The Stalker

Chapter 7

Sadie woke up gasping for air. Her eyes hurt by the sudden burst of light and she closed them again. Her heartbeat still throbbing fast, she felt restless and scared. Sadie took five deep breaths to help her feel calmer. After a few minutes, she felt better but she still felt weak. She gave herself a few more minutes before she opened her eyes. Once she felt more relaxed, she sat up and looked at the unfamiliar room with white walls and ceiling. A beige couch can be seen at the right side of the room. Beside her bed was a small white side table and on top was a bouquet of flowers. By looking at the plain pink gown she was wearing, and the IV drip on her right hand, she is in a hospital room. She touched her neck as if by instinct as she remembered what happened before she lost consciousness. Her assailant’s grip on her neck was too strong that she felt dizzy and weak. She felt like choking but a hundred times worse. She was on the brink of losing her consciousness when she felt a strong force from behind. Sadie wondered what happened afterwards.

            The empty room felt more isolated because of the eerie quietness. She heard the ticking of the wall clock. Sadie laid down on the bed and waited for someone to come. She thought of going out of the room but she still felt weak from her ordeal. She felt silly just by thinking that she could effectively perform a hostage victim role in the future because she experienced it herself.  She closed her eyes and tried to erase the smile that crept on her face. She heard a creaking sound and waited for the voice that she would soon hear. She debated for a second who would be her companion but she already knew it even before she heard the voice.

            “Sadie, thank God you’re awake! You had us all worried!” Sadie heard the panic mixed with relief in Harley’s voice as she felt her hands on her face and neck as if checking if she is still whole.

            “I hope you’re okay.” Sadie froze upon hearing that familiar baritone voice. Why is he in her hospital room? What could have happened to make him come visit her? She debated with herself if she would pretend to be asleep or just face him.

Curiosity won over. She opened her eyes slowly to see someone she didn’t expect to meet at that place and circumstance.

            “I’m okay,” Sadie said curtly, feeling awkward and uncomfortable to see Mason standing beside her bed.  She looked at Harley, wanting her to realize that Sadie was asking for an explanation. It’s a good thing that her cousin was quick.

            “Oh. Mason was also brought here after he and his friend saved you from that man.”

            Sadie looked at Mason and noticed his left arm. A blue sling hung on his shoulder and his arm was wrapped in a white cast. Her brows furrowed and asked, “What happened?” she looked at Mason but he bowed his head and avoided her gaze.

            “Well, before you passed out, this guy here tried to play hero. He was the one trying to talk to the guy Rey. Then when that crazy guy was choking you and your face almost looked purple, he pushed the man and tried to wrestle the gun but he was also pushed. The only good thing from that was that the crazy guy dropped his hold on you but then people were shouting scared of what might happen to our hero here because the two guns were now pointed at him. Then comes the other hero, his friend. Based on his martial arts moves, he’s very talented in fighting. He was able to kick the gun away from both of Rey’s hands and sent that same man flying with another kick. It was really awesome. You should have seen it, Sadie. It was like a movie!” Sadie smiled from her cousin’s thrilled expression and excited voice. She was not always like that and Sadie wondered who that mysterious friend of Mason was.

            “Thank you for trying to help, Mason. I really appreciate it. Where is your friend, by the way? I hope he’s okay.” Sadie looked at the door expecting to see someone but there was no one in sight.

            “He should be on his way up now,” Mason tried to seem calm but it was obvious that he was nervous. He kept on clenching his right wrist.

            “You may sit down while you wait for him. I don’t know what we can offer you but we can ask someone to buy if you want.”

            “No, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

            “I’m really sorry that you had to go through that just to help me. Thanks again,” Sadie whispered. She meant every word.

            “No problem. I wasn’t really much of a big help. William was the real hero.” An awkward silence followed and Sadie just smiled as she waited for the mysterious William.

            A message alert tone broke the silence. It was from Mason’s phone. He carefully used his right hand to search his left jean pocket for the phone. His brows furrowed upon reading the message, then he stood up and approached her bed with Harley just standing beside him.

            “William won’t be able to come up. His mother came and is now waiting for us at the lobby. He also said that the Police is on their way up right now to ask some questions. We already gave our statements. It’s up to you if you’re going to file a complaint. I already said that I won’t despite the threat that he imposed.”

            “What do you mean you won’t?” Harley asked with disbelief in her face.

            “I won’t be pressing for charges. That boy already suffered enough. He should go to counseling but I don’t think he should be put in jail.”

