Chapter 11: Midnight and New Secrets
Midnight had arrived. Tomas finished his shift at the port warehouse – his hands ached from lifting heavy boxes, his back throbbed after the long day. His mind replayed yet another meaningless workday, thoughts heavy and dark like the night sea. Walking through the cold autumn streets, he felt leaves quietly crunch beneath his feet.
From afar, the neon sign of the Obsidian bar flickered – glowing as if calling out to tired passersby. Tomas glanced at his watch – almost midnight.
"Laura should be finishing soon… maybe I should wait? It's not safe at night."
He stopped in the shadow by the corner of the bar.
"Maybe I should go inside? No… too many people. I don't want to."
But then his gaze caught two men standing a little farther away under a streetlamp – dark jackets, mysterious, their eyes shifting. One of them pulled out a photo.
– "This is the girl. She works in this bar," he muttered.
The other nodded:
– "We finally found her. We'll wait until she finishes… then grab her."
Tomas froze. His heart struck harder.
"They're looking for… Laura. Why? Who are they?"
His body acted faster than his thoughts. He walked toward the men, pretending to be drunk: waving his hands, staggering, his voice slurred.
– "Guys, got a cigarette? Just one?"
– "Get lost, drunk!" one shouted.
Tomas didn't retreat:
– "Just one…" – and suddenly he wrapped his arm around one man's neck. A quick strike to the nerve near the ear – the man collapsed unconscious instantly, like a switch had been turned off.
The second man reached toward his waistband – a knife flashed – but Tomas caught his wrist and twisted. The bone cracked. The man screamed in pain.
Tomas, calm and cold as if it were routine, dragged him into a darker alley.
– "Now talk. Why are you looking for the girl from this bar?" His voice was low, strict.
The man trembled.
– "Okay! I'll talk! Her uncle… he's paying a lot of money for her. Told us to find her and bring her back."
Tomas tightened his grip.
– "Why?"
The man whimpered.
– "Her uncle… he's one of the general directors of NovaCure! There were rumors the girl has some important information about the company. But from what I heard… he kept her like an animal. Locked up. Beat her. She escaped. I swear – that's all I know!"
Tomas felt shock crash through his chest. NovaCure.
"My parents worked there. They died in a car accident… coincidence?"
Rage and confusion mixed with concern for Laura.
He pulled the man's wallet out, tore off the address.
– "If you tell anyone you saw her – I'll find you. And I'll break more than your arms. Understand?"
The man nodded and limped away into the darkness.
Tomas returned to the bar. At that moment Laura stepped outside – tired but beautiful, hair messy from work. When she saw him, she gave a warm smile.
– "Finished work?" he asked.
– "Yes!" Her voice was gentle. – "You… waited for me?"
Tomas tensed, blushed.
– "Well… since we live in the same building, I thought… we could walk home together. It's not safe at night."
Laura laughed softly.
– "Who would've thought – you're so shy when you want to walk a girl home?"
– "Whatever… I'm going," Tomas muttered, looking away.
– "Wait!" She caught up to him, laughing lightly.
The night was unusually beautiful – the moon hung large and cold above them, stars shimmering. They walked shoulder to shoulder, occasionally brushing against each other.
Tomas thought:
"I won't tell her yet. I don't want to scare her."
Laura broke the silence:
– "What kind of movies do you like? Maybe we could watch something together sometime?"
– "Action… thrillers… horror… and…" his voice faded, cheeks reddening – "…a bit of romance."
Laura snorted playfully:
– "Romance? You? I'd never have guessed! What's your favorite?"
Tomas only walked faster, staring at the ground from embarrassment.
– "We can watch something sometime!" she added cheerfully. – "Just tell me when you're free."
They reached their building, climbed to the third floor. Both tired, yet somehow lighter.
– "Good night," they said at the same time.
Each went to their own room.
Tomas lay down, but sleep refused to come. His thoughts circled around NovaCure and Laura's uncle.
"What are they hiding? Why is she so important?"
His heart pounded heavily, anxiety tightening his chest.
Laura couldn't sleep either. The silence was almost absolute – only the kitchen clock ticking. She stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open. Tomas's gentleness, his shyness… and him appearing outside the bar clawed at her thoughts.
But the warmth was swallowed quickly by darker memories.
She was fourteen when her mother died – NovaCure was supposed to cure her illness, but didn't. Her uncle – a company director – took her to live with him "until she recovered."
The first weeks were normal. Then he began asking:
– "What did your mother leave you? What documents? Where did she hide them?"
She knew nothing.
The first blow came during dinner.
Then came the lockings, punishment, food once a day. He kept her like an animal.
– "She stole data from NovaCure. Where is it? TELL ME."
Laura cried, told the truth, but he didn't believe her.
Two months locked in. Nightmares every day.
Then one night – he was away. She escaped.
"He's still looking."
She sat up in bed, her hands trembling.
"If he finds me… Tomas…"
Tears shimmered in her eyes – fear, pain.
Finally she calmed down and fall asleep.