Chapter 6

I couldn't sleep.

I turned the lights out so no one would see me, but the faces of the ghosts couldn't stop invading my thoughts. Even though I knew at this point I could get some help from Diego, I still couldn't get the idea out of my head that people were coming after us. My father almost died in the ambush. They've almost done the same thing to me, but gladly, I was taken out of that scenario before it could get worse.

I tried to put myself back to sleep. My eyes were closed, but my mind was going all over the place. I couldn't stand it. I got up from bed, but before I could even land my feet on the floor, I heard something that made me alert so much. 

I slowly put my feet on the floor. I don't have anything with me right now, but the metal golf club. I don't think this could save me from anything, but I wished it could help me get away from any of the bad guys—again.

This is just my life right now—it's either they will catch me alive or I will have to continue running away from them.

The surroundings seemingly turned quiet. I've heard quite a few noises and thought it could possibly be some animals lurking around. I knew that because when I was a kid, a wild Mexican wolf was standing outside the bodega. My father shot the wolf. I cried and cried seeing that with my eyes. I didn't expect my father would kill an animal who didn't even harm us, but he said, it has to be done that way or they'll be the one hurting us. From that moment, I've learned that if the world turned against you, you have to show them what you are capable of. I hated how it turned out for us, but I didn't have a choice.

Ten minutes had passed, but I didn't hear anything until knocks on the door startled me right down to the core. I don't want to freak out, but I think they've followed me. I raised my head looking at the blank ceiling while heaving out a deep sigh. 

"Estoy tan cansado de esta vida. . ." I muttered. (I'm so tired of this life. . .)

I don't want to break down and I can't let my emotions run in my way. I picked up the golf club and slowly found my way out of the bedroom. I could just go down to the basement and hide there, but I don't want to get trapped. I've had bad memories down there and I don't want it to happen once again. I felt like I saw someone there crying for help and imagining her at this time was fucking crazy. The hair all over my body rose from thinking about that.

The bodega is almost as secluded as a mental hospital room but has enough windows that light could pass through. At this moment, there were no lights outside. It was so dark that I couldn't even see where I was going. I tried not to make any loud noise every step of the way. I only had my phone's screen light to guide me around. I couldn't turn on the flashlight as that would catch much more attention.

As I reached the living room, I stopped as I started to hear the door being opened. I know I locked it multiple times and whoever might intrude himself in couldn't get inside the bodega so easily. He would have to go through all those locks before he could even do it. I was confident whoever was trying to force his way in wouldn't get inside, but I was wrong when I heard the locks being blown out.

I quickly hid myself before someone could catch me because, at that moment, I knew I couldn't run away. I hide behind the old cabinet. It was dusty and I'm trying not to breathe in as the spider webs could also get into my face. When I heard the door crack, I knew my life's at risk. I wouldn't be able to get away. It's either I have to hide behind the cabinet until he left or he would shoot around and I'll die here and no one will find me. I almost gasped when the lights turned on. My heart beat rapidly as I thought about my life.

But I have to make a bold move to save myself.

I peeked my head to see what was going on. I still have the golf club with me so that's the last thing I could hold onto for now. When I noticed it was only a single person lurking inside the bodega, I walked out of my hiding spot and slowly raised the golf club with all the force I had in me, I smashed the head of the man in front of me and watched me fall on the floor unconsciously. 

I swallowed as I looked at his back. I don't know who is it, but gladly I was able to take a hit on him before he could harm me. I started to grab some rope and fabrics to keep him in place. I began by putting his hands on his back and knotting the ropes tightly so he wouldn't be able to move. Even his legs and feet. I'm not sure how strong this man is, but luckily, I could do this before he could attack me.

As I finished tying him up, I turned him around. I stopped at the moment I realized who it was. My mouth dropped and realized that it was the same man who got into the security house. How the fuck this man was able to find the bodega? How did he know I would be here? I started to wonder what it could be, but then I had to make a move and stop him. I grabbed the piece of cloth and put it around his head covering up his eyes. I even put a cloth around his mouth as well so he wouldn't be able to speak unless I said so.

This man, who called himself Primo. . . What's your motive? Why are you trying to save me from my damnation?

***

The bodega's door couldn't be fixed unless Diego helped me. He would be furious to find out that the place he had been taking care of had been trespassed by someone else. I still couldn't believe how this man found me. It seemed impossible for me to be honest. No one would figure it out. If this man found me so easily than those who have been hunting me for the past few months, he might've had deeper connections, and I needed to know that.

