How To Disappear - KiVi [Engl.]

Chapter 13

"Okay then... Bea, I probably don't know anything more than what Violeta has told you. So, can we put an end to this now so I can just see my girlfriend and try to move on from this entire fiasco?"

Bea sighs heavily and places her phone on the table beside Chiara's bed, "That's what we need to discuss. Chiara, Violeta doesn't know that you're alive right now. In fact, apart from myself, my station, the nurse you spoke to earlier, and your doctor, nobody knows that you're alive."

"What?" Chiara can't stop herself from laughing at the idea of it, "Well, why don't I just walk on out of here and show everybody how alive I am?"

"I don't know if you want to do that," Bea says and folds her hands in her lap, "Look, the lady that shot you - Buika - she ran off afterwards and we have absolutely no idea where she went. She's certainly not an amateur, she's... well, she's virtually untraceable."

"Well then look harder," Chiara gapes, "Do you realize how badly she could hurt Violeta if you don't find her?"

"She has no intentions of hurting Violeta, you don't have to worry about that," Bea assures, "We've had a lot of people look into the comments that she's left Violeta and the messages and... well, there's absolutely nothing indicating that she wants to harm her. The only person that she wanted to hurt was you, and she's made that very, very clear."

Chiara runs a hand over her face and shakes her head, "So that's it, then? You search for her for like a day and then you give up?"

Bea raises her eyebrows, "Chiara, it's been more than a day. You've been out for nearly two weeks now."

Chiara's eyes widen, "What?"

"She didn't kill you, but Buika got a pretty good shot in. In fact, you nearly did die on us a couple of times but you pulled through. You waking up at all was a bit iffy," Bea shakes her head.

"So, Violeta thinks I've been dead for two weeks?" Chiara's brow furrows, "That can't... I need to get out of here."

"Wait, wait, wait," Bea holds an arm out in front of Chiara to prevent her from sitting up, "I don't think you're grasping the weight of what I'm telling you, Chiara. This lady, this... Buika - she wants you dead. And that's quite a big problem when we have absolutely no idea where she is. Do you get what I'm saying?"

"So, what, I'm supposed to stay in this depressing hospital room until you catch her?"

"No, of course not. There's another arrangement that would work better for everybody - are you familiar with the witness protection program?"

Chiara scoffs, "You want to put me in witness protection?"

"It's honestly the best option that -"

"Absolutely not," Chiara declares, "I know that you're just trying to do your job here, Bea, but I am not going to live a life that's not mine. I've worked really hard for everything I have and I'm not going to give that up."

"You don't have to, Chiara. We can't make you do anything that you don't want to, but think about the alternative for a second here. You go back to your usual life, back to your home, back to Violeta - and then what? Buika will hear about it and she'll come back for you. Not only you, but she'll come back into Violeta's life again, too. Is that what you want?"

Chiara opens her mouth but immediately shuts it, suddenly feeling lightheaded from Bea's scenario.

"Can't that work out?" Chiara finally speaks up, "Can't you just... I don't know, set it up so that when she does come back for me the cops will bust him?"

"Chiara, she's a smart evil monster. Ridiculously smart, actually," Bea sighs, "We do have a shot at catching her - we have a few leads right now that we're looking into, but it will go much smoother if she thinks that she's taken care of you. It'll be safer."

"Can I at least tell Violeta I'm still here?" Chiara looks up, eyes beginning to water.

"Chiara..."

"I know," Chiara shakes her head, "I'm sorry, I just... I know."

"Things are going to be a little bit trickier with you since you do have a bit of a high profile, so we're still sorting all of that out. You know, trying to find somewhere in the states that we can place you where your visibility will be as low as possible," Bea explains, "But you should be in the hospital for at least another week, so we'll have everything ready for you by the time you get out."

"So, I just sit here and wait for a week?"

"Well, you got basic cable, a few board games - it shouldn't be too bad," Bea smiles, "But you can also start getting used to your new identity. Having a slip-up of any sort wouldn't be that great for your cover, Mariah Díaz."

Chiara scoffs, "Mariah Díaz? Could you have picked a more generic Latina name?"

"I'm sorry, what was that, Chiara Oliver?" Bea raises an eyebrow and Chiara slumps further into her pillows in response.

"Fine. Mariah Díaz it is," Chiara rolls her eyes.

Bea reaches over and places a hand on Chiara's shoulder, "You're doing the right thing, you know."

"I don't know," Chiara whispers in response, "Just... try to catch this woman as fast as you can, alright?"

"Of course," Bea stands up, shoving her phone back into her pocket, "Oh, and we're going to have someone come in here in a couple of days to take care of your hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" Chiara frowns.

"Nothing, it's just one of the most recognizable things about you. We're probably gonna have someone change the length, give you extensions and the color at the very least and your eyes are very noticeable.

"Is that really necessary?"

Bea shrugs, "It takes quite a bit of work to disappear, kid."

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~~~ ~~~ ~~~ Present ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

"And now you're here," Omar says softly.

"And now I'm here," Chiara sighs and leans back against her couch, "The end."

"What do you do for living now?"

Chiara shrugs, "I'm fluent in English, Spanish and Catalan, I was a translator before I started my music career, so I work for a small travel agency in town, I can do this from home. I don't get to do much translating, though - mostly just paper work."

"Christ, that sounds terrible," Omar sighs and mimics Chiara's position on the couch, resting into the cushions, "I just can't believe that's the end of the story."

"Well, it is," Chiara replies, "This is it for me now."

"Unless they catch this bitch," Omar points out.

Chiara doesn't respond, simply nods in return. The look of apprehension that sets through her face doesn't go unnoticed by the man sitting next to her.