Chapter 99 - Talk back and you'sre dead

"Congratulations Ms. Davis. You are hired, you can start working tomorrow" an old woman replied, her wrinkles showing up as she smiles tenderly to Helen. 

Oh! How excited she is to meet the children, she really wants to work in here!

"Thank you, Ma'am Jaimee, it's my pleasure to be of service" 

The old woman nods slowly, 'How rare to see someone who is still passionate to teach' it reminds her of her old days, where technology was not too advance. 

After exchanging a few more words, Helen decided to leave, the Daycare center is still located in the rural areas of Ainiligary empire yet it already portrays a city. 

The Ainiligary empire is known for its breath-taking beaches and world-class hotels. Although Helen doesn't know who then the ruler is, he sure is doing a great job in maintaining peace in this empire.

Helen guessed that the current emperor must be a nature lover since there are many forests and places that are not allowed for commercial buildings, like the one she is currently living. 

Walking with her hands on her back and admiring the view, she can't help but gasp every time she sees something new to her eyes. A small piece of snowflake falls into her hand, it's intricate design signifies the start of winter. 

'Ah, yes, it's my birthday' she remembered how the snow reminds her of the days passing by. Although she doesn't know her exact birthdate, it was Hannibal who said that November 23, the first day where the snow falls in Ainiligary Empire will be her birthday. 

For she, Helen, is like a tiny drop of a snowflake for Hannibal, delicate yet beautifully woven. 

The interview finished a while ago, but Helen doesn't want to inform Hannibal although he instructed her to do so, she wants to enjoy more of this city-like place. How the street lamps lit up as the evening gets deeper, how the children playing gets called by their mothers. 

'I should've brought my thermal coat' she thought as she shrugs both of her hands for more warmth. Seated on a wooden bench just beside the road, Helen felt the coldness devour her, however, the smile plastered on her face never left her.

This is the first time she can get to witness the snow, Hannibal always forbade her to go outside and play with the snow since he's afraid she will get sick again. 

You see, eversince Helen woke up, she has become weak, mentally and physically as if a drug has been used to stop her body from completely recovering. She's deteriorating slowly, her time relapsing in front of her eyes.

And that's why she gave up recovering her memories, she will not waste her time sulking, she chose to free herself after all, how much does she have anyway? 

One year? Two years? Three years? 

Nobody knows. 

She was about to get up upon seeing the time, 6:30 P.M, but was stopped by three drunk men. 

"Hey, are you free beauty?"  an old man who is twice her size said, his big belly showing through his undershirt.

"Eww," Helen having sheltered by a gorgeous man such as Hannibal can't help but be disgusted to the troupe. Don't judge her, it's just that the smell really stinks. 

"WHAT?! Don't you want to have some fun?" the bald man said groggily. 

The smell of booze never left the group.

A man wearing tattered clothes in his forties, and two on their thirties.

Helen gets up abruptly, it seems like trouble never leaves her! 

"Sorry, but I have something to do," she said cooly, but deep within, her heart is erratic. Who wouldn't get nervous in this situation? Since the place looks like a city but still in a rural area, the citizens are only a few and many left due to the cold approaching. 

Turning her injured ankle on the right side of the way to avoid the group, she was stopped when the bald man pulled her long hair. 

"O-ouch!!" 

"Where are you going? We are not yet finished talking"

'Men these days, brutally pulling a woman's hair! Don't they know how long Hannibal brushed that?!'

As the thought of having Hannibal's hard work turned into a mess, it ignited the anger in Helen.

Grabbing the arm of the one who pulled her hair, she twisted it, hard.

"A-aaaack! Aniki, help!" the bald man writhed in pain.

The two drunkards suddenly became aware, dropping the beer on the floor and cracking their knuckles. It seems like the beauty they found is not only a flower but also a poisonous one. 

"You hurt our younger brother, we will not be gentle on you anymore."

The old man whistled, "Boys!" 

