Chapter 20 Savior vs Monster

"What? Are you just going to stand there all day?" Stefani asked as she had already stepped foot inside the small house.

Jonathan balled his fists. The younger seemed to have not taken the accident too seriously as Jonathan. There wasn't even a look of shock or fear from her eyes the moment she fell down and hurt her leg. Jonathan wondered if the younger was only faking her bravery or she wasn't just as fragile as Jonathan thought her to be. Well, she did save Jonathan yesterday. The younger was dead serious when she said she could fight too.

The moment Jonathan went in, it was becoming dark outside. They were lucky they had shelter for the night. Jonathan gave whatever he had to the old woman a while ago to let them stay. He only had a little cash left in his pocket. His wallet and Stefani's other belongings might've been stolen by the men who kidnapped them while they were unconscious.

There was only one bed inside. Stefani was already heading for it. "I'm going to rest now. You can use this later when I wake up."

Jonathan remained silent and sat on a nearby chair, thinking deeply once again.

They needed to go home as soon as possible. It was nice of the old woman earlier to accept what he had offered, and they even treated Jonathan and Stefani's wounds, but how long were they going to let Jonathan and Stefani stay in this place? Jonathan only had a little cash on him now. Of course, people needed money, they weren't going to let them stay here for free. They could go to the road tomorrow and use the last money they have to ride a bus there. But then, who knows what would happen on their way there? Jonathan could manage his own, but Stefani... Stefani's leg was still healing. The rain wasn't near stopping, the path to the road would be even muddier tomorrow. The thugs might appear before them again. Would Jonathan be able to protect Stefani if that happens? These thoughts kept running inside Jonathan's mind for an hour.

Jonathan glanced at Stefani, noticing how the younger's eyes were now shut close. Stefani's chest was slowly going up and down, silently telling she was now having a good sleep.

Looking at the window, Jonathan noticed it was totally dark. They were gone for an entire day now. Jonathan wondered what Mr. Hernandez was thinking, what Jane was thinking. Would they blame Jonathan for Stefani's wounded leg? Of course. It was his fault after all. If only Jonathan was stronger than he was right now... If only he could protect Stefani with his strength.

Jonathan kept blaming himself for what happened to Stefani for the next few minutes. Then, he fisted his hands. He felt as if he was being useless all this time. He needed to do something in order for him and Stefani to survive.

Decided, he got up and went out, heading to the small houses below their own.

There he met the same auntie before and asked her for more details about the place they were in while doing a few business techniques he usually used at work. He found out that her name was Mrs. Hanji and everybody in the place called her Mrs. Hanji. Apparently, she was also the only one who owned a free hut to be occupied.

Mrs. Hanji was handing Jonathan a bag of food when she asked out of curiosity, "My guess can't be wrong. You two are married, right?"

Jonathan couldn’t help but feel taken aback by that. He felt shy but at the same proud all of a sudden. "Yes."

The shyness of the mature businessman look and voice Jonathan made the old single woman smile in a rather teaseful way. "Sigh, you both sure had it rough, getting lost in the mountains like that... If you're going on a honeymoon, you should've picked a better place. This town is too poor for young ones like you."

Mrs. Hanji looked like she pitied the couple. She thought the two were too unlucky to be lost and stranded in such an ugly, poor, hopeless village as theirs. What she didn't know was that they were actually rich people who were just kidnapped and lucky enough to escape. This, however, Jonathan chose not to share. After all, his priority was Stefani’s safety.

"Ah, please don't say that. This place is nice as it is. We rarely visit nature-inspired places so it's a good choice to be here..." Jonathan decided to play safe. A little lie won't hurt especially when they still were unfamiliar with the place. Jonathan couldn't let Stefani be in danger any more than she already had been.

Mrs. Hanji couldn't believe such young ones would be interested in their place. She had been living here for fifty years and there's nothing interesting to see at this place at all. "What's there to enjoy in this place? All you see are trees, bugs, bamboo-made houses, bugs, plants, bugs.."

As she was saying this, a scream was suddenly heard that almost resonated the whole village. Jonathan's heartbeat stopped as he realized it came from the house where he and Stefani were currently staying.

"Stefani!" Jonathan, without thinking twice, ran as fast as he could to the small house.