Chapter 49 CHARLOTTE It had been two weeks and five days since my arrival in Los Angeles , and I spent most of my days sitting at my new favorite spot at the beach , listening to the waves , and watching people come and go . It started as a form of relaxation but soon morphed into a weird sense of nostalgia , and something I couldnt quite label . Watching couples surf together reminded me of all the things I wanted to do while Rogerio and I were together . Watching parents run around with their kids , whose happy laughter filled the air , made me feel like I had lost something . But I was determined not to let my past ruin my enjoyment of the present . So , I stayed put and focused on why I was there : to breathe , to find myself , and to ensure I was in a different headspace so I could aptly prepare for other experiences . I didnt want to be the architect of my misfortunes anymore , and I knew it would take a conscious effort to get to that point . When I wasnt sitting next to the sea , I walked through the streets , observing landmarks that would help me navigate the city on foot and hailing taxis to get dinner at Moozes food shack . I let myself be open to the idea of trying new cuisines at different restaurants , but my taste buds ultimately decided that Mooze was their favorite , and I was happy to indulge . I had become friendly with most of the hotel staff , including the receptionist I met earlier , whose name I learned was Sonia . They ensured everything I requested was brought in time and also suggested new places I could explore . Today was different , though . I woke up with a strong desire to stay indoors and go over my plans . I ordered breakfast and read a book as I waited for it to be delivered , but I started to grow impatient as it took more time than usual . I considered calling again but decided against it ; they had never delayed an order , so whatever was causing this had to be important . To keep myself from thinking about something I had no control over , I focused on what was in front of me . With that mindset , I turned my attention to the book I was reading and tried to finish it , but a few minutes later , my stomach started to growl , and I couldnt continue reading , no matter how hard I tried . I put the book down and picked up my phone . Noon , I muttered as I stared at the clock displayed on the screen . Thats strange . I knew I had placed the order some time ago , but I wasnt expecting it to take this long . I decided to find out what the delay was and tried to call , but no one picked up , so I threw on a robe and went downstairs . When I arrived at the reception area , I was greeted with an eerie silence rather than the usual buzz of activity . I looked around for Sonia or any of the other staff , but no one was around . I walked towards the entrance and noticed the security guards werent there either , and the doors were locked from outside . Whats going on ? I said , and my voice echoed throughout the space . This is a robbery , thats what , a voice said from behind me . I turned sharply to lock gazes with a man standing a few meters away , a gun in his hand and a smug expression on his face . My mouth went dry as beads of perspiration formed on my forehead . I stood rooted in one spot as panic washed over me , my heart racing as he walked towards me . I resisted the urge to run in the opposite direction , scared he would get agitated and come after me or , worse , shoot . I didnt come all this way to die at the hands of some crazy 07:20 O Dancing into the Heart of Mr. Ca 31.8 % Chapter 49 man looking for his next meal in the most insidious way . Wheres everybody ? I asked , trying to hide the fear building inside me as he got closer . Tucked away nicely . Youre a doll , arent you ? he said , standing a few steps away , close enough for me to smell the alcohol on his breath . What room were you in ? Why didnt we see you earlier ? I pondered his question and realized that while I was tucked away , reading a book I had bought on a whim from one of the city bookstores , he and his companions had been picking off guests room by room . I wished I had stayed put or gone exploring as usual . I … I … I stammered , trying to decide on the best way to answer . I knew telling him what suite I was in would be foolish , but I didnt want to annoy him by not giving an appropriate response , given that he was clutching a weapon . I also wondered why he didnt have a mask on ; being able to see his face meant I could identify him if the cops , who I hoped were close by , ever needed a description . I wondered if anyone had been able to send a distress call or signal , given that hed mentioned they were all locked up somewhere . I had my phone in my robe pocket , but reaching for it while he stared at me would be a stupid move . I was many things , but an idiot wasnt one of them , and as scared as I was , I knew I had to make the right choices , or things would go south fast . I looked at him and swallowed as my thoughts drifted back to the fact that I could point him out in a crowd . I wished he was wearing something to conceal his identity , as that wouldve filled me with some hope . If I knew identifying him would be a problem , Im sure he knew it too , and it scared me because it meant the likelihood of him not letting me leave here alive had increased . Any smart criminal wouldnt want someone who could identify them walking around . I felt the sweat trickle down my face as I tried to find a reason to stay calm and look for a way out of this situation . Dont worry , it makes no difference anyway . Well just lock you up with everybody else and burn the place to the ground , he said and grinned as my eyes widened in panic . Burn the place to the ground ? I thought you said it was a robbery ! I blurted before I could stop myself . The image of people screaming in pain instantly filled my mind , and my body trembled . What kind of thieves burned people alive ? Why couldnt they take whatever they wanted and leave ? So many thoughts ran through my mind , and as he started walking towards me , I took a few steps back . Theres nothing to be scared of . Itll hurt for a few minutes , then the smoke and the stench of burning flesh will knock you out before anything else . After that , itll be easy to get rid of the bodies . Thats easy for you to say . Youre not going to be locked up with people scared shitless before the fire gets to wherever youre taking me , I retorted . For some reason , I found the courage to speak . It was hard to find it , given that he had informed me I was going to die anyway . Was I scared ? Absolutely . It felt like I had walked away from a life I considered the worst right into another , which started well , only this time I had the misfortune of stumbling upon something so insidious it filled me with rage at how cruel fate was . He chuckled and walked towards me in quick strides , grabbing my arm . Youre feisty . I like that . This should be fun . As he spoke , he pulled me towards a section of the hotel I had never been to . As we walked , my thoughts shifted to Maria . For the first time since I arrived here , I was glad she hadnt come with me . I didnt want to die like this , but I knew I wouldve hated myself even more if she had to experience this entire charade because she took my advice and moved cities . I had no one in the world to mourn me when this was over , 07:20 Danging into the Heart of Mr. C 32.0 % Chapter 49 and as scary as this was , the idea of not having to deal with my thoughts or address the traumatic experiences that shaped my life up to this point felt great . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!