Chapter 2
"That is just a little too much information Eli. Listen I know this is going to sound really odd but I feel like I can trust you. Something about your eyes are soothing." Says Madison as she watches Eli walk over to the bed and grab his bag.
"Good to know. So do you want me to drop you off at your place or what?" asks Eli as he walks back to Madison.
They leave the room and walk to the nurses station.
"Can I go to the police station with you?" asks Madison as she signs the forms.
"I don't see why not. I might add it will probably be boring."
"It's ok. I just don't think I can be alone. I'll freak out. Besides I want to get to know you." Says Madison as she signs her name while looking at Eli.
"Ready to go?" asks Eli.
"Are you kidding I would have left here in the hospital nightgown if it didn't have that big crack in the back."
Eli laughs and he puts his arm around the small of Madison's back. Madison pulls away a little but she shakes her head and smiles at Eli.
"Sorry." She says as she sees the worried look on Eli's face.
"So tell me why do you keep shaking your head when you freak out?" asks Eli as they walk to the elevators.
"I am telling myself not to let those guys win by destroying me mentally. They may have physically destroyed me but I'll be damned if I let my mind go too."
"You're a strong girl Madison. You know you never told me your last name." Says Eli as they step into the elevator and Madison pushes the button for the main floor.
"It's Taylor."
"Was your mom's name Samantha Taylor? As in Taylor industries?"
"Yeah. My mom was the president. When she died I was left with the company. I am still in control, that is where my main income comes from."
"You know this attack may have been to….."
"They didn't kill me Eli. I know what you are trying to say. If they were attacking me to get my money or the company they would have killed me. If I die all my money goes back to the company and my cousin Julian takes control." Says Madison as they step off the elevator and walk through the main lobby. "And before you say anything about Julian he didn't do this. He lives nowhere near Japan and he hasn't seen or heard from me since my mother passed away."
"Ok. Well there goes that angle to the case." Says Eli getting a smile from Madison.
They step outside and see the crowd of reporters standing there.
"Look it's her. Miss. Taylor." Yells a reporter.
Suddenly all of the reporters run to Madison and Eli. Asking questions and taking pictures.
"Miss. Taylor can you tell us what happened to you?" asks a woman as she shoves a mic. in Madison's face.
Eli is about to shove the people out of the way when he sees the look on Madison's face. She looks calm and composed, despite the bruises and cuts on her face.
"Please excuse me." Says Madison as she takes Eli's hand and walks through the crowd.
"Miss. Taylor what is with the hand holding? Are you and this young man a couple?" asks another woman.
Madison just keeps walking but she turns to Eli in front of everyone. "Where is your car?"
"My partner left a squad car for us." Says Eli pointing to an empty squad car parked by the curb.
"Ohhh, can I play with the lights?" giggles Madison as she pulls Eli towards the car with the reporters following.
"I don't know." Says Eli playfully as he opens the passengers door for Madison to get in. She gets in and he closes the door. He runs around to the driver's side of the car and opens the door and gets in.
"Well Can I turn on the lights?" asks Madison as Eli puts on his seatbelt and turn on the car.
"I guess so. It's that button." Says Eli as he points to a red button on the dashboard.
Madison giggles and pushes the button and the lights start to flash.
Eli slowly drives through the crowd until he gets onto the road and he turns off the lights and he turns the radio on.
"Eli are you in the car yet?" says a girls voice over the radio.
Eli picks up the handset and pushes a button, "Go ahead Meilin."
"Finally we have been trying to reach you for quite some time now. Where the fuck were you?"
"Nice to hear your voice Meilin. I was at the hospital with Madison."
"Man Eli you honestly can't like her. Don't tell me you gave her your clothes to wear." Says a male voice.
Eli blushes and is about to reply when Madison reaches over and takes the handset from Eli. She pushes the button and says, "This is Li right? I remember your voice from this morning it's cold. This is Madison. Eli did give me some clothes to wear. I think it was very sweet of him."
"Holy shit. Eli what is she doing in the car with you?" says Meilin.
"Oh I'm coming back to the police station with him. Actually I can see the station from here so I'll see you in a few minutes." Says Madison.
