I decided to change the way I do dialogues. Hoping it's less confusing now! Enjoy!

New Life for Many, Chapter Twenty Five

"I'm bored.."

Roxanne sighed at my comment. It must have been the tenth time that I said that (no I didn't count them!). It was after all a good while since we had fallen into this hole. One hour, I'd say? I looked at my phone. Yup, one hour.

As time passed, I became more and more anxious. What if we never get out of this stupid hole? Even if I imagined a thousand scenarios of how to get out of this mess, nothing was realistic. Of course, when Law realizes I'm gone, he'll come running right? But how would he know I'm here? It was more likely that the pope would find us.

I weakly let my head fall on my chest. What if I died here? I would never see my parents again. My sister and her little family. My friends. Law… At the very least, he knew about my feelings. It was better than nothing. I would've regretted it all my (short) life if I didn't tell him. No guaranty he feels the same, but at least he knows..

"Cerys..?" said the sweet voice of Roxanne.

I pitifully raised my chin up. Didn't she see I was feeling sorry for myself?

"What?"

"Don't you hear footsteps?"

I listened closely. "I don't know what you're…"

A suspicious sound was heard. It was faint, but I actually could hear footsteps echoing in the forest. We waited a couple of seconds to see if they would come here, and they did. My breathing got caught in my throat. Were they friends or enemies? The blonde must've thought the same thing since unconsciously, she nervously grabbed my shirt. The steps were getting closer. Tak. Tak. Tak. Haa, the suspense was killing me! After an eternity, the person finally stopped, just over our heads. I saw their face lean over the edge. Brown hair with a cap on their skull, a big smile on their lips. A man in his twenties. Shachi!

"Bingo!" He happily exclaimed when he saw us.

Happy to see us, he waved at us like nothing happened. On my side, Roxanne was still very tense. She was probably asking herself if we could trust him. I tried to appease her worries by responding to the behaviors of our saviour.

"How did you fall down there?" He screamed at the top of the hole.

I nervously scratched my neck. "Uhh.. Clumsiness?" I stupidly responded.

He shook his head while sighing. "Stay there, I'll go get a rope!"

He disappeared and I heard his footsteps becoming more and more quiet. Like we had a choice, to stay here…

The blond's hold still hadn't weakened. My shirt fabric was now all crumpled.

"Who was he?" She faintly asked.

I smile at her. "A friend coming to get us out of here."

xXxXxXxXxXx

Shachi ran out of the forest and quickly went towards his car. The mansion courtyard was a real mess. Arrests taking place, interrogations too. Many ambulances were present to take care of the injured. There were a few serious injured, but fortunately, their number was minimal. Most of them only had superficial wounds. However, there was four deaths, including one cop. This operation had been rough.

Once close enough to the car, the man opened the trunk and searched inside. There must be a rope somewhere in there, between the spare wheel and the survival kit. And indeed, he finally found one. Satisfied, he took it, closed the trunk and went towards one specific ambulance where a certain brunet was. Law looked irritated, and the paramedic by his side, embarrassed.

"I don't need your help."

"But sir, you're covered in wounds!"

Without asking first, he touched his chest with the tip of his fingers. Law winced in pain.

"You have fractures in your ribs. Let me at least examine you!"

Law clung to his stubbornness. Shachi shook his head. That good old Law..

A cop arrived in front of the two men. Law ignored the paramedic to go towards his friend. Even if he had a stoic face on, Shachi knew he was worried about his protégée. He smiled.

"Did you found her?"

Shachi nodded. He showed his rope. "I'm gonna get her now."

Confused, Law raised his eyebrow. He wanted to tie her up or what?

"You'll tie her up so she won't escape?"

Shachi shook his head while laughing. "Of course not! She fell in a hole."

A hole? How did that brat managed to get into impossible situations? Law often asked himself.

As Shachi was about to get back the way he went, he was surprised to see his friend follow. Even if he had difficulty standing on his own two feet, he wanted to explore unstable grounds full of trees' branches? His motivation forced admiration.

xXxXxXxXxXx

"You are sure we can trust him?" Roxanne asked, worried.

"Don't worry, he's a good guy. And anyway, he helped me before I came here."

