AnnaTaking a moment to collect my thoughts, I decided to stay away for some time. I might not have had such feelings for Jack, but he had just confessed to his, and even when he was understanding of my situation, I knew this could only get tougher for him the more he got to spend time with me.Heaving a deep sigh, I turned towards him and his eyes met mine with a hopeful gaze.“I’ll be leaving now,” I said, picking up my bag. “Alright, I’ll walk you,” Jack replied standing up hastily.“No, I don’t need you to follow me,” I snapped. Jack froze in his steps, staring at me with confusion. “Is everything alright, Anna?”“No, it’s not. You’re not supposed to have feelings for me. Luke is not supposed to show up now and my boyfriend should be in the country. None of this is okay. It’s enough that I’m already fighting Edgar and his men, but now I have to deal with these changes as well. It’s too much,” I cried.Jack cleared the space between us and wrapped his arms around me in comfort, r
AnnaIt was a regular Tuesday morning, except that it had taken a chaotic turn. I’d been abducted and even when I should be filled with fear, my heart was beating fast out of rage as I stared at her eyes.I always wondered what I’d feel when I finally set my eyes on her but never imagined it would be in these circumstances. I always figured by the time I was done with everything I had conjured in my head to do to her, my adoptive sister Linda, would be crawling after me.Seeing her face again, my heart was racing just hoping to get close enough to her to rip off that fake plastic smile off her face.“What am I doing here, Linda?” I sneered, glaring at her. Linda walked towards me and stopped right in front of me. She wore a smug smile as if she had been waiting for this moment for eight years. “Well well, look what we have here, weak little Anna.”“Did you really think you could hide forever?” She asked, crouching down in front of me.Looking directly at her eyes, a wry smile escape
Anna“I’ll do it,” I blurted hastily, much to Linda’s surprise. I could tell that she was not expecting it to be that easy, but this was the best way for me to get my revenge. This way I could infiltrate her plans and figure out what she was really doing in Delroy while running her small errands. She never would figure it out. Women like Linda were stuck in their ways. For all she knew I was just still some poor rat trying to make ends meet, but now I could use her ego and naivety against her. If I used my position now to reveal how deeply connected I was now, it would make all these too easy and ruin eight years of revenge I’d been waiting for.No, I wasn’t going to just get this over with. For years my hatred had grown even more and just like the last eight years had been gruesome to me, I planned to take my time and make her suffer for what they did to me.I was now the head of the Circle and I’d slowly run down Linda till she was completely nothing. The worst mistake she could ha
JackThe moment Mark called me, I wasn’t quite sure what it was that he wanted after the meeting conversation we had previously had about Anna before he traveled to England. At first, I worried that Anna had told him what happened between us, but then I knew she wasn’t the type to do such. As much as I kissed her, she didn’t push me back immediately, which meant that a part of her wanted that kiss.However, I was going to respect her wishes and not do anything to find out. Right now I was more focused on what Mark had said.My heart was gripped with fear when he told me that Anna was now a target of George. I’d never met the man in person before, but his reputation had preceded him, I knew he was one of those men you just had to avoid.But once again, Anna was implicated in something because of Mark and my hatred for him grew even more. I understood very well that they had deep feelings for each other, but it didn’t excuse the things he had done and the shit he had gotten himself to.
Jack“Just calm down and think. Don’t you realize how insane calling the police is right now? If anything is wrong and she’s really missing, then there’s no doubt who has her and you don’t know what he can do.” I snapped, my aggression building as I dealt with this. “What are you talking about Jack? Who has her?” Sheila replied frantically.“I think Anna’s been abducted, Sheila. If it is the men I think it is, calling the police is pointless. George controls a lot of these people. He would be tipped off, and they would kill her quicker. We can’t go to the police.” Snapping at Sheila wasn’t what I meant to do, but with the anger inside me, I couldn’t stop it.“I don’t know who George is, but we can’t just sit here and do nothing,” Sheila said quickly, tears forming in her eyes. I could tell that she genuinely cared about Anna, but her anxiety was not helping me right now.“Jack?!” She cried as I paced around wordlessly, trying to contemplate what it was that I could do.“I don’t know!
