Chapter 401: Overwhelmed

Slowly Rian and Roxy warmed up to each other, started having fun, went on dates, explored the city but they didn't let those affect their progress of learning and expertise their skills better with the help of George Sherman.

Roxy most of the time ignored Freya Reid's judgemental gazes or words without thinking too much about it but unfortunately, she didn't care to get along with anybody else. She was a single occupant in her dorm room so she was practically alone when Rian went to country E to meet his friends.

Rian wanted to take her to meet his friends but Roxy didn't want to be a third wheel between the best friends. During his day of absence, George Sharmon arranged an activity for them and each team had two members.

Freya who heard it smiled wickedly and purposefully teamed up with Roxy to trouble her in the absence of Rian. Out of four places, Roxy and Freya got the abandoned place location to visit and paint it for the practice.

Freya excitedly chose the place for them, "Roxy, you have to teach me this time. I have never tried such a deep theme in my painting."

Roxy feigned ignorance on her overexcitement and started searching where they could go to get such a location. Freya got the location first and pushed her mobile at her, "This place has an amazing view beach and old church. Let's go here." She pointed at a picture and continued, "You take this angle and I will choose a little easier angle which I could manage. Is it alright?"

Unwillingly, Roxy nodded, and both left in the cab towards the location. It wasn't far but it wasn't near either. She kept her silence while Freya kept on bluffing the whole time narrating the places she had visited in that city.

After alighting the cab, Roxy realized the whole area is an abandoned place and they couldn't get a vehicle anywhere nearby. She looked around and turned to the cab, "Mister, will you be able to wait for three to four hours? I will pay you the waiting charges."

Freya spoke instead of the driver, "I have already spoken to him, he will wait for us."

Roxy failed to notice her hidden plans and went with her towards the church which was about a hundred meters away from the main road. 

Undoubtedly, Roxy liked the abandoned church against the blue sky and sea as background. If she wasn't daring and confident, she would be trembling like Freya.

Freya watched the church that looked spooky and glanced at Roxy's smirk as she placed her stand and started preparing to start her work. She had no nerve to move away from Roxy and the latter didn't care to notice what was up to.

Both silently did their work, Freya managed to be there for an hour and spoke, "Roxy, I need to use the washroom, there seemed to be none here. I will go behind the bush."

Roxy unmindfully hummed and didn't notice Freya taking both of their bags and leaving silently. Freya took the cab and soon left the eerie place which gave her goosebumps all the time.

As soon as they left Freya started rummaging her bag to take her mobile but didn't find one. 'Holy cow, she will call for help. Ugh.'

She wanted to return because others will get to know she left Roxy alone in the eerie place but the thought of Roxy taking revenge on her and she might leave her there and take the cab scared her more. She threw Roxy's bag out of the cab and returned to the university.

Roxy hadn't cared to check anything until her mobile went off. She pulled her mobile out and spoke to Rian for nearly fifteen minutes. Rian asked casually, "Where are you now?"

"I don't know. It's the outskirts near the abandoned church. There are many abandoned houses here. It's kind of a mysterious place."

Rian's tone turned unpleasant, "You fool, there is an abandoned old administration block, teacher Sherman meant that building for the project. The bridge is at the western gate of the University, the building is at the IT department, the lake is on the campus and another arch is our university arch. Why did you go to an unknown place? Are you nuts?"

Roxy realized, teacher Sherman didn't mention exiting the university and it was Freya who checked the choice they got and she just believed it. She turned to the Freya's painting stand and realized she didn't return from more than half an hour, she glanced down to see that there were no bags.

"Rian..." Roxy almost told him what was going on but shut her lips. She didn't want to worry Rian who was out in another country enjoying with his friends. 

She changed her tone and relaxed immediately, "Hahaha, I was kidding. I am at university." She disregarded the fact that Rian knew a few friends who could pick her up and there won't be anything to worry about.

Rian sighed on the other end and moved on the topic. They spoke a little more time while Roxy started searching around if Freya had really left or fainted somewhere. She saw the cab wasn't there anymore and realized she finally fell into Freya's trick.

By the end she ended the call, her mobile died eventually without letting her check if she could call for any cab. She waited on the main road for more than three hours until one vehicle passed by and waved her hand but she was shocked to see the vehicle take a U-turn and leave from there.

She wasn't scared but was mulling over how to reach back the city when a board came to her vision. 'No trespassing' Below it, there were faded words she took time to read. 'Paranormal activity is observed.'

Roxy wasn't sure if she should get scared by it or not but realized why the car took U-turn and left before reaching near her. While going the location she had noticed for quite a few miles there was no living habitat around so she had no choice but to start walking even if it takes her more than four hours.

She started at four in the afternoon and walked alone till nine in the night and fortunately, she got her bag on the way in which she had some snacks and water.

Was she angry? Nope

Was she sad? Nope

She has suffered far more troubles and bullying, she felt nothing by it other than feeling lonely walking alone on the street alone. She had forgotten how it felt to be lonely after she got along well with Rian.

She wasn't sure how long she could manage on her feet but she pushed her limits and reached the small town where a large group and men and women were sitting, chatting, and laughing heartily.

She clumsily sat on the empty chair and asked, "Excuse me, I want a cab to reach the city. Please help me with finding one around here." 

A middle-aged lady reached the paled Roxy whose voice was ailing, "How did you reach here?" While removing her strands of wet hair away from her face, that lady gasped, "Girl, you are burning."

Roxy shook her head and caught her breath, "I am fine. My mobile is off so I couldn't call a cab. Is there a way to reach back to the city?"

A few more ladies reached her and helped her drink water, another one took her mobile to keep for charging in their house, another one quickly brought fruits for her to eat. 

Roxy tried to stop them from treating her but they didn't listen and forced her to eat and take medicine for fever. Assuring her that they will send her back the next day, she was sent a house to take a rest.

Overwhelmed with their kindness, Roxy cried half of the night before falling asleep. Shouldn't she be feared one for going to such a place and being in the unknown's house? Roxy wasn't frightened by all that. She usually felt safe around unknowns than around the people like Freya Reid.

---

She had no idea her fever had returned in the early morning and the house owner took care of her while she had no conscious.

When she woke up in the afternoon, Rian was sitting beside her eagerly waiting for her to wake. Rian had repeatedly called Roxy in the morning after landing the flight but his call was answered by an unknown man who gave him the address to pick Roxy.

Only he knew how much he was panicked when an unknown voice sounded on the other end of the call. 

"Rian!" She crawled up and encircled her hands when he went near her. Rian caressed her head breathing a sigh of relief, "Stupid girl, why did you lie to me? I would have arranged for someone to pick you."

Roxy didn't respond other than wrapping her hands tighter around him. She wanted to say, 'Never leave me alone again.' but she buried it. She was afraid Rian might laugh at her making fun of her or might feel her as clingy. "I am fine."

Rian stood up and helped her wear the jacket as he said, "Time to handle that Freya Reid."