January 24, 2021: Unmei

Syn wasn't able to let go of her gaze on the man beside her.

She felt like her body had been petrified by his bottomless blue orbs, drowning her consciousness in a pool of abstruse emotions as it embraced her worries. She couldn't see any other scenery but his countenance.

"Miss Rosenfeldt, is there anything wrong?" The man asked, prompting Syn to snap out of her reverie.

"Y-yes, se-seatbelt, right?" She said ahead of diverting her gaze.

The lady scrambled to lock her seatbelt in place, clutching on to it tightly as if she's hanging on for her life. She then removed her mask and put it in the pocket of her jacket.

On the other hand, the man was on the watch for Syn's pursuer. When he noticed that there were several men running in their direction, he immediately stepped on the gas pedal to kick start their escape.

"Miss Rosenfeldt, please brace yourself."

The lady simply nodded, turning her head towards the spot where she had abandoned Larry. She was also observing every movement among the crowd of men in black suits. She couldn't do it for long since the car accelerated, making her lean back on the seat.

The man drove the car with a speed barely passing the limit. Most probably, he had violated a couple of road laws. The ride was moving straight ahead without that many impediments, considering that the traffic of vehicles was the lightest it could be.

For a while, quietude dominated the interior of the black sedan. Although there's the fact that they were being chased, the silence created a reposing ambience that further alleviated the lady's anxiety.

The man was a stranger to her, yet her mind only grappled with the thought that she was in safety.

'I should inform Mina that Larry found where I'm currently staying at.'

Syn remembered late that she needed to report to her supervisor regarding the incident, so she hurriedly raised her phone and dialled Mina's number. The phone vibrated four times before the call was picked up.

{{ "Yes, Syn, what's the problem?" }}

"Please tell the investigators that Larry found my new address and forced me to go with him."

{{ "What?! So where are you?! Did you break away?!" }}

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm begging you, please sort this out." Syn responded, exasperation oozing out of her voice.

{{ "I'll notify them at once. Also, Syn, don't go back to your apartment until the police say so. They found some cameras hidden all around your room. I'll trust your word that you're safe. Call me within an hour." }}

Mina instantly dropped the call absent letting the lady say her goodbyes. The lady did not lower the phone right away, the grip that she had on the device tensing up.

'Cameras? In my room? What the actual insanity is this?'

She was clearly perturbed and repulsed by what Mina had told her. An abrupt sensation of wanting to vomit arrived in her being once again. 

The man took a quick glance at the lady, perceiving her distress immediately. 

"Miss Rosenfeldt, what seems to be the matter?"

Syn did not appear to have heard him speak. Thus, he uttered another query.

"Miss Syn Rosenfeldt, are you alright?"

Thankfully, his voice awakened Syn from her musings.

"Yes?"

"I was asking if you were alright."

"Oh," Syn halted her speech, deliberating on whether to divulge her troubles or not.

Withal, she decided that she could at least do this for the man who saved her from danger.

The man remarked the vexation in her tone, which was rough and spiritless. While he kept his eyes on the road, he said, "You don't have to disclose it if you're uncomfortable."

"No, it's just that, ah, how do I say this? You might find it bothersome that I've involved you in such a thing."

"Well, we're already in this situation. It's a tad late to have reservations."

When she harkened his statement, Syn pondered over the events leading to their situation.

'In the first place, how did I even dial his number? There is a myriad of phone numbers out there, yet I managed to ring up his. What a dubious coincidence.'

"Uhm, you see, Larry is suspected of perpetuating the invasion that happened in my apartment yesterday. The first man who barged into my room was killed by his conspirator. While this second man was distracted, I liberated myself from his clutches. I managed to run out of my apartment and the police arrived then."

Syn explained with a rather peculiar calm in her voice that contradicted the degree of her trauma.

She took a glimpse at the face of her companion. When she saw that there was no inconvenienced expression showing on his placid visage, she resumed her narration.

"Tri- I mean, Mr O' Connor offered to let me stay in his home, so I did. Earlier, I was on my way to my apartment to get my medicines. Just as I exited the building, Larry grabbed my arm and he began to coerce me in having a meal with him. He's the one behind the invasion. I believe that he's also stalking me."

Again, reticence arose in the atmosphere, justifying the disgust that the lady was feeling.

"What is it?" The man inquired, giving Syn the push that revitalized her confidence to speak.

"I was told that the police discovered cameras hidden all over my apartment. I'm positive that it's that demented Larry's doing."

Now, in spite of the delicate softness that characterized her utterance, evident anger could be noted from it.

The man remained silent as he continued to drive, reducing the speed of the car once he descried that they eluded the surveillance of the lady's chasers. He proceeded to make a left turn to enter the lengthy bridge that would take them to the neighbouring city.

Thereafter a few minutes, he addressed the lady's confession.

"I'm grateful that you revealed the ordeal that you went through to me, someone who is unfamiliar to you."

"No, I should be the one that expressing my gratitude since you saved me."

Syn didn't want to reveal it. However, the reason why she could tattle regarding her tribulation was that his presence incited a pleasing serenity in her disconcerted mind. She couldn't fathom the sentiment, yet she readily succumbed to it.

"Save that for later. Anyway, will it be fine for me to ask you a question?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Do you know my name?"

Syn tilted her head to the side, wondering why the particular query came up. Nevertheless, she gave an honest answer.

"Mr Konrad Brecheisen, am I correct?"

"I assumed that Mr O' Connor warned you about me."

"No, not in that way. He merely told me your name." She replied, curious about why he used the word 'warned'. 

But it was not in her place to question him, so she refrained from asking. 

"I see," Konrad said as he manoeuvred the vehicle on a slightly inclined plane. "Aren't you going to ask me why I'm aware of your identity? In my opinion, you're too careless, doubtlessly entering the car of a stranger. What if I knew your name from a background check, or perhaps, stalking?"

"I don't take you for a person who can do that. Or can you?"

Returning a query with another query made Konrad smile, albeit hardly noticeable from the lady's vision.

"Then you don't know me that well, Miss Rosenfeldt."

"Do I have to familiarize myself with you? Don't worry. Once I repay your kindness, I won't annoy you for a second time."

The glints on the man's eyes emitted a strong indication of interest, prompting his grin to grow a little.

"I highly disbelieve that we won't meet in the future, Miss Rosenfeldt."