And Law trusts him, I wanted to add. But well, it was giving the vibes of a girl desperate to have unshakeable trust for the one she loves. It was a bit too… Bwah.

"What will you do, once we're out?" I completely changed the subject.

She stared at me, her mouth ajar, surprised. I had to say my question kind of came out of nowhere. She stayed a couple of seconds just staring at me before letting out a long sigh. Her eyes looked up at the sky, a small light illuminating them.

"I'll go tell what I know to the police. Maybe I won't be much help, and they probably will think I'm an accomplice, but I want to start a new life. Right?"

She smiled and my green eyes crossed her blue ones. I nodded while smiling. Suddenly, I felt something fall on my head. The person who threw it did so with a bit of strength behind.

"Ooouuuch!"

Shachi's head appeared above ours. "Oops!" He said, like he was sorry.

I grunted and got up. Finally, we'll get out of here.

"The rope is tied up to a tree!" The man yelled. "Can you climb all the way up?"

I looked at Roxanne who had got up herself. I could probably climb without any trouble, but…

"I don't think I have the strength to get up myself.." She quietly said.

That's what I thought…

"Shachi, can't you pull to help Roxanne up?" It was my turn to yell.

He showed me he could as he formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger before he disappeared from my sight. I then turned to my friend, took the rope in one hand and showed it to her.

"You'll take this and hold onto it as tight as you can, alright?"

She nodded nervously. I smiled to reassure her. She took it with trembling hands and held it like her life depended on it.

"You're good to go Shachi!"

Slowly, she started to go up. So she wouldn't be scared, she closed her eyes so tight small wrinkles formed all around. Gently, she was pulled up and arrived at the top of the hole. She held on the edge and Shachi came to pull her up. The rope fell back down and swayed weakly next to me. Well, it's just you and me buddy!

I took the rope in my hands, surrounded it with my legs and started to climb. I arrived at the top faster than I had anticipated. Without wasting time, I pulled myself out of that damn hole and deeply breathed the fresh air. How wonderful it was to feel again the moist dirt.

I slowly got up and stretched my numb limbs. It was at that moment that I realized there was a fourth person.

"Law!"

I ran his way, my heart violently pounding in my chest. He was safe and alive! I wanted to cry. Well, he's still pretty beaten up, but at least, he's breathing.

Just as I got to his sides, his cold eyes stared at me. I automatically stopped. His face didn't let out any emotion, so why did I have the impression he was mad at me?

"Why were you in there?" He suddenly asked.

Under his intense glare, I looked around everywhere but at him to avoid a terrifying staring from that psychopath.

"I… fell in that hole?"

My answer didn't seem to satisfy him. I sighed before summoning my courage to help me look at his face.

"I was in the car, like Shachi told me to do, but I saw Roxanne get out of the mansion and run towards the forest, so I followed her. She fell in a hole, I wanted to help her, but I fell myself instead…"

Shachi made behind us a sound that clearly resembled a muffled laugh behind his hand. Law gave him a dark stare and he stopped making a single sound. He then pierced me with his eyes before turning around and going away while clicking his tongue. I stayed still. Huh, wait, what? What just happened? Shachi came behind me and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry," he reassured me. "He's a bit stubborn, that's why he won't tell you clearly he was worried sick about you."

I nodded, even if I only believe him with half of my heart. Then, a thought passed through my mind.

"How did you find us?" I asked, curious.

He smiled with all his teeth and got out his cellphone. I raised an eyebrow.

"With that?"

"And yours."

I was more and more confused and lost. He laughed at my puzzled face.

"Law activated the GPS on your phone. That's actually why I knew you were here."

Ha, I understand now.

…Wait, I had this feature in my phone? And when did Law took it to turn it on?!

Turning a blind eye to my internal debate, he turned to Roxanne while smiling.

"So, Roxanne…"

His happy atmosphere had disappeared.

"What were you doing at Doflamingo's?"

I was surprised by the tone he was using. It wasn't harsh or nasty, but more… professional. The blonde nervously played with her fingers.

"I work… worked, for mas- Doflamingo."

She looked at Shachi with determination.

"And I want to go see the police to tell them all I know. I don't know much, but…"

She kept her mouth shut for a couple of seconds, then continued, more alive than ever.

"But I don't what to live in lies!"

