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--x--The Chapter Starts Here--x--

Dear Diary

How I wish you could talk!!!

Oh no, it's better you don’t talk, or else he would have threatened to kill you too.

I can’t lose another person precious to me.

Tomorrow is my marriage, I will hold on until Dylan reaches a point when he can protect himself.

Until then, let him use me like a puppet.

Damien closed the diary with a thud, his tears still at the brink of his eyes.

Did she do something to herself? Now Dylan also has gained some amount of power to protect himself, even though he is nothing in front of me. Could she really have…???

Now the thought passed in his mind. A shiver passed through him.

“No.. No… She was always strong.” He shook his head hard, denying it, even though he knew it was possible.

He began searching for his phone frantically on the bed. Then searched for Nick’s number and called him.

“Nick… You bastard… It's been one freaking day… You couldn’t find a woman??”

Nick on the other side, pulled away the phone from his ears, whispered to himself

“This madman… Always keeps shouting.”

“Nick, I can hear you.. What's the update?” 

Nick widened his eyes in fear, neared the phone with shivering hands.

“I… I am sorry sir… I am really trying hard… I don’t know where is she”

“Your time is up…”

“Sir..”

Come to my office…” Damien cut him off.

“Sir…. No sir… Sir, give me one more chance… Sir…” Nick’s pleas were cut off by the dead line.
He collapsed to the floor with a thud, nearly hyperventilating. He knew what Damien was capable of.

“No… I have a family to care for. I have to do something.” Wiping his face, he bolted out of the building, phone clutched tight.

In the hospital

The man has started running here and there. While the doctor, inspector and nurses tried to pacify him.

“He will kill me! He will kill me!” 

He kept shouting aloud, his voice cracking.

“Doctor, is this the effect of medicine?” Inspector Jack’s voice cut the chaos, while trying to catch the man.

“Maybe… sir” Dr Sameer answered back.

“Leave me… Leave me… You don’t know him” The man’s breathing quickened until it turned into outright hyperventilation.

Jack grabbed him by the shoulders, and with help from the staff, they got him back on the bed. Dr. Sameer injected a sedative, and the man’s protests slowed, his voice fading into a mumble.

Then he slowly lost his consciousness, blabbering “He is going to kill me.”

“Phew… What a man.” Dr Sameer exclaimed.

“Yeah… But maybe he was trying to say something.” Jack interjected, curiously.

“Or it’s just the medicine’s effect. It happens.”

“Yes… That's also possible. Anyway, thanks doctor. I am taking your leave. Call me if you need anything or he gets consciousness"

Sameer nodded, already gathering his things to head home.

Somewhere near the tree house,

The sun had risen completely, but the rain poured heavily.

“CANDICE…. CANDICE… CANDICE” Dylan kept shouting into the rain and trees, desperately. His voice had turned hoarse. But he didn’t lose hope. 

His shirt was drenched with sweat and rain, clung to his body. His shoes have started getting covered with mud making them more slippery.

But he has to find her.

“Candice… Are you there???”

He was sure that Candice came here. But somewhere he was afraid too. For her.

What if she actually planned to run away? What if Damien finds her before him?

What will he do with her?

Or worse, what if she decided to harm herself?

A shiver ran down his spine thinking about the consequences.

“No… No… I have to find her before anyone else.”

He ran towards his bike. When…

“Ouchh”

He stumbled, clutching his injured knee, sitting down.

“What the hell is here!!!”

Irritated, he brushed aside the long bushes, when something cold brushed his fingers.

He froze, heart hammering, then frantically cleared away more.

As the ground started clearing.

“Holy… It's a hand.” 

His voice came out in a shocked whisper.

He moved his hands faster, hoping it was not what he was thinking.

“Ca.. Candice…”

He stuttered, eyes wide. Fell back. Blood trickled down his knees.

She was lying in an awkward position. As if she was thrown from somewhere? Or maybe jumped from somewhere?

Her beautiful face had marks of mud on them, with a few scratches. But still her innocence couldn’t be hidden. She always carried the glow and grace even when life wronged her through all means. 

Water droplets hit her heavily. Her dress was all muddy and wet now.

Slowly regaining his senses, he tried touching her face with shivering hands.

He brushed her knuckles slowly on her cheeks. Her skin was ice cold, and her skin had started turning red. 

“Please… please… please be alright.”

Tears rolled down his cheeks, making his face red and wet.

He kept his finger on her nostril for a few seconds, maybe half a minute. Time slowed down.

After what felt like eternity, he felt a feeble breath.

“Yes… My Rabbit… You will be alright… Yes..”

He kept saying to himself, as he ran to his bike, fell down again due to muddy shoes. 

Most of the pant he was wearing was now covered with mud. Making it stand.

Ran towards her, scooped her into his arms

Her head rested limply against his shoulder, her legs dangling over one side. He wrapped her in his jacket, shielding her from the rain.

On the bike, he cradled her carefully as he took off, murmuring reassurance she couldn’t hear.

“Dy… Dylan… Run.. Damien… He…”

The whisper was barely there, but it broke him.

“Hold on, Rabbit. I’ve got you.”

He accelerated the bike, giving a slow peck on her hairs.

The rain was making it hard for him to look in the front. He lost his helmet in the forest.

Meanwhile, in the Damice Enterprises.

A man entered the building, and every employee froze, heads bowing low. Without a glance around, he went straight to his private elevator.

“Sir looks tense today,” one whispered.

“Tense? He looks angrier than ever,” another murmured.

“Either way, pray we don’t become his target,” a third cut in, scattering the small group.

“Poor Candice,” someone muttered quietly. “God knows what she’s going through every day.”