Jack“Don’t forget what you stand for. What our family stands for.” Sheila’s words were harsh but glancing back up at her, I could see sincerity in her eyes.“I know.”Sheila wasn’t wrong. I was well aware of the people we were raised by, and the expectations that we were supposed to live up to. However, the problem was I didn’t want to be that kind of person. Even if right now, that was exactly who I needed to be.“Come on, Jack.” Sheila rushed out as she lifted one of the guns and slid it into her purse. “Let’s go get Anna.”Taking a moment, I turned and gazed out the window that looked over the city. This was a moment I would never be able to walk away from, but Sheila was right. It was time to get Anna.“Jackson! Now!” She yelled at me from the front door. It had been so long since I had heard anyone call me by my full name, and gazing into the angry determined look in her eye, I knew she meant business.“Okay, let’s go get Anna.”****AnnaNo matter what had happened in the past
Anna“I’m sorry Rita. I didn’t know any of that. I can help you,” I started to say just before she approached me aggressively, backhanding me across her face. “I told you, I don’t need your help or your pity!” She growled.“Say another stupid thing and you won’t like what will happen next.”“So what now?” I asked, raising my gaze to her, completely fading up.“You’re going to kill me? Is that it?”Rita began to laugh as she held her stomach, cringing. “Oh Anna, I admire your boldness, but no I’m not going to kill you. You’re very important in what I’m planning to do.”She reached her hand and lightly caressed my cheek as I flinched away in disgust.Heaving a sigh, she continued,“Linda doesn’t want Luke to know what is going on, but she knows about his secret. Your ex-boyfriend has recently run into some opportunity and wants to capitalize on his relationship with you to build a fortune company for himself.”As soon as those words fell, my eyes widened in shock, but I managed to keep
AnnaAfter we got to the apartment, Sheila hovered over me like a watchdog and soon I could not stand it anymore.“Okay, why are you following me everywhere?” I asked impatiently. Putting on a wry smile, she turned on the TV and tried to ignore the question. “I’m just nervous, I got my midterm tomorrow and Mrs Smith is one of the toughest classes this semester.” She replied.“Then why are you here watching me instead of studying?” I asked, staring at her curiously. She had been acting weird since she picked me up, even when she tried to smile and play off the situation, I could still tell something was up. I wasn’t sure what it was about the situation that set me off entirely, but I knew for sure it had something to do with the multiple phone calls that they gave me earlier. “I’m just really nervous about the midterm and being here is helping me calm down so I can study.” Her voice echoed into my ear, as I forced a smile at her. “Okay, that’s a little disturbing, but whatever wor
The day of reckoning had arrived. In a few minutes now, Anna and her troop will be taking Edgar and his men by surprise. The stage had been set with everyone working together to end Edgar’s tyranny.Under the cover of the night, Anna, Mark, Jack, and their allies positioned themselves near Edgar’s main hideout. Zach had fed them crucial information about the hideout's layout and where Edgar and George would likely be during the operation. Armed and ready, they moved swiftly, slipping through shadows and avoiding detection.As they closed in, Anna felt a mix of fear and exhilaration. She knew this confrontation would determine everything—her role in The Circle, her fate, and Mark’s future with his family. She glanced at him, catching his gaze, and a silent understanding passed between them. Finally, they reached the inner sanctum, silently taking down Edgar’s security guards, until they reached where Edgar and George were having a conversation. The two men looked surprised but quickly
As Mark prepared to find his brother, Zach, he couldn’t help but feel a mixture of fear and hope. Although he had agreed to work with Anna, he wasn’t convinced she understood just how deep the roots of The Circle ran or how much any of this had affected him. However, seeing how resolved she was to take down Edgar had swayed him, and he knew that, for his brother’s sake, he had to give her plan a chance.Meanwhile, after Anna walked out of the room, she now decided to contact Jack. As soon as he picked up, she explained her suspicions about The Circle and how their influence might reach farther than even she had initially thought, informing him that she needed him now more than ever. A few hours passed and Mark arrived at a small, dimly lit bar where Zach was known to spend his evenings. Immediately he walked in, he spotted Zach sitting at the far end of the bar, looking troubled. Mark approached him slowly, and as soon as he sat down, he placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder.
