Disoriented, I blink at the morning light streaming through the window. My eyes sting, and my mind feels like it’s been in a bender all night long. I could barely sleep, chasing solutions for saving Josh’s uncle. Despite hours of turning over every detail I could recall, I’m no closer to an answer. At one point, I passed out from exhaustion, but unfortunately, I could only get a few hours of sleep. now i had to deal with being sleep deprived all day longI push the thoughts aside and head to the bathroom. If I’m going to survive today, I’ll need to face both Josh and Lisa without raising suspicions. My mind hardens as I make a vow to act normal, calm, and composed. They can’t know anything’s changed until I’m completely free of their influence.After a hot shower, i run a towel through my hair to dry it. I had it cut short after a while of working tirelessly as it was too much work. I missed my long hair, and I was glad to have it back.I pause in front of the mirror; the reflection s
As I walk toward campus, the familiar paths bring up more memories I’ve tried to bury. Back in school, I was a ghost, a social pariah. I didn’t have friends, just Lisa and Josh.At first, things were different. My classmates were kind, even welcoming. I liked a couple of them and had fun conversations with them; I thought maybe I’d finally belong somewhere. But slowly, I started to see their smiles fade, replaced by cold stares and whispers behind my back.Why?I still don’t know, but it doesn’t take much to know Lisa had to have spread some lies about me. I wasn’t living on campus, so I didn’t have roommates to bond with or late-night study sessions to join, so wasn’t really in the social scene in school, and I couldn’t have been able to hear about rumours about myself.When the hostility began, I retreated into myself and stuck to Lisa.Lisa, my “best friend," never lifted a finger to help me connect with anyone.Why would she? She was thriving, surrounded by friends, always laughin
Disoriented, I blink, my mind snapping back just in time to catch Lisa’s words."Hey, I tried calling you last night, but it wasn’t going through. Are you alright?" she asks, her voice laced with a practiced air of concern.I force a smile, though I’m sure it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. "Oh, yeah. I slept really early, and my phone was on Do Not Disturb."Before I can finish my words, she waves her hand dismissively, cutting me off. "Anyway, I was calling for your advice on what to wear for tonight's class get-together."I roll my eyes. How typical of Lisa, not caring about anyone but herself.We’re walking into the half-filled lecture hall now, and I let her comment hang in the air for a second before asking, "What get-together?"Lisa turns to me, eyes widening in mock surprise. "Oh, I’m so sorry," she says, her tone dripping with insincere pity. "A couple of our coursemates decided to host a party for everyone. I thought you’d be invited, too. That’s why I mentioned it."My chest t
I round the corner and spot the café in the distance. Relief washes over me as I realize I’ve made it on time. Josh might be a terrible person, but punctuality is his religion. If I were even a minute late, he’d let me hear about it. And I need him in a good mood if I’m going to pry any useful information from him.My mind is so caught up in rehearsing the conversation that I almost miss it—a low, pained groan.I freeze mid-step, my ears straining. There it is again. Definitely a groan.Before I can second-guess myself, my feet carry me toward the alley beside the café. My heart hammers as my mind spins with possibilities. What could have happened? This area’s supposed to be safe. It’s surrounded by schools and dorms—nothing ever happens here.The sound guides me deeper into the alley, and soon I spot the source: a dark figure slumped against the wall.He’s male; I can tell that much immediately. His left hand clutches his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers. His right hand is
"Closer," he snaps, his tone sharper this time.I suck in a deep breath, and before I can stop myself, the words spill out."Hey, please don’t shoot me! I promise, if you let me go, I won’t say a word about anything I saw. I didn’t even see your face—okay, that’s a lie. I did see it, and, uh, wow, you’re really gorgeous, I have to say."His brows knit together, but I’m too far gone to stop now."My point is," I ramble on, "someone with a face like yours doesn’t belong in jail. You know what happens there, and I’d really hate for you to end up like that. So I definitely won’t tell anyone, not the police, not anyone. Please, I really don’t want to die. I still have so much to do!"My voice finally falters, and I realize I’m holding my breath. When I dare to look at him again, his expression is unreadable."Are you done?" he asks, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched.I blink at him, my mouth snapping shut."I don’t need a monologue," he says dryly. "I just want you to take that phone."
