CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX:—There was no time to escape.“It’s her!” Sheryl squinted her eyes when the light of the flashlight hit her eyes. She turned her heels to escape but someone held her arm and yanked her back.She cursed in her head. Her mood was getting sour every minute and she felt like exploding. Sheryl held the knife in her hand tightly and swung it to the person who captured her arm, while warm blood sprayed on her arm, the man screamed at the loss of his fingers, he stepped back and clutched his severed hand while seething in agony. This gave Sheryl a way to escape, like an eel, she slipped from their grasp.“Catch her!” A man shouted through his gritted teeth. The other immediately went to his words and ran for her. Sheryl was fast on her feet. She already memorized the blueprint of his house, she knows the twists and turns.But no matter how fast and how she committed it to her memory, she’ll never outrun someone who was built for chasing people.Before he kne
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX (02):—“Let them have their goodbyes,” Althea grabbed her hair on the back and tied it. Her reflection in the mirror was showing a light-hearted woman, smiling as she fixed her hair. “I don’t want to be like Sheryl who didn’t give me a chance to say my last words to my parents… I told myself that I don’t want to step that low.”Lies.Althea knows that the three of them won’t have a peaceful and heartwarming goodbye to each other. She could guess the horror of the two right now when they realized that they were raising a terrible monster all along.Althea paused, the smile on her lips stretched a little bit more—ops, she fixed herself. She should not be like this even if she can already taste their despair.“... Copy ma’am,” Eddie answered, he can’t help the weird feeling that was arising in his chest. He called Tyler to ask for instructions because he noticed that Sheryl—their new capture, was already awake. But he didn’t expect that it was his wife who
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX (03):—“Hey! Get us out of here, quick!” Diana impatiently demanded from the man that was guiding them. “These doors are freaking me out! Do they keep people here to torture?!”The man in front hissed and glared at her. Diana choked and shut her mouth. The man was satisfied, but there was still a frown on his face. “Yes. We do.”Diana’s face was pale. Sure enough! But she didn’t think that Tyler is like that at all! She didn’t even know that he had people in the underground! She didn’t think that he was hiding his true self from them and they didn’t even notice it!Of course, the way of her thinking is off course. Tyler had no people underground until now. They are not his in the first place. “But don’t get the wrong idea.” Suddenly the man added, turning his head to look in front. “The boss is not an animal like you three. He might even give you a painless death rather than torture you for everything that you’ve than to his wife.”The husband and wife’
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX (04):—Under the glaring sun, two men trailed towards the depths of a certain mountain. The thick leaves of the tall trees were serving as their shelter against the scorching heat. A very typical day. A day where the two ventures in the wood to alleviate their boredom. “How much longer do we need to walk?” The man that was falling behind can’t help complaining. “We have been walking for half an hour, my feet are dying!”“Relax.” The man ahead laughed. “We would be there soon—”“You have been telling me that for ages.” The man stopped and tugged the collar of his shirt back and forth to somehow give himself comfort from the heat. He didn’t notice that the other stopped walking and was frowning. “Just tell me that we are lost, I won’t get mad—”“Shh!” His companion raised a finger to his lips. “Can you smell that?”You hushed me because you smelled something?! He could hardly believe his ears, he wanted to tease the other, but seeing his rare serious expr
EPILOGUE: —An afternoon precisely two years after the birth of a new compass that will lead a few people out from the raging storm in the middle of an ocean. Their boat rowed and rowed on the dark scary body of water, swaying violently against the swirling winds. It creaked, almost cracked, but alas;They made it out.“Zach! Be careful!” A tiny voice of a boy yelled at the top of his lungs. His breathing was ragged, he was sweating as he chased another small figure in front. He was fast on his feet, they kicked on the ground and stomped on the grass.Zach, a three years old boy ran without heeding the older’s warning. Ironically, despite having a smaller stature than the other, he runs faster. He laughed gleefully as he continued running for the other to chase. “Catch me, Kai!”“Oh come on!” The 9 years old Kai frustratedly said under his bated breath. Nonetheless, he still chased after his brother. His lips stretched side by side as if the frustration he had was nothing but a mere
EPILOGUE (02):—The ride towards the mansion where the other family members ended in a flash. Althea stepped out, carrying Titus on her right arm and holding Kai’s hand with her left. “Don’t be nervous,” Tyler whispered in her ears. He was carrying Zach on his arm.“I’m not.” She lied. Her husband laughed, earning her a frustrated groan. “Don’t worry, I’m here.”“Hmm.” Althea nodded, his words worked like magic, suddenly, her heart was like a galloping horse slowly calmed down. She took in the sight of the mansion. It was… Big, ridiculously big. She thought that their house is already big enough, but this is two times bigger. Althea stood there in awe, admiring how it stood on the ground like a massive tree. Persistent against any winds or storms. It was truly admirable.It was already dark, the sun was down the horizon and the lights of the streets were on. Half of the world is slowly entering the night. On the other side of the mansion, the garden perhaps was well lit. She can
EPILOGUE (03):—“Are you stupid?!” Althea can’t help but blurt out rather loudly. It was fortunate that it was only them at the moment. “Why did you not tell me? You’re aware that he doesn’t know my connection with Augustine. It’s only you!”“Oh!” Charlotte realized it too late. “My bad, my bad! It should be me, huh. Well, I didn’t mention it in the past because you hated him…”“Still…!” Althea sighed then cupped her forehead. “... How am I supposed to explain it to Tyler? That the father of Kai is his own cousin…”So that's why Tyler said that they are family! I thought he was just saying that because she’s my friend… They really are a family…“You don’t need to explain it though.” Charlotte started pulling her towards the garden. “Augustine probably already did.”“That’s impossible,” Althea said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Why would he even bother about that?”That man. He never looks at Kai as his own child. He never even acknowledged him. He even told him to ignore and act like th
EPILOGUE (04):—“That’s enough…” Althea breathlessly said, pushing the beast on top of her. “Goodness, insatiable!”“Sorry,” the man groaned and pulled out. “It was you who initiated.”They paused, trying to catch their breaths. The heat has yet to subside. Moments later, Tyler stood to get something.“Here.” Tyler offered her a glass of water.“Thanks.” Althea immediately drank it, watering her dried throat. When the steam already calmed down, something entered her mind. “Ah, yes. You mentioned that your mother and father got back together?”“Yes.” Tyler was in the middle of wiping her sweat. “What about it?”“Why is it that she didn’t go to the gathering…?”“Ah.” Tyler paused and tried to recall something. “That might be because she’s still guilty about the past.”“I see.” Althea nodded. “She must be lonely alone then.”Tyler suddenly laughed. Althea asked what he was laughing about. “About that, I actually sent her a gift.”“?” —The night when Tyler and Althea had dinner with th