Author’s POV“So you’re telling me that you are not just a part of an evil organization that has been around for years, but you are also the head?” Mark asked, staring at Anna in disbelief. “I know this is difficult to process, but it is the truth. But we are not all like Edgar.” Anna said.“Right…” Mark scoffed.“No, I mean it. We don’t all want the same thing. The Circle has been in operation for years, working to maintain the balance and smooth operation of the surface world. Edgar and his associates are the only ones with the ideals that things need to change, and that for some reason they are the ones to affect that change. That’s why we are fighting them. We are trying to retain order and balance in this world.”“And how do you do that, huh?”“Tell me, Anna, does it involve letting the people up here decide for their lives or does your organization plan out the course of their lives?” Mark asked with a pruning look.“I don’t know about that, I’ve not been a member for long.” A
Author’s POV“What?” Mark recoiled in shock.“Who could have done that?” Anna hesitated for some moments, afraid of how he would take the news. “Tell me, Anna.” He demanded.“Zach!” Anna blurted. “Your brother Zach did.”Mark staggered for some time, trying to process what I had just said. “Are you serious?” He asked, still in disbelief.“I am,” Anna said softly. Mark remained frozen in place for some time, deep in contemplation. I could imagine how difficult this was for him to hear. Zach was a lot and had caused a lot of problems, but at the end of the day, he was still his brother. “I can’t believe this,” Mark muttered and immediately started searching through his drawers.“What are you doing?” Anna asked, to no reply.“What are you doing Mark?” She asked again. “What does it look like I’m doing?” Mark snapped irritably.“I’m going down to have a conversation with my brother and give him the chance to explain how he almost got me killed.” He raged and grabbed his car key.Ann
Author’s POVThose words filled Anna with a sudden dread. She hoped that somehow Mark would not ask her that because she still wasn’t sure who the father of her children truly was. There was that stranger from that night, and then there was Luke. For all she knows, it could have been either of them.Seeing how hesitant she was, Mark asked again,“Is the father still in the picture Anna? What happened with him?” At that point, Anna quickly turned around, “He’s not in the picture and that’s all that I can say. I don’t really like to talk about him.” She said, her heart beating out of her chest.Much to her surprise, Mark did not ask anything concerning him again. He waited for some time and then his lips curved into a smile,“I’d like to meet them.” As soon as she heard these words, Anna’s eyes widened in shock.“I’m sorry. You want to meet…”“Your children,” Mark interjected. “Is that okay with you?” He added.Anna remained frozen for some moments, her thoughts running wild. This w
Author’s POVUpon hearing that, Mark’s face reddened with humiliation. He didn’t think she would figure it out, but she was right, he was afraid. After Lydia died in that car accident, Mark had spent his entire life afraid of being abandoned, and that fear resurfaced when he learned of Anna’s children.“No Anna, the issue here is that you could not trust me. I’ve already been down that road once with Mia, and I don’t want to be in another relationship where my girlfriend is keeping secrets from me.” He argued.As much as he had a point, Anna was still not convinced. She knew Mark was trying to change the course of their conversation and she would not let him.She shot him a soft gaze and slowly walked toward him, “I know it’s not easy to admit Mark, and I know that I shouldn’t have kept this away from you for so long, but I am afraid too.” Anna said and Mark’s eyes shot up with curiosity.Anna heaved a deep sigh and continued, “When I first came into town, I didn’t know what I was goi
Anna“Who’s there?” Mark’s voice sounded through the door.I hesitated to answer. One word from me and he’d be calling the guards to throw me out, or at least that’s what I thought, so I knocked again and waited a while for his answer. This time he did not bother to say anything, and after waiting for a while, I knocked again.“I already told you, Rita, I don’t need anything!” His voice echoed in annoyance as he approached the door, and unlocked it.As soon as his gaze met mine, he froze in shock for some moment, unable to find the words to say anything.“Anna?”“Wh-what are you doing here?” Mark asked, and immediately his brows creased into a deep frown.“Mark, I just want to talk…” I started to say, but he rudely cut me off.“I don’t have anything to say to you.” He replied coldly and tried to close the door, but I quickly put my feet through the doorframe, stopping him.He shot one look at me and sighed heavily, turned his back, and walked inside the room, leaving me at the door.
Anna“You want my advice? Go for it.” I said, encouraging Jack. Deep down I knew it was a selfish act. As much as I hoped that he’d find love somewhere else, a part of me wanted to believe what it told him about Anna, that deep down she did not still harbor any feelings toward Mark. I’d hate to be in competition with my sister over a man we both wanted. Jack seemed flustered when I said that. I could tell he hoped that no one would spot his feelings toward Chloe, especially not the girl he was just trying to get over.Still, he managed to keep his composure and quickly tried to change the focus,“You should try taking your own advice with Mark. I know I’ve not always made your relationship with him easy, and I apologize for the part I played in that. But whatever this thing is between you and Mark, it’ll be a shame if you both fall out.” He said.“Jack, what happened between Mark and I is not because of you. He just couldn’t stand the honesty he wanted.” I said, pushing the bangs on
“Mark and I used to date.” The words echoed in my head like I was reliving a nightmare. I froze in shock, not sure what to say or how to even react. Deep down, I couldn’t help but dismiss the thought that this was the relationship Chloe and Mark shared, but I always tried to convince myself it wasn’t anything like that. Mark never talked a lot about her even after we met at that party, and I just assumed there was nothing much to say about an old friend.Now I see I was just trying to keep my thoughts away from a fear I didn’t want to have to face.However, I couldn’t understand why Chloe chose to tell me at this point and why Mark never said anything. Was he hiding something about their relationship? I didn’t know Chloe was my sister then, and I’m sure he didn't know either. Certainly, I wouldn’t have minded much about a girl he dated in the past, and at this point, I was convinced he was hiding something.As much as it should have felt good that I now had something to call him out