/ HEIDI /The scene before me is a bloodbath.Bodies lay scattered across the floor, the once vibrant celebration now turned into a grotesque beano of death. My legs feel like lead as I force myself to move. And I hear another piercing cry with two more almost immediately, thuds resonating in my ears, each sound paralyzing me with fear. The terror grows so much that it becomes numbing, leaving me to stare blankly at the blood-pooled floor. But then a thought slices through my foggy mind—Hunter. Is his corpse among these? How about Dad Griffin, Dad Tad, and Morton—where are they? “Saturn, I need help!” I scream, except I don’t hear my voice, as the words barely escape my lips in a hoarse whisper. I frantically begin to search the hall. There has to be someone alive, someone who isn’t lying in this gruesome display of devilish deeds. Fortunate if that person is Hunter or other members of my family. But unfortunate when I spot a familiar satin cloth shimmering under the dim light.No
I don’t want to start imagining things, but I can’t help it. Hunter and I seem to be the only survivors after all. And he’s the one looking macabre amongst us both. Gods and Goddesses, please tell me what I’m thinking isn’t true. Tell me Hunter didn’t do this. Bring the murderer before my eyes, so I can be a bit consoled because I cannot deal with this. I just can’t.There’s enough I can take for a week. And this… this is way past my limit that I want to lay atop sun-beaten sand and let the concrete scrape off the memories. Reset the things I’ve just now seen.For the first time, I envy amnesia; and wish that it’d find its way to me, as I cannot dare say what sort of a person would do this—steal people’s lives, turn them into dolls with their blood as art, even leave a hole in their chests. Or I’m probably just naïve and people like these are real. Maybe they’re specks of dust waiting for the right wind to blow them together.But isn’t it unfair—that someone this heartless gets to l
A while ago, before the bloodshed, I would have found the blood on his lips hot. But now, I can’t imagine I fell in love with a beast. Or perhaps he played out his actions so well his barbaric side slipped under his coat. Before this day, I loved everything about him—how he often switched tones, imitating baby voices in our voice calls and notes. Even trying to mimic my voice at times. He’s the same man who made cute as well as sassy expressions. And got accustomed to texting me emojis and funny gifs. Not to forget how he woke me up by sending repeated texts just so my phone would keep dinging. Now that man seems like a distant memory; replaced by this cold, unfeeling stranger.I blink away from the rearview mirror and stare into the darkness ahead of me, bracing myself for the words my mind wills me to say before looking at Hunter’s breathtaking features.Gone are the days when I badly wanted to run my fingers through his hair—when I wished to see what his right eye looked like.
SOME HOURS AGO.Last I checked it was past nine in the morning, and I’ve spent the past eight hours preparing for the event that’ll soon create a rift throughout the country.I stand on the balcony and clutch the handrail before inclining against it, sniffing in crisp fresh air as the late morning dews kiss my skin.Staring at the distant, foggy mountains, my face cracks with a smile. And I’m pleased with how the snowflakes drop slowly. But then the moment is disrupted when my cell phone dings in my apron pocket.“Fuck!”My hands work fast as I put the phone to silence so as not to piss off the person in the bathroom. His ears are the sharpest, that one. So is his tongue.He’d stroll into the room wearing underpants while slinging a towel over his shoulder.‘The hell are you doing on my balcony, Heidi? And leave that phone of yours somewhere that’s not my room, will ya?’ he would say in a raspy voice just before yanking me out of the room.I unlock my phone and tap an unread message. (
In the valley guarded by snow-coated greens and high, misty mountains lies the Whites’ family house. We visit only during Christmas, though celebrating it isn’t a thing.We enjoy the holidays in our style nonetheless—like binge-watching rom-coms or stacking containers of Christmas cookies in the refrigerator or… I don’t know. But one wouldn’t find a trace of festive decorations, even hear a commentary about it in the mansion.For as long as I can remember, this is our first time coming together for a celebration. And there are two halls prepared for it too.I heave a sigh of exhaustion as I stand before the mirror in the servants’ quarters. My eyes are dull and nearly closing under tired lids. And I can still feel shock rolling in my belly at the fact that the mysterious heir to White group is my man. Gazing at the bonnet guarding my hair, I’m more about discarding this wretched apron of woe for something proper—one that looks even a tiny bit pleasing to the eyes.A while back when
I stare at him for a second, then at Saturn, torn between the two who to approach first.After some seconds, I push through the crowd to the girl in a satin dress who has her butt crashing against her lover’s crotch with a glass of drink in hand.“Saturn, my phone, I need it now,” I demand, my voice raised over the music.Saturn lazily rises to her full height and turns to me with a nonchalant expression. Her tousled hair falls over her face, and her breath reeks of alcohol when she slurs, “Yourrr what?”“My damn phone!” I repeat. But I don’t think the girl’s listening.She shouts back, “Don’t know! You should find it in one of these hearths.” The fucking hearths? There’s about eleven of them and she expects me to start digging around each one for what, ashes?“Gods, no, Saturn!” I sigh. How did my phone end up there in the first place? Ask me again why the girl disgusts me.And the best she can do is burp. “Oops, sorry,” she says with a sheepish smile, starting a drunken giggle.I sho
