Midnight Call

“You do know what I called you here for, right?” Mark said as soon as Zadkiel stepped inside the office.

“Yes.” Zadkiel sighed as he glided down on the seat.

“What did he say?” Mark questioned.

“Nothing. Just tried to convince me. Told me about how rich they are and how I’d be having a much better life with them.” Zadkiel shrugged, playing it cool.

“That’s all?” Mark cocked his eyebrow, not believing what Zadkiel said.

“Pretty much. He just wanted to convince me at any cost.” Zadkiel was answering so confidently that he believed his own lies.

“What made you think you should not accept this offer? I mean he wasn’t wrong about being wealthy. They can make your life.” Even though Zadkiel was sounding very convincing, Mark still had expressions as if he didn’t believe a word that Zadkiel uttered.

“I… I don’t have much time to live anyway so, I want to spend my remaining days with my friends.” Zadkiel gave him a soft smile.

“Who are you playing, boy?” Mark’s tone was stern.

“No one. I’m just telling you the truth.” Zadkiel still didn’t lose his cool.

“You said you saw Irvin through your window, right?” Mark arched his eyebrow at Zadkiel who gave a hesitant nod at the change of topic.

“Yes,” Zadkiel answered.

“The hall windows open in the backyard and the parking area. Irvin’s car was parked in the driveway.” Mark sat back and waited for Zadkiel to explain. Zadkiel’s expressions changed at once. He knew he fucked up.

“I… I’ve super-hearing. I heard his car pulling over.” Zadkiel lied to save himself. Super-hearing was somewhat normal because it happened with everyone but super smelling wasn’t because it only happened with Irvin and the way he just felt Irvin’s presence not only through his scent but in unexplainable ways, was different and he wasn’t ready to tell that to Mark.

“You heard his car? You think I’m a fool?” Mark spat angrily standing up. Zadkiel flinched back as he saw him glaring at him.

“I told you the truth.” Zadkiel stuttered out. Mark put his palms flat on the table and leaned forward towards Zadkiel.

“I’m giving you one last warning. Tell me or I’ll extract the truth out of you.” He sneered at Zadkiel. Zadkiel thought about it for a while and then decided to hide it.

“I’m being very honest, Father. I heard his car. You know about my super-hearing. I don’t know why you aren’t believing me.” Zadkiel answered very confidently, staring right into Mark’s eyes.

“Zadkiel, I give you one last warning. Tell me the truth or I’ll make you drink it again.” Mark warned him but Zadkiel wasn’t going to back down.

“Make me drink for telling you the truth? I told you that he was telling me all about his property and how much he owned. He tried to convince me with money.” Zadkiel tried his best to make a fool out of that 60-year-old man.

“Oh is that so? Tell me about his property then?” He questioned, standing up and crossing his arms.

“I didn’t pay attention to it. All the time I was listening to the music playing in the car because I wasn’t interested.” Zadkiel was surprised about how he was coming up with lie after lie.

“Where did he take you?” Mark inquired. He was starting to believe Zadkiel.

“To woods. Said, he wanted a quiet place to talk while blaring music in the car.” Zadkiel shook his head to add more impact on the fact of how much he disliked Irvin.

“Did he tell you why he wanted to adopt you? I mean specifically you?” Mark flopped down on the chair as he asked his question. He was starting to believe the lies that Zadkiel was telling him.

“I asked him but his answer wasn’t very convincing. I think he’s hiding some kind of agenda behind it. Like why me? A twenty years old guy. Why not 2 or 4 years old kid?” He played with his zip as he talked to Mark.

“What did he tell you?” Mark still pressed on the subject.

“He said he always wanted a brother and after seeing me he knew I was what he was missing in his life.” Zadkiel had no idea if Irvin had a brother or not but he just guessed not and hoped he was right after all he just told a lie opposite to what Irvin wanted.

“He wants to make you his brother?” Mark raised his eyebrow, not believing but Zadkiel didn’t hesitate.

“Unbelievable, right? Are you sure he and his father aren’t into human trafficking?” Zadkiel gave Mark a look that made Mark squint his eyes but not at Zadkiel but on the desk. Zadkiel was now not sure what he was uttering but he would go to any extent to hide the reality that Irvin and he had some kind of link.

“You’re making me think they are because why would they want to adopt a random guy?” Mark spoke, lost in his thoughts.

“A random grown-up guy.” Zadkiel corrected. “They must be into some illegal business. That’s why they have a lot of money.” Zadkiel added more spice to the things.

“But they never did something like this before.” Mark looked up at him.

“Maybe, they just joined this illegal business or maybe they were just waiting for the right time to ask… you know after winning your trust completely.” He had no idea what he was speaking but every arrow landed right on its target because Mark was convinced that something was wrong with Ford family.

“You go,” Mark said to Zadkiel who just smirked but hid it with a nod of the head and didn’t waste a second before hurrying out of the devil’s den.

