Now Or Never

Chapter 11

Lorenzo stayed up all night, the rhythmic clack of keys on a keyboard fill the house but it was soothing in a way. He was searching for any clue as to how the doctor would strike. On Sid's orders, Lorenzo wouldn't stop until he found a clue, any clue that would help keep Lila safe. Lorenzo let out a yawn and closed his eyes for a moment; the strain of staring at the screen for so long was getting to him.

Sid slipped into the room with him and placed a cup of coffee next to him. The smell alone was refreshing and Lorenzo grabbed it up happily. "Thank you."

"No, I should be thanking you, making you work like this." Sid said. "This is delicate; I don't want her hurt any more than necessary."

"I understand." Lorenzo said and got back to work. "So I am looking at the Doctor's other patient records for some sort of pattern. The thing is he's smart, he never does the same thing twice." Lorenzo paused, "however, with Arnold and one other person he used a trucking company. It's a small detail that is easy to overlook, unless you look really hard."

"You think he will use them again to get Lila?" Sid asked

"It's a possibility, and in any case it's all we have to go on." Lorenzo said. "I will arrange a meeting with them." He smirked, "Perhaps a little persuasion is in order. I'll get them to tell me about how they are going to do the job." Lorenzo said.

"Great." Sid said and stood up, "thank you, man."

"One thing, Are you sure you want to let her know exactly what will happen?" Lorenzo asked, "It might be simpler just to let it happen. She could tense up more in the car if she knew and she could break more bones than she would otherwise."

"No one deserves to be put in a situation where they don't know every outcome. She needs to know the truth before she can make this decision." Sid said.

"She's already made the decision." Lorenzo said, "Why are you so worked up about this?"

"She just has a right to know, that's all." He said

The next morning Lorenzo slept in as the others woke for breakfast. Sid was nowhere to be found. Helga checked his room but no answer came, she could only hope that he wasn't in danger.

"Morning, Lila." Helga said as Lila passed her in the hall.

"I like this side of you." Lila said, "we could have been really good friends in elementary school if you would have shown me this side of you before. But I guess it can't be helped since I did have the affection of the man you love."

"Yeah…" Helga said bitterly.

"But don't you worry, we'll get him back and you can finally be together." She said, "I absolutely know that he'll want to be with you too."

"Thanks." Helga said, "You aren't all that bad."

"Perhaps; after everything is over we can become true friends."

"I'd like that." Helga said and she meant it.

"Has anyone seen Sid?" Harold asked from the kitchen.

"No, I was looking for him too." Helga said and joined everyone in the kitchen. "He must be running errands."

"We were supposed to go over the plan again." Said stinky.

"There's nothing to go over, it's the same plan as before." Helga said but looking at the faces of her friends she sighed, maybe going over the plan made them feel better. "Alright."

Arnold and Bella continued their trek north and were completely exhausted from the lack of sleep. They were too close to Eduardo's camp to stop for even a second. Their instinct to survive was their only guiding force but there was only so much the body could take.

Arnold's legs gave out and he tumbled to the ground pulling Bella with him. Bella sat up and looked over at his collapsed form. "Arnold?" she gently rolled him over and gasped at his condition. His eyes were heavy and his face was bright red. "Oh, no." she felt his forehead with the back of her hand and instantly pulled her hand away. "You have a fever, that's not good."

Bella got to her feet and glanced around for anything that could help her but she was unfamiliar with this part of the forest and none of the plants looked familiar. She couldn't call for help and risk those men finding them, and then Arnold would be dead for sure.

She settled for kneeling down near Arnold where she put his head in her lap before stroking his hair. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do." She said and cried softly. The moment Bella's tears landed on Arnold's cheek he opened his eyes.

"H-hey… don't cry." Arnold said.

"I don't want you to die. I am not useful to anyone." She said, "The people at my old village where right."

"What are you talking about?" Arnold asked. The sight of her broken form was giving Arnold new strength, he wanted to help her any way he could. "I'm going to be fine. Just over tired, once we find that village we will be safe."

"You cannot keep going like this." She said.

"You go." He said, "You seem to be stronger than me right now."

"I won't leave you behind."

"Just go. You can find the village and bring people back to help me." He said.

"If it rains again, you'll die for sure." She said, "Or any number of things could kill you in this forest." She continued. "How could you think that I would leave you here?"

"You have no choice. You can't carry me and I will only slow you down. If you keep heading north you should get to the village in a few hours. As for the weather, you can help me to that cave there and I will wait for you." He said. "I will be fine. Trust me."

"But…"

"Just do this. It's our only hope." He said.

"Alright, I won't be long." She said and helped Arnold to the cave. She left him some of the food and water they scavenged and turned to leave. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Arnold said and kissed Bella softly but firmly on the mouth. "I'll be waiting for you." He said and let her go. Bella smiled and hurried off to find the village. "If I don't make it, at lease you will be safe." He said to himself.

That night Sid came to Lila's door and knocked softly. She opened the door and smiled sweetly at him.

"You don't have to do that." He said.

"Do what?"

"Pretend that you are okay." He said as he walked in and shut the door. "I know that this is scary for you. I wish you didn't have to do this." He blushed and looked at his feet.

"I am scared but I will do anything for Arnold." She said.

"Arnold…" he said. "This is so wrong but I just need to say it." He said and looked up at her, "I'm kind of jealous of him now."

"What?"

He sighed, "Nothing." What was he thinking? Arnold was his friend and he was in trouble. He was disgusted with himself for thinking and voicing his selfish thoughts. He turned to leave but Lila stopped him.

"I think I know what you are trying to say." She said and kissed his cheek.

"You don't have to go through with this, you can back out." He said frantically. "We can always figure something else out."

"It's okay." She smiled. "It's the only plan that will work right now; if we wait it might be too late." She said, "How about this. There is a movie playing next month that I want to see. Let's go together." She said.

"A movie? How can you…"

"Now we have something to look forward to." She interrupted.

He paused, "Yeah."

"It's a promise." She said.

"It is." And he couldn't help himself. He pulled Lila closer and hugged her tightly breathing in her country apple smell. "Get some rest then." He pulled away and headed for the door but at the last moment he turned around and looked at her, "Wait, I know how it will happen and when."

She placed a finger against his lips and shook her head, "I would rather not know. All I want to think about is our movie date." She said.

Sid kissed her finger and turned to leave again, this time he didn't stop. He'd keep her safe, somehow.