3 III

Hands still shaking, Isabella took the glass of water that Luke offered her. She felt him sit beside her but she was busy looking at nothing, still thinking about what happened inside her home. How could he come here?

When Luke caught the sight of the warning on the wall, she watched him as he slumped his body beside her, helplessly trying to figure out what to do. After a few minutes, maybe realizing that he couldn't be weak at that moment, he stood up and carried a still sobbing Isabella to bring her down stairs. The best thing he could do for her was get the blood out of her sight.

Once the detectives arrived and saw Isabella's situation, Detective Rand immediately ordered his companions to investigate the place; one detective went to investigate the scene in her room and the other roamed outside and inside the house. "What happened, Miss Stark?" despite of his stoic expression, the detective's voice is full of worries. Hearing it made Isabella's eyes water once again. She buried her face on her palms and started crying. It continued for a few minutes until Luke decided to leave the room for a sec to get her the glass of water she was currently holding.

Once she gulped up to the bottom of the glass, she calmed herself and started reliving what happened about an hour ago. "I went to the department store to unwind for a little." She started, "Everything was really smooth, and so for a moment I really thought it will be okay. Because I didn't feel anything strange at all. That's what I thought. But…" she started stuttering. She felt Luke sit beside her once again and rubbed her back, telling her it's okay now that the police are here; so she went on. "I didn't really feel anything strange when I came home until I was walking down through my room. I even called out for Luke, expecting that he was here before me and just wandering around the house." She looked at the detective. "But I knew Luke would never enter my room without me!" Isabella almost screamed.

"When I peeked in my room I–…" she started stuttering again. "I–i saw a man dressed in all black – he had this weird kidnapper mask on – writing the warning on my wall a-and…" with tears coming out from her eyes, she couldn't help but panic as she tries to recall what happened. "I attacked him from behind, Detective. I was really hoping I could at least see his face. I need to know what my parent's murderer looks like!!" she cried. "But… but he was way stronger than me, and I–… I heard his voice!" she felt Luke hold her hand, calming her down, but there's no calming down now. Her life's at risk and she was so close to knowing who's the psychopath that is now after her life but her weak ass just let that person go.

"He talked to me, Detective, he told me he was only waiting for the perfect time! He told me he doesn't plan to kill me as soon as possible… because… b-because he wanted me and the people around me suffer a little more."

"H-he said the blood on the wall was my parent's. He said he's not satisfied with two bloods alone… he wants more. He wants mine." By this point, Isabella couldn't stop crying anymore. Recalling how terrible those minutes were for her.

"Did you ask him why he's doing this?" the detective asked her but she shook her head. How could she think about anything else at that moment?

"I see." The detective vaguely responded. "Mr. Branson, can I talk to you for a second?" he politely asked and Luke obliged to comply. They went to the corner of the living room–far enough where she couldn't hear them.

As they speak, the officer that roamed around the house came in. Once he saw her, he immediately approached her, "Ma'am, could you tell me where did this guy exited to?" Isabella tried to think about it, but "I don't really remember, officer." was her only response. The cop just nodded his head and focused on what he's writing in his little notebook.

As they settled everything that night, Luke and Isabella agreed to check in a hotel nearby since this was the best advice Detective Rand could give them. While driving, Luke tried to search for Isabella's face. "Belly, mom doesn't really mind if you stayed for a while in our place."

Still peeking at the window, Isabella clicked her tongue. "Really, Luke, I don't to be such a nuisance to your mother. I couldn't face anyone right now." And with that, they both stayed quiet until they reached the hotel. Once checked in in their suite, they agreed that Isabella would take the bed and Luke would take the couch outside.

Once Isabella was left alone in her room, she stared at nothing in particular thinking, "I guess this will be my life for the next few weeks now."

--

Four weeks had passed and everything seems to be fine. Though there could be nights where Isabella would randomly scream at night and Luke would come running inside and assure her that everything is okay and nobody harm her. She would cry for a while and slowly doze off in his arms.

At times, she started thinking that somehow, somehow, she feels safe whenever Luke wraps his arms around her and pat her back a little while trying to hush down her sobs. There's something about his voice that calms her down.

Isabella could say that this night wasn't so different though, she woke up screaming again, but this time, she was the one who ran outside and checked on Luke. She cried loudly as if the sound that comes out her mouth wasn't human but who could blame her? Her wails woke Luke up that he jumped abruptly, hugged her and shushed her down. "He was coming for you, Luke. He was trying to kill you too." She said between her sobs. Her statement made Luke's hug tighter.

"Hush now, Belly. No one's going to kill me." He assures her while brushing her hair. For the first time, though, Bella broke the hug and looked at him with raging eyes. "Didn't you hear what I said?!" She shouted. "He will try to kill you, too! That's what he wants!!!! He want me to suffer a little bit more before he cuts my neck off!" She panicked. "I think he could still see me, Luke."

Luke frowned. "What makes you say that?" He calmly asked, knowing that Isabella could be overthinking right now out of fear.

"I guess…" Isabella started and then looked at him. She hugged him and breathed heavily. "I guess he could tell how you could calm me down. I guess he could tell how I'm starting fall in love with you." She whispered. And this time, it was Luke who broke the hug and looked at her. He tries to catch her eyes but she kept on looking at her hands as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"What did you just say?" He asked, it was as if he was trying to decode and impossible message; but Isabella just sniffed. Luke gently held her chin and lifter her face so she could look to him; only to see her eyes full of tears. His gaze turned a little softer as he watches her and her vulnerability. "I just… I can't lose you too, Luke. I couldn't afford losing another person that I…" Isabella looked at him straight in the eyes. "That I love." She looked down and started crying again. Feeling pathetic about herself.

There could be a lot of time to fall in love, why now? She's so scared of showing her vulnerable side to anyone, so why now? Why now that someone's trying to kill every single person that she loves? She never depended to anyone and stayed strong all by herself so why now? And why did it have to be Luke? The kindest person that has always been there for her and never left her side. The person who still chose to stay beside her even after ignoring all the red flags he raised, why–

Her mind went blank. As if all the worries and questions that filled her mind was emptied when he felt Luke's lips in hers, making her feel like nothing really mattered at the moment, just him and his lips. How could this be possible? How could someone feel a lot of emotions at once? God, why him?

When they broke the kiss, they stared at each other's eyes. "I love you more, Belly." Luke kissed her nose. "Hearing you say that makes me want to prove that no psychopath could hurt you whilst you're with me." He whispered and kissed her lips in a feather-like tone. They stared at each other for a while, an obvious question visible in Luke's eyes. Isabella giggled a little and gave him a slight nod, indicating her permission to whatever Luke wanted to do next; that he instantly obliged.

He stood up and carried Isabella, bringing her in the room, when Luke had carefully placed her on the bed, he once again kissed her, passionately this time, as if trying to make her feel all the love that he had concealed for years. "I love you, Isabella Stark." He once again confessed as he started kissing her neck… sucking a particular spot that caused Isabella to moan.

He once again pulled himself from her and looked at her, asking for permission again before he lose his self. Once he got a clear view of her face, he saw how her eyes pleaded for more. "Please, Luke…"

"… make love with me."

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