The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 21 – Turning to another turn, I took the car through an almost empty street, my gaze continued their connection with the GPS tracker of my phone. I’d never heard of that bar’s name before, and after tracing Beth’s phone, I found it was at Northern Avenue. The street infamous for old buildings, illegal casinos, small cafes and bars. And most importantly, hundreds of alleys.

I’d no idea what the h**l she was doing here at nine of the night!

And seeing the eerie silence around, I felt people of this area called it a night much earlier than others.

Once I was finally outside at the destination at the middle of a narrow road, I double checked the location and the bar’s name. A big’ Dakota’s Bar’ was written on a white board, red fairy lights lit at the edges. And the wobbly two rugged men that stumbled out of the bar rose the scale of my discomfort higher.

I’d just pick her up and flee out of this uncanny area.

When I was about to park my car at the small parking lot at the corner, I found it full. And the c****o beside it explained the reason. I’d just park my car outside the bar, but a big no parking sign stopped me.

Sighing, I went ahead and turned to another narrow road and found there a place to park. Keeping my car there, I took my phone and went back to the bar.

Cold air pricked my skin as I walked along the footpath, brown locks of mine swayed with the breeze. Distant music coming out from the c****o’s closed doors was the only sound I could hear other than some dogs barking afar.

As soon as I entered the bar, her sprawled figure came into my view. With a large bottle in her hand, she sang something in her not so pleasant slurry voice; her dark curly head rested on the rounded table at the corner. It was a small bar, so finding her wasn’t a hassle.

When I approached her, a man in white shirt and red bow around his neck greeted me.

“I guess you’re the friend of hers I called, right?” he asked.

“Yes, that’s me. Thank you so much for informing me about her! I’d no idea she would be here at this moment,” I said, genuinely grateful. At places like this, she could fall into a wrong man’s hand. Thank G*d, this man, who must be a bartender here, turned out to be a gentleman!

“No problem, Miss. She’s actually here for the last four hours, drinking and crying non-stop. And when it was our time to close the bar, we asked her to leave but she wasn’t in a state to leave alone, so we’d to call you.”

Crying? What happened to her?

“Alright! Again, thank you so much for taking care of her until I arrived,” saying, I hurried to her and called out her name.

Blinking her red swollen eyes at me, recognition flickered over her face as an uneven smile stretched across her lips.” Emmm! You’re ‘ere! I was soooo lonely.” She tugged at my hand. “Come, sit’ere! Now we’re going to drink together!”

I brushed her unkempt hair out of her forehead, her cheeks were streaked with dried tears and smudged mascara. She looked like a mess.

was alright. I’d talk to her once she was sober. But I needed to get her out of

Beth. You’d had enough drinks for tonight, you aren’t having any more. Let’s go, we’re leaving.”‘ I

you’ll

man shuffled in his place, eying his wrist. The whole bar was empty, he was just waiting for us

to stand up, I wrapped one

want a drink!” she complained, but

at the man. He offered if I needed help but I denied. Paying her

was parked. Some wobbling figures appeared and disappeared around the corners. In

along, she started crying again, mumbling

It’s alright. We’re

sudden shiver ran down my spine as I felt eyes on me. My gaze flickered around,

but it was too strong. And when I heard footsteps behind me, i’d to turn around. A fleeting figure

the other end of the street. But there was

someone following me even before I came here? No, it must’ve been another car. There wasn’t only one Range

around and urged Beth to walk faster.

a whistle reverberated across the street. Some middle-aged men huddled under the shadow, I could feel their gaze set on us. When one of them pushed against the wall, standing straight, I tightened my grip on Beth and dragged

We need to move fast!”

don’t wanna

walk faster!” I said, glancing over my shoulder.

car parked on, I almost sighed in relief. Until footsteps behind us reached me. And this time, there wasn’t only

I walked as fast as I could with her along. With another hand, I fished out my pepper spray and phone from my pocket and kept it in

come here alone. I at least should’ve

brain screamed at me to run, but I knew I couldn’t. Fear gripped my

when one of them yelled out something in a foreign language as they neared closer

the door open with shaky hands and pounding heart, I pushed her

I found no one. As if they suddenly vanished into the thin air. Just like that.

the h**l did

inside the car and drove off. And

to talk to this friend of mine about the stunt she pulled tonight tomorrow morning.