The bright sunshine painted irregular patterns of the terrace on the tiled floor of the corridor. There he was, Karl, standing behind the door to the apartment which once held perfect memories of himself and Everly. But now, filled with painful memories of what transpired that empty night. Seconds, minutes passed, he remained there, his eyes sweeping up and down the door. Flashes of events that transpired that night struck him at the spot. “Nothing would separate us, not in this world nor the other.” Everly thundered, he smiled in memory. The courage he saw in her that night was something close to impossible to behold again. “Run!” he spoke under his breath, covered in blood. The words send nervous chills up and down his spine. He gripped the concrete wall, almost crashing to the ground, his heartbeat seemed to stop momentarily as he clenched his shirt at the chest level, panting weakly. “You're him!” “Huh?” his eyes widened, loosing balance and crashing on the floor. The voice
“You'd better make sure of that before I pass on.” the words rang louder than a doorbell in his ears while he drove home. “Pass on?” Karl cogitated, clutching the steering and firing the engine of his Auqin V8. Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Ellie had gone through the list of top modelling agencies a million times, yet the search for a certain Everly proved abortive. Although she felt the need to rest after several hours of searching, however, she figured the books in the shelf appeared scathless and well positioned. “Why put it here when you wouldn't read it.” she spoke under her breath, a flash of curiosity glinted in her eyes as she moved closer to it. After all, Karl was away from home and wouldn't return any time soon. The thought increased her confidence level and in a split second she randomly took out one. ‘Chronicles of torment’ it read, Karl had initially buried its identity among others. Her finger flipped the pages cursorily, only to behold bizarre images of devices
“Mr. Darron has dropped the case.” Savannah whispered into Everly's ears. “What!” Everly yelped, slamming her pen on the desk,“Are you certain?” Savannah nodded. “Yes, he did so after meeting this strange man.” she tilted her head to the side as if trying to recollect his gaze. “A strange man?” Everly repeated faintly, narrowing her gaze, her mouth was cynical,“I knew he was never to be trusted.” she said, rolling up her sleeves. She angrily rose to her feet and made her way to Darron's office. A hundred and one eyes stared at Savannah as she yelled.“Where are you going to!” Her hands flew to her mouth as she noticed she was being a distraction to other workers. Shortly, not even Everly's shadow could be seen in a distance. “Father,” Hahn called out, his voice cold as an ice. His blue-tinted tumbling hair always complimented his handsome looks. He enclosed his fingers in his palm, rested his elbows on his laps and bent forward while he sat on the white sofa positioned horizont
Eyes closed, Graeme Clough slowly pushed his fingers through his black hair and tilted his head until it made a soothing crack sound as drops of water from the shower travelled down his body to his feet. There was no better way to end a day of stress and emotional setback than taking a shower. He raised his arm and reached for his body towel, which he hung on the door, wiped his body dry, wrapped it round his waist and paced into his bedroom. He picked up his face towel from the bed, gently drying his face of water, and then vigorously ran the towel through his hair. Meanwhile, his phone made some funny vibrational sound, it was another missed call from Diane. He picked it up from the bed and noticed he had missed her calls nine times. He flung his head backward against the wall and exhaled heavily. “It must have been so important.” he cogitated, punching in her number. Fortunately, she picked up. “I'm….” “I'll be your woman,” she threw her words quickly, “But,”, the sudden pause
“Huh!” Lloyd gasped. “There she is.” he said, pointing towards the door. “Where?” Savannah and Jenkins echoed, tilting their heads like an orbit fan while they searched for Everly. Meanwhile, She stood behind the full glass door, her face buried in her hair, her body had collapsed on itself, she stood there like a frozen object. Savannah and Jenkins swiftly paced out of the office. “What's wrong?” Savannah asked. “Did he hurt you?” The question flew out of Jenkin's mouth. “Nothing's wrong. He didn't hurt me.” she said, raising her head. “We should go now, it's late already.” “I'll take you home.” Savannah said, as she tried to go get the car keys, Everly caught her by the arm. “I can drive home.” she said, wearing a sober smile. “Are you certain? Will you be able to find your way home all by yourself?” Jenkins asked in a concerned voice while placing his palm on her forehead.“You don't seem to be doing fine. I'll take you home.” he said, pulling her by the arm. “Don't be li
The cawing of birds could be heard in a distance as the sunrise dipped the clouds in a reddish glow. Elyria threw on her white reefer jacket that was almost to her ankle, wrapped her blue muffler round her neck, gently picked up her bowler bag and slowly pulled the door open as Her eyes swept up and down the room for Hubbard, but, she found no sign of him. “All clear.” a smile pulled her lips to the side as she tiptoed towards the door. “Where are you going to this early?” Hubbard asked, his voice coming from a distance. “Huh!” Elyria gasped, almost crashing on the floor. “Isn't it too early to step out?” Hubbard asked again, walking out of the dark. “Why did you put off the lights? You almost killed me.” she crinkled her face and spoke under her breath. “I've got an important meeting to attend. I'll be home soon.” she said, dragging her legs faster that they could carry her until she was out of sight. She had to do something about her marriage before it would get worse. Luis Mar
