[DeppAngel]

CH.17-Untied Strings
Forty-eight hours after Liliana’s abduction…

Criss and Sully came back to the apartment immediately.
“We’ve driven around the whole city, and yet, nothing!” exclaimed Criss in frustration, as he kicked the door open.
“Well, maybe she wasn’t kidnapped, you know. She could still be walking out there, somewhere…” Sully said, trying to alleviate Criss’s concern.
“For crying out loud, Sully, you said yourself that—“
“OK, OK! Never mind, I’m sorry!” sully said while he sat on the couch.
“Maybe we should keep looking for her.” Criss suggested.
“No, it’s too risky for us. We shouldn’t be showing our faces around too much. And besides, whoever the kidnappers are, they’re probably trying to get us too.” Sully said.
“So then, what do you suggest we do?” Criss asked while he looked out the window.
“I say we stay here and wait to see if they call. They might have called already and we probably missed the call.” Sully said.
“Hmm, maybe.” Criss said without taking his eyes away from the window.

Meanwhile Liliana woke up. Her vision was blurry. Her head was spinning. She could hear the voices of people talking far away, but she couldn’t comprehend what they were saying. She tried to move, but it was useless. Her wrists and ankles were hurting. The voices kept coming closer and closer, but still, they were nothing but vague sounds. The only word that she identified was her own name, called out by a man. She knew that man, but, from where? Suddenly, her eyes closed again. She woke up again, but this time, to her surprise, she was lying on the same sidewalk where that mysterious man had assaulted her. She slowly got up. Her whole body was aching. Criss, in desperation, launched himself at the door, pretending to search for Liliana again, careless of the risk. Unexpectedly, the door opened before Criss could get to it. Liliana slowly showed herself. She was limping. Criss ran to her and exclaimed,
“Where were you?! We’ve looking all over for you?”

Sully tiptoed out of the living room, unnoticed. He knew they were going to have a long talk, and he didn’t want to be involved. Criss just kept staring at Liliana. Liliana limped her way to the couch. She sat down, and rubbed her forehead. Criss gently said, “ Babe what happened? And why are you like this?” Liliana simply uttered an, “I don’t know,” in a cracked voice. Criss sat down next to her, and held her hand.
“Please, Lily, tell me what’s wrong.”
“I said, I don’t know. I went out for an ice-cream. I came back, and I think there was this man…”
“A man? What man?!” he yelled.
“I’m telling you, I don’t really know what happened. I woke up in the same place where I fell unconscious.”
“And where was that?” Criss said.
“Right in front of our building.” Liliana said without looking at Criss.
“But…we searched everywhere; how could they have just dropped you back at the same spot? It doesn’t make sense.” Criss shouted.
“You know what? I’m really tired. I’m going to bed.” Liliana remarked.
Liliana slowly rose and headed towards her room. Criss remained in the living room, silent, trying to make sense of the situation.

The next morning.

Criss and Liliana, along with Sully, got ready to move their hideout to another city to plan their next hit. They grabbed their bags and stepped out of the apartment. Liliana had dark rings around her eyes; a clear sign that despite her weariness she hadn’t been able to sleep very much. Nightmares hunted her sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in that white room, with her hands tied to the bed, and the unclear voices coming closer and closer. Criss locked the door behind him, while Liliana headed for the stairs, but something made her stop. She looked to her right, and fixed her eyes onto that neighbor’s door. It was Holly’s apartment. She rushed to the door and knocked frantically. Criss asked,
“What are you doing? Who lives there?”
“Open the door! Open! Open, please!” Liliana cried out, still knocking hard.
“Who are you looking for? What’s going on?” kept asking Criss.
“We shouldn’t leave any witnesses of our stay here,” said Sully.
Liliana kept knocking and calling out for Holly, but there was no response. Leaving her manners behind, Liliana tried to turn the doorknob, and much to her surprise, it did turn. The door was unlocked, but she hesitated to go inside. Criss and Sully just looked at each other, mystified. Liliana had a hunch. She didn’t know what it meant, but she knew she would find out if she went through that door. She slowly pushed it open. She was frozen at the sight she encountered there. She walked in, and Criss followed. The apartment was completely empty.