I walk over to his table, and before I can even sit, Josh launches into his usual tirade.“Why did you keep me waiting? You know I’m very busy these days, and you also know how much I love punctuality. I get that you weren’t brought up strictly with these principles, but surely, by now, you’ve learned good manners.”I stare at him, stunned by his audacity, half tempted to pull out the gun tucked in my bag just to shut him up. Instead, I bite back my irritation. I just needed one thing from him, and after that, I could make him pay for all the misery he’d caused me.Forcing a smile, I coax, “I’m sorry I’m late. I ran into some of my parents’ old friends and had to stop for a quick conversation.”That seems to satisfy him, and he leans back in his chair with a smug nod. “So, what did you call me here for?”“I called you here to catch up,” I said lightly. “It’s been a few days since we last talked.”His disappointment is evident, and I wonder why, but I press on instead. “How’s your famil
Josh leaves soon after he receives another text; i dont even try to stop himI am about to do the same when a shadow looms over the table, and I look up to find a young woman standing there, her expression hard and unyielding.It takes me a moment to recognise her—Ciara. A classmate. She had always stood out with her effortless beauty: short, dark brown hair that framed her face, hazel eyes that sparkled with intelligence—or, in this moment, judgement—and a dusting of freckles across her button nose that softened her otherwise sharp demeanor.But her body language right now is anything but soft.“You’re a really bad person, aren’t you?” she said, her tone cold and accusatory, cutting through the muted chatter of the café.I blink, startled. “Excuse me?”She wasn’t holding back. Her eyes dart to the seat Josh had just vacated before returning to mine, her gaze as sharp as a blade. She clutches a to-go cup and a small brown bag, but her attention was fully on me, like a predator who had
As I head home, I decide to make a detour to Drax Industries. I know they have a branch in this state, and from my past life memories, I recall that Alaric Sinclair gets murdered here, so it’s likely he is currently in this state, planning the merger at the local branch.I walk into the building, unsure of what I’m getting myself into. Even if I manage to get through to him, what would I say? Hi, you don’t know me, but I know you’re going to be killed in a few days. I can help you avert it, but you have to save my father’s company, alright? I’d probably be thrown out and admitted to a psych ward. I groan at the thought and mutter to myself, “There’s no going back now,” as I approach the lobby.At the reception desk stands a stunningly beautiful girl with blonde hair, flawless makeup, and warm brown eyes."Hi," she says brightly as I walk up."Hi," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. "I’d like to speak to Alaric Sinclair, please." I inject as much confidence into my words as possi
A few days later The morning was gray and overcast, mirroring my mood as I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, waiting for the nurse to finish my discharge papers. It had been a few days since the… incident, and while my injuries were minor and healed faster than expected. However, the emotional toll lingered like a storm cloud over my head. For one, my parents still refused to talk about me returning to work. Every time I tried to broach the topic, Mom expertly dodged the conversation, changing the subject like a seasoned politician. After the third attempt ended in frustration, Ryan pulled me aside and advised me to wait until I wasn’t sitting in a hospital bed to bring it up again. “They’re just worried about you, Anna,” he said. “Let them see you’re okay first.” I hated to admit he was right. But what really stung—what made my chest tighten every time I thought about it—was that Alaric hadn’t called, texted, or even stopped by. Not once. I thought we were friends—or at l
beep beepA steady beeping sound drew me out of a deep fog. Blinking slowly, I was met with an expanse of white, sterile walls, and a bright overhead light. It took a moment for reality to settle in—I was in a hospital.I looked around, taking in the faint hum of machines and the faint antiseptic smell. My gaze dropped to my arm, where tubes and wires connected me to the beeping monitor. Confusion mingled with an ache in my shoulder as I struggled to sit up.The movement sent a sharp jolt of pain through my shoulder, making me wince. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to slow me down. I was still fighting to prop myself up when the door opened. For some strange reason, my heart lurched, and I found myself hoping it was Alaric. The flash of disappointment that followed seeing my brother startled me—why had I wanted it to be him? Maybe I just needed to know he was okay after everything. “Anna!” my brother called out, his voice full of relief as he rushed to my side. His happiness
“Anna, wake up.”I groaned, still half-asleep, and rolled over, but the urgency in Alaric’s voice pulled me from my slumber. His hands gripped my shoulder, shaking me firmly. “What? What’s going on?” I mumbled groggily, blinking up at him. He pressed a finger to his lips, signalling for me to be quiet, and then pointed toward the door. My heart jumped as I strained my ears, and the faint sound of scuffling reached me. The haze of sleep vanished instantly. I sat up, now wide awake, as the muffled noise became clearer—footsteps, voices. My eyes darted to Alaric, who had his finger on the trigger of his gun, his expression tense. Swallowing hard, I grabbed the pistol he’d given me, my hands trembling slightly. I released the safety with a soft click, the sound unnervingly loud in the otherwise quiet cabin. The voices outside grew louder, more distinct. “Are you sure they’re in there?” one of them asked, his tone irritated. “They can’t have gone far,” another replied, sounding confi