Elyria took a deep breath and exhaled sharply, standing behind the door that led to Luis Maria's apartment. She tossed her head downwards, fiddling with her fingers. The courage to ring the doorbell wasn't there, her failing marriage was too big of a burden to bear but she'd to do something about it. She then tossed her head up with a bit of courage. “This is for Everly.” she muttered under her breath, ringing the doorbell. “I'll get the door.” Arrietty said after serving Luis Maria a glass of red wine.She came into the Luis family after Luis Maria lost his wife, Karla, to cancer, since then, she'd spent the last decade serving the family. “Who are you?” Arrietty asked, the words seemed to drag themselves from her throat as her eyes swept up and down Elyria's body. Judging by her appearance, she figured Elyria must be one of her boss's business partners. “I seek an audience with your boss. Tell him Elyria is here.” “A moment, please.” Arrietty pleaded, shutting the door to deli
“Hey, are you okay?” Savannah asked, moving her computer chair closer to Jenkins'. He'd been sitting, standing, then sitting again. Savannah placed her palm on his forehead, his eyes appeared puffy. “Did you get any sleep at all?” “I don't know,” he said, turning to her. “I've …” he hesitated, weighing his words. “I've to pay back the loan within the next forty-eight hours.” “How much is it you want to pay back?” Savannah asked in the most curious of tone. “Forty thousand dollars.” the words flew from his mouth. “What!” Savannah yelped, her hands flying to her mouth. She swept her eyes up and down the office with a still posture. Fortunately, her co-workers hadn't noticed her sudden outburst, they were all buried in the screen of their computers. “That's too much.” she whispered. “Right?” he said, arching a quizzical brow. “Yes, it is.” the words seemed to drag themselves from her mouth. “But I'll speak to Everly about this. She might be of help.” “Will you?” he asked, wear
Savannah sat beside Everly on the hospital cot and searched deep into her eyes, while Jenkins leaned on the wall with arms folded across the chest and legs crossed. “Hey, what's wrong?” —she patted Everly's face as tears streamed down her eyes, but, Everly returned the gaze with a painful stare. She wouldn't have thought that the answer she sought for months, the reason she'd to abandon her dreams of a model for a prosecutor, was right in front of her all along. How thoughtful of a father to steal the happiness of his daughter. She figured It must have been him who ordered to drop the investigation on Karl's attempted murder. How sure was she that her father didn't have a hand in this accident or in the mysterious murders in the city if he could attempt to eliminate Karl.Hot tears welled in her eyes, remembering the words said to her by her mother. Never did she imagine that her father would be on the other side of this war. Perhaps, her mother was aware of it but chose to stay
“Can you go faster, please?” Every said, a flicker of impatient shone in her eyes as her words forced a smile out of Graeme Clough's lips.The harder he thought about it, the less he understood the reason she fought so hard to meet with Karl, despite being told he's got a woman with him.“Ok, I'll.” He fired the engine of his car and took a glance at the side mirror, then he noticed a black car on their tail. His skin prickled with alarm.“We're being followed. Hold on tight.” —Graeme Clough fired the engine of his car again, drifting between lanes as he overtook other vehicles while Ercan who had Allender with him, brought his car to a halt. Having drove some few kilometers ahead, Graeme Clough stole glances at the side mirror but didn't see a trace of the car trailing them. If they weren't after him, then why did they stop? Unless they'd other plans. He felt his blood rise in a wave of heat through his body. “Did we get away from them?” Everly asked, her heart pounding beneath
The living room held beautiful frames on the thick wall, some of which had Graeme Clough's pictures, designs of clocks while others held a glimpse of nature.Mild light from the sun shot through the windows framed with blinds, scattering its rays over the end tables holding a flower vase. Ellie perched on the edge of the couch with a colorful pillow as she brushed her feet against the area rug and swept her eyes up and down the room.“We thought you died,” —Diane, killed a year halfway in her cheek. “Well, the doctor said so. Days, weeks, and months went by, yet I'd to live with that pain that I couldn't save you.” Karl gazed at Ellie who was beside him yet paid little or no attention to the words said by Diane. “Why would you hold in to that pain?” —Karl turned to Diane. “You did all you could, besides, I haven't thanked you enough.”“You wouldn't understand,” Diane said, a teary smile creased her lips. “I once had a son who unfortunately died in a fire incident.” Th
