The Secret Obsession of the CEO
Chapter 83: Bringing Back

Chapter 83: Bringing Back

"Liam!" She shouted for her voice to echo around the rows of trees.

"No, run!" she shouted. She didn’t know what he is thinking by standing still waiting for the creature to come time.

He cannot fight back that monster!

Her slippers sank into the muddy ground and splashed mud all over her dress. But she cared for nothing and ran at him.

Liam heard her shout and turned at her. "Run, Cherry!" he waved his hand.

He wanted to end that creature once and for all for her safety. He couldn’t get over the words the creature said—about wanting to eat her. He had a feeling that the creature meant it literally.

"Cherry!" he shouted seeing her tripping on something. He squinted his eyes to have a clear vision of her. He turned to see the creature has gained on him and is just twenty meters away from him. He waited to see Rory’s figure standing up but she was not standing up.

Has she fainted?

He ran to her. He heard the creature saying something sinister with an evil-sounding banter. He didn’t dare to listen to it as his heart was filled with worry. He feared if he had given a nod to fate to take her from him by expressing his love for her.

After all, he loses whoever he loves. It is his fate.

He carefully watched his steps to find out the exact spot she dropped down.

"Give her to me... she is mine..." the creature sang a tune with a wicked laugh.

"F#ck off!" he shouted at the creature and searched for her.

And he found her.

With her face on the ground, she was laying still. His heart skipped a beat. He shook her and tried to get her to wake up. He could hear the twisted walk of that evil creature getting close to them.

"Come on, Rory..." he shook her one last time.

"She wants to be mine...hehehe..." the creature was happy and Liam struggled to pick her up.

He decided to carry her and run as fast as possible. His heart sank imagining the pain Rory would go through once the creature gets Rory.

The hair on his neck stood on edge as he heard the creature right behind them. He clenched the knife tightly.

Before he turned, he heard Rory spring up with a loud shout. She jumped up like a cheetah would jump on its prey. And he noticed her holding a rock in her hand.

*Pow* *Pow*

He heard two knocks and he saw the creature slumping on the ground.

*Plop*

He heard the rock falling on the ground and it rolled a little before it came to a stop. He thought he saw something dark gathering around the creature’s face.

He bent and punched a couple more times just to ensure that the creature is gone. There was no movement from the creature and he kicked some more on its face with his shoes just to be sure.

"Come on, Fizzy," Rory grabbed his hand and pulled him to run with her. He felt something thick and slippery on her hand.

Blood!

He guessed that would be the blood of the creature. His lips curved to a smile of admiration. Of course, Cherry is the bravest and smartest person he knows. She pretended to faint and lured the creature closer to attack and maybe...

He took one final glance behind him. That creature was lying motionless.

It should be dead now, right?

They ran as fast as they can. Liam took careful glances around. The sound of the insects around was music to them. They’d prefer the noises of the bugs to the eerie silence.

"Do you hear that Fizzy?" she asked. "Is that the river?"

She stopped and leaned on a tree. Both of them panted to gather their breaths. She washed her hand in a puddle nearby.

"Stinky..." she mumbled.

They are far away from safety. But if it is the river, then they would find their way home easily.

"Or it could be a stream formed because of the heavy rains..." he said. He wanted to be hopeful but he didn’t want her to get disappointed if they cannot find the river.

"Let’s move," he held her hand. She was burning up.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

She stopped and stared at him for a moment. "You were there?" she asked, her tired eyes twinkling. Her eyes were puffed and still, that couldn’t hide the glee on her face.

"You called for me. Didn’t you?" he asked back and lead her to walk with him. He didn’t want to stay stationary place for long.

Who knows what evil lurks in this god-forsaken place?

"Yeah..?" she looked at him with a bright smile. Even in that dark place, he could see her teeth. He was touched to see that even in this situation, she could smile because of him.

He hummed. He felt an incredible feeling in his heart. A feeling he never felt before. He has been acting selfishly all his life and never cared for what others might be feeling.

If he knew these simple gestures would make her this happy, he wouldn’t have let his pride win. He would have stayed by her feet and begged for her forgiveness.

"If you were there... why didn’t you tell me that~"

He kissed her cheek. He didn’t want to tell her that he was angry because he learned that Derick brought her here. He has been petty and useless all his life.

He wanted to change.

"That woman who you think as your friend... Don’t trust her much," he always wanted to warn her against Mia.

Friends don’t betray their friends for money. The information she passed about her was very detailed and personal. She knew those details might put Rory in danger. And yet she did all that with no hesitation for the money he gave.

"Mia?" Rory looked at him. She stumbled on a protruding root and Liam grabbed her arms to stop her from falling.

"Liah..." Rory mumbled as she realized something. Only Mia and Liam mention Ellie as Liah.

"You’ve been in contact with Mia all this time?" she grabbed his sleeves.

Liam bowed his head and she shook him.

"Answer me!" she shouted.

"I...wanted to keep an eye on you. I paid her to look after you and..."

"To get information about me?" Rory asked.

She was mad. She didn’t know why she was that mad though. Was the betrayal she felt knowing that Mia sold her for money or because she was hurt Liam couldn’t meet with her even though he cared for her.

"You think stalking is romantic, idiot?" she hit his arm.

Liam kept his silence. If she is mad, it would be better for him to let her anger pass.

"Those flowers... Was that you?" Rory pinched his abdomen. It used to be pudgy in the past but now she could not pinch him like she used to.

Damn! He’s been working out!

"What flowers?" he asked.

"Those heathers and baby’s breath... And red roses..."

"Roses?" he questioned raising his brows.

She got angrier as she remembered the dark figures she would see at times in the windows.

It should have been this idiot!

She punched him in the gut.

"Ah! That hurts!" Liam screamed.

She scoffed and walked to the front.

"Cherry, stop..." Liam tried to run behind her. She still packs a punch. He couldn’t even walk straight.

But he was glad she didn’t punch him between his legs. He was very thankful.

How do I placate her?

He wondered as he walked behind her.

It was then they heard that noise.

Rory’s heart skipped a beat.

"Fizzy...did you hear? Was that..."

Liam gulped.

"I think so..."