‧̍̊˙˚˙ᵕ꒳ᵕ˙˚˙ ˙˚˙ᵕ꒳ᵕ˙˚˙‧̍̊

It was in the middle of the night four days later when Zadkiel’s body started sweating immensely. He was whimpering in his sleep and clutching his stomach. He was in so much pain that he just wanted to inject something to feel numb but medicines never worked on him.

His muffled whimpers woke up Abel who was asleep on his bed on the left side of Zadkiel. He squinted his eyes to focus his vision on Zadkiel.

“Hey mate, you alright?” He whispered to Zadkiel who was now curled in on his bed.

“I want Irvin.” Zadkiel had no idea why he said that but all he knew that he wanted Irvin to hold him. His mind kept wandering back to Irvin and he just needed him.

“Dude seriously? You himself rejected his offer four days ago and now you want him? Is that the reason you’re crying in the middle of the night? Because if that’s so then you’re stupid and keeping me awake for no reason.” Abel was really surprised to hear that Zadkiel accused Irvin and his family of human trafficking just to get himself out of the trouble. He was mad at him since then. But he didn’t know the real reason behind this.

“Please, Abel. Tell him I need him.” Zadkiel further curled into the ball and whimpered in pain.

“Hey… you don’t look fine. Is this the pain you go once in a month?” Abel was aware of Zadkiel’s once in a month pain and how every bone in Zadkiel’s body tries to break itself.

“No… this… this is different. I need Irvin. I don’t know why I need him but I just know somehow he is the only one who can help.” Zadkiel was trying to keep his anger in control. He would become very snappish at the start of these days.

“I have no means to contact him,” Abel spoke. He was trying to keep his voice low so he wouldn’t wake anyone else.

“Tell Sister Hannah. Tell her that I need her. Go. Please.” Zadkiel pleaded. Abel took a deep breath before quietly sprinting off to her room. He knew if someone saw him out of bed, there would be an interrogation but he had to do it for his friend.

He crossed the lobby to reach the area where all staff rooms were. He tiptoed to the third last room where he knew Hannah would be asleep along with her roommate Jane. He quietly knocked thrice on the door and then waited for an answer. But when he didn’t receive any answer he knocked a little loudly but kept praying no one else gets up. Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a very dishevelled and sleep-deprived Sister Jane.

“I need to talk to Sister Hannah. Please.” Abel instantly pleaded and kept praying that Jane wouldn’t open her mouth about this in front of anyone.

“At this hour? She’s sleeping.” She answered, looking at Abel weirdly.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.” He was determined to leave with Hannah. He didn’t care now what it would cost.

“Do you want me to wake her?” She questioned, making Abel roll his eyes mentally but outside he plastered a very broad smile.

“Obviously, Sister. I can’t just talk to a sleeping person, can I?” He gave her a taunting smile. She shook her head, giving him a blank look and went inside to wake up Hannah. Abel peeked into the room and quickly took a step back when he saw Hannah eyes opening.

A few seconds later, Hannah was outside the room in her sleeping gown and was yawning looking at Abel.

“What seems to be the problem at this hour?” She gave him a sleepy and tired look.

“Zadkiel. He wants something from you.” Abel informed her and she was quick to make her way out of the lobby to Zadkiel. Abel just followed thinking an answer to him would be very kind.

“What happened, my child?” Hannah was quick to ask when she approached Zadkiel, not caring about anyone else sleeping in the room. Zadkiel slowly lifted his head and stared at her with tear-stained face.

“I need you to call someone. I don’t know why but I feel like only he can help me with this.” Zadkiel grumbled in pain.

“Is this…” She stopped speaking when she felt the wet sheets. She stared at Zadkiel who just moaned in pain silently.

“Who do you want me to call?” She questioned, brushing the black fringes off Zadkiel’s face and stroking his cheek.

“Irvin… Irvin Ford.” Zadkiel murmured.

“You do know that you and I are gonna get in so much trouble for this and maybe Abel will join us too.” She tried to warn him.

“I just know he can help. Don’t ask me how I know that. Please call him.” He begged, making her give him a sympathetic nod. She leaned down and kissed his temple.

“I’ll be right back, child. I need to grab my phone and search his number in the phone directory.” She was on her feet when she stopped speaking and didn’t waste a second before hurrying out of the hall. Abel sat beside Zadkiel and grabbed his hand.

“It’ll be alright.” Abel tried to make him feel good. Zadkiel just smiled at his effort but didn’t say anything.

Moments later, Hannah came back with a confused look on her face and a phone in her hand. She sat beside Zadkiel and stroked his hair.

“Son, he’s on phone but I don’t know what to say. Explain him yourself.” She handed Zadkiel the phone who held it to his ear with trembling hands.

“Irv… Irvin.” He whimpered and it didn’t take a second for Irvin to realize in what condition Zadkiel was.

“I’m coming,” Irvin answered in a rough voice and hung up the call. He didn’t care if it was the middle of the night, he was ready to just hold Zadkiel in his arms.

‧̍̊˙˚˙ᵕ꒳ᵕ˙˚˙ ˙˚˙ᵕ꒳ᵕ˙˚˙‧̍̊