Just then, five more men gathered out of nowhere.

'Oh, dang it, did I just stayed on a gang's lair?!' 

Cursing herself inwardly for not calling Hannibal earlier, Helen has no choice but to look around for an escape.

She walked for forty minutes from the Daycare center to get into this park that's placed on a main road. Few people were passing by but it seems like they could care less of what's happening.

Helen takes back what she said earlier, the emperor of this empire is too lenient! How come thugs were all around the place? And it's not even that dark yet.

She will surely file a complaint later through Hannibal! 

But first, she needs to get out of this situation. 

"Now, now, usually,  I like feisty girls but you are getting on my nerves already" 

"What? Is baldy too important for you? Pft, gay" she said sounding confident. She needs to provoke them to execute her plan. 

'Dang, I could've run faster if it weren't for these stupid heels and injury!'

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" 

Now she has done it. 

"I can take you all out, just let me remove my shoes," she said in a condescending tone. 

"Hah! Do it now, and let's see, if you can't take us all, be prepared to surrender that beautiful body, we will make you scream in pleasure" the man said, licking the side of his lips while imagining what's behind all those clothes.  

Helen almost vomited on what the man is speaking. As if she's let them tamper her! 

Slowly removing her second shoe, she then looks up and throws it at the man's face... and as if on cue, she runs fast, not minding her twisted ankle. 

"AFTER HER!!!" 

Helen can imagine the smoke coming out from the man's nose. Her feet cold under the stoned floor but she continued running towards nothing in particular and when she tried to look back if they are catching up with her, a hard thing bumped on her. 

"Fuck, why is there a wall here?!" she said, massaging her pointed nose, now she's got to run twice more! 

Opening her eyes, Helen can't believe it. A handsome young man is in front of her! 

Her mind thinking in chaos as her heart continues beating fast. 

'Should she do it? This is her last chance!' 

"I'm sorry stranger!" she said, tiptoeing to kiss the dashing man in front of her.

At least by this, she can delay becoming dead meat. Although she doesn't know what fate awaits her later. 

Like how she witnessed the snow for the first time that day, this is also the first time she gave a kiss to a man, it feels so soft, like a muffin... 

"HALT! Give this woman to us!" The leader of the eight men said although the whole group felt shivers ran down their spine with the sight of the man. 

"This man is my husband, you dare to harass me earlier you will face death! " Helen said gripping the man's clothes.

"Help me this one time" she mouthed, pleading the tall man in front of her. He looks at her for a moment then stared back at the gang as if giving a warning.  

His dark orbs are enough to send them into hell. 

"Aniki, that man looks scary," one of the leader's comrade said. It is true though! Even Helen is feeling nervous with this dazzling yet dangerous man. 

"W-what? We are many and he's just one" the leader said, "If none of you will go, I will" he charged forward. 

In a blink of an eye, the man in tattered clothing is lying down on the floor with a nose bleed. It took one punch from the stranger to send his soul to another world. 

"The red dots on your shirts is a laser, I have my men surrounded you all over" his cold yet deep voice uttered. 

"Wh-wh--" one of the old men was about to protest but was cut off immediately. 

"Talk back and you're dead," he said with no hint of humor, and it made everyone peed on their pants, almost including Helen.

The men started running away, bringing their Aniki with them, tonight they lost the battle with that cunning woman! 

"Hehe, you can let me go now" Helen chuckles nervously, his right arm is wrapped around her waist for Pete's sake! 

The man lets her go but his dark orbs landed on her feet.

She blushed slightly, she has no footwear.

Uneasiness crept on her, as her feet move, trying to remove the coldness. 

"What's your name? I will compensate you later" she said, diverting the topic.

Frost flowing from her mouth like a smoke every time she speaks. 

"Adam..." Helen's breathing hitched upon hearing the name. 

"You can call me Adam," the man said as his once cold eyes now filled with tenderness.