Her answer was welcomed by a heavy silence from Shachi. He stared down at her, his arms crossed, until even I was becoming nervous for her. After a while, Shachi finally… bursted out laughing. He surrounded poor Roxanne's shoulders with his arm without her understanding anything and dragged her with him.

"You pass the test!"

I wanted to hit my forehead with my palm. He had to change his method…

xXxXxXxXxXx

The air was heavy. So heavy I had the impression 50 kilos were on my shoulders. We were in Law's car, on the way homer, and the silence was killing me. Law didn't utter a single word since I got out of that hole. The radio wasn't on, even the engine of the car was too silent! We could hear a fly fart!

…Alright, bad example..

But even so, the silence was oppressive. Why didn't he say anything? Was he mad at me? Of course he was, after what I'd done… Even if I told myself he hated me, I couldn't regret my actions.

….

….

Gaah, the silence is making me go crazyyyyyyyy!

"Law… Why won't you talk?"

He stayed quiet when confronted to my pleas. I insisted.

"Alright, don't answer, but at least, go to the hospital! You're seriously injured!"

No reaction. He just continued to stare at the road. Without noticing, we were alright near his apartment. He parked in the street and stopped the engine. Still not saying a word, he got out of the vehicle without looking my way. I hurried along.

"Law, you're listening?!"

He ignored me and climbed the stairs two at a time. Really, slow down will ya!

"Let me at least nurse you!"

He stopped in front of the apartment and unlocked the door before entering. He took off his shoes, then his coat full of blood, and went towards the kitchen.

"Law!"

He suddenly stopped and stared at me. After a few seconds, he let out a sigh, defeated, and took off his shirt before sitting on the couch. Triumphant, I ran towards the bathroom to search through the medicine cabinet and took what I needed (disinfectant, bandages, fresh water in a bowl, small cotton balls and a washcloth). I then came back to the living room, sat down next to the brunet and put down my supplies on the little table. I first took the cloth, soaked it in the water and washed his blood away while trying to stop my own from going to my cheeks. He shivered before of the cool cloth. His shiver was contagious. Once the dried-up blood was gone, I took the cotton, dipped it in the disinfectant and started with the biggest injuries. He winced in pain. I silently apologized.

"You're actually pretty good at this." He gently said.

I smiled, happy to hear his voice.

"Do you remember when we were younger, I often injured myself? Well, it was Leïla who took care of me most of the time. Since she did it so often, I was able to learn a thing or two from her."

He nodded, then stayed silent again. I finished cleaning up his wounds, then I put on the bandages. Once done, he put back on his shirt.

"Law…?"

He looked at me as if he was saying with his eyes I could continue.

"Do you hate me?" I asked, my voice in a knot.

He was surprised by my question.

"Why do you think that?"

"Well… You're always cold with me! You take me for your slave, you ignore me, and just a couple of minutes ago, you seemed mad because I wanted to help a friend!"

I got mad like a five-year-old, but I didn't give a damn! I wanted to know the truth!

"Do you remember what I said at the mansion? I said I loved you!"

Tears started to fall down. I unpacked all that was hidden.

"I love you so much it hurts sometimes! I want to scream it at the top of my lungs, but I also want you to be the only one who knows. Seeing you with another woman pains me! But as soon as you smile at me, I forgive your flaws, like an idiot! I love you, Trafalgar Law!"

His eyes were now the size of golf balls, but he still said nothing. I cried even more.

"But if you hate me…"

"How could I hate you…"

His eyes pierced me. I was hypnotised.

"Ever since I met you, you haven't changed at all. Stubborn, a crybaby, happy, honest, clumsy. Your passion for photography pissed me off sometimes, and your tears made me uncomfortable. You were sooo obnoxious! But even so, you were still my adorable little neighbour."

He shut up in order to look at me better.

"You don't know how important you are to me…."

Suddenly, he took me in his arms.

"Stay with me…"

My eyes, so big it wasn't natural anymore, slowly closed. My arms surrounded his sides and my hands grabbed his shirt. His body odor took over me, and his warmth warmed me up.

"Hmm…"

There it is, the last chapter of the first part! Hope you enjoyed so far, and the next chapter with start with a new plot. I hope you will like it too!