RaymondThe staircase was a marvel of marble and gold. Each step echoed slightly under my feet. Suddenly, I heard Owen’s voice in my earpiece. “I’ll be listening along, R. If I hear anything suspicious, I’ll be right there by your side within minutes.”“Thanks, O. I appreciate it,” I replied softly. I quickly glanced over my shoulder. Although I didn’t see anyone around me, I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched. As I reached the next floor, I found the balcony doors slightly ajar. The night air was cool. A welcome relief from the warmth of the crowded hall below.Cassandra was waiting, her tall silhouette framed by the moonlight. She turned as I approached. Her brown eyes were gleaming with a mix of mischief and… something deeper.“Raymond, I presume,” she said, her voice low and melodic.“You must be Cassandra,” I replied, trying to gauge her intentions.She nodded, her mysterious smile never wavering.“How did you figure out who I am?” I asked. Owen and I had taken every
NoahThe night of the masquerade, I couldn't sleep. Worry gnawed at me, twisting my stomach into knots. Raymond was out there. He was facing who-knows-what dangers. Meanwhile I was stuck here, entirely helpless. Knowing that Owen was by his side and Uncle Henry had their backs was a comfort. But it didn’t ease my mind entirely.I tried to focus on other things, but horror scenarios kept invading my thoughts. I pictured Raymond and Owen being discovered by the Blackwoods, taken to some hideout, or worse. The images were vivid. Each one more terrifying than the last.I needed the toilet. Normally, I'd call a nurse. But tonight, I felt a desperate need to prove to myself that I could do something on my own. I got out of bed, relying on my memory to navigate the room. The darkness was oppressive. Each step was a challenge. I bumped into a few things, muttering curses under my breath."Will my eyes ever get better?" I whispered. A mixture of frustration and hope tinged my voice.When I
NoahIn the days following the masquerade, Raymond was barely by my side. He was deep in preparations with a team of elite policemen and secret agents at a military base. Owen was with him every day. Both of them were engrossed in devising a plan to bring down the Blackwoods. Meanwhile, I spent my days focused on my revalidation at the sanatorium.The sanatorium was an exclusive place, catering to the very rich. Its facilities rivaled those of luxury resorts. Each morning, I found solace in the indoor swimming pool. The warm water enveloped me like a comforting embrace. I swam laps, feeling the gentle resistance of the water against my limbs. I often imagined myself back at Raymond’s lake on a warm summer day.One morning, as I floated on my back, something was different. It wasn’t as dark anymore. There was a noticeable difference between the dark of night and the soft glow of daylight. The sun shone straight into my face through the glass dome that graced the ceiling. For the firs
Noah"Hello, thanks for agreeing to meet with us," Raymond said warmly. I heard them exchange a kiss on the cheek. The woman bent down to greet me in the same way."Hi, Cassandra. It's nice to meet you," I said, my voice trembling slightly. Her long, silken hair brushed my cheek. Even her perfume smelled alluring.I thought being here with Raymond would help ease my jealousy, but as they discussed the plans in hushed tones, I felt even more like an outsider.I sipped my cappuccino and took a bite out of my croissant, trying to look busy. My mind drifted elsewhere as I half-listened to their conversation.Images came to my mind. A stunning woman in a shimmering gown. Her and Raymond, both wearing masks, da
NoahI stood in the bathroom, held by a strange woman with a familiar voice. Her grip was iron. Her nails were digging into my skin.“What a pleasure to ‘see’ you again, Noah,” the woman said with a madness in her tone. The worst thing was that I recognized her voice. It was Josie, the woman who had become my worst nightmare. The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.“Surprised? My-Dear-Old-Friend!” she sneered, yanking my hair back so hard it felt like my scalp might tear away. I winced. The pain was sharp and immediate.Her ghostly voice sent chills down my spine. The voice that had once been so familiar now felt like a deadly weapon, cutting through the remnants of our shattered friendship.
NoahThe sudden voice outside the door made both of us freeze. I could feel Josie’s heart pounding through the hand she had clamped over my mouth. It was Cassandra! My last hope.But Josie seemed to sense my thoughts. She tightened her grip, her fingers digging painfully into my skin.“Don’t say a word,” she hissed, her voice low and menacing. “You wouldn’t want her to die too, would you?”We stood there in silence, waiting. The knock at the door faded away, and the silence felt suffocating. Maybe it was for the best that Cassandra didn’t come in. At least she was safe. As for me, I was growing dizzy from the blood loss and Josie’s grip around my throat. If my death could protect everyone else, maybe it was w
NoahDuring the long drive, my anxiety grew with every passing minute. I tried to break the silence to ease my nerves.“Is it much farther?” I asked, my voice trembling with worry.Raymond reached over, taking my hand in his for comfort. “Not too far. The navigation says about 15 kilometers. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll wake you up when we get there.”“Getting there soon,” Cassandra’s voice came through the intercom.“Got it,” Raymond replied, his tone soothing.Despite their reassurances, I couldn’t shake the unease. I had placed my trust in a woman I had just met. A woman we all doubted whether
NoahI stumbled back into the bedroom. My heart was heavy with the weight of what I had overheard. Throwing myself onto the bed, I felt the tears come slowly. I tried to convince myself that I should trust him. But doubts gnawed at me. What if he gave me the worst answer? What if everything was about to fall apart?I admitted, I was timid in love sometimes. I was not confident enough. Especially when it came to Raymond. Maybe it was because of the scars left by a bad marriage, or I was not as young anymore. I kept telling myself that there had to be a misunderstanding, that I just needed to calm down and ask him directly. Yes, I could face this.“Noah? Are you awake?” Raymond knocked on the door. “Wait a minute,” I called out, quickly sitting up and wiping away the tears. I couldn’t let him see how shaken I was. “Okay, come in, honey.”Raymond walked into the room. “Are you okay? Your eyes…”“Oh, my eyes are just a little dry,” I said, rubbing them to make my words more convincing.“L