Later on, Primo, who he says his name is, slowly moves and gains his consciousness back. I didn't utter a word so I could just watch him. He started trying to get himself out of the rope that I put on him, but it won't budge. I smiled seeing how I mastered knotting the ropes for the past few months. I knew that kind of skill would come in handy in the near future, and by means of the future, that it is now.

He groaned, gritting his teeth as if he could force himself out of it. I couldn't help, but smile at him. There were a lot of things I had in mind that I could do to him, not sexually, but in ways he would regret targeting me. A lot of people who came in my way ended up putting themselves in a bad situation. They thought chasing me would be an easy job,n but they never know how far I was capable of. I grew up in a poor family, I know my way out of dirty situations—but I didn't say I did bad stuff because that was never me. That can't be put right next to my mine.

He continued doing it for the next ten minutes, but soon stopped like something alerted him. The gripped of my hand on the handle of the golf club went tightly as if he would attack me once again, I could do more than hit the back of his head.

"Te escucho respirar," he muttered. He smirked as if he knew I wouldn't leave him alone until I get some answers. He was right, but he couldn't do anything right now. (I hear you breathing.)

"¿Cómo supiste que estaba aquí?" I asked him. I spoke with conviction just to intimidate him. (How did you know I was here?)

"Te dije. Sé muchas cosas sobre ti. No sólo tu nombre. No sólo tu padre. Si sigues huyendo de mí, sabes que no puedes huir de mí," he said as if he was trying to provoke me and the situation we have. I wouldn't fall in his trap once again. (I told you. I know a lot of things about you. Not just your name. Not just your father. If you keep running away from me, you know that you can't run away from me.)

"Estás hablando como si realmente me conocieras a mí y a mi familia. No sabes nada de nuestras vidas. ¿Y cómo te llamas? ¿Primitivo Juventino? ¿Qué clase de nombre es see?" I laughed, but he smirked and that kind of reaction offended me. (You're speaking like you really knew me and my family. You don't any a bit of our lives. And what's your name again? Primitivo Juventino? What kind of name is that?)

"Es un nombre bonito, ¿verdad?" he said confidently. (It's a handsome name, right?)

¡Qué arrogant!

"No soy tu enemiga, Catalina," he said, falling his tone on a serious tone. "Te digo esto y no me escuchas." (I'm not your enemy, Catalina. I'm telling you this and you won't listen to me.)

"He oído eso antes y mucha gente me mintió directamente en la care," I spoke. (I've heard that before and many people lied straight into my face.)

"Yo no," he answered timidly. (Not me.)

"Si es así, ¿por qué no me dijiste que mi padre fue emboscado?" I questioned him. (If so, why didn't you tell me about my father getting ambushed?)

"No quiero que te preocupes por tu padre hasta que te lleve a un lugar seguro. No creías que estabas en gran peligro, pero seguiste huyendo para saber lo que está pasando.," he explained as if I would believe his words so easily. (I don't want you to get worried about your father until I bring you to safety. You didn't believe you were in great danger, but you kept running away so you know what's happening.)

"Por supuesto, sé lo que está pasando. No es necesario que me enseñes por lo que he estado pasando durante los últimos meses... años," I spoke. (Of course, I know what's happening. You don't have to teach me what I've been going through for the past few months—years.)

"¿Crees que alguna vez terminará?" he asked and I didn't utter a single word. "Podemos poner fin a esto. Sólo tienes que confiar en mí. Tu padre confió en mí, así que tienes que hacerlo. No nos lo pongas difícil a los dos, Catalina. Si sigues persiguiendome, estás arriesgando tu vida una y otra vez. Sé cómo protegerte. Créeme. He estado haciendo esto desde siempre." (Do you think it will ever end? We can put this to an end. You just have to trust me. Your father trusted me so you have to. Don't make it hard for both of us, Catalina. If you keep running on me, you're just risking your life over and over again. I know how to protect you. Believe me. I've been doing this since forever.)

I looked at his blindfolded face. I wanted to believe him, but the voice at the back of my mind told me otherwise, but I felt like I needed to. I trusted my father and if he brought this man to me, I had to follow him.

I walked closer to Primo and lowered my body as I leaned to him. I take the blindfold off his eyes. His vision adjusted, but I only looked at his eyes straight. He has brown eyes and those lashes were to die for.

"Ahora, Primo, ¿en qué puedes ayudarme?" I spoke. (Now, Primo, how can you help me?)