~X~I know their names and looks. Father does too. Stuff took me a year and more to study that I might even begin to list the names of their fetuses.It’s my first time coming to Braevalle, and I’ve heard things about it. Good things. Like how the fruits are heavenly. And how unearthly their young girls look. And… I think the White Mansion took up sixty percent of these compliments—it also happens to be the first stop for tourists.Let me tell ya though, I find the whole thing exaggerated. Braevalle is just as good as every other place but also as quiet as a graveyard, which is bad. Really. Or maybe I hate too much silenc― ouch!Did I just see Hunter’s female guard hitting Heidi’s forehead against a boulder? Yes! And the impact rendered her unconscious on the woman’s body. I want to laugh but then if I do, I’ll be heard and exposed. I’m currently camouflaged in the environment and making a loud sound is… I won’t say it’s dangerous because no one knows me and they can’t catch me if I r
Behind me, Saturn lets out a short triumphant cackle. “Now, you’ll unlock your shit and hand it over, or I promise you, these girls will drag you straight to Dad Griffin. And we both know how quickly he’ll get this sorted before throwing you to the wolves.”Facts! Pure facts. And extremely unfortunate.I hadn’t fully considered the implications of anyone else finding out about my relationship with Hunter. But Saturn has it all figured out. The girl’s smart, I’ll give her that.“Dad Griffin’s rules are ironclad, you know. Having any relationship with commoners is a blunt no. In this case, baby girl, you are the commoner. You’ve seen him dole out harsh punishments for far less.”Hmm, true. Still―“You can’t be certain I have a relationship with Hunter,” I say. After all, the girl only saw a picture. Anyone would suspect I’m fangirling and I won’t fault them for that. What does a wealthy public figure have to do with a servant anyway? I’m sorry, Hunter.“Dad wouldn’t ask for evidence now
Tumbre Estate is the biggest in the country. Belongs to the Whites but isn’t as sullied as the family is. It’s like a quiet little town even though it’s not far from the city.Has been about two years since I last came here, and nothing seems to have changed. No, nothing. It’s the same old Tumbre with curvy roads flanked by Villas and trimmed little bushes.That Villa there, at our right, is inhabited by the family of a close friend I had. But after I was kicked out of my Villa, I lost contact with her. Didn’t even get the chance to say a fucking goodbye.“Do you want me to come with you?” Zavere asks as I get down from the Uber. I had requested to stop at the side of the road instead of the garage, as I didn’t bring the key to my Villa, and haven’t a clue how the Housekeeper and the Butler would react to seeing me. And no, I don’t want Zavere’s company. If I did, I would have stayed in the Company building where my room now smells like him.“No. Go find your brother,” I reply. My n
“He lives, I feel it,” Zavere says after taking his time. “He’s alive, but there is silence. He doesn’t feel anything… massive.”I don’t get what he’s trying to say, but I guess he does have some connection with his twin? “You feel something when he does?”“Not just something. It has to be big. Like an intense pain or pleasure.” More like the intense pain of his victims, and the intense pleasure of the motherfucker.“Maybe you should have felt his ‘intense hatred’ when he committed that murder?” I ask calmly, looking down at my soup while stirring it with a spoon. However, when I look up, I feel like my food could hang in my throat as I find Zavere staring at me with a blank face, again. That rouses my rage. “Oh, you did, and you said, ‘Oh hey! He’s my brother! He’s having a little fun with some dummy humans, so why not?’” I realize I’ve just caused a commotion. All eyes are now on us. Jeez! What is wrong with me? Why do I keep blaming Zavere? Why do I blame every fucking thing in t
We’ll end up having a late lunch. But the time spent in the overpass is worth it.Honestly, I didn’t want to leave. Maybe we should have stayed longer. Or…“Having a home in a place like Luli Overbridge would be exotic. Become a pet to the doves,” Zavere utters out of nowhere, and I would’ve burst out laughing if I weren’t cautious that we are in one of the most classic restaurants in the world.“Is that what it’s called? Luli Overbridge,” I say instead. That gets me a side-eye from the man.“You have been in Alloy all your life, Heidi.”“And? I’ve not had the opportunity to flex a free one like you’ve done with… your brother. So far, I’m only familiar with Alloy's main city and Braevalle.” I glance around the restaurant, then I stare at my fingers. Then… I look at the hectic city beyond the glass barriers of the building for a while. All to avoid meeting with Zavere’s devouring eyes. And yet he keeps staring, sitting opposite me, relaxed in his chair with his right hand on the table
