CHAPTER 1: Unexpected One

"Serena..."

"Serena," her father Blackwood's voice, was calm and urgent, outside the cabin door. He tapped his right hand, lightly on the polished wood. "Serena, Come on, dear. It's time. Everyone is waiting for you."

No response.

He tried again, a little hard this time; the sound echoed too loudly in the empty hallway. "Serena? Are you alright?

"It's Dad; please open the door."

Still Silent...

He gripped the doorknob tighter to unlock it, but it remained locked, and panic clawed at his throat. He glanced around the silent hallway. Where had she gone? Or did something happen inside? he doubted. He folded his sleeve edge and pulled out his phone from his lower pants. He searched for Damien's number.

He hesitated to make a call, then finally pressed the call button, holding the phone to his ear, the dial ring cut through the air, his eyes were restless constantly scanning the surroundings, frown lines etched around his eyes. "Son," he said, his voice crackling with static. "Serena's room door is locked, and she's not answering."

Damien (Black Wood's son) pressed a hand tighter against his ear. "Dad... Dad... I couldn't hear you!" The sound of waves was sustained, Static snapped in his earpiece, a harsh sound against his eardrum.

Blackwood paced in front of the door; his eyes remained on the signal bar on his phone "Son, Is that I am audible? Can you hear me now?" 

"Dad..." Damien snapped, cutting off the call. "Shit, signal dead." He raced towards the entrance of the deck.

Emiko watched her husband, his back to her, as he spoke intently into his phone. Who was he talking to? Why did he seem tensed? she wondered, she quietly followed him.

It was already getting late; they were supposed to be at the altar, Damien raced as his shoes clicked loudly on the wooden stairs. He checked each hallway before moving to the next level.

"Honey, wait...." her voice called out from upstairs, facing down Damien "What's wrong? You seem tense. Where are you going?"

Damien paused, one foot on the bottom step looking back at her.

Emiko hair bouncing, flew down the remaining stairs and into his arms.

"It's Dad," he said, his voice unclear. "The signal's awful on top of the deck while talking to him. Dad went to get Serena for the wedding, but they're still not back."

Emiko nodded, then glanced at him, "I hope everything is okay" she said, and they walked together down the steps.

Damien's footsteps echoed on the fifth floor, he approached his father, who stood like a statue outside the cabin door, still checking his phone.

"Dad, what's wrong? Why are you outside, where is Serena?" he asked, his voice strained.

Blackwood turned; his face was covered with worry. "Serena's not answering. She won't open the door."

"Have you tried calling her phone, Dad?"

"I did," Blackwood replied, his voice worried. "It's ringing inside, but she's not answering."

"Okay Dad, I check once again."

Damien knocked sharply on the door; the sound echoed in the hallway. "Serena? It's Damien. Open the door!" He pounded on the door, his anxiety rising.

Still no response.

Emiko's fingers flew to her lips, her eyes widening with sudden fear. "Dami.... What if she's collapsed inside?"

Damien looked at Emiko, sweating on his forehead, and raked his hand through his hair, growing frustrated. His mind raced as watching the floor how do we unlock the door? After a brief pause, he added, "We need a spare key." He turned to Emiko. "Quickly, get the spare key from the management office!"

She shook her head up and down fast. "Okay... ok... Where is the management office?"

"On the ground floor," he pressed his words. Fastly

Emiko grabbed her long pinkish gown and ran towards the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.

She burst through the management office door, her breath heavy. "Officer... I need a spare key for room no 505!"

The officer paused, glancing at the other officer near him, raising an eyebrow. "May I ask what purpose, ma'am?"

Her breath hitched; she tried to steady her voice, and tiny droplets of sweat flowed on her brow, her makeup smudged a little bit. "The bride... is locked inside, and she's not responding. We need to check on her immediately."

The officer understood her urgency, and he searched the rack one by one; finally, he found the 505-room key, and the officer handed her the key.

Without wasting a second, she runs back upstairs to room 505. "I've got it! I've got it!" she exclaimed, as she handed it to Damien. She gripped the wall for support.

Damien's hands trembled, he loosened his collar button, nervousness ran over his whole body, and finally, he unlocked the door. He grabbed the handle hard and pushed it open; the room was quiet and empty.

They stepped inside, their eyes darting around and the air in the room felt heavy and warm. Everything things were neat and orderly, almost too perfect.

Damien's gaze fell on the near bathroom door, slightly ajar. His heart pounded in his chest. He moved towards the door slowly.

He pushed the door open slightly. His pupils dilated, his breath catching in his throat. He saw the open window… and the rope dangling from it, the window glasses were placed on the floor. Damien lay frozen, unable to process what he had been seeing. His mind went completely blank, and his body refused to move.

Emiko had just entered the same spot and spotted a rope through the window. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock.

But her memory flashed through her mind.

Early Morning.

Time 3:45 AM. Emiko felt the weight of the hour and the icy wind whipped around the room, the waves crashed against the rocks, the silence pressing in as she stepped closer to the window where Serena was tying the last piece of her dress to the rope.

"Have to done, Serena?" Emiko whispered silently.

Serena looked up her eyes were red, and her face was tear-streaked. Her hands shook in fear, and her lower lip trembled slightly as she couldn't open her mouth, after a few seconds pause, she replied. "Yes… almost."

Emiko's eye shifted to the nearby dressing table where a letter lay, picked it up, feeling her heart tighten in her chest. She read the letter Serena had written. Her eyes narrowed; she took in the hastily scribbled note.

"Serena, don't mess up," she whispered looking at her, her voice barely audible. She took Serena's hands in hers, her grip tightening. "After tonight, you're on your own. You have to live with your… family." The word felt like ash in her mouth. Inside, Emiko felt a sharp pang of guilt towards Damien.

Serena looked back at Emiko, her eyes with vision blurred by tears and a tear-stained face. "I just want to die, but... Emiko," she whispered, her voice breaking like a cracking glass. "But... Emiko... I have no choice; everything I am doing is just... for my baby. I don't want to cheat someone for my fault... because I can't...."

Emiko stepped closer, she gently wiped Serena's tears away. "I understand, Serena. I do. But... this path you've chosen won't be easy. Just promise me you'll stay safe."

Serena shook her head slowly, "Damien will never forgive me," she murmured, her voice trembling. "He was the best brother and mother to me. I can't even think how he can.... accept this"

Emiko pulled her into a tight hug. "I have never had a sister in my life, I always think of you as a sister," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I can manage your brother, but once you leave here, keep your life hidden. Please... Don't let anyone find you. Go somewhere they won't be able to find you."

Serena nodded against her shoulder, whispering, "Um...I won't."

Emiko watched the clock at nearly 3:58 AM, and she realized there were only two minutes left before the shift change.

"Okay... we have only two minutes. Just go..."

Serena wiped her tears, a fleeting, bittersweet smile touching her lips. She walked to the window, glancing back at Emiko one last time.

.

"Don't burn the kitchen like here. Let Ethan handle the cooking for some days. we will meet one day no matter what" Emiko teased, attempting to lighten the mood.

Serena chuckled faintly and shook her head up and down, her smile a fleeting glimpse of the person she used to be. "Goodbye, Emiko."

"Go, Serena. It's time," Emiko said, her voice barely holding together as she watched her friend climb out the window and into the unknown.

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