chapter four

Sophie finally returned to Bell's apartment. She had looked around to be sure that no one had followed her. The sun was slowly rising and the people went to their works.

Sophie didn't know what she should tell Bell about what happened it the dark alley. She didn't tell her about Gilbert, maybe it would be better if she didn't tell her anything.

In her pocket, she had his wallet. It seemed to weigh like a stone.

She had pulled it from his jeans' pocket when they had fixed themselves after what they had done.

"Thank you." She said, quickly hiding her trophy in a sleeve of her jacket. Suddenly he grabbed her hand. She looked at him.

"I even don't know your name." He began, his other hand touched her ginger wig.

"It is not important."

"We will meet again?"

"I don't know." She wanted to leave, but he was holding her hand.

"Tell me your name. I want to remember you."

She hesitated for a moment. When he noticed that he stole his wallet, he would not be so nice.

"Bell." She said.

"And my name is…" She quickly silenced him, by putting her finger on his lips.

"Don't. That is better." She disappeared behind the corner.

O

Sophie came to a quiet apartment. She was surprised that door wasn't closed. Bell apparently forgot to do it after she came back.

"Bell?"

Silence.

"I am here, Bell? Maybe she didn't came back yet. It was early morning, but usually she is here at this hour." Sophie started worrying. She went to the kitchen. On the table laid a message.

"I found you!"

Oh no, this is impossible.

Sophie run to the room. Where the hell is phone? She had to tell Bell that she couldn't come back. Sadik may hurt her.

Then she heard Sinatra's voice. It was the song that Bell made the sound of her ring. Sophie entered the bedroom. The phone fell from her hand. She tried not to scream.

Bell was lying on the floor dressed in her skimpy outfit, but without a wig. Very short hair were red from blood. The red mark on her neck, was poor parody of smile. It was like death mocking smirk. Her eyes were wide opened.

Sophie ran to the corridor and vomited violently. She was torned by convulsions. And then she felt emptiness. Bell was dead. Bell who always cared about her.

It was her fault that Bell was dead.

It made no sense to run away. Sadik would catch her everywhere. She couldn't allow him to kill more people. Sophie sat on the floor. She would wait for him.

"I am proud of you." Bell said her at the first evening, when Sophie arrived at her place. She was proud, because she always told Sophie that she should left Sadik. "You are a pianist Soph, you are talented. You can everything." Yes everything. For example you could surrender, but would Bell be proud of you?

Sophie stood up on her feet, her knees trembling a bit. She wiped her tears. She had to escape if she wanted to live. For Bell.

So, she desperately began to pack her things. Not too much, some clothes. Nothing personal. And she had to take the bag with things that she stole from Sadik. It is under Bell's bed.

She took a deep breath and entered the bedroom. She looked straight into Bells' dead eyes.

"You will be proud of me. I promise."

When Sophie reached for the bag she realized that there was not here.

"What are you looking for?"

She froze. In the door stood a stranger man with a scar on his cheek, he was holding her bag in his hand. She remembered that he was one of Sadiks' employees. He slowly entered the room, carefully avoiding the blood on the floor.

"It was not easy to find you. We were looking for you almost a month. But Sadik remembered that you have a few friends whom you can ask for help." His shoe touched Bell's arm. "Now you don't have any."

"Don't touch her!"

"Why not?" He was only two steps away. "What can you do little bitch?"

"For example this!" She felt an adrenaline in her veins. For a second she wasn't thinking, she just grabbed a Bell's high heeled boot and punched him in his forehead. Then she used a moment of surprise and pushed him. He tripped on Bell's body and fell down.

Sophie ran away from the room, grabbing the bag that her enemy abandoned. However, when she ran out from the building, there was surprise for her.

Two giant hands grabbed her by hair, but she escaped. In attackers' hands stayed only the ginger wig.

The street is empty. No people, no help.

Once more time she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. She tried to run but someone hit her head. She felt dizzy and then she saw the man from the bedroom.

"What a spirit!" Said the blond man who was holding her. "She is kicking a little, but it is nothing, we will manage. What happened to you Rick?"

"Nothing, nothing. You said kicking? I know a good method for kicking." He grabbed her by her throat and whispered. "Well you know, I will have bruises, because of you."

"Let her go!"

Rick turned to the man who stood a few meters away.

Gilbert?

"And you, who the hell you are? Anyway, never mind. It is not so important. You really looking for someone who will kick your ass. Don't you?"

"I want you to let her go."

""It is the same. Gentlemen." He said to his two companions. They let go off Sophie. And walked toward Gilbert. "And I at this time…"

Before he could end, Sophie when her hands were free, hit him as hard as she could, she used her bag. Something cracked when the bag met Rick's head.

"Run!" Gilbert yelled, hitting the blond man in his belly. The third man punched Gilbert into his head, but moment later he was lying on the ground with his ankle twisted in strange angle.

Sophie kicked opponent in the stomach, but apparently too weak, because Rick stood up and hit her hard. Sophie fell on her knees, dazed.

"Lie there bitch and don't try any tricks." Rick growled and turned to the fighting Gilbert. The blond was kneeling, holding his crotch. Gilbert kicked his face and the blond fell on the ground unconscious.

And then Gilbert saw that Rick was holding a gun. He froze staring at the weapon.

"You have bad luck, guy. You walk in more shit than you can even imagine. You ruined my plans, but don't worry, you will pay for it." He put his finger on the trigger.

And then Gilbert saw that the mans' eyes were running away into his skull. He fell on his knees and then he faced pavement. Behind him, clutching a brick stood Sophie. She was trembling, tears flew from her eyes and she tried to calm her breath.

Brick fell from her hand and she fell on her knees next to Rick. Sobs tore her body.

Gilbert quickly knelt beside her.

"Sophie? Are you all right?"

"It, it is just reaction to stress." She wiped her tears and looked at him. "And you, are you all right?"

He nodded and helped her to stand up then he took the Rick's weapon. Two criminalists were gathering from the ground, when they saw that Gilbert had a pistol they started running away.

"Stop!" Gilbert shouted.

"Leave them." Sophie grabbed his arm.

"But…"

"I have to go." She said, grabbing her bag, she moved in the direction which was opposite to that which the bandits choose.

"Hey!" Gilbert said, grabbing her sleeve. "Someone just attacked you and you just go away? You must call the police! And what with this unconscious bastard?"

"I can't. Please take care of it."

"Wait. If you have any problems, we can solve them together. I can help you."

"I don't want your help." She said hard. "I wanted to rob you. Don't you remember?"

"But you didn't do that. And you just saved my life. I guess I owe you something."

Sophie looked at him again. She kissed his cheek briefly.

"You don't owe me anything." She said and turned away. After a few steps she looked over her shoulder. "Take care of this bastard, he should root in jail."

Gilbert for a moment watched her back. When she disappeared, he pulled out his phone.