Each person holds out something in our direction: some an image of their deceased, others a banner with the words ‘Justice for (...)’ written on it. Different names, different faces, different pain. My vision gets blurry. Voices whisper inaudibly in my head as it aches. A thousand needles prick my skin, hellbent on deactivating autonomic nerves while triggering another—emotions, flocking in like a swarm of disturbed fish. And if Zavere hadn’t interfered, I would have been lost in the maze that’s my own mind.“Hey, come on. Look at me,” he whispers, the hand on my thigh caressing. But then he makes a bigger gesture; facing me, leaning in and grabbing my chin to turn my face toward his. “Trust me, Heidi, you’ll be fine.”I shake my head continuously. “I… I don’t think so…” What Zavere said is an underrated lie. This anxiety’s always going to be there, haunting me, reducing the woman I thought I was with every attack. So, no, Zavere. I will not be fine.“Shh. You’ve just got to breathe
Sound duppies would have a field day tonight if they weren’t on Christmas holiday (someone mentioned something about this. I can’t recall who). The analogy might not be true though. Ghosts are just fallacies after all. But I wish they were real. Then, I’d have summoned a few to shut the next Villa up.I had forgotten what it felt like to be Vadarya’s neighbor. It’s a hassle, not gonna lie. If the girl knew I were here, she’d be banging drunken fists on the door without minding the alarm screaming at her. She’s insane. That’s all I can say.I groan as I roll to lie on my belly, snatching two edges of the pillow and folding the latter over the back of my head, with the edges blocking my ears. Yet, the noise doesn’t stop. Oh, God. What do I have to do to sleep? It’s only 10 PM, and I’ll soon be pissed to the point where the fucking moon won’t be able to glare at midnight. And maybe—just maybe—if it doesn’t show, Vaddy and her pack of bitches can go ahead and call this one a long, sou
~ HEIDI ~This headache will mince my brain to nice little cubes sooner than I’m able to find a painkiller in one of these fucking drawers.There used to be many of them—the painkillers, I mean—usually on the table, under the pillows, in the wardrobe, in the drawers, even on the damn floor. How I cannot find one when everything else in the room remains the same is not a mystery, but unsettling.“Fuck. I can’t be arsed,” I mutter just as my phone dings on the bed.Sitting on the floor and resting my back against the bed, I go through the meager, little thing that won’t stop buzzing―happens Reverse Hunter sent a message; ‘Might not be back for a while. Do not dare miss your meals.’Oh, Zavere…The guy’s so fucking nice that he cannot stop caring about me. Meanwhile, the bastard on whom I’ve wasted so much time, tears, and feelings haven’t once asked how I felt since we met. Instead, he dropped a boulder into a stream of lava. Fucking joker.The phone doesn't render comfort, yet I find it
~ ZAVERE ~When Heidi kissed me earlier, I did not know what went through her mind. What I do know is that it isn’t easy, or possible to simply switch off one’s feelings in three days. I have seen how good a couple she and Hunter are, and I know the connection they have. But despite that, I cannot deny my own feelings. The girl drives me crazy. And every action she takes, every word that comes out of her mouth, looks and sounds sexy no matter what it is. However, I do not think she feels the same about me, but I’ll let her have her cake and eat it. As long as she’s happy.For now, I need to look for my brother. And I have to start with the first person Hunter would go to in a situation like this—Xaveeda Morgan. That woman is attached to him by the hip. She’s obsessed, even. It is no wonder that she’s his mother and friend (with benefits) at the same time. I’m slightly sitting on a car’s hood, my foot on another’s rear. Both are parked a couple of inches near each other at the roa
Tumbre Estate is the biggest in the country. Belongs to the Whites but isn’t as sullied as the family is. It’s like a quiet little town even though it’s not far from the city.Has been about two years since I last came here, and nothing seems to have changed. No, nothing. It’s the same old Tumbre with curvy roads flanked by Villas and trimmed little bushes.That Villa there, at our right, is inhabited by the family of a close friend I had. But after I was kicked out of my Villa, I lost contact with her. Didn’t even get the chance to say a fucking goodbye.“Do you want me to come with you?” Zavere asks as I get down from the Uber. I had requested to stop at the side of the road instead of the garage, as I don’t have the key to my Villa, and haven’t a clue how the Housekeeper and the Butler would react to seeing me. And no, I don’t want Zavere’s company. If I did, I would have stayed in the Company building where my room now smells like him.“No. Go find your brother,” I reply. My nex
“He lives, I feel it,” Zavere says after taking his time. “He’s alive, but there is silence. He doesn’t feel anything… massive.”I don’t get what he’s trying to say, but I guess he does have some connection with his twin? “You feel something when he does?”“Not just something. It has to be big. Like an intense pain or pleasure.” More like the intense pain of his victims, and the intense pleasure of the motherfucker.“Maybe you should have felt his ‘intense hatred’ when he committed that murder?” I ask calmly, looking down at my soup while stirring it with a spoon. However, when I look up, I feel like my food could hang in my throat as I find Zavere staring at me with a blank face, again. That rouses my rage. “Oh, you did, and you said, ‘Oh hey! He’s my brother. He’s having a little fun with some dummy humans, so why not?’” I realize I’ve just caused a commotion. All eyes are now on us. Jeez! What is wrong with me? Why do I keep blaming Zavere? Why do I blame every fucking thing in th