Chapter 183: I Am Crazy About You.
Meanwhile...
"Ahhh!!" A scream erupted from Hudson’s throat the second he woke from his long, deep slumber. He tried to get up, only to realize that his body was strapped to the bed, his wrists handcuffed to the frame.
"Huh?" He froze in horror as the memory of the night before slowly sank in.
The foggy memories came back, and his complexion paled. His wide, shaky eyes scanned the room, but the person who had kept him captive was nowhere in sight.
Did he leave?
His heart thudded against his chest, and the stench emanating from him filled his nostrils. Hudson didn’t move an inch, staring at the door with dread.
I need to get out of here, he told himself, gulping. No, no, don’t do anything stupid. If they come back, they might kill you. Just try to buy your way out. After all, they would’ve killed you if they got what they wanted.
Hudson clenched his teeth, torn between the decisions he needed to make. But the world he came from was a dangerous place. If he had learned anything from it, it was this: don’t make things worse, especially when the situation is already screwed up.
For the next hour, Hudson stayed motionless on the bed. His stomach grumbled and ached; he was hungry. His throat was dry and scratchy, and his head throbbed. He was hungry, thirsty, and dirty—sticky.
"Isn’t he going to come back?" he muttered, staring cautiously at the door.
Pressing his mouth into a thin line, he scanned the room for anything that could help him escape or loosen the straps. He didn’t plan on releasing himself, but if there was a chance, why not? It was a worst-case scenario—if his abductor wanted to kill him.
As he scanned the room, his eyes caught a key lying right beside him.
"Huh?" His brows knitted as he stared at the key nervously.
Myriads of thoughts ran through his head, each one warning him it could be a trap.
Why would his abductor leave the key within reach? If he freed himself, would they be waiting outside with a shotgun? He had met many sick minds in his life, so he knew these kinds of games.
Shooting the door a glare, he breathed out, "Fuck it. I’m not dying here."
With that thought, he stretched his neck and bit the key, maneuvering it close to his hand. Once he had it, he freed his wrist with great difficulty. Even he didn’t know how flexible he could be, but thanks to his survival instinct kicking in, he managed it.
With one hand free, Hudson quickly freed the other and unstrapped his body quietly. He checked the door every few seconds, his movements careful but quick with panic. The second he was free, he was ready to fight—fight for his life.
But then, a note on the side table caught his attention.
"What the..." He trailed off, still light-headed.
The note read:
[Your life is mine now. Tell anyone about it, and I’m coming back to take everything from you.]
Hudson gulped, his shoulders trembling as he stared at it. It was short, but he couldn’t help reading it several times.
"Damn it," he breathed, crumpling the note between his fingers.
He might have freed himself from the handcuffs and straps, but after reading this note, it was as if new shackles had locked around his ankles and wrists.
Hudson wanted to believe this was all a horrible nightmare, but the handcuffs, straps, the note, and that syringe on the table told him otherwise. What happened last night... could happen again.
"Who... was that person?"
Slowly, his gaze fell on the crumpled note in his hand.
[Your life is mine now.]
Another huff escaped him as he winced, his entire body sore. The stench coming from him was nothing compared to the pain in every muscle. He massaged the leg where he had been stabbed by the needle, then suddenly froze.
"Wait a second—"
Hudson jumped to his feet, slightly dizzy, but ignored it and ran to the door. Before opening it, he took a moment to check if his abductor was outside.
All the lights were out, but the moonlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling glass revealed nothing. Certain he had no company, he acted quickly.
For the next half hour, Hudson turned the place upside down. He didn’t bother changing first; this was more important. But alas...
"It’s gone," he breathed out, slumping to the floor with wide eyes.
His complexion was pale as he looked around the messy room in pure horror. "It’s... gone."
The money Melissa had given him earlier was gone, along with the extra cash he had hidden around the place. His mind blanked before he thought of his bank. Panicked, Hudson scrambled for his phone and quickly checked his online account.
Much to his relief, the remaining money was untouched.
"Oh, god..." he exhaled, hugging his phone. "Shit..."
Checking it again, he clenched his teeth. The money Melissa had handed him was taken because it was just lying around, along with some more scattered around his place. Yet, the money in his bank wasn’t touched.
"Who..." He narrowed his eyes, recalling a memory from some time ago: tucking a handful of emergency cash under the couch and telling Melissa about it.
"Did that woman... did this?" he blurted through gritted teeth. "That woman! I’m going to kill her if I find out she had anything to do with this!"
****
At the same time...
Lola stood on the kitchen balcony, holding her phone. It displayed real-time CCTV footage of Hudson. Listening to his swearing through the earplugs, the corners of her mouth curled into a smirk.
"I guess he’ll keep Melissa busy for now," she whispered, watching Hudson destroy things. "I wish him good luck."
"Me too."
Lola flinched when a quiet voice caressed the shell of her ear. She turned quickly, locking her phone and hiding it.
"Atlas!" she panicked. "What are you—since when have you been here?"
"Since he started throwing tantrums," he said, jerking his chin toward her phone.
Lola bit her tongue. He had been here almost from the beginning?
"Haha... it’s not what you think," she said, her voice laced with panic. Seeing his unbothered expression, her brows knitted.
Atlas leaned against the railing, eyes on her. "It’s alright. Don’t lie. Who is he?"
"..." Lola pursed her lips, hesitating. In the end, she decided to gauge his reaction. "Someone who owed me a debt. I collected a bit of his debt last night."
"Did he know it was you?"
"I’m not that stupid."
"Good." He nodded. "It would’ve been troublesome if that were the case."
Silence fell between them again. Lola studied him, slightly surprised. "You don’t find it... concerning?"
"Which one?"
"This."
"Should I?"
"Of course!"
He blinked, then tilted his head thoughtfully. "I think you’re right." Atlas shook his head and smiled at her subtly. "I am crazy about you."