"Eli we are going to have some words." Says another girls voice.
Eli takes the handset back from Madison and he turns into the station parking garage. He pushes the button and says, "Sakura I don't need a hassle from you or the other two whom I know are still there with you. Now I'm parking we will be up in a minute or two."
"But Eli…." Sakura's voice is cut off by Eli turning off his radio. Eli parks and turns off the car. He gets out and walks over to Madison's side of the car and opens the door for her.
"Thanks Eli." Says Madison as she steps out of the car. She sees how dark it is in the parking garage and memories from last night flash through her mind. Madison starts to shake and she slumps to the ground by the car and covers her face with her hands.
"Madison?" asks Eli as he watches Madison slump to the ground. "Are you ok?"
"Memories from last night." Says Madison as she looks up at Eli as fresh tears fall from her eyes.
Eli's face softens and he kneels in front of Madison. "Madison I'm sorry I didn't know the darkness would do this to you. Come on Let's go upstairs and I'll get you some nice tea or soup your choice." He says as he gently brushes her tears away with his fingers.
"It's ok Eli. It wasn't your fault. It's there's. I want them found and thrown in jail."
"I'm afraid that is going to be hard to do." Says a man as he steps out from the shadows.
Madison freaks out and screams. She wraps her arms around Eli's neck and buries her face in the crook of his neck.
"It's ok Madison. That's the D.A. Tori Avalon. He's Sakura's older brother." Whispers Eli as he gently rubs Madison's back.
"I'll see you upstairs." Says Tori as he turns and walks back into the shadows.
After Tori has left Eli asks Madison, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah I'm sorry. It's just with the memories and the darkness and the coming out of the shadows I got scared. I couldn't help it. I'm sorry Eli."
"Madison why are you saying sorry? Your allowed to be scared. You have the right to be."
Madison takes her head out of the crook of Eli's neck and she looks into his eyes.
"You ready to go upstairs?" asks Eli smiling at Madison.
Madison takes a deep breath and stands up. "Well are we going?"
Eli chuckles and stands up and puts his hand on the small of Madison's back. He can feel her back muscles tense and relax. "So like I was saying before, do you want soup or tea?"
Madison laughs and looks at Eli, "I'll think on the way up there."
"Ok let's go."
They walk to a door and into a hallway. They stop at the elevators and Eli pushes the button.
"So Eli tell me about you." Says Madison as they wait for the elevator.
"Well I'm 20, single, hard worker and last time I check I was male."
Madison laughs as they step into the elevator. The doors close and Eli pushes the button for the third floor.
"Do you have any family?" asks Madison as she looks at Eli.
"Yeah but they all live in London, England. I moved out here when I was like 12."
"Soup." Says Madison as the elevator stops and the doors open.
"What kind?" asks Eli as they step out of the elevator and into a busy hallway of cops and other people.
"Chicken Noodle?" asks Madison as Eli leads her down the hallway through all the people.
"Sure. I have it in my office."
"You have an office?"
"Sure. I'm kinda like the boss around here so I have my own office. It even has a window."
"Wow. A window." Gasps Madison as her voice is full of scarcasim.
"Eli you asshole!" says a girls voice from behind them.
Madison looks over her shoulder and sees the brown haired girl from this morning. Eli doesn't even look.
"Hello Sakura." Groans Eli.
Madison looks away from Sakura's glare and pushes against Eli.
"Everyone is in your office waiting for you. Including my brother." Says Sakura as she watches Madison push against Eli.
Eli doesn't reply he just nudges Madison and they continue to walk down the hallway. Eli leads Madison into a room with 3 desks and another room off of it. Madison looks at one of the desks and sees a picture of Sakura and Li on it. She smiles and walks alongside Eli into the next room where there are three people waiting.
They look up and see Eli walk in with a badly bruised girl beside him.
Sakura walks in behind Madison and Eli and she closes the door.
Eli leads Madison around the desk and pulls the chair out, "Have a seat."
"Thank you Eli." Says Madison as she sits in the chair and faces the other people in the room.
Eli sits on top of a small filing cabinet and sees everyone looking at Madison. "You wanted to talk to me?"