            “But...” Harley was about to contest but Sadie reached out and touch her cousin’s arm, signaling her to stop.

            “I think I just need to talk to him first before I decide. Thanks once again. See you at school.” Sadie smiled at Mason and he smiled back with an awkward expression before he raised his right arm for a shy wave.

            “I’ll walk you outside,” Harley was quick to go with Mason. She gazed at their backs and wondered where could her parents be. Didn’t they know what happened to her? She looked for her phone and saw it on the bedside table. There were 30 missed calls and 20 messages. She sighed and picked up her phone.

            She scrolled through the messages and read first the one from her manager Hansel.

            “We had a minor car accident but we’re on our way there now.”

            The message was sent an hour ago. They might have already arrived at the hospital. The next thing she opened was the message from her mother.

            “Honey, I hope you’re okay. I called Harley earlier since you weren’t picking up the phone. I’m at the airport right now and will be back there tomorrow at the earliest possible time.” Harley sighed. She forgot that her mother was in Thailand for a shoot. She was about to type her response but that was when two police officers came in escorted by Harley. She sat up and acknowledged the two officers wearing their blue uniform.

            “Sorry to bother you, Ms. Frasier. We’re here to ask for your statement regarding the incident but if you want to file a formal complaint we will escort you to the station. A copy of the medical certificate will also be needed to document the extent of your injury...”

            Sadie tuned in to the man holding a notepad and pen as he explained the technicalities of what happened and how a formal complaint can be made after they are presented with evidences.

“How is the person doing? His name is Rey if I’m not mistaken,” Sadie asked after the officer finished his spiel. That time, a nurse came in and checked on her IV drip. The officer waited for the nurse to finish checking her vitals. The nurse also explained that she still looked pale and her temperature is higher than normal.

“Ms. Frasier, this will make you feel calmer and will help you sleep so you can rest.” The nurse showed her the syringe and then proceeded to insert the needle to the IV drip on her hand. When the nurse left the room, the officer finally responded.

“He just finished with the Xray and will now be escorted to the station,” the burly officer replied. His partner who seemed to be in his early twenties kept staring at Sadie and averts his gaze whenever she would notice. She sighed and folded her two hands on her lap on top of the hospital blanket covering her lower half.

“If it’s okay, I would like to settle this now so he wouldn’t have to go to the station. I don’t want to file a complaint.” Harley who was sitting at the couch stood up and walked towards her. She was about to complain when Sadie looked at her and shook her head. The two officers looked at each other before the younger one replied.

“That could also be arranged but your manager and father already talked to the man and the school is also filing a complaint for the disturbance and threat to the other students of the school...”  She interrupted him before he could explain more of what she already knew.

“The school administration and the other students can do what they want but I won’t join in. He may have done something unforgivable for some but we still have to consider that he needs help. He is suffering from something and he may have needed someone to vent out to. I’d like to settle but my condition for settlement is that he should go to therapy so that he won’t have to resort to violence again.” The door opened and her father and manager walked in. The two officers stepped back and bowed to the two handsome men wearing suits. From their visuals, anyone who sees them especially Damon Frasier will be amazed of how good looking they are. They still looked young and fresh.

“Sadie, you need to rest. Let me handle this with the kind officers,” Damon Frasier was already at a roll. He started to lead the two officers out of the door and Hansel was about to follow them when Sadie tried to stopped them.  The medicine to make her feel calm made her feel drowsy.

“Dad, please respect my decision on this,” she said in a weak voice.

“Just rest for now, darling. We’ll talk when you wake up.” He even winked at her and she sighed in response.

            Sadie knew from the tone of her father’s voice and the look on her manager’s face that they would not allow the man to be cleared. Her parents especially her father had always been protective of her. Even with their absence, they ensure that someone is always looking after her, may it be her manager or her cousin. There were also times when they had to hire personal bodyguard for her aside from her usual personal driver.

            “I just hope you’ll give him a chance, Dad. I don’t think he meant to single me out. It was just a case of bad luck.” It was her last chance to appeal. She laid down and Harley fixed the blanket for her. The medicine is now doing it’s magic.

            “We’ll talk when you feel better. For now, just sleep. We’ll take care of everything.”

            The door closed behind the four men. Sadie knew that by those words, it meant that the person they were talking about will not be forgiven. Damon Frasier would use his money, connection and influence to punish the person who almost killed his only daughter.