing the car behind him. But still the car always appears exactly not far from him. Making Alice's adrenaline more driven with a crazy speed.

This road is too crowded for him to pass. Determinedly, Alice took another, more lengthened path. He immediately drove nimbly, through the slightly deserted streets.

Decit tires sound break the night. Gravels were crushed along the way. Dust flew to all sides, merging with the night wind.

Alice pressed the gas pedal and brake alternately. Both hands were busy controlling the steering of the car. His concentration began to split as he saw the fuel indicator needle pointing to the letter E.

In all circumstances, why is it that his car is giving up on walking? Alice hit the wheel of the car feeling desperate.

Alice's car shook several times, coughed helplessly and stopped on a quiet street in the dark of the night.

Alice biting her lips held back the emotion. An iron-like salty taste began to be felt from the corners of his scratched lips. His fear became even more when he realized the SUV behind him had stopped. Slowly, two black-clad men with headgear came down from the car, walking confidently towards Alice.

...