(DWAYNE’S POV) I sat in my car for moments after I arrived at Arielle’s house. I started out through the car window quietly, looking at the short flight of steps leading to the entrance door while I thought about the chain of events that had led up to the present. She tried to put up a strong front
Jared shook his head and looked away. The police couldn’t trace Denzel’s activities prior to the kidnap and that had posed a huge black hole in the case, swallowing up every other lead they picked up. There was no CCTV footage of him going into any departmental stores for the chemicals he'd used. Ne
(ARIELLE’S POV) Time rolled by in a blur, with the days turning into weeks and the weeks into a month. I tried to get over the last incident at my doorstep, to cope with the new normal I’d come to accept as my life. I eventually had to give in to Jared and Dwayne’s plea to cooperate some more with
“You’ve been almost non-existent for awhile now,” he began. I remained silent, my eyes still fixed on the empty nothingness before me. “I just thought the longer I waited to tell you this… I’m afraid for you, Arielle. I’m bot saying you won’t survive this. It’s just… You deserve to know the truth
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(DWAYNE’S POV.) For moments after Arielle spoke I remained silent, clenching and unclenching my fists in fury. I gritted my teeth so hardly they might have turned into fine power under the pressure. Nothing made sense. Jared opened his mouth to speak and closed it. Arielle remained silent herself,
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
“You’ve been almost non-existent for awhile now,” he began. I remained silent, my eyes still fixed on the empty nothingness before me. “I just thought the longer I waited to tell you this… I’m afraid for you, Arielle. I’m bot saying you won’t survive this. It’s just… You deserve to know the truth