Emotional Night

After exiting the mall, Lisa got into the car hurriedly. Jose was bewildered at her strange behaviour. He has never seen Lisa this flustered. After opening the care door and getting in, Jose found such a scene which left him more bewildered. Lisa was sitting on the car seat hugging her knees, shivering and crying, murmuring indistinctly, 'Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me! I beg you. Please don't hurt me. ' He immediately hugged her and soothed her by rubbing her back very softly. Lisa cried constantly. Jose then send their location and asked Max to hurry. Max called immediately. 'Hey bro, what happened? Found some hot girls?'

'Shut up and hurry. It's urgent.'

'Okay coming. Let me find Susie. Shall I drop her home or bring her along with me?'

'Drop her home.'

'Kay. Roger that.'

After hanging up the call, Jose held Lisa tightly in his arms. Lisa fell asleep right after she cried relentlessly. He softly caressed her hair so that Lisa could sleep peacefully. Max came to the location after half an hour. This is the scene which greeted him when he pulled his car in front of Jose's car.

'Hey sis, why are you sleeping in the middle of the road? Did you throw tantrum so that you don't have to go to the bar, huh?', Max said jokingly.

Jose glared at him, 'Shut up and drive fast to our house. You are already late. After coming here, now you are spouting nonsense!'

Max started the car and drove straight to home without any more delay as he understood that the situation is somewhat serious. He stopped in front of the house, and opened the rear door. Jose stepped out with Lisa in his arms. He straightaway brought her to her own room in their bungalow in Northern Heights as that was near the bar. He tucked Lisa in her bed in her own bedroom on the second floor and then motioned Max to follow him downstairs in their living room.

Max followed silently. After coming downstairs, both of them faced each other.

'Find out what happened to Lisa before and after leaving the shopping mall. When I went to bring the car from the garage, what happened there? Once I brought the car, I found her like this. Make sure to do it discreetly. Take help from Ed if necessary. You know what to do, right? We were sent to save her. We can't let any harm come upon her. Ed can't come in front of her now, so we have to make sure she is safe, both mentally and physically.'

'Yes bro, I know what to do. I'll go and inform Ed immediately. Meanwhile, I shall try to get the surveillance footage of the area.'

'Do it fast before she wakes up. You know that she doesn't want others to see her shortfalls, her insecurities, her emotional trauma? She gives herself hope by staying strong. She needs to stay strong and fight, but that doesn't mean that we will sit by and let harm make way to her! Any harm in her path needs to be eradicated.'

'Yes bro.'

Max left to complete his task. Jose went upstairs to his own bedroom to take a shower. After an hour, it was almost midnight, he went to the balcony to smoke. The moon hung low and it's light could be seen through the branches of the old willow tree. It painted a picture of tranquility. On this day, four years ago, Jose lost his fiancee and so, Max organised for the four of them to go to the bar so that they could get drunk and forget the piercing pain in their hearts for this day at least. But fate had other plans for them. Jose started reminiscing about the past. He was so lost in his thought that he did not know when the cigarette burnt out to the butt and hurt his fingers. He threw away the cigarette and went to sleep, albeit knowing that he won't be able to fall asleep. Little did he know that this night, a lot of people won't be able to fall asleep, all for different reasons.