Alaric took off his jacket, his movements precise as he tore a piece from it. Without a word, he knelt down again and began to gently clean my legs with the makeshift cloth. “Alaric, you don’t have to do this,” I protested, trying to pull my legs away, but he held firm, his gaze unwavering. “I want to,” he said simply, his voice steady. There was something in his tone that silenced me. He worked carefully, wiping away the blood and dirt. Every now and then, his hands would pause as if checking to make sure he wasn’t hurting me. When he finished, he tore the rest of his jacket into two longer strips and wrapped them around my feet, securing them snugly. The material provided an immediate sense of relief, dulling the sting from the cuts and scratches. “There,” he said, standing up and looking down at me with a small, reassuring smile. “That should help with the pain for now." “Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt for how much he was doing for me. He seemed
We ran as fast as we could, weaving through the dense forest. The trees and underbrush were thick, making it hard for anyone to track us. After what felt like an eternity, the sound of footsteps chasing us faded away. We slowed, trying to catch our breath. “We lost them,” Alaric said, his sharp gaze scanning the area. “But we need to keep moving. They might double back or spread out." Though my lungs burned and my legs screamed for rest, I nodded. “Okay,” I managed, determined not to slow him down. After a while, Alaric glanced at me. “You’re exhausted,” he said, his voice softer now. “Let’s rest for a few minutes." “No,” I shook my head firmly, even though my body ached to agree. “If we stop, they might catch up. I can keep going." Alaric’s lips pressed into a line, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. “Fine,” he said after a moment, “but you’re not doing this alone." Before I could protest, he stepped closer, gently grabbing my arm and positioning me so I leaned against him. “
As we drove through the countryside, the silence in the car grew heavier. I shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Alaric, who was focused on the road, his expression unreadable. To break the tension, I asked, "Mind if I put on some music?" He nodded without looking away from the road. "Go ahead." I turned on the radio and flipped through stations until I landed on a pop song I adored. A smile spread across my face as I began to sing along softly. The upbeat melody lifted my spirits, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside didn’t matter. When the song ended, I realized how absorbed I had been and glanced at Alaric. He was watching me out of the corner of his eye, an amused expression tugging at his lips. Embarrassment flooded me. "Sorry, that was… very inappropriate," I mumbled, fiddling with the hem of my blouse. To my surprise, he chuckled. "Don’t apologize. It was… refreshing." I blinked at him, caught off guard by his words. "Refreshing?" He nodded. "It’s nice to
"I told you I was innocent," I said, a hint of smugness in my tone as I handed Alaric the recording.He rolled his eyes, his lips quirking into a half-smile. "And I believed you," he replied evenly, holding the recorder to examine it. "What’s this?""It’s a recording of Naomi admitting her crime," I said, watching his expression shift to one of intrigue.Alaric pressed play, listening intently as Naomi’s voice filled the room, each word an undeniable confession. When the recording ended, he leaned back in his chair, an impressed look softening his usually stern features."How did you manage this?" he asked his tone a mixture of curiosity and approval.I explained my plan briefly, how Mia had helped me set it all up, and how I’d baited Naomi into confessing in the restroom. By the time I finished, he was leaning back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin."I’m impressed," he said with a low chuckle. "You solved the issue in less than a day. Not many people can do that."The
When I got home, the familiar scent of freshly baked cookies greeted me, and I found my mom bustling around the kitchen. She turned to me, her warm smile faltering as she caught sight of my face.“Anna?” she asked, concern lacing her voice. “What’s wrong, sweetheart, why are you home so early?”That was all it took for the dam to break. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. Mom was by my side in an instant, pulling me into a comforting hug.“It’s okay,” she murmured, stroking my hair. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Just tell me what happened.”Between sobs, I recounted the day’s events—the leaked information, the accusations, Naomi’s taunts, and the humiliation of being sent home. I told her about Alaric’s belief in my innocence and the way Naomi’s face had betrayed her guilt. By the time I concluded, my voice had become hoarse, and my emotions felt as if they had been squeezed out like a dried sponge.Mom’s grip tightened, her
The morning began on the wrong foot. Traffic had been relentless, and by the time I finally arrived at the office, I was already on edge. As I stepped into the building, I couldn’t shake the strange tension in the air. Conversations seemed quieter, glances more furtive. But I brushed it off, chalking it up to the usual Monday blues as I made my way to my desk.Just as I was about to start my day, Naomi sauntered over, her heels clicking loudly against the polished floor. Her smirk was unmistakable, the kind that immediately put me on guard.“Well, well, look who decided to show up,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “What’s it like being a traitor?”I froze, my fingers hovering over my keyboard. “What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pit forming in my stomach.Naomi’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the moment. “Oh, don’t play innocent. You should really be careful where you leave your secrets lying around. Alaric’s looking for you, b