The indistinct chattering of people, hissing of pop cans opening and chairs scraping the floor could be heard as Darron stood in the doorway, his gaze darting from one line to the next while he clenched his tray of hamburger and energy drink searching for a perfect spot to seat. The bright florescent light strips running across the ceiling painted soft irregular patterns on the tiled floor. The recent happenings in the city had left him with no choice than to take a break from all working activities and breathe the freshness of a new self.Meanwhile, he noticed a vacant seat at the extreme right corner of the sleek wall, just opposite the cash register stand. He ambled past the rows of long tables with comfortable plastic chairs spaced along them, then he carefully placed the tray on the round table and pulled a seat for himself.He showered warm breath on his palms as he rubbed them together before getting hold of a hamburger, just halfway to his mouth his phone rang. He picked u
“This is taking too long.” —Everly complained under her breath. She could barely welcome the thought of something else, not even that of herself except Edwin's as she glanced at her wristwatch sporadically. Waiting wasn't the best of exercises she loved doing, at least, not now that she knows he's alive and out there somewhere.“He'll be here soon.” —Phanuel flashed a smile across her worried face.“How sure are…”The honking of a car in a distance stole the rest words from her mouth. “Told you, he's here.” Immediately, Everly bolted out of the station to meet with Graeme Clough. She wouldn't spend another minute waiting for him because she's been doing that for a long time, waiting for answers.“You're him.”“Yes, I'm” —he shuffled some steps forward. “Let's go in.”“No,” —she clutched his arm with a desperate look in her eyes. “I wish to see the bodies of the murdered victims.” “Why do you wish to see that?” “It's” —she tossed her head down, blinking back tears. “It's per
Allender rose to his feet, gripped his arm behind him and bowed as Hubbard strode into his office in a white instead of his favorite black suit. The devil dressed as a saint. The color of his outfit always complimented his mood, and this was just that part of him no one would beg to see. The sudden change sent icy chills down Allender's spine. Despite being a highly skilled hitman, he knew Hubbard wasn't the type to joke or joke with because his past was able to cripple the minds of those who would dare to give a listening ear.Be it in his youthful days or presently, Allender knew quite well he was no match for him so if he'd requested to meet in his office, then it wasn't just a bogus statement, it'd to be a fact. Hubbard fully aware that if Edwin, now Karl, happens to be alive then it was only a matter of time before fate brings him to his daughter.“You may have your seat.” —Hubbard loosened the knot of his tie and sat. “I don't know what to believe anymore.”“I shot him and I
Everly scampered into the clangorous station house while she panted and raked her eyes all over the place searching for Graeme Clough. Although, she didn't get a good look at him the last time he came around to see Darron but, she was however certain that she could recognize him if he did come around.“How may I be of help to you?”—a random cop approached her.“I seek an audience with,”—she raised her heels and gazed above his broad shoulder. “A certain cop, which obviously isn't you.” A smile pulled his lips to the side. “Very well then.”—he half turned to Phanuel who was busy. “You should meet with him. He'll certainly be of help.”“Thank you.”—she strode up to him and pulled a seat for herself.“Would you like a coffee,”—Phanuel copied some information from the computer screen. “Or tea?”“Pardon?”His hand came to a halt as he noticed the voice wasn't that of Kylie. Perhaps did she have a change of mind? But, he clarified it for her not to send any of her friends because this was
“Sir, I need a favor from you.” Everly said, cuddling the files in her arm. She'd just arrived at the office a moment ago but, didn't see the need to get some rest despite going through the heavy traffic and having a flat tire on her way. She scooted into the office, picked up the files on her desk, and found her way to Darron's office. “Don't you think you should rest?” She clearly understood what he meant but, she couldn't risk waiting, not even for another minute, so she swept an arm across her forehead and got rid of the sweat.“No, sir, I'm fine.”Although, she didn't seem anything like her words but, pulling the matter any further would be of no use because determination was well written over her face.“So, what is it?” he asked, leaning backwards on his chair.“I seek an audience with the cop who came by a few days ago concerning the recent killings.”Darron tilted his head to the side and arched a brow. “How did you know about that?”“It's all over the internet, sir.”“Oh,”
Ellie strode with Karl into the clangorous station in her blue mini gown and white blazers, which got cops tilting their heads in her direction with parted lips. She'd always wanted to grip his arm and walk side by side with him like a couple, but each time she tried to do that, he'd always move a step ahead of her. Fortunately, she gripped his arm as they walked towards Phanuel who sat at the extreme right corner.“Where's your boss?” Karl asked.“Who are you?”Not much of a surprise to Karl if he didn't remember him, besides, he was out on duty while Graeme Clough was the one who actually helped out.“Just put him on the phone.”“Alright.”—Phanuel did as he requested and put a call across to his boss.“Sir, there's someone waiting to see you.”“Who's that?” Graeme Clough asked.“I don't know.” the words seemed to drag themselves from his mouth as he raked his eyes up and down Karl. “They don't look familiar but, it seems really urgent.”“I'll be